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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Volume Two
+by Ulysses S. Grant
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Volume Two
+
+Author: Ulysses S. Grant
+
+Release Date: June 14, 2004 [EBook #1068]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GENERAL GRANT, VOL. II. ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Glen Bledsoe. Additional proofing by David Widger
+
+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER XL. FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL ROSECRANS
+--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW JOHNSON'S ADDRESS
+--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLI. ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+CHAPTER XLII. CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE ATTACK--HOOKER'S
+POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+CHAPTER XLIII. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF
+THE ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
+--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+CHAPTER XLIV. BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF
+THE ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLV. THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE
+--VISITING KNOXVILLE--CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING ORDERS.
+
+CHAPTER XLVI. OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE
+--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED
+STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVII. THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT FORT
+PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN INCIDENT OF THE
+WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+CHAPTER XLIX. SHERMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF ATLANTA.
+
+CHAPTER L. GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+CHAPTER LI. AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY
+THE LEFT FLANK.
+
+CHAPTER LII. BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF
+WARREN'S AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+CHAPTER LIII. HANCOCK'S ASSAULT--LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK--REDUCING THE
+ARTILLERY.
+
+CHAPTER LIV. MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY
+--POSITION OF THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+CHAPTER LV. ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF
+COLD HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+CHAPTER LVI. LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES
+--GENERAL LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG
+--THE INVESTMENT OF PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LVII. RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE
+SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON RAILROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LVIII. SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY
+IN THE SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+CHAPTER LIX. THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF
+SAVANNAH.
+
+CHAPTER LX. THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE
+
+CHAPTER LXI. EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE
+OF THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF FORT
+FISHER.
+
+CHAPTER LXII. SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG
+--CANBY ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND THOMAS
+--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.
+
+CHAPTER LXIII. ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE PETERSBURG
+--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE PICKET LINE--PARKE
+RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK ROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LXIV. INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--PARKE
+AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LXV. THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT TO
+SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+CHAPTER LXVI. BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE
+--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.
+
+CHAPTER LXVII. NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT
+MCLEAN'S HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII. MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE
+NORTH AND SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S
+POLICY.
+
+CHAPTER LXIX. SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN
+--CAPTURE OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS
+--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+CHAPTER LXX. THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF
+LINCOLN'S ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+APPENDIX
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL ROSECRANS--COMMANDING
+MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+The reply (to my telegram of October 16, 1863, from Cairo, announcing my
+arrival at that point) came on the morning of the 17th, directing me to
+proceed immediately to the Galt House, Louisville, where I would meet an
+officer of the War Department with my instructions.  I left Cairo within
+an hour or two after the receipt of this dispatch, going by rail via
+Indianapolis. Just as the train I was on was starting out of the depot
+at Indianapolis a messenger came running up to stop it, saying the
+Secretary of War was coming into the station and wanted to see me.
+
+I had never met Mr. Stanton up to that time, though we had held frequent
+conversations over the wires the year before, when I was in Tennessee.
+Occasionally at night he would order the wires between the War
+Department and my headquarters to be connected, and we would hold a
+conversation for an hour or two.  On this occasion the Secretary was
+accompanied by Governor Brough of Ohio, whom I had never met, though he
+and my father had been old acquaintances.  Mr. Stanton dismissed the
+special train that had brought him to Indianapolis, and accompanied me
+to Louisville.
+
+Up to this time no hint had been given me of what was wanted after I
+left Vicksburg, except the suggestion in one of Halleck's dispatches
+that I had better go to Nashville and superintend the operation of
+troops sent to relieve Rosecrans. Soon after we started the Secretary
+handed me two orders, saying that I might take my choice of them.  The
+two were identical in all but one particular.  Both created the
+"Military Division of Mississippi," (giving me the command) composed of
+the Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, and all
+the territory from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi River north of
+Banks's command in the south-west.  One order left the department
+commanders as they were, while the other relieved Rosecrans and assigned
+Thomas to his place.  I accepted the latter.  We reached Louisville
+after night and, if I remember rightly, in a cold, drizzling rain.  The
+Secretary of War told me afterwards that he caught a cold on that
+occasion from which he never expected to recover.  He never did.
+
+A day was spent in Louisville, the Secretary giving me the military news
+at the capital and talking about the disappointment at the results of
+some of the campaigns.  By the evening of the day after our arrival all
+matters of discussion seemed exhausted, and I left the hotel to spend
+the evening away, both Mrs. Grant (who was with me) and myself having
+relatives living in Louisville.  In the course of the evening Mr.
+Stanton received a dispatch from Mr. C. A. Dana, then in Chattanooga,
+informing him that unless prevented Rosecrans would retreat, and
+advising peremptory orders against his doing so.
+
+As stated before, after the fall of Vicksburg I urged strongly upon the
+government the propriety of a movement against Mobile.  General
+Rosecrans had been at Murfreesboro', Tennessee, with a large and
+well-equipped army from early in the year 1863, with Bragg confronting
+him with a force quite equal to his own at first, considering it was on
+the defensive.  But after the investment of Vicksburg Bragg's army was
+largely depleted to strengthen Johnston, in Mississippi, who was being
+reinforced to raise the siege.  I frequently wrote General Halleck
+suggesting that Rosecrans should move against Bragg.  By so doing he
+would either detain the latter's troops where they were or lay
+Chattanooga open to capture.  General Halleck strongly approved the
+suggestion, and finally wrote me that he had repeatedly ordered
+Rosecrans to advance, but that the latter had constantly failed to
+comply with the order, and at last, after having held a council of war,
+had replied in effect that it was a military maxim "not to fight two
+decisive battles at the same time."  If true, the maxim was not
+applicable in this case.  It would be bad to be defeated in two decisive
+battles fought the same day, but it would not be bad to win them.  I,
+however, was fighting no battle, and the siege of Vicksburg had drawn
+from Rosecrans' front so many of the enemy that his chances of victory
+were much greater than they would be if he waited until the siege was
+over, when these troops could be returned.  Rosecrans was ordered to
+move against the army that was detaching troops to raise the siege.
+Finally he did move, on the 24th of June, but ten days afterwards
+Vicksburg surrendered, and the troops sent from Bragg were free to
+return.
+
+It was at this time that I recommended to the general-in-chief the
+movement against Mobile.  I knew the peril the Army of the Cumberland
+was in, being depleted continually, not only by ordinary casualties, but
+also by having to detach troops to hold its constantly extending line
+over which to draw supplies, while the enemy in front was as constantly
+being strengthened.  Mobile was important to the enemy, and in the
+absence of a threatening force was guarded by little else than
+artillery.  If threatened by land and from the water at the same time
+the prize would fall easily, or troops would have to be sent to its
+defence.  Those troops would necessarily come from Bragg.  My judgment
+was overruled, and the troops under my command were dissipated over
+other parts of the country where it was thought they could render the
+most service.
+
+Soon it was discovered in Washington that Rosecrans was in trouble and
+required assistance.  The emergency was now too immediate to allow us to
+give this assistance by making an attack in rear of Bragg upon Mobile.
+It was therefore necessary to reinforce directly, and troops were sent
+from every available point.
+
+Rosecrans had very skilfully manoeuvred Bragg south of the Tennessee
+River, and through and beyond Chattanooga. If he had stopped and
+intrenched, and made himself strong there, all would have been right and
+the mistake of not moving earlier partially compensated.  But he pushed
+on, with his forces very much scattered, until Bragg's troops from
+Mississippi began to join him.  Then Bragg took the initiative.
+Rosecrans had to fall back in turn, and was able to get his army
+together at Chickamauga, some miles south-east of Chattanooga, before
+the main battle was brought on.  The battle was fought on the 19th and
+20th of September, and Rosecrans was badly defeated, with a heavy loss
+in artillery and some sixteen thousand men killed, wounded and captured.
+The corps under Major-General George H. Thomas stood its ground, while
+Rosecrans, with Crittenden and McCook, returned to Chattanooga. Thomas
+returned also, but later, and with his troops in good order.  Bragg
+followed and took possession of Missionary Ridge, overlooking
+Chattanooga. He also occupied Lookout Mountain, west of the town, which
+Rosecrans had abandoned, and with it his control of the river and the
+river road as far back as Bridgeport.  The National troops were now
+strongly intrenched in Chattanooga Valley, with the Tennessee River
+behind them and the enemy occupying commanding heights to the east and
+west, with a strong line across the valley from mountain to mountain,
+and with Chattanooga Creek, for a large part of the way, in front of
+their line.
+
+On the 29th Halleck telegraphed me the above results, and directed all
+the forces that could be spared from my department to be sent to
+Rosecrans.  Long before this dispatch was received Sherman was on his
+way, and McPherson was moving east with most of the garrison of
+Vicksburg.
+
+A retreat at that time would have been a terrible disaster.  It would
+not only have been the loss of a most important strategic position to
+us, but it would have been attended with the loss of all the artillery
+still left with the Army of the Cumberland and the annihilation of that
+army itself, either by capture or demoralization.
+
+All supplies for Rosecrans had to be brought from Nashville. The
+railroad between this base and the army was in possession of the
+government up to Bridgeport, the point at which the road crosses to the
+south side of the Tennessee River; but Bragg, holding Lookout and
+Raccoon mountains west of Chattanooga, commanded the railroad, the river
+and the shortest and best wagon-roads, both south and north of the
+Tennessee, between Chattanooga and Bridgeport.  The distance between
+these two places is but twenty-six miles by rail, but owing to the
+position of Bragg, all supplies for Rosecrans had to be hauled by a
+circuitous route north of the river and over a mountainous country,
+increasing the distance to over sixty miles.
+
+This country afforded but little food for his animals, nearly ten
+thousand of which had already starved, and not enough were left to draw
+a single piece of artillery or even the ambulances to convey the sick.
+The men had been on half rations of hard bread for a considerable time,
+with but few other supplies except beef driven from Nashville across the
+country.  The region along the road became so exhausted of food for the
+cattle that by the time they reached Chattanooga they were much in the
+condition of the few animals left alive there--"on the lift." Indeed,
+the beef was so poor that the soldiers were in the habit of saying, with
+a faint facetiousness, that they were living on "half rations of hard
+bread and BEEF DRIED ON THE HOOF."
+
+Nothing could be transported but food, and the troops were without
+sufficient shoes or other clothing suitable for the advancing season.
+What they had was well worn.  The fuel within the Federal lines was
+exhausted, even to the stumps of trees. There were no teams to draw it
+from the opposite bank, where it was abundant.  The only way of
+supplying fuel, for some time before my arrival, had been to cut trees
+on the north bank of the river at a considerable distance up the stream,
+form rafts of it and float it down with the current, effecting a landing
+on the south side within our lines by the use of paddles or poles. It
+would then be carried on the shoulders of the men to their camps.
+
+If a retreat had occurred at this time it is not probable that any of
+the army would have reached the railroad as an organized body, if
+followed by the enemy.
+
+On the receipt of Mr. Dana's dispatch Mr. Stanton sent for me. Finding
+that I was out he became nervous and excited, inquiring of every person
+he met, including guests of the house, whether they knew where I was,
+and bidding them find me and send me to him at once.  About eleven
+o'clock I returned to the hotel, and on my way, when near the house,
+every person met was a messenger from the Secretary, apparently
+partaking of his impatience to see me.  I hastened to the room of the
+Secretary and found him pacing the floor rapidly in his dressing-gown.
+Saying that the retreat must be prevented, he showed me the dispatch.  I
+immediately wrote an order assuming command of the Military Division of
+the Mississippi, and telegraphed it to General Rosecrans.  I then
+telegraphed to him the order from Washington assigning Thomas to the
+command of the Army of the Cumberland; and to Thomas that he must hold
+Chattanooga at all hazards, informing him at the same time that I would
+be at the front as soon as possible.  A prompt reply was received from
+Thomas, saying, "We will hold the town till we starve."  I appreciated
+the force of this dispatch later when I witnessed the condition of
+affairs which prompted it.  It looked, indeed, as if but two courses
+were open:  one to starve, the other to surrender or be captured.
+
+On the morning of the 20th of October I started, with my staff, and
+proceeded as far as Nashville.  At that time it was not prudent to
+travel beyond that point by night, so I remained in Nashville until the
+next morning.  Here I met for the first time Andrew Johnson, Military
+Governor of Tennessee.  He delivered a speech of welcome.  His composure
+showed that it was by no means his maiden effort.  It was long, and I
+was in torture while he was delivering it, fearing something would be
+expected from me in response.  I was relieved, however, the people
+assembled having apparently heard enough.  At all events they commenced
+a general hand-shaking, which, although trying where there is so much of
+it, was a great relief to me in this emergency.
+
+From Nashville I telegraphed to Burnside, who was then at Knoxville,
+that important points in his department ought to be fortified, so that
+they could be held with the least number of men; to Admiral Porter at
+Cairo, that Sherman's advance had passed Eastport, Mississippi, that
+rations were probably on their way from St. Louis by boat for supplying
+his army, and requesting him to send a gunboat to convoy them; and to
+Thomas, suggesting that large parties should be put at work on the
+wagon-road then in use back to Bridgeport.
+
+On the morning of the 21st we took the train for the front, reaching
+Stevenson Alabama, after dark.  Rosecrans was there on his way north.
+He came into my car and we held a brief interview, in which he described
+very clearly the situation at Chattanooga, and made some excellent
+suggestions as to what should be done.  My only wonder was that he had
+not carried them out.  We then proceeded to Bridgeport, where we stopped
+for the night.  From here we took horses and made our way by Jasper and
+over Waldron's Ridge to Chattanooga. There had been much rain, and the
+roads were almost impassable from mud, knee-deep in places, and from
+wash-outs on the mountain sides.  I had been on crutches since the time
+of my fall in New Orleans, and had to be carried over places where it
+was not safe to cross on horseback.  The roads were strewn with the
+debris of broken wagons and the carcasses of thousands of starved mules
+and horses.  At Jasper, some ten or twelve miles from Bridgeport, there
+was a halt.  General O. O. Howard had his headquarters there.  From this
+point I telegraphed Burnside to make every effort to secure five hundred
+rounds of ammunition for his artillery and small-arms.  We stopped for
+the night at a little hamlet some ten or twelve miles farther on.  The
+next day we reached Chattanooga a little before dark.  I went directly
+to General Thomas's headquarters, and remaining there a few days, until
+I could establish my own.
+
+During the evening most of the general officers called in to pay their
+respects and to talk about the condition of affairs.  They pointed out
+on the map the line, marked with a red or blue pencil, which Rosecrans
+had contemplated falling back upon.  If any of them had approved the
+move they did not say so to me.  I found General W. F. Smith occupying
+the position of chief engineer of the Army of the Cumberland.  I had
+known Smith as a cadet at West Point, but had no recollection of having
+met him after my graduation, in 1843, up to this time.  He explained the
+situation of the two armies and the topography of the country so plainly
+that I could see it without an inspection.  I found that he had
+established a saw-mill on the banks of the river, by utilizing an old
+engine found in the neighborhood; and, by rafting logs from the north
+side of the river above, had got out the lumber and completed pontoons
+and roadway plank for a second bridge, one flying bridge being there
+already.  He was also rapidly getting out the materials and constructing
+the boats for a third bridge.  In addition to this he had far under way
+a steamer for plying between Chattanooga and Bridgeport whenever we
+might get possession of the river.  This boat consisted of a scow, made
+of the plank sawed out at the mill, housed in, and a stern wheel
+attached which was propelled by a second engine taken from some shop or
+factory.
+
+I telegraphed to Washington this night, notifying General Halleck of my
+arrival, and asking to have General Sherman assigned to the command of
+the Army of the Tennessee, headquarters in the field.  The request was
+at once complied with.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF SUPPLIES--BATTLE
+OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+The next day, the 24th, I started out to make a personal inspection,
+taking Thomas and Smith with me, besides most of the members of my
+personal staff.  We crossed to the north side of the river, and, moving
+to the north of detached spurs of hills, reached the Tennessee at
+Brown's Ferry, some three miles below Lookout Mountain, unobserved by
+the enemy.  Here we left our horses back from the river and approached
+the water on foot. There was a picket station of the enemy on the
+opposite side, of about twenty men, in full view, and we were within
+easy range. They did not fire upon us nor seem to be disturbed by our
+presence.  They must have seen that we were all commissioned officers.
+But, I suppose, they looked upon the garrison of Chattanooga as
+prisoners of war, feeding or starving themselves, and thought it would
+be inhuman to kill any of them except in self-defence.
+
+That night I issued orders for opening the route to Bridgeport--a
+cracker line, as the soldiers appropriately termed it.  They had been so
+long on short rations that my first thought was the establishment of a
+line over which food might reach them.
+
+Chattanooga is on the south bank of the Tennessee, where that river runs
+nearly due west.  It is at the northern end of a valley five or six
+miles in width, through which Chattanooga Creek runs.  To the east of
+the valley is Missionary Ridge, rising from five to eight hundred feet
+above the creek and terminating somewhat abruptly a half mile or more
+before reaching the Tennessee.  On the west of the valley is Lookout
+Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet above-tide water.  Just below the town
+the Tennessee makes a turn to the south and runs to the base of Lookout
+Mountain, leaving no level ground between the mountain and river.  The
+Memphis and Charleston Railroad passes this point, where the mountain
+stands nearly perpendicular. East of Missionary Ridge flows the South
+Chickamauga River; west of Lookout Mountain is Lookout Creek; and west
+of that, Raccoon Mountains.  Lookout Mountain, at its northern end,
+rises almost perpendicularly for some distance, then breaks off in a
+gentle slope of cultivated fields to near the summit, where it ends in a
+palisade thirty or more feet in height.  On the gently sloping ground,
+between the upper and lower palisades, there is a single farmhouse,
+which is reached by a wagon-road from the valley east.
+
+The intrenched line of the enemy commenced on the north end of
+Missionary Ridge and extended along the crest for some distance south,
+thence across Chattanooga valley to Lookout Mountain. Lookout Mountain
+was also fortified and held by the enemy, who also kept troops in
+Lookout valley west, and on Raccoon Mountain, with pickets extending
+down the river so as to command the road on the north bank and render it
+useless to us.  In addition to this there was an intrenched line in
+Chattanooga valley extending from the river east of the town to Lookout
+Mountain, to make the investment complete.  Besides the fortifications
+on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of the hill, with
+occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the front.  The enemy's
+pickets extended out into the valley towards the town, so far that the
+pickets of the two armies could converse.  At one point they were
+separated only by the narrow creek which gives its name to the valley
+and town, and from which both sides drew water.  The Union lines were
+shorter than those of the enemy.
+
+Thus the enemy, with a vastly superior force, was strongly fortified to
+the east, south, and west, and commanded the river below.  Practically,
+the Army of the Cumberland was besieged. The enemy had stopped with his
+cavalry north of the river the passing of a train loaded with ammunition
+and medical supplies.  The Union army was short of both, not having
+ammunition enough for a day's fighting.
+
+General Halleck had, long before my coming into this new field, ordered
+parts of the 11th and 12th corps, commanded respectively by Generals
+Howard and Slocum, Hooker in command of the whole, from the Army of the
+Potomac to reinforce Rosecrans.  It would have been folly to send them
+to Chattanooga to help eat up the few rations left there.  They were
+consequently left on the railroad, where supplies could be brought to
+them.  Before my arrival, Thomas ordered their concentration at
+Bridgeport.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been so instrumental in preparing for the move
+which I was now about to make, and so clear in his judgment about the
+manner of making it, that I deemed it but just to him that he should
+have command of the troops detailed to execute the design, although he
+was then acting as a staff officer and was not in command of troops.
+
+On the 24th of October, after my return to Chattanooga, the following
+details were made:  General Hooker, who was now at Bridgeport, was
+ordered to cross to the south side of the Tennessee and march up by
+Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Brown's Ferry.  General Palmer, with a
+division of the 14th corps, Army of the Cumberland, was ordered to move
+down the river on the north side, by a back road, until opposite
+Whitesides, then cross and hold the road in Hooker's rear after he had
+passed. Four thousand men were at the same time detailed to act under
+General Smith directly from Chattanooga. Eighteen hundred of them, under
+General Hazen, were to take sixty pontoon boats, and under cover of
+night float by the pickets of the enemy at the north base of Lookout,
+down to Brown's Ferry, then land on the south side and capture or drive
+away the pickets at that point.  Smith was to march with the remainder
+of the detail, also under cover of night, by the north bank of the river
+to Brown's Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the bridge
+as soon as the crossing was secured.
+
+On the 26th, Hooker crossed the river at Bridgeport and commenced his
+eastward march.  At three o'clock on the morning of the 27th, Hazen
+moved into the stream with his sixty pontoons and eighteen hundred brave
+and well-equipped men.  Smith started enough in advance to be near the
+river when Hazen should arrive.  There are a number of detached spurs of
+hills north of the river at Chattanooga, back of which is a good road
+parallel to the stream, sheltered from the view from the top of Lookout.
+It was over this road Smith marched.  At five o'clock Hazen landed at
+Brown's Ferry, surprised the picket guard, and captured most of it.  By
+seven o'clock the whole of Smith's force was ferried over and in
+possession of a height commanding the ferry.  This was speedily
+fortified, while a detail was laying the pontoon bridge.  By ten o'clock
+the bridge was laid, and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley, was
+fortified and connected with the rest of the army.  The two bridges over
+the Tennessee River--a flying one at Chattanooga and the new one at
+Brown's Ferry--with the road north of the river, covered from both the
+fire and the view of the enemy, made the connection complete.  Hooker
+found but slight obstacles in his way, and on the afternoon of the 28th
+emerged into Lookout valley at Wauhatchie.  Howard marched on to Brown's
+Ferry, while Geary, who commanded a division in the 12th corps, stopped
+three miles south.  The pickets of the enemy on the river below were now
+cut off, and soon came in and surrendered.
+
+The river was now opened to us from Lookout valley to Bridgeport.
+Between Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry the Tennessee runs through a
+narrow gorge in the mountains, which contracts the stream so much as to
+increase the current beyond the capacity of an ordinary steamer to stem
+it.  To get up these rapids, steamers must be cordelled; that is, pulled
+up by ropes from the shore.  But there is no difficulty in navigating
+the stream from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry.  The latter point is only
+eight miles from Chattanooga and connected with it by a good wagon-road,
+which runs through a low pass in the Raccoon Mountains on the south side
+of the river to Brown's Ferry, thence on the north side to the river
+opposite Chattanooga. There were several steamers at Bridgeport, and
+abundance of forage, clothing and provisions.
+
+On the way to Chattanooga I had telegraphed back to Nashville for a good
+supply of vegetables and small rations, which the troops had been so
+long deprived of.  Hooker had brought with him from the east a full
+supply of land transportation.  His animals had not been subjected to
+hard work on bad roads without forage, but were in good condition.  In
+five days from my arrival in Chattanooga the way was open to Bridgeport
+and, with the aid of steamers and Hooker's teams, in a week the troops
+were receiving full rations.  It is hard for any one not an eye-witness
+to realize the relief this brought.  The men were soon reclothed and
+also well fed, an abundance of ammunition was brought up, and a
+cheerfulness prevailed not before enjoyed in many weeks.  Neither
+officers nor men looked upon themselves any longer as doomed.  The weak
+and languid appearance of the troops, so visible before, disappeared at
+once.  I do not know what the effect was on the other side, but assume
+it must have been correspondingly depressing.  Mr. Davis had visited
+Bragg but a short time before, and must have perceived our condition to
+be about as Bragg described it in his subsequent report.  "These
+dispositions," he said, "faithfully sustained, insured the enemy's
+speedy evacuation of Chattanooga for want of food and forage.  Possessed
+of the shortest route to his depot, and the one by which reinforcements
+must reach him, we held him at our mercy, and his destruction was only a
+question of time."  But the dispositions were not "faithfully
+sustained," and I doubt not but thousands of men engaged in trying to
+"sustain" them now rejoice that they were not.  There was no time during
+the rebellion when I did not think, and often say, that the South was
+more to be benefited by its defeat than the North.  The latter had the
+people, the institutions, and the territory to make a great and
+prosperous nation.  The former was burdened with an institution
+abhorrent to all civilized people not brought up under it, and one which
+degraded labor, kept it in ignorance, and enervated the governing class.
+With the outside world at war with this institution, they could not have
+extended their territory.  The labor of the country was not skilled, nor
+allowed to become so.  The whites could not toil without becoming
+degraded, and those who did were denominated "poor white trash."  The
+system of labor would have soon exhausted the soil and left the people
+poor.  The non-slaveholders would have left the country, and the small
+slaveholder must have sold out to his more fortunate neighbor.  Soon the
+slaves would have outnumbered the masters, and, not being in sympathy
+with them, would have risen in their might and exterminated them.  The
+war was expensive to the South as well as to the North, both in blood
+and treasure, but it was worth all it cost.
+
+The enemy was surprised by the movements which secured to us a line of
+supplies.  He appreciated its importance, and hastened to try to recover
+the line from us.  His strength on Lookout Mountain was not equal to
+Hooker's command in the valley below.  From Missionary Ridge he had to
+march twice the distance we had from Chattanooga, in order to reach
+Lookout Valley; but on the night of the 28th and 29th an attack was made
+on Geary at Wauhatchie by Longstreet's corps.  When the battle
+commenced, Hooker ordered Howard up from Brown's Ferry.  He had three
+miles to march to reach Geary.  On his way he was fired upon by rebel
+troops from a foot-hill to the left of the road and from which the road
+was commanded.  Howard turned to the left, charged up the hill and
+captured it before the enemy had time to intrench, taking many
+prisoners.  Leaving sufficient men to hold this height, he pushed on to
+reinforce Geary.  Before he got up, Geary had been engaged for about
+three hours against a vastly superior force.  The night was so dark that
+the men could not distinguish one from another except by the light of
+the flashes of their muskets.  In the darkness and uproar Hooker's
+teamsters became frightened and deserted their teams.  The mules also
+became frightened, and breaking loose from their fastenings stampeded
+directly towards the enemy.  The latter, no doubt, took this for a
+charge, and stampeded in turn.  By four o'clock in the morning the
+battle had entirely ceased, and our "cracker line" was never afterward
+disturbed.
+
+In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man killed and
+four or five wounded.  The enemy lost most of his pickets at the ferry,
+captured.  In the night engagement of the 28th-9th Hooker lost 416
+killed and wounded.  I never knew the loss of the enemy, but our troops
+buried over one hundred and fifty of his dead and captured more than a
+hundred.
+
+After we had secured the opening of a line over which to bring our
+supplies to the army, I made a personal inspection to see the situation
+of the pickets of the two armies.  As I have stated, Chattanooga Creek
+comes down the centre of the valley to within a mile or such a matter of
+the town of Chattanooga, then bears off westerly, then north-westerly,
+and enters the Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain.  This
+creek, from its mouth up to where it bears off west, lay between the two
+lines of pickets, and the guards of both armies drew their water from
+the same stream.  As I would be under short-range fire and in an open
+country, I took nobody with me, except, I believe, a bugler, who stayed
+some distance to the rear.  I rode from our right around to our left.
+When I came to the camp of the picket guard of our side, I heard the
+call, "Turn out the guard for the commanding general."  I replied,
+"Never mind the guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their
+tents. Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek,
+were the guards of the Confederate pickets.  The sentinel on their post
+called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for the commanding
+general," and, I believe, added, "General Grant."  Their line in a
+moment front-faced to the north, facing me, and gave a salute, which I
+returned.
+
+The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets of the
+two armies.  At one place there was a tree which had fallen across the
+stream, and which was used by the soldiers of both armies in drawing
+water for their camps.  General Longstreet's corps was stationed there
+at the time, and wore blue of a little different shade from our uniform.
+Seeing a soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced
+conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to.  He was very
+polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged to General
+Longstreet's corps.  I asked him a few questions--but not with a view of
+gaining any particular information--all of which he answered, and I rode
+off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL BURNSIDE'S
+SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION
+--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+Having got the Army of the Cumberland in a comfortable position, I now
+began to look after the remainder of my new command. Burnside was in
+about as desperate a condition as the Army of the Cumberland had been,
+only he was not yet besieged.  He was a hundred miles from the nearest
+possible base, Big South Fork of the Cumberland River, and much farther
+from any railroad we had possession of.  The roads back were over
+mountains, and all supplies along the line had long since been
+exhausted.  His animals, too, had been starved, and their carcasses
+lined the road from Cumberland Gap, and far back towards Lexington, Ky.
+East Tennessee still furnished supplies of beef, bread and forage, but
+it did not supply ammunition, clothing, medical supplies, or small
+rations, such as coffee, sugar, salt and rice.
+
+Sherman had started from Memphis for Corinth on the 11th of October.
+His instructions required him to repair the road in his rear in order to
+bring up supplies.  The distance was about three hundred and thirty
+miles through a hostile country.  His entire command could not have
+maintained the road if it had been completed.  The bridges had all been
+destroyed by the enemy, and much other damage done.  A hostile community
+lived along the road; guerilla bands infested the country, and more or
+less of the cavalry of the enemy was still in the West.  Often Sherman's
+work was destroyed as soon as completed, and he only a short distance
+away.
+
+The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee River at
+Eastport, Mississippi.  Knowing the difficulty Sherman would have to
+supply himself from Memphis, I had previously ordered supplies sent from
+St. Louis on small steamers, to be convoyed by the navy, to meet him at
+Eastport.  These he got.  I now ordered him to discontinue his work of
+repairing roads and to move on with his whole force to Stevenson,
+Alabama, without delay.  This order was borne to Sherman by a messenger,
+who paddled down the Tennessee in a canoe and floated over Muscle
+Shoals; it was delivered at Iuka on the 27th.  In this Sherman was
+notified that the rebels were moving a force towards Cleveland, East
+Tennessee, and might be going to Nashville, in which event his troops
+were in the best position to beat them there.  Sherman, with his
+characteristic promptness, abandoned the work he was engaged upon and
+pushed on at once.  On the 1st of November he crossed the Tennessee at
+Eastport, and that day was in Florence, Alabama, with the head of
+column, while his troops were still crossing at Eastport, with Blair
+bringing up the rear.
+
+Sherman's force made an additional army, with cavalry, artillery, and
+trains, all to be supplied by the single track road from Nashville.  All
+indications pointed also to the probable necessity of supplying
+Burnside's command in East Tennessee, twenty-five thousand more, by the
+same route.  A single track could not do this.  I gave, therefore, an
+order to Sherman to halt General G. M. Dodge's command, of about eight
+thousand men, at Athens, and subsequently directed the latter to arrange
+his troops along the railroad from Decatur north towards Nashville, and
+to rebuild that road.  The road from Nashville to Decatur passes over a
+broken country, cut up with innumerable streams, many of them of
+considerable width, and with valleys far below the road-bed.  All the
+bridges over these had been destroyed, and the rails taken up and
+twisted by the enemy.  All the cars and locomotives not carried off had
+been destroyed as effectually as they knew how to destroy them.  All
+bridges and culverts had been destroyed between Nashville and Decatur,
+and thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Charleston and the
+Nashville and Chattanooga roads unite.  The rebuilding of this road
+would give us two roads as far as Stevenson over which to supply the
+army.  From Bridgeport, a short distance farther east, the river
+supplements the road.
+
+General Dodge, besides being a most capable soldier, was an experienced
+railroad builder.  He had no tools to work with except those of the
+pioneers--axes, picks, and spades.  With these he was able to intrench
+his men and protect them against surprises by small parties of the
+enemy.  As he had no base of supplies until the road could be completed
+back to Nashville, the first matter to consider after protecting his men
+was the getting in of food and forage from the surrounding country.  He
+had his men and teams bring in all the grain they could find, or all
+they needed, and all the cattle for beef, and such other food as could
+be found.  Millers were detailed from the ranks to run the mills along
+the line of the army.  When these were not near enough to the troops for
+protection they were taken down and moved up to the line of the road.
+Blacksmith shops, with all the iron and steel found in them, were moved
+up in like manner.  Blacksmiths were detailed and set to work making the
+tools necessary in railroad and bridge building.  Axemen were put to
+work getting out timber for bridges and cutting fuel for locomotives
+when the road should be completed.  Car-builders were set to work
+repairing the locomotives and cars.  Thus every branch of railroad
+building, making tools to work with, and supplying the workmen with
+food, was all going on at once, and without the aid of a mechanic or
+laborer except what the command itself furnished.  But rails and cars
+the men could not make without material, and there was not enough
+rolling stock to keep the road we already had worked to its full
+capacity.  There were no rails except those in use.  To supply these
+deficiencies I ordered eight of the ten engines General McPherson had at
+Vicksburg to be sent to Nashville, and all the cars he had except ten.
+I also ordered the troops in West Tennessee to points on the river and
+on the Memphis and Charleston road, and ordered the cars, locomotives
+and rails from all the railroads except the Memphis and Charleston to
+Nashville.  The military manager of railroads also was directed to
+furnish more rolling stock and, as far as he could, bridge material.
+General Dodge had the work assigned him finished within forty days after
+receiving his orders.  The number of bridges to rebuild was one hundred
+and eighty-two, many of them over deep and wide chasms; the length of
+road repaired was one hundred and two miles.
+
+The enemy's troops, which it was thought were either moving against
+Burnside or were going to Nashville, went no farther than Cleveland.
+Their presence there, however, alarmed the authorities at Washington,
+and, on account of our helpless condition at Chattanooga, caused me much
+uneasiness.  Dispatches were constantly coming, urging me to do
+something for Burnside's relief; calling attention to the importance of
+holding East Tennessee; saying the President was much concerned for the
+protection of the loyal people in that section, etc.  We had not at
+Chattanooga animals to pull a single piece of artillery, much less a
+supply train.  Reinforcements could not help Burnside, because he had
+neither supplies nor ammunition sufficient for them; hardly, indeed,
+bread and meat for the men he had.  There was no relief possible for him
+except by expelling the enemy from Missionary Ridge and about
+Chattanooga.
+
+On the 4th of November Longstreet left our front with about fifteen
+thousand troops, besides Wheeler's cavalry, five thousand more, to go
+against Burnside.  The situation seemed desperate, and was more
+aggravating because nothing could be done until Sherman should get up.
+The authorities at Washington were now more than ever anxious for the
+safety of Burnside's army, and plied me with dispatches faster than
+ever, urging that something should be done for his relief.  On the 7th,
+before Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I ordered
+Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to force the
+return of the troops that had gone up the valley.  I directed him to
+take mules, officers' horses, or animals wherever he could get them to
+move the necessary artillery.  But he persisted in the declaration that
+he could not move a single piece of artillery, and could not see how he
+could possibly comply with the order.  Nothing was left to be done but
+to answer Washington dispatches as best I could; urge Sherman forward,
+although he was making every effort to get forward, and encourage
+Burnside to hold on, assuring him that in a short time he should be
+relieved.  All of Burnside's dispatches showed the greatest confidence
+in his ability to hold his position as long as his ammunition held out.
+He even suggested the propriety of abandoning the territory he held
+south and west of Knoxville, so as to draw the enemy farther from his
+base and make it more difficult for him to get back to Chattanooga when
+the battle should begin.  Longstreet had a railroad as far as Loudon;
+but from there to Knoxville he had to rely on wagon trains. Burnside's
+suggestion, therefore, was a good one, and it was adopted.  On the 14th
+I telegraphed him:
+
+"Sherman's advance has reached Bridgeport.  His whole force will be
+ready to move from there by Tuesday at farthest.  If you can hold
+Longstreet in check until he gets up, or by skirmishing and falling back
+can avoid serious loss to yourself and gain time, I will be able to
+force the enemy back from here and place a force between Longstreet and
+Bragg that must inevitably make the former take to the mountain-passes
+by every available road, to get to his supplies.  Sherman would have
+been here before this but for high water in Elk River driving him some
+thirty miles up that river to cross."
+
+And again later in the day, indicating my plans for his relief, as
+follows:
+
+"Your dispatch and Dana's just received.  Being there, you can tell
+better how to resist Longstreet's attack than I can direct.  With your
+showing you had better give up Kingston at the last moment and save the
+most productive part of your possessions.  Every arrangement is now made
+to throw Sherman's force across the river, just at and below the mouth
+of Chickamauga Creek, as soon as it arrives.  Thomas will attack on his
+left at the same time, and together it is expected to carry Missionary
+Ridge, and from there push a force on to the railroad between Cleveland
+and Dalton.  Hooker will at the same time attack, and, if he can, carry
+Lookout Mountain.  The enemy now seems to be looking for an attack on
+his left flank.  This favors us.  To further confirm this, Sherman's
+advance division will march direct from Whiteside to Trenton.  The
+remainder of his force will pass over a new road just made from
+Whiteside to Kelly's Ferry, thus being concealed from the enemy, and
+leave him to suppose the whole force is going up Lookout Valley.
+Sherman's advance has only just reached Bridgeport.  The rear will only
+reach there on the 16th.  This will bring it to the 19th as the earliest
+day for making the combined movement as desired.  Inform me if you think
+you can sustain yourself until this time.  I can hardly conceive of the
+enemy breaking through at Kingston and pushing for Kentucky.  If they
+should, however, a new problem would be left for solution.  Thomas has
+ordered a division of cavalry to the vicinity of Sparta. I will
+ascertain if they have started, and inform you.  It will be entirely out
+of the question to send you ten thousand men, not because they cannot be
+spared, but how would they be fed after they got even one day east from
+here?"
+
+Longstreet, for some reason or other, stopped at Loudon until the 13th.
+That being the terminus of his railroad communications, it is probable
+he was directed to remain there awaiting orders.  He was in a position
+threatening Knoxville, and at the same time where he could be brought
+back speedily to Chattanooga. The day after Longstreet left Loudon,
+Sherman reached Bridgeport in person and proceeded on to see me that
+evening, the 14th, and reached Chattanooga the next day.
+
+My orders for battle were all prepared in advance of Sherman's arrival
+(*15), except the dates, which could not be fixed while troops to be
+engaged were so far away.  The possession of Lookout Mountain was of no
+special advantage to us now.  Hooker was instructed to send Howard's
+corps to the north side of the Tennessee, thence up behind the hills on
+the north side, and to go into camp opposite Chattanooga; with the
+remainder of the command, Hooker was, at a time to be afterwards
+appointed, to ascend the western slope between the upper and lower
+palisades, and so get into Chattanooga valley.
+
+The plan of battle was for Sherman to attack the enemy's right flank,
+form a line across it, extend our left over South Chickamauga River so
+as to threaten or hold the railroad in Bragg's rear, and thus force him
+either to weaken his lines elsewhere or lose his connection with his
+base at Chickamauga Station.  Hooker was to perform like service on our
+right.  His problem was to get from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley
+in the most expeditious way possible; cross the latter valley rapidly to
+Rossville, south of Bragg's line on Missionary Ridge, form line there
+across the ridge facing north, with his right flank extended to
+Chickamauga Valley east of the ridge, thus threatening the enemy's rear
+on that flank and compelling him to reinforce this also.  Thomas, with
+the Army of the Cumberland, occupied the centre, and was to assault
+while the enemy was engaged with most of his forces on his two flanks.
+
+To carry out this plan, Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at Brown's
+Ferry and move east of Chattanooga to a point opposite the north end of
+Mission Ridge, and to place his command back of the foot-hills out of
+sight of the enemy on the ridge.  There are two streams called
+Chickamauga emptying into the Tennessee River east of Chattanooga--North
+Chickamauga, taking its rise in Tennessee, flowing south, and emptying
+into the river some seven or eight miles east; while the South
+Chickamauga, which takes its rise in Georgia, flows northward, and
+empties into the Tennessee some three or four miles above the town.
+There were now one hundred and sixteen pontoons in the North Chickamauga
+River, their presence there being unknown to the enemy.
+
+At night a division was to be marched up to that point, and at two
+o'clock in the morning moved down with the current, thirty men in each
+boat.  A few were to land east of the mouth of the South Chickamauga,
+capture the pickets there, and then lay a bridge connecting the two
+banks of the river.  The rest were to land on the south side of the
+Tennessee, where Missionary Ridge would strike it if prolonged, and a
+sufficient number of men to man the boats were to push to the north side
+to ferry over the main body of Sherman's command while those left on the
+south side intrenched themselves.  Thomas was to move out from his lines
+facing the ridge, leaving enough of Palmer's corps to guard against an
+attack down the valley.  Lookout Valley being of no present value to us,
+and being untenable by the enemy if we should secure Missionary Ridge,
+Hooker's orders were changed.  His revised orders brought him to
+Chattanooga by the established route north of the Tennessee.  He was
+then to move out to the right to Rossville.
+
+Hooker's position in Lookout Valley was absolutely essential to us so
+long as Chattanooga was besieged.  It was the key to our line for
+supplying the army.  But it was not essential after the enemy was
+dispersed from our front, or even after the battle for this purpose was
+begun.  Hooker's orders, therefore, were designed to get his force past
+Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga Valley, and up to Missionary Ridge.  By
+crossing the north face of Lookout the troops would come into
+Chattanooga Valley in rear of the line held by the enemy across the
+valley, and would necessarily force its evacuation.  Orders were
+accordingly given to march by this route.  But days before the battle
+began the advantages as well as the disadvantages of this plan of action
+were all considered.  The passage over the mountain was a difficult one
+to make in the face of an enemy.  It might consume so much time as to
+lose us the use of the troops engaged in it at other points where they
+were more wanted.  After reaching Chattanooga Valley, the creek of the
+same name, quite a formidable stream to get an army over, had to be
+crossed.  I was perfectly willing that the enemy should keep Lookout
+Mountain until we got through with the troops on Missionary Ridge.  By
+marching Hooker to the north side of the river, thence up the stream,
+and recrossing at the town, he could be got in position at any named
+time; when in this new position, he would have Chattanooga Creek behind
+him, and the attack on Missionary Ridge would unquestionably cause the
+evacuation by the enemy of his line across the valley and on Lookout
+Mountain.  Hooker's order was changed accordingly.  As explained
+elsewhere, the original order had to be reverted to, because of a flood
+in the river rendering the bridge at Brown's Ferry unsafe for the
+passage of troops at the exact juncture when it was wanted to bring all
+the troops together against Missionary Ridge.
+
+The next day after Sherman's arrival I took him, with Generals Thomas
+and Smith and other officers, to the north side of the river, and showed
+them the ground over which Sherman had to march, and pointed out
+generally what he was expected to do.  I, as well as the authorities in
+Washington, was still in a great state of anxiety for Burnside's safety.
+Burnside himself, I believe, was the only one who did not share in this
+anxiety. Nothing could be done for him, however, until Sherman's troops
+were up.  As soon, therefore, as the inspection was over, Sherman
+started for Bridgeport to hasten matters, rowing a boat himself, I
+believe, from Kelly's Ferry.  Sherman had left Bridgeport the night
+of the 14th, reached Chattanooga the evening of the 15th, made the
+above-described inspection on the morning of the 16th, and started back
+the same evening to hurry up his command, fully appreciating the
+importance of time.
+
+His march was conducted with as much expedition as the roads and season
+would admit of.  By the 20th he was himself at Brown's Ferry with the
+head of column, but many of his troops were far behind, and one division
+(Ewing's) was at Trenton, sent that way to create the impression that
+Lookout was to be taken from the south.  Sherman received his orders at
+the ferry, and was asked if he could not be ready for the assault the
+following morning.  News had been received that the battle had been
+commenced at Knoxville.  Burnside had been cut off from telegraphic
+communications.  The President, the Secretary of War, and General
+Halleck, were in an agony of suspense.  My suspense was also great, but
+more endurable, because I was where I could soon do something to relieve
+the situation.  It was impossible to get Sherman's troops up for the
+next day.  I then asked him if they could not be got up to make the
+assault on the morning of the 22d, and ordered Thomas to move on that
+date.  But the elements were against us.  It rained all the 20th and
+21st. The river rose so rapidly that it was difficult to keep the
+pontoons in place.
+
+General Orlando B. Willcox, a division commander under Burnside, was at
+this time occupying a position farther up the valley than Knoxville
+--about Maynardville--and was still in telegraphic communication with the
+North.  A dispatch was received from him saying that he was threatened
+from the east.  The following was sent in reply:
+
+"If you can communicate with General Burnside, say to him that our
+attack on Bragg will commence in the morning.  If successful, such a
+move will be made as I think will relieve East Tennessee, if he can hold
+out.  Longstreet passing through our lines to Kentucky need not cause
+alarm.  He would find the country so bare that he would lose his
+transportation and artillery before reaching Kentucky, and would meet
+such a force before he got through, that he could not return."
+
+Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as fast as
+his troops could be got up.  The crossing had to be effected in full
+view of the enemy on the top of Lookout Mountain.  Once over, however,
+the troops soon disappeared behind the detached hill on the north side,
+and would not come to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain
+or Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike the
+bank of the river.  But when Sherman's advance reached a point opposite
+the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be remembered, had been
+concealed behind the hills on the north side, took up his line of march
+to join the troops on the south side.  His crossing was in full view
+both from Missionary Ridge and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of
+course supposed these troops to be Sherman's.  This enabled Sherman to
+get to his assigned position without discovery.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE ENEMY
+--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN
+--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage--rains falling so
+heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the river at Brown's
+Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of the bridge; news coming of
+a battle raging at Knoxville; of Willcox being threatened by a force
+from the east--a letter was received from Bragg which contained these
+words:  "As there may still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I
+deem it proper to notify you that prudence would dictate their early
+withdrawal." Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to
+deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was.  On the
+22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg was leaving
+our front, and on that day Buckner's division was sent to reinforce
+Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division started to follow but was
+recalled.  The object of Bragg's letter, no doubt, was in some way to
+detain me until Knoxville could be captured, and his troops there be
+returned to Chattanooga.
+
+During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats, completed,
+one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to and placed in North
+Chickamauga. The material for the roadway over these was deposited out
+of view of the enemy within a few hundred yards of the bank of the
+Tennessee, where the north end of the bridge was to rest.
+
+Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress in
+Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations for his
+relief.  I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with the Army of the
+Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on the 24th.
+
+The position occupied by the Army of the Cumberland had been made very
+strong for defence during the months it had been besieged.  The line was
+about a mile from the town, and extended from Citico Creek, a small
+stream running near the base of Missionary Ridge and emptying into the
+Tennessee about two miles below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on
+the left, to Chattanooga Creek on the right.  All commanding points on
+the line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery.  The
+important elevations within the line had all been carefully fortified
+and supplied with a proper armament.  Among the elevations so fortified
+was one to the east of the town, named Fort Wood.  It owed its
+importance chiefly to the fact that it lay between the town and
+Missionary Ridge, where most of the strength of the enemy was.  Fort
+Wood had in it twenty-two pieces of artillery, most of which would reach
+the nearer points of the enemy's line.  On the morning of the 23d
+Thomas, according to instructions, moved Granger's corps of two
+divisions, Sheridan and T. J. Wood commanding, to the foot of Fort Wood,
+and formed them into line as if going on parade, Sheridan on the right,
+Wood to the left, extending to or near Citico Creek.  Palmer, commanding
+the 14th corps, held that part of our line facing south and southwest.
+He supported Sheridan with one division (Baird's), while his other
+division under Johnson remained in the trenches, under arms, ready to be
+moved to any point. Howard's corps was moved in rear of the centre.  The
+picket lines were within a few hundred yards of each other.  At two
+o'clock in the afternoon all were ready to advance.  By this time the
+clouds had lifted so that the enemy could see from his elevated position
+all that was going on.  The signal for advance was given by a booming of
+cannon from Fort Wood and other points on the line.  The rebel pickets
+were soon driven back upon the main guards, which occupied minor and
+detached heights between the main ridge and our lines.  These too were
+carried before halting, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their
+advance guards.  But it was not without loss on both sides. This
+movement secured to us a line fully a mile in advance of the one we
+occupied in the morning, and the one which the enemy had occupied up to
+this time.  The fortifications were rapidly turned to face the other
+way.  During the following night they were made strong.  We lost in this
+preliminary action about eleven hundred killed and wounded, while the
+enemy probably lost quite as heavily, including the prisoners that were
+captured. With the exception of the firing of artillery, kept up from
+Missionary Ridge and Fort Wood until night closed in, this ended the
+fighting for the first day.
+
+The advantage was greatly on our side now, and if I could only have been
+assured that Burnside could hold out ten days longer I should have
+rested more easily.  But we were doing the best we could for him and the
+cause.
+
+By the night of the 23d Sherman's command was in a position to move,
+though one division (Osterhaus's) had not yet crossed the river at
+Brown's Ferry.  The continuous rise in the Tennessee had rendered it
+impossible to keep the bridge at that point in condition for troops to
+cross; but I was determined to move that night even without this
+division.  Orders were sent to Osterhaus accordingly to report to
+Hooker, if he could not cross by eight o'clock on the morning of the
+24th.  Because of the break in the bridge, Hooker's orders were again
+changed, but this time only back to those first given to him.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been assigned to duty as Chief Engineer of the
+Military Division.  To him were given the general direction of moving
+troops by the boats from North Chickamauga, laying the bridge after they
+reached their position, and generally all the duties pertaining to his
+office of chief engineer.  During the night General Morgan L. Smith's
+division was marched to the point where the pontoons were, and the
+brigade of Giles A. Smith was selected for the delicate duty of manning
+the boats and surprising the enemy's pickets on the south bank of the
+river.  During this night also General J. M. Brannan, chief of
+artillery, moved forty pieces of artillery, belonging to the Army of the
+Cumberland, and placed them on the north side of the river so as to
+command the ground opposite, to aid in protecting the approach to the
+point where the south end of the bridge was to rest.  He had to use
+Sherman's artillery horses for this purpose, Thomas having none.
+
+At two o'clock in the morning, November 24th, Giles A. Smith pushed out
+from the North Chickamauga with his one hundred and sixteen boats, each
+loaded with thirty brave and well-armed men.  The boats with their
+precious freight dropped down quietly with the current to avoid
+attracting the attention of any one who could convey information to the
+enemy, until arriving near the mouth of South Chickamauga. Here a few
+boats were landed, the troops debarked, and a rush was made upon the
+picket guard known to be at that point.  The guard were surprised, and
+twenty of their number captured.  The remainder of the troops effected a
+landing at the point where the bridge was to start, with equally good
+results.  The work of ferrying over Sherman's command from the north
+side of the Tennessee was at once commenced, using the pontoons for the
+purpose.  A steamer was also brought up from the town to assist.  The
+rest of M. L. Smith's division came first, then the division of John E.
+Smith.  The troops as they landed were put to work intrenching their
+position.  By daylight the two entire divisions were over, and well
+covered by the works they had built.
+
+The work of laying the bridge, on which to cross the artillery and
+cavalry, was now begun.  The ferrying over the infantry was continued
+with the steamer and the pontoons, taking the pontoons, however, as fast
+as they were wanted to put in their place in the bridge.  By a little
+past noon the bridge was completed, as well as one over the South
+Chickamauga connecting the troops left on that side with their comrades
+below, and all the infantry and artillery were on the south bank of the
+Tennessee.
+
+Sherman at once formed his troops for assault on Missionary Ridge.  By
+one o'clock he started with M. L. Smith on his left, keeping nearly the
+course of Chickamauga River; J. E. Smith next to the right and a little
+to the rear; and Ewing still farther to the right and also a little to
+the rear of J. E. Smith's command, in column, ready to deploy to the
+right if an enemy should come from that direction.  A good skirmish line
+preceded each of these columns.  Soon the foot of the hill was reached;
+the skirmishers pushed directly up, followed closely by their supports.
+By half-past three Sherman was in possession of the height without
+having sustained much loss.  A brigade from each division was now
+brought up, and artillery was dragged to the top of the hill by hand.
+The enemy did not seem to be aware of this movement until the top of the
+hill was gained.  There had been a drizzling rain during the day, and
+the clouds were so low that Lookout Mountain and the top of Missionary
+Ridge were obscured from the view of persons in the valley.  But now the
+enemy opened fire upon their assailants, and made several attempts with
+their skirmishers to drive them away, but without avail.  Later in the
+day a more determined attack was made, but this, too, failed, and
+Sherman was left to fortify what he had gained.
+
+Sherman's cavalry took up its line of march soon after the bridge was
+completed, and by half-past three the whole of it was over both bridges
+and on its way to strike the enemy's communications at Chickamauga
+Station.  All of Sherman's command was now south of the Tennessee.
+During the afternoon General Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and
+carried from the field.
+
+Thomas having done on the 23d what was expected of him on the 24th,
+there was nothing for him to do this day except to strengthen his
+position.  Howard, however, effected a crossing of Citico Creek and a
+junction with Sherman, and was directed to report to him.  With two or
+three regiments of his command he moved in the morning along the banks
+of the Tennessee, and reached the point where the bridge was being laid.
+He went out on the bridge as far as it was completed from the south end,
+and saw Sherman superintending the work from the north side and moving
+himself south as fast as an additional boat was put in and the roadway
+put upon it.  Howard reported to his new chief across the chasm between
+them, which was now narrow and in a few minutes closed.
+
+While these operations were going on to the east of Chattanooga, Hooker
+was engaged on the west.  He had three divisions: Osterhaus's, of the
+15th corps, Army of the Tennessee; Geary's, 12th corps, Army of the
+Potomac; and Cruft's, 14th corps, Army of the Cumberland.  Geary was on
+the right at Wauhatchie, Cruft at the centre, and Osterhaus near Brown's
+Ferry.  These troops were all west of Lookout Creek.  The enemy had the
+east bank of the creek strongly picketed and intrenched, and three
+brigades of troops in the rear to reinforce them if attacked.  These
+brigades occupied the summit of the mountain.  General Carter L.
+Stevenson was in command of the whole.  Why any troops, except artillery
+with a small infantry guard, were kept on the mountain-top, I do not
+see.  A hundred men could have held the summit--which is a palisade for
+more than thirty feet down--against the assault of any number of men
+from the position Hooker occupied.
+
+The side of Lookout Mountain confronting Hooker's command was rugged,
+heavily timbered, and full of chasms, making it difficult to advance
+with troops, even in the absence of an opposing force.  Farther up, the
+ground becomes more even and level, and was in cultivation.  On the east
+side the slope is much more gradual, and a good wagon road, zigzagging
+up it, connects the town of Chattanooga with the summit.
+
+Early on the morning of the 24th Hooker moved Geary's division,
+supported by a brigade of Cruft's, up Lookout Creek, to effect a
+crossing.  The remainder of Cruft's division was to seize the bridge
+over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad. Osterhaus was to move
+up to the bridge and cross it.  The bridge was seized by Gross's brigade
+after a slight skirmish with the pickets guarding it.  This attracted
+the enemy so that Geary's movement farther up was not observed.  A heavy
+mist obscured him from the view of the troops on the top of the
+mountain.  He crossed the creek almost unobserved, and captured the
+picket of over forty men on guard near by.  He then commenced ascending
+the mountain directly in his front.  By this time the enemy was seen
+coming down from their camps on the mountain slope, and filing into
+their rifle-pits to contest the crossing of the bridge.  By eleven
+o'clock the bridge was complete.  Osterhaus was up, and after some sharp
+skirmishing the enemy was driven away with considerable loss in killed
+and captured.
+
+While the operations at the bridge were progressing, Geary was pushing
+up the hill over great obstacles, resisted by the enemy directly in his
+front, and in face of the guns on top of the mountain.  The enemy,
+seeing their left flank and rear menaced, gave way, and were followed by
+Cruft and Osterhaus.  Soon these were up abreast of Geary, and the whole
+command pushed up the hill, driving the enemy in advance.  By noon Geary
+had gained the open ground on the north slope of the mountain, with his
+right close up to the base of the upper palisade, but there were strong
+fortifications in his front.  The rest of the command coming up, a line
+was formed from the base of the upper palisade to the mouth of
+Chattanooga Creek.
+
+Thomas and I were on the top of Orchard Knob.  Hooker's advance now made
+our line a continuous one.  It was in full view, extending from the
+Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed, up Chickamauga River to the
+base of Mission Ridge, over the top of the north end of the ridge to
+Chattanooga Valley, then along parallel to the ridge a mile or more,
+across the valley to the mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the slope
+of Lookout Mountain to the foot of the upper palisade.  The day was
+hazy, so that Hooker's operations were not visible to us except at
+moments when the clouds would rise.  But the sound of his artillery and
+musketry was heard incessantly.  The enemy on his front was partially
+fortified, but was soon driven out of his works.  During the afternoon
+the clouds, which had so obscured the top of Lookout all day as to hide
+whatever was going on from the view of those below, settled down and
+made it so dark where Hooker was as to stop operations for the time.  At
+four o'clock Hooker reported his position as impregnable.  By a little
+after five direct communication was established, and a brigade of troops
+was sent from Chattanooga to reinforce him.  These troops had to cross
+Chattanooga Creek and met with some opposition, but soon overcame it,
+and by night the commander, General Carlin, reported to Hooker and was
+assigned to his left.  I now telegraphed to Washington:  "The fight
+to-day progressed favorably.  Sherman carried the end of Missionary
+Ridge, and his right is now at the tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga
+Creek. Troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the mountain, and
+now hold the eastern slope and a point high up.  Hooker reports two
+thousand prisoners taken, besides which a small number have fallen into
+our hands from Missionary Ridge."  The next day the President replied:
+"Your dispatches as to fighting on Monday and Tuesday are here.  Well
+done. Many thanks to all.  Remember Burnside."  And Halleck also
+telegraphed: "I congratulate you on the success thus far of your plans.
+I fear that Burnside is hard pushed, and that any further delay may
+prove fatal.  I know you will do all in your power to relieve him."
+
+The division of Jefferson C. Davis, Army of the Cumberland, had been
+sent to the North Chickamauga to guard the pontoons as they were
+deposited in the river, and to prevent all ingress or egress of
+citizens.  On the night of the 24th his division, having crossed with
+Sherman, occupied our extreme left from the upper bridge over the plain
+to the north base of Missionary Ridge. Firing continued to a late hour
+in the night, but it was not connected with an assault at any point.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE ENEMY
+--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON CHATTANOOGA.
+
+At twelve o'clock at night, when all was quiet, I began to give orders
+for the next day, and sent a dispatch to Willcox to encourage Burnside.
+Sherman was directed to attack at daylight.  Hooker was ordered to move
+at the same hour, and endeavor to intercept the enemy's retreat if he
+still remained; if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville and
+operate against the left and rear of the force on Missionary Ridge.
+Thomas was not to move until Hooker had reached Missionary Ridge.  As I
+was with him on Orchard Knob, he would not move without further orders
+from me.
+
+The morning of the 25th opened clear and bright, and the whole field was
+in full view from the top of Orchard Knob.  It remained so all day.
+Bragg's headquarters were in full view, and officers--presumably staff
+officers--could be seen coming and going constantly.
+
+The point of ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was almost
+disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the enemy. A low pass, over
+which there is a wagon road crossing the hill, and near which there is a
+railroad tunnel, intervenes between the two hills.  The problem now was
+to get to the main ridge. The enemy was fortified on the point; and back
+farther, where the ground was still higher, was a second fortification
+commanding the first.  Sherman was out as soon as it was light enough to
+see, and by sunrise his command was in motion.  Three brigades held the
+hill already gained.  Morgan L. Smith moved along the east base of
+Missionary Ridge; Loomis along the west base, supported by two brigades
+of John E. Smith's division; and Corse with his brigade was between the
+two, moving directly towards the hill to be captured.  The ridge is
+steep and heavily wooded on the east side, where M. L. Smith's troops
+were advancing, but cleared and with a more gentle slope on the west
+side.  The troops advanced rapidly and carried the extreme end of the
+rebel works.  Morgan L. Smith advanced to a point which cut the enemy
+off from the railroad bridge and the means of bringing up supplies by
+rail from Chickamauga Station, where the main depot was located.  The
+enemy made brave and strenuous efforts to drive our troops from the
+position we had gained, but without success.  The contest lasted for two
+hours.  Corse, a brave and efficient commander, was badly wounded in
+this assault.  Sherman now threatened both Bragg's flank and his stores,
+and made it necessary for him to weaken other points of his line to
+strengthen his right.  From the position I occupied I could see column
+after column of Bragg's forces moving against Sherman.  Every
+Confederate gun that could be brought to bear upon the Union forces was
+concentrated upon him.  J. E. Smith, with two brigades, charged up the
+west side of the ridge to the support of Corse's command, over open
+ground and in the face of a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry,
+and reached the very parapet of the enemy.  He lay here for a time, but
+the enemy coming with a heavy force upon his right flank, he was
+compelled to fall back, followed by the foe.  A few hundred yards
+brought Smith's troops into a wood, where they were speedily reformed,
+when they charged and drove the attacking party back to his
+intrenchments.
+
+Seeing the advance, repulse, and second advance of J. E. Smith from the
+position I occupied, I directed Thomas to send a division to reinforce
+him.  Baird's division was accordingly sent from the right of Orchard
+Knob.  It had to march a considerable distance directly under the eye of
+the enemy to reach its position.  Bragg at once commenced massing in the
+same direction.  This was what I wanted.  But it had now got to be late
+in the afternoon, and I had expected before this to see Hooker crossing
+the ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville and compelling Bragg to mass
+in that direction also.
+
+The enemy had evacuated Lookout Mountain during the night, as I expected
+he would.  In crossing the valley he burned the bridge over Chattanooga
+Creek, and did all he could to obstruct the roads behind him.  Hooker
+was off bright and early, with no obstructions in his front but distance
+and the destruction above named.  He was detained four hours crossing
+Chattanooga Creek, and thus was lost the immediate advantage I expected
+from his forces.  His reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it was
+to be the signal for Thomas's assault of the ridge.  But Sherman's
+condition was getting so critical that the assault for his relief could
+not be delayed any longer.
+
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions had been lying under arms from early
+morning, ready to move the instant the signal was given. I now directed
+Thomas to order the charge at once (*16). I watched eagerly to see the
+effect, and became impatient at last that there was no indication of any
+charge being made.  The centre of the line which was to make the charge
+was near where Thomas and I stood, but concealed from view by an
+intervening forest.  Turning to Thomas to inquire what caused the delay,
+I was surprised to see Thomas J. Wood, one of the division commanders
+who was to make the charge, standing talking to him.  I spoke to General
+Wood, asking him why he did not charge as ordered an hour before.  He
+replied very promptly that this was the first he had heard of it, but
+that he had been ready all day to move at a moment's notice.  I told him
+to make the charge at once.  He was off in a moment, and in an
+incredibly short time loud cheering was heard, and he and Sheridan were
+driving the enemy's advance before them towards Missionary Ridge.  The
+Confederates were strongly intrenched on the crest of the ridge in front
+of us, and had a second line half-way down and another at the base. Our
+men drove the troops in front of the lower line of rifle-pits so
+rapidly, and followed them so closely, that rebel and Union troops went
+over the first line of works almost at the same time.  Many rebels were
+captured and sent to the rear under the fire of their own friends higher
+up the hill.  Those that were not captured retreated, and were pursued.
+The retreating hordes being between friends and pursuers caused the
+enemy to fire high to avoid killing their own men.  In fact, on that
+occasion the Union soldier nearest the enemy was in the safest position.
+Without awaiting further orders or stopping to reform, on our troops
+went to the second line of works; over that and on for the crest--thus
+effectually carrying out my orders of the 18th for the battle and of the
+24th (*17) for this charge.
+
+I watched their progress with intense interest.  The fire along the
+rebel line was terrific.  Cannon and musket balls filled the air:  but
+the damage done was in small proportion to the ammunition expended.  The
+pursuit continued until the crest was reached, and soon our men were
+seen climbing over the Confederate barriers at different points in front
+of both Sheridan's and Wood's divisions.  The retreat of the enemy along
+most of his line was precipitate and the panic so great that Bragg and
+his officers lost all control over their men.  Many were captured, and
+thousands threw away their arms in their flight.
+
+Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga River at a
+point above where the enemy crossed.  He met some resistance from troops
+occupying a second hill in rear of Missionary Ridge, probably to cover
+the retreat of the main body and of the artillery and trains.  It was
+now getting dark, but Sheridan, without halting on that account pushed
+his men forward up this second hill slowly and without attracting the
+attention of the men placed to defend it, while he detached to the right
+and left to surround the position.  The enemy discovered the movement
+before these dispositions were complete, and beat a hasty retreat,
+leaving artillery, wagon trains, and many prisoners in our hands.  To
+Sheridan's prompt movement the Army of the Cumberland, and the nation,
+are indebted for the bulk of the capture of prisoners, artillery, and
+small-arms that day. Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way
+would not have been accomplished.
+
+While the advance up Mission Ridge was going forward, General Thomas
+with staff, General Gordon Granger, commander of the corps making the
+assault, and myself and staff occupied Orchard Knob, from which the
+entire field could be observed.  The moment the troops were seen going
+over the last line of rebel defences, I ordered Granger to join his
+command, and mounting my horse I rode to the front.  General Thomas left
+about the same time. Sheridan on the extreme right was already in
+pursuit of the enemy east of the ridge.  Wood, who commanded the
+division to the left of Sheridan, accompanied his men on horseback in
+the charge, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit.  To the left, in
+Baird's front where Bragg's troops had massed against Sherman, the
+resistance was more stubborn and the contest lasted longer.  I ordered
+Granger to follow the enemy with Wood's division, but he was so much
+excited, and kept up such a roar of musketry in the direction the enemy
+had taken, that by the time I could stop the firing the enemy had got
+well out of the way.  The enemy confronting Sherman, now seeing
+everything to their left giving way, fled also.  Sherman, however, was
+not aware of the extent of our success until after nightfall, when he
+received orders to pursue at daylight in the morning.
+
+As soon as Sherman discovered that the enemy had left his front he
+directed his reserves, Davis's division of the Army of the Cumberland,
+to push over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the Chickamauga, and to
+move forward to Chickamauga Station.  He ordered Howard to move up the
+stream some two miles to where there was an old bridge, repair it during
+the night, and follow Davis at four o'clock in the morning.  Morgan L.
+Smith was ordered to reconnoitre the tunnel to see if that was still
+held.  Nothing was found there but dead bodies of men of both armies.
+The rest of Sherman's command was directed to follow Howard at daylight
+in the morning to get on to the railroad towards Graysville.
+
+Hooker, as stated, was detained at Chattanooga Creek by the destruction
+of the bridge at that point.  He got his troops over, with the exception
+of the artillery, by fording the stream at a little after three o'clock.
+Leaving his artillery to follow when the bridge should be reconstructed,
+he pushed on with the remainder of his command.  At Rossville he came
+upon the flank of a division of the enemy, which soon commenced a
+retreat along the ridge.  This threw them on Palmer.  They could make
+but little resistance in the position they were caught in, and as many
+of them as could do so escaped.  Many, however, were captured.  Hooker's
+position during the night of the 25th was near Rossville, extending east
+of the ridge.  Palmer was on his left, on the road to Graysville.
+
+During the night I telegraphed to Willcox that Bragg had been defeated,
+and that immediate relief would be sent to Burnside if he could hold
+out; to Halleck I sent an announcement of our victory, and informed him
+that forces would be sent up the valley to relieve Burnside.
+
+Before the battle of Chattanooga opened I had taken measures for the
+relief of Burnside the moment the way should be clear. Thomas was
+directed to have the little steamer that had been built at Chattanooga
+loaded to its capacity with rations and ammunition.  Granger's corps was
+to move by the south bank of the Tennessee River to the mouth of the
+Holston, and up that to Knoxville accompanied by the boat.  In addition
+to the supplies transported by boat, the men were to carry forty rounds
+of ammunition in their cartridge-boxes, and four days' rations in
+haversacks.
+
+In the battle of Chattanooga, troops from the Army of the Potomac, from
+the Army of the Tennessee, and from the Army of the Cumberland
+participated.  In fact, the accidents growing out of the heavy rains and
+the sudden rise in the Tennessee River so mingled the troops that the
+organizations were not kept together, under their respective commanders,
+during the battle.  Hooker, on the right, had Geary's division of the
+12th corps, Army of the Potomac; Osterhaus's division of the 15th corps,
+Army of the Tennessee; and Cruft's division of the Army of the
+Cumberland.  Sherman had three divisions of his own army, Howard's corps
+from the Army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C. Davis's division of the
+Army of the Cumberland.  There was no jealousy--hardly rivalry.  Indeed,
+I doubt whether officers or men took any note at the time of the fact of
+this intermingling of commands.  All saw a defiant foe surrounding them,
+and took it for granted that every move was intended to dislodge him,
+and it made no difference where the troops came from so that the end was
+accomplished.
+
+The victory at Chattanooga was won against great odds, considering the
+advantage the enemy had of position, and was accomplished more easily
+than was expected by reason of Bragg's making several grave mistakes:
+first, in sending away his ablest corps commander with over twenty
+thousand troops; second, in sending away a division of troops on the eve
+of battle; third, in placing so much of a force on the plain in front of
+his impregnable position.
+
+It was known that Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Bragg on Missionary
+Ridge a short time before my reaching Chattanooga. It was reported and
+believed that he had come out to reconcile a serious difference between
+Bragg and Longstreet, and finding this difficult to do, planned the
+campaign against Knoxville, to be conducted by the latter general.  I
+had known both Bragg and Longstreet before the war, the latter very
+well.  We had been three years at West Point together, and, after my
+graduation, for a time in the same regiment.  Then we served together in
+the Mexican War.  I had known Bragg in Mexico, and met him occasionally
+subsequently.  I could well understand how there might be an
+irreconcilable difference between them.
+
+Bragg was a remarkably intelligent and well-informed man, professionally
+and otherwise.  He was also thoroughly upright. But he was possessed of
+an irascible temper, and was naturally disputatious.  A man of the
+highest moral character and the most correct habits, yet in the old army
+he was in frequent trouble. As a subordinate he was always on the
+lookout to catch his commanding officer infringing his prerogatives; as
+a post commander he was equally vigilant to detect the slightest
+neglect, even of the most trivial order.
+
+I have heard in the old army an anecdote very characteristic of Bragg.
+On one occasion, when stationed at a post of several companies commanded
+by a field officer, he was himself commanding one of the companies and
+at the same time acting as post quartermaster and commissary.  He was
+first lieutenant at the time, but his captain was detached on other
+duty.  As commander of the company he made a requisition upon the
+quartermaster--himself--for something he wanted.  As quartermaster he
+declined to fill the requisition, and endorsed on the back of it his
+reasons for so doing.  As company commander he responded to this, urging
+that his requisition called for nothing but what he was entitled to, and
+that it was the duty of the quartermaster to fill it.  As quartermaster
+he still persisted that he was right.  In this condition of affairs
+Bragg referred the whole matter to the commanding officer of the post.
+The latter, when he saw the nature of the matter referred, exclaimed:
+"My God, Mr. Bragg, you have quarrelled with every officer in the army,
+and now you are quarrelling with yourself!"
+
+Longstreet was an entirely different man.  He was brave, honest,
+intelligent, a very capable soldier, subordinate to his superiors, just
+and kind to his subordinates, but jealous of his own rights, which he
+had the courage to maintain.  He was never on the lookout to detect a
+slight, but saw one as soon as anybody when intentionally given.
+
+It may be that Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for the reason
+stated, but because Mr. Davis had an exalted opinion of his own military
+genius, and thought he saw a chance of "killing two birds with one
+stone."  On several occasions during the war he came to the relief of
+the Union army by means of his SUPERIOR MILITARY GENIUS.
+
+I speak advisedly when I saw Mr. Davis prided himself on his military
+capacity.  He says so himself, virtually, in his answer to the notice of
+his nomination to the Confederate presidency. Some of his generals have
+said so in their writings since the downfall of the Confederacy.
+
+My recollection is that my first orders for the battle of Chattanooga
+were as fought.  Sherman was to get on Missionary Ridge, as he did;
+Hooker to cross the north end of Lookout Mountain, as he did, sweep
+across Chattanooga Valley and get across the south end of the ridge near
+Rossville.  When Hooker had secured that position the Army of the
+Cumberland was to assault in the centre.  Before Sherman arrived,
+however, the order was so changed as that Hooker was directed to come to
+Chattanooga by the north bank of the Tennessee River.  The waters in the
+river, owing to heavy rains, rose so fast that the bridge at Brown's
+Ferry could not be maintained in a condition to be used in crossing
+troops upon it.  For this reason Hooker's orders were changed by
+telegraph back to what they were originally.------
+
+NOTE.--From this point on this volume was written (with the exception of
+the campaign in the Wilderness, which had been previously written) by
+General Grant, after his great illness in April, and the present
+arrangement of the subject-matter was made by him between the 10th and
+18th of July, 1885.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE--VISITING
+KNOXVILLE-CIPHER CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING ORDERS.
+
+Chattanooga now being secure to the National troops beyond any doubt, I
+immediately turned my attention to relieving Knoxville, about the
+situation of which the President, in particular, was very anxious.
+Prior to the battles, I had made preparations for sending troops to the
+relief of Burnside at the very earliest moment after securing
+Chattanooga. We had there two little steamers which had been built and
+fitted up from the remains of old boats and put in condition to run.
+General Thomas was directed to have one of these boats loaded with
+rations and ammunition and move up the Tennessee River to the mouth of
+the Holston, keeping the boat all the time abreast of the troops.
+General Granger, with the 4th corps reinforced to make twenty thousand
+men, was to start the moment Missionary Ridge was carried, and under no
+circumstances were the troops to return to their old camps.  With the
+provisions carried, and the little that could be got in the country, it
+was supposed he could hold out until Longstreet was driven away, after
+which event East Tennessee would furnish abundance of food for
+Burnside's army and his own also.
+
+While following the enemy on the 26th, and again on the morning of the
+27th, part of the time by the road to Ringgold, I directed Thomas,
+verbally, not to start Granger until he received further orders from me;
+advising him that I was going to the front to more fully see the
+situation.  I was not right sure but that Bragg's troops might be over
+their stampede by the time they reached Dalton.  In that case Bragg
+might think it well to take the road back to Cleveland, move thence
+towards Knoxville, and, uniting with Longstreet, make a sudden dash upon
+Burnside.
+
+When I arrived at Ringgold, however, on the 27th, I saw that the retreat
+was most earnest.  The enemy had been throwing away guns, caissons and
+small-arms, abandoning provisions, and, altogether, seemed to be moving
+like a disorganized mob, with the exception of Cleburne's division,
+which was acting as rear-guard to cover the retreat.
+
+When Hooker moved from Rossville toward Ringgold Palmer's division took
+the road to Graysville, and Sherman moved by the way of Chickamauga
+Station toward the same point.  As soon as I saw the situation at
+Ringgold I sent a staff officer back to Chattanooga to advise Thomas of
+the condition of affairs, and direct him by my orders to start Granger
+at once.  Feeling now that the troops were already on the march for the
+relief of Burnside I was in no hurry to get back, but stayed at Ringgold
+through the day to prepare for the return of our troops.
+
+Ringgold is in a valley in the mountains, situated between East
+Chickamauga Creek and Taylor's Ridge, and about twenty miles south-east
+from Chattanooga. I arrived just as the artillery that Hooker had left
+behind at Chattanooga Creek got up.  His men were attacking Cleburne's
+division, which had taken a strong position in the adjacent hills so as
+to cover the retreat of the Confederate army through a narrow gorge
+which presents itself at that point.  Just beyond the gorge the valley
+is narrow, and the creek so tortuous that it has to be crossed a great
+many times in the course of the first mile.  This attack was
+unfortunate, and cost us some men unnecessarily.  Hooker captured,
+however, 3 pieces of artillery and 230 prisoners, and 130 rebel dead
+were left upon the field.
+
+I directed General Hooker to collect the flour and wheat in the
+neighboring mills for the use of the troops, and then to destroy the
+mills and all other property that could be of use to the enemy, but not
+to make any wanton destruction.
+
+At this point Sherman came up, having reached Graysville with his
+troops, where he found Palmer had preceded him.  Palmer had picked up
+many prisoners and much abandoned property on the route.  I went back in
+the evening to Graysville with Sherman, remained there over night and
+did not return to Chattanooga until the following night, the 29th.  I
+then found that Thomas had not yet started Granger, thus having lost a
+full day which I deemed of so much importance in determining the fate of
+Knoxville.  Thomas and Granger were aware that on the 23d of the month
+Burnside had telegraphed that his supplies would last for ten or twelve
+days and during that time he could hold out against Longstreet, but if
+not relieved within the time indicated he would be obliged to surrender
+or attempt to retreat.  To effect a retreat would have been an
+impossibility.  He was already very low in ammunition, and with an army
+pursuing he would not have been able to gather supplies.
+
+Finding that Granger had not only not started but was very reluctant to
+go, he having decided for himself that it was a very bad move to make, I
+sent word to General Sherman of the situation and directed him to march
+to the relief of Knoxville.  I also gave him the problem that we had to
+solve--that Burnside had now but four to six days supplies left, and
+that he must be relieved within that time.
+
+Sherman, fortunately, had not started on his return from Graysville,
+having sent out detachments on the railroad which runs from Dalton to
+Cleveland and Knoxville to thoroughly destroy that road, and these
+troops had not yet returned to camp.  I was very loath to send Sherman,
+because his men needed rest after their long march from Memphis and hard
+fighting at Chattanooga. But I had become satisfied that Burnside would
+not be rescued if his relief depended upon General Granger's movements.
+
+Sherman had left his camp on the north side of the Tennessee River, near
+Chattanooga, on the night of the 23d, the men having two days' cooked
+rations in their haversacks.  Expecting to be back in their tents by
+that time and to be engaged in battle while out, they took with them
+neither overcoats nor blankets. The weather was already cold, and at
+night they must have suffered more or less.  The two days' rations had
+already lasted them five days; and they were now to go through a country
+which had been run over so much by Confederate troops that there was but
+little probability of finding much food.  They did, however, succeed in
+capturing some flour.  They also found a good deal of bran in some of
+the mills, which the men made up into bread; and in this and other ways
+they eked out an existence until they could reach Knoxville.
+
+I was so very anxious that Burnside should get news of the steps being
+taken for his relief, and thus induce him to hold out a little longer if
+it became necessary, that I determined to send a message to him.  I
+therefore sent a member of my staff, Colonel J. H. Wilson, to get into
+Knoxville if he could report to Burnside the situation fully, and give
+him all the encouragement possible.  Mr. Charles A. Dana was at
+Chattanooga during the battle, and had been there even before I assumed
+command.  Mr. Dana volunteered to accompany Colonel Wilson, and did
+accompany him.  I put the information of what was being done for the
+relief of Knoxville into writing, and directed that in some way or other
+it must be secretly managed so as to have a copy of this fall into the
+hands of General Longstreet.  They made the trip safely; General
+Longstreet did learn of Sherman's coming in advance of his reaching
+there, and Burnside was prepared to hold out even for a longer time if
+it had been necessary.
+
+Burnside had stretched a boom across the Holston River to catch scows
+and flats as they floated down.  On these, by previous arrangements with
+the loyal people of East Tennessee, were placed flour and corn, with
+forage and provisions generally, and were thus secured for the use of
+the Union troops.  They also drove cattle into Knoxville by the east
+side, which was not covered by the enemy; so that when relief arrived
+Burnside had more provisions on hand than when he had last reported.
+
+Our total loss (not including Burnside's) in all these engagements
+amounted to 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330 missing.  We captured
+6,142 prisoners--about 50 per cent. more than the enemy reported for
+their total loss--40 pieces of artillery, 69 artillery carriages and
+caissons and over 7,000 stands of small-arms.  The enemy's loss in arms
+was probably much greater than here reported, because we picked up a
+great many that were found abandoned.
+
+I had at Chattanooga, in round numbers, about 60,000 men.  Bragg had
+about half this number, but his position was supposed to be impregnable.
+It was his own fault that he did not have more men present.  He had sent
+Longstreet away with his corps swelled by reinforcements up to over
+twenty thousand men, thus reducing his own force more than one-third and
+depriving himself of the presence of the ablest general of his command.
+He did this, too, after our troops had opened a line of communication by
+way of Brown's and Kelly's ferries with Bridgeport, thus securing full
+rations and supplies of every kind; and also when he knew reinforcements
+were coming to me.  Knoxville was of no earthly use to him while
+Chattanooga was in our hands.  If he should capture Chattanooga,
+Knoxville with its garrison would have fallen into his hands without a
+struggle.  I have never been able to see the wisdom of this move.
+
+Then, too, after Sherman had arrived, and when Bragg knew that he was on
+the north side of the Tennessee River, he sent Buckner's division to
+reinforce Longstreet.  He also started another division a day later, but
+our attack having commenced before it reached Knoxville Bragg ordered it
+back.  It had got so far, however, that it could not return to
+Chattanooga in time to be of service there.  It is possible this latter
+blunder may have been made by Bragg having become confused as to what
+was going on on our side.  Sherman had, as already stated, crossed to
+the north side of the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, in full view of
+Bragg's troops from Lookout Mountain, a few days before the attack.
+They then disappeared behind foot hills, and did not come to the view of
+the troops on Missionary Ridge until they met their assault.  Bragg knew
+it was Sherman's troops that had crossed, and, they being so long out of
+view, may have supposed that they had gone up the north bank of the
+Tennessee River to the relief of Knoxville and that Longstreet was
+therefore in danger.  But the first great blunder, detaching Longstreet,
+cannot be accounted for in any way I know of.  If he had captured
+Chattanooga, East Tennessee would have fallen without a struggle.  It
+would have been a victory for us to have got our army away from
+Chattanooga safely.  It was a manifold greater victory to drive away the
+besieging army; a still greater one to defeat that army in his chosen
+ground and nearly annihilate it.
+
+The probabilities are that our loss in killed was the heavier, as we
+were the attacking party.  The enemy reported his loss in killed at 361:
+but as he reported his missing at 4,146, while we held over 6,000 of
+them as prisoners, and there must have been hundreds if not thousands
+who deserted, but little reliance can be placed on this report.  There
+was certainly great dissatisfaction with Bragg on the part of the
+soldiers for his harsh treatment of them, and a disposition to get away
+if they could.  Then, too, Chattanooga, following in the same half year
+with Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West, there was much
+the same feeling in the South at this time that there had been in the
+North the fall and winter before.  If the same license had been allowed
+the people and press in the South that was allowed in the North,
+Chattanooga would probably have been the last battle fought for the
+preservation of the Union.
+
+General William F. Smith's services in these battles had been such that
+I thought him eminently entitled to promotion.  I was aware that he had
+previously been named by the President for promotion to the grade of
+major-general, but that the Senate had rejected the nomination.  I was
+not aware of the reasons for this course, and therefore strongly
+recommended him for a major-generalcy.  My recommendation was heeded and
+the appointment made.
+
+Upon the raising of the siege of Knoxville I, of course, informed the
+authorities at Washington--the President and Secretary of War--of the
+fact, which caused great rejoicing there.  The President especially was
+rejoiced that Knoxville had been relieved (*18) without further
+bloodshed.  The safety of Burnside's army and the loyal people of East
+Tennessee had been the subject of much anxiety to the President for
+several months, during which time he was doing all he could to relieve
+the situation; sending a new commander (*19) with a few thousand troops
+by the way of Cumberland Gap, and telegraphing me daily, almost hourly,
+to "remember Burnside," "do something for Burnside," and other appeals
+of like tenor.  He saw no escape for East Tennessee until after our
+victory at Chattanooga. Even then he was afraid that Burnside might be
+out of ammunition, in a starving condition, or overpowered:  and his
+anxiety was still intense until he heard that Longstreet had been driven
+from the field.
+
+Burnside followed Longstreet only to Strawberry Plains, some twenty
+miles or more east, and then stopped, believing that Longstreet would
+leave the State.  The latter did not do so, however, but stopped only a
+short distance farther on and subsisted his army for the entire winter
+off East Tennessee. Foster now relieved Burnside.  Sherman made
+disposition of his troops along the Tennessee River in accordance with
+instructions.  I left Thomas in command at Chattanooga, and, about the
+20th of December, moved my headquarters to Nashville, Tennessee.
+
+Nashville was the most central point from which to communicate with my
+entire military division, and also with the authorities at Washington.
+While remaining at Chattanooga I was liable to have my telegraphic
+communications cut so as to throw me out of communication with both my
+command and Washington.
+
+Nothing occurred at Nashville worthy of mention during the winter, (*20)
+so I set myself to the task of having troops in positions from which
+they could move to advantage, and in collecting all necessary supplies
+so as to be ready to claim a due share of the enemy's attention upon the
+appearance of the first good weather in the spring.  I expected to
+retain the command I then had, and prepared myself for the campaign
+against Atlanta. I also had great hopes of having a campaign made
+against Mobile from the Gulf.  I expected after Atlanta fell to occupy
+that place permanently, and to cut off Lee's army from the West by way
+of the road running through Augusta to Atlanta and thence south-west.  I
+was preparing to hold Atlanta with a small garrison, and it was my
+expectation to push through to Mobile if that city was in our
+possession:  if not, to Savannah; and in this manner to get possession
+of the only east and west railroad that would then be left to the enemy.
+But the spring campaign against Mobile was not made.
+
+The Army of the Ohio had been getting supplies over Cumberland Gap until
+their animals had nearly all starved.  I now determined to go myself to
+see if there was any possible chance of using that route in the spring,
+and if not to abandon it. Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter
+part of December by rail for Chattanooga. From Chattanooga I took one of
+the little steamers previously spoken of as having been built there,
+and, putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch
+with the Tennessee.  From that point the railroad had been repaired up
+to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains.  I went by rail
+therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for several days.  General John
+G. Foster was then commanding the Department of the Ohio.  It was an
+intensely cold winter, the thermometer being down as low as zero every
+morning for more than a week while I was at Knoxville and on my way from
+there on horseback to Lexington, Kentucky, the first point where I could
+reach rail to carry me back to my headquarters at Nashville.
+
+The road over Cumberland Gap, and back of it, was strewn with debris of
+broken wagons and dead animals, much as I had found it on my first trip
+to Chattanooga over Waldron's Ridge.  The road had been cut up to as
+great a depth as clay could be by mules and wagons, and in that
+condition frozen; so that the ride of six days from Strawberry Plains to
+Lexington over these holes and knobs in the road was a very cheerless
+one, and very disagreeable.
+
+I found a great many people at home along that route, both in Tennessee
+and Kentucky, and, almost universally, intensely loyal.  They would
+collect in little places where we would stop of evenings, to see me,
+generally hearing of my approach before we arrived.  The people
+naturally expected to see the commanding general the oldest person in
+the party.  I was then forty-one years of age, while my medical director
+was gray-haired and probably twelve or more years my senior.  The crowds
+would generally swarm around him, and thus give me an opportunity of
+quietly dismounting and getting into the house.  It also gave me an
+opportunity of hearing passing remarks from one spectator to another
+about their general.  Those remarks were apt to be more complimentary to
+the cause than to the appearance of the supposed general, owing to his
+being muffled up, and also owing to the travel-worn condition we were
+all in after a hard day's ride.  I was back in Nashville by the 13th of
+January, 1864.
+
+When I started on this trip it was necessary for me to have some person
+along who could turn dispatches into cipher, and who could also read the
+cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive daily and almost hourly.
+Under the rules of the War Department at that time, Mr. Stanton had
+taken entire control of the matter of regulating the telegraph and
+determining how it should be used, and of saying who, and who alone,
+should have the ciphers.  The operators possessed of the ciphers, as
+well as the ciphers used, were practically independent of the commanders
+whom they were serving immediately under, and had to report to the War
+Department through General Stager all the dispatches which they received
+or forwarded.
+
+I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator back at Nashville,
+because that was the point at which all dispatches to me would come, to
+be forwarded from there.  As I have said, it was necessary for me also
+to have an operator during this inspection who had possession of this
+cipher to enable me to telegraph to my division and to the War
+Department without my dispatches being read by all the operators along
+the line of wires over which they were transmitted.  Accordingly I
+ordered the cipher operator to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B.
+Comstock, of the Corps of Engineers, whom I had selected as a wise and
+discreet man who certainly could be trusted with the cipher if the
+operator at my headquarters could.
+
+The operator refused point blank to turn over the key to Captain
+Comstock as directed by me, stating that his orders from the War
+Department were not to give it to anybody--the commanding general or any
+one else.  I told him I would see whether he would or not.  He said that
+if he did he would be punished.  I told him if he did not he most
+certainly would be punished. Finally, seeing that punishment was certain
+if he refused longer to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even
+if he was not protected altogether from the consequences of his
+disobedience to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.  When I
+returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion.  The operator had
+been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved.  I informed
+the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in charge of the
+telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be relieved, for he had only
+obeyed my orders.  It was absolutely necessary for me to have the
+cipher, and the man would most certainly have been punished if he had
+not delivered it; that they would have to punish me if they punished
+anybody, or words to that effect.
+
+This was about the only thing approaching a disagreeable difference
+between the Secretary of War and myself that occurred until the war was
+over, when we had another little spat.  Owing to his natural disposition
+to assume all power and control in all matters that he had anything
+whatever to do with, he boldly took command of the armies, and, while
+issuing no orders on the subject, prohibited any order from me going out
+of the adjutant-general's office until he had approved it.  This was
+done by directing the adjutant-general to hold any orders that came from
+me to be issued from the adjutant-general's office until he had examined
+them and given his approval.  He never disturbed himself, either, in
+examining my orders until it was entirely convenient for him; so that
+orders which I had prepared would often lie there three or four days
+before he would sanction them.  I remonstrated against this in writing,
+and the Secretary apologetically restored me to my rightful position of
+General-in-Chief of the Army.  But he soon lapsed again and took control
+much as before.
+
+After the relief of Knoxville Sherman had proposed to Burnside that he
+should go with him to drive Longstreet out of Tennessee; but Burnside
+assured him that with the troops which had been brought by Granger, and
+which were to be left, he would be amply prepared to dispose of
+Longstreet without availing himself of this offer.  As before stated
+Sherman's command had left their camps north of the Tennessee, near
+Chattanooga, with two days' rations in their haversacks, without coats
+or blankets, and without many wagons, expecting to return to their camps
+by the end of that time.  The weather was now cold and they were
+suffering, but still they were ready to make the further sacrifice, had
+it been required, for the good of the cause which had brought them into
+service.  Sherman, having accomplished the object for which he was sent,
+marched back leisurely to his old camp on the Tennessee River.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST
+INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
+
+Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to distribute his
+forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north to Nashville; Sherman
+suggested that he be permitted to go back to Mississippi, to the limits
+of his own department and where most of his army still remained, for the
+purpose of clearing out what Confederates might still be left on the
+east bank of the Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our
+boats.  He expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the
+same thing on the west shore.  Of course I approved heartily.
+
+About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where Hurlbut
+commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered them collected
+and sent to Vicksburg.  He then went to Vicksburg and out to where
+McPherson was in command, and had him organize his surplus troops so as
+to give him about 20,000 men in all.
+
+Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian with his
+headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a considerable
+force of cavalry scattered west of him.  He determined, therefore, to
+move directly upon Meridian.
+
+I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to Sherman's
+department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman got to Memphis.
+Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered him to reinforce Smith so
+as to give the latter a force of about 7,000 with which to go against
+Forrest, who was then known to be south-east from Memphis.  Smith was
+ordered to move about the 1st of February.
+
+While Sherman was waiting at Vicksburg for the arrival of Hurlbut with
+his surplus men, he sent out scouts to ascertain the position and
+strength of the enemy and to bring back all the information they could
+gather.  When these scouts returned it was through them that he got the
+information of General Polk's being at Meridian, and of the strength and
+disposition of his command.
+
+Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly
+well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very effective.
+Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest, but not equal, man to
+man, for the lack of a successful experience such as Forrest's men had
+had.  The fact is, troops who have fought a few battles and won, and
+followed up their victories, improve upon what they were before to an
+extent that can hardly be counted by percentage.  The difference in
+result is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat.  This
+same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are officered, and
+for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest had carried on neither
+army could present a more effective officer than he was.
+
+Sherman got off on the 3d of February and moved out on his expedition,
+meeting with no opposition whatever until he crossed the Big Black, and
+with no great deal of opposition after that until he reached Jackson,
+Mississippi.  This latter place he reached on the 6th or 7th, Brandon on
+the 8th, and Morton on the 9th.  Up to this time he moved in two columns
+to enable him to get a good supply of forage, etc., and expedite the
+march. Here, however, there were indications of the concentration of
+Confederate infantry, and he was obliged to keep his army close
+together.  He had no serious engagement; but he met some of the enemy
+who destroyed a few of his wagons about Decatur, Mississippi, where, by
+the way, Sherman himself came near being picked up.
+
+He entered Meridian on the 14th of the month, the enemy having retreated
+toward Demopolis, Alabama. He spent several days in Meridian in
+thoroughly destroying the railroad to the north and south, and also for
+the purpose of hearing from Sooy Smith, who he supposed had met Forrest
+before this time and he hoped had gained a decisive victory because of a
+superiority of numbers. Hearing nothing of him, however, he started on
+his return trip to Vicksburg.  There he learned that Smith, while
+waiting for a few of his men who had been ice-bound in the Ohio River,
+instead of getting off on the 1st as expected, had not left until the
+11th.  Smith did meet Forrest, but the result was decidedly in Forrest's
+favor.
+
+Sherman had written a letter to Banks, proposing a co-operative movement
+with him against Shreveport, subject to my approval.  I disapproved of
+Sherman's going himself, because I had other important work for him to
+do, but consented that he might send a few troops to the aid of Banks,
+though their time to remain absent must be limited.  We must have them
+for the spring campaign.  The trans-Mississippi movement proved
+abortive.
+
+My eldest son, who had accompanied me on the Vicksburg campaign and
+siege, had while there contracted disease, which grew worse, until he
+had grown so dangerously ill that on the 24th of January I obtained
+permission to go to St. Louis, where he was staying at the time, to see
+him, hardly expecting to find him alive on my arrival.  While I was
+permitted to go, I was not permitted to turn over my command to any one
+else, but was directed to keep the headquarters with me and to
+communicate regularly with all parts of my division and with Washington,
+just as though I had remained at Nashville.
+
+When I obtained this leave I was at Chattanooga, having gone there again
+to make preparations to have the troops of Thomas in the southern part
+of Tennessee co-operate with Sherman's movement in Mississippi.  I
+directed Thomas, and Logan who was at Scottsboro, Alabama, to keep up a
+threatening movement to the south against J. E. Johnston, who had again
+relieved Bragg, for the purpose of making him keep as many troops as
+possible there.
+
+I learned through Confederate sources that Johnston had already sent two
+divisions in the direction of Mobile, presumably to operate against
+Sherman, and two more divisions to Longstreet in East Tennessee.  Seeing
+that Johnston had depleted in this way, I directed Thomas to send at
+least ten thousand men, besides Stanley's division which was already to
+the east, into East Tennessee, and notified Schofield, who was now in
+command in East Tennessee, of this movement of troops into his
+department and also of the reinforcements Longstreet had received.  My
+object was to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee as a part of the
+preparations for my spring campaign.
+
+About this time General Foster, who had been in command of the
+Department of the Ohio after Burnside until Schofield relieved him
+(*21), advised me that he thought it would be a good thing to keep
+Longstreet just where he was; that he was perfectly quiet in East
+Tennessee, and if he was forced to leave there, his whole well-equipped
+army would be free to go to any place where it could effect the most for
+their cause.  I thought the advice was good, and, adopting that view,
+countermanded the orders for pursuit of Longstreet.
+
+On the 12th of February I ordered Thomas to take Dalton and hold it, if
+possible; and I directed him to move without delay. Finding that he had
+not moved, on the 17th I urged him again to start, telling him how
+important it was, that the object of the movement was to co-operate with
+Sherman, who was moving eastward and might be in danger.  Then again on
+the 21st, he not yet having started, I asked him if he could not start
+the next day.  He finally got off on the 22d or 23d.  The enemy fell
+back from his front without a battle, but took a new position quite as
+strong and farther to the rear.  Thomas reported that he could not go
+any farther, because it was impossible with his poor teams, nearly
+starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads were repaired.  He soon
+fell back.
+
+Schofield also had to return for the same reason.  He could not carry
+supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the supplies still
+left in the country.  Longstreet, in his retreat, would be moving
+towards his supplies, while our forces, following, would be receding
+from theirs.  On the 2d of March, however, I learned of Sherman's
+success, which eased my mind very much.  The next day, the 3d, I was
+ordered to Washington.
+
+The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army had
+passed through Congress and became a law on the 26th of February.  My
+nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st of March and confirmed
+the next day (the 2d).  I was ordered to Washington on the 3d to receive
+my commission, and started the day following that.  The commission was
+handed to me on the 9th.  It was delivered to me at the Executive
+Mansion by President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest
+son, those of my staff who were with me and and a few other visitors.
+
+The President in presenting my commission read from a paper--stating,
+however, as a preliminary, and prior to the delivery of it, that he had
+drawn that up on paper, knowing my disinclination to speak in public,
+and handed me a copy in advance so that I might prepare a few lines of
+reply.  The President said:
+
+"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done, and its
+reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the existing great
+struggle, are now presented, with this commission constituting you
+lieutenant-general in the Army of the United States.  With this high
+honor, devolves upon you, also, a corresponding responsibility.  As the
+country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you.  I
+scarcely need to add, that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes
+my own hearty personal concurrence."
+
+To this I replied:  "Mr. President, I accept the commission, with
+gratitude for the high honor conferred.  With the aid of the noble
+armies that have fought in so many fields for our common country, it
+will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations.  I feel
+the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know
+that if they are met, it will be due to those armies, and above all, to
+the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."
+
+On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac at
+Brandy Station; then returned to Washington, and pushed west at once to
+make my arrangements for turning over the commands there and giving
+general directions for the preparations to be made for the spring
+campaign.
+
+It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even if I
+was made lieutenant-general; but when I got to Washington and saw the
+situation it was plain that here was the point for the commanding
+general to be.  No one else could, probably, resist the pressure that
+would be brought to bear upon him to desist from his own plans and
+pursue others.  I determined, therefore, before I started back to have
+Sherman advanced to my late position, McPherson to Sherman's in command
+of the department, and Logan to the command of McPherson's corps. These
+changes were all made on my recommendation and without hesitation.  My
+commission as lieutenant-general was given to me on the 9th of March,
+1864.  On the following day, as already stated, I visited General Meade,
+commanding the Army of the Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy
+Station, north of the Rapidan.  I had known General Meade slightly in
+the Mexican war, but had not met him since until this visit.  I was a
+stranger to most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except
+the officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican war.
+There had been some changes ordered in the organization of that army
+before my promotion.  One was the consolidation of five corps into
+three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of important commands.
+Meade evidently thought that I might want to make still one more change
+not yet ordered.  He said to me that I might want an officer who had
+served with me in the West, mentioning Sherman specially, to take his
+place.  If so, he begged me not to hesitate about making the change.  He
+urged that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole
+nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand in the
+way of selecting the right men for all positions.  For himself, he would
+serve to the best of his ability wherever placed.  I assured him that I
+had no thought of substituting any one for him.  As to Sherman, he could
+not be spared from the West.
+
+This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade than did
+his great victory at Gettysburg the July before.  It is men who wait to
+be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we may always expect the
+most efficient service.
+
+Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to him.  He
+was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous to my taking
+command of all the armies, was in supreme command of the Army of the
+Potomac--except from the authorities at Washington.  All other general
+officers occupying similar positions were independent in their commands
+so far as any one present with them was concerned.  I tried to make
+General Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been
+if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his command.  I
+therefore gave all orders for the movements of the Army of the Potomac
+to Meade to have them executed.  To avoid the necessity of having to
+give orders direct, I established my headquarters near his, unless there
+were reasons for locating them elsewhere.  This sometimes happened, and
+I had on occasions to give orders direct to the troops affected.  On the
+11th I returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were
+published by the War Department placing me in command of all the armies.
+I had left Washington the night before to return to my old command in
+the West and to meet Sherman whom I had telegraphed to join me in
+Nashville.
+
+Sherman assumed command of the military division of the Mississippi on
+the 18th of March, and we left Nashville together for Cincinnati.  I had
+Sherman accompany me that far on my way back to Washington so that we
+could talk over the matters about which I wanted to see him, without
+losing any more time from my new command than was necessary.  The first
+point which I wished to discuss was particularly about the co-operation
+of his command with mine when the spring campaign should commence. There
+were also other and minor points, minor as compared with the great
+importance of the question to be decided by sanguinary war--the
+restoration to duty of officers who had been relieved from important
+commands, namely McClellan, Burnside and Fremont in the East, and Buell,
+McCook, Negley and Crittenden in the West.
+
+Some time in the winter of 1863-64 I had been invited by the
+general-in-chief to give my views of the campaign I thought advisable
+for the command under me--now Sherman's.  General J. E. Johnston was
+defending Atlanta and the interior of Georgia with an army, the largest
+part of which was stationed at Dalton, about 38 miles south of
+Chattanooga. Dalton is at the junction of the railroad from Cleveland
+with the one from Chattanooga to Atlanta.
+
+There could have been no difference of opinion as to the first duty of
+the armies of the military division of the Mississippi.  Johnston's army
+was the first objective, and that important railroad centre, Atlanta,
+the second.  At the time I wrote General Halleck giving my views of the
+approaching campaign, and at the time I met General Sherman, it was
+expected that General Banks would be through with the campaign which he
+had been ordered upon before my appointment to the command of all the
+armies, and would be ready to co-operate with the armies east of the
+Mississippi, his part in the programme being to move upon Mobile by land
+while the navy would close the harbor and assist to the best of its
+ability. (*22) The plan therefore was for Sherman to attack Johnston and
+destroy his army if possible, to capture Atlanta and hold it, and with
+his troops and those of Banks to hold a line through to Mobile, or at
+least to hold Atlanta and command the railroad running east and west,
+and the troops from one or other of the armies to hold important points
+on the southern road, the only east and west road that would be left in
+the possession of the enemy.  This would cut the Confederacy in two
+again, as our gaining possession of the Mississippi River had done
+before.  Banks was not ready in time for the part assigned to him, and
+circumstances that could not be foreseen determined the campaign which
+was afterwards made, the success and grandeur of which has resounded
+throughout all lands.
+
+In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from important
+commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after those who had been
+removed in the West while I looked out for the rest.  I directed,
+however, that he should make no assignment until I could speak to the
+Secretary of War about the matter.  I shortly after recommended to the
+Secretary the assignment of General Buell to duty.  I received the
+assurance that duty would be offered to him; and afterwards the
+Secretary told me that he had offered Buell an assignment and that the
+latter had declined it, saying that it would be degradation to accept
+the assignment offered.  I understood afterwards that he refused to
+serve under either Sherman or Canby because he had ranked them both.
+Both graduated before him and ranked him in the old army.  Sherman
+ranked him as a brigadier-general.  All of them ranked me in the old
+army, and Sherman and Buell did as brigadiers.  The worst excuse a
+soldier can make for declining service is that he once ranked the
+commander he is ordered to report to.
+
+On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th took up my
+headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles south of the
+headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.
+
+Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the President, I
+never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital to receive my
+commission as lieutenant-general.  I knew him, however, very well and
+favorably from the accounts given by officers under me at the West who
+had known him all their lives.  I had also read the remarkable series of
+debates between Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were
+rival candidates for the United States Senate.  I was then a resident of
+Missouri, and by no means a "Lincoln man" in that contest; but I
+recognized then his great ability.
+
+In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me that he had
+never professed to be a military man or to know how campaigns should be
+conducted, and never wanted to interfere in them:  but that
+procrastination on the part of commanders, and the pressure from the
+people at the North and Congress, WHICH WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, forced him
+into issuing his series of "Military Orders"--one, two, three, etc.  He
+did not know but they were all wrong, and did know that some of them
+were.  All he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the
+responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance needed,
+pledging himself to use all the power of the government in rendering
+such assistance.  Assuring him that I would do the best I could with the
+means at hand, and avoid as far as possible annoying him or the War
+Department, our first interview ended.
+
+The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I knew
+him better.
+
+While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held
+conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being
+otherwise used.  He and General Halleck both cautioned me against giving
+the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so kind-hearted,
+so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that some friend would be
+sure to get from him all he knew.  I should have said that in our
+interview the President told me he did not want to know what I proposed
+to do.  But he submitted a plan of campaign of his own which he wanted
+me to hear and then do as I pleased about.  He brought out a map of
+Virginia on which he had evidently marked every position occupied by the
+Federal and Confederate armies up to that time.  He pointed out on the
+map two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the
+army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of these
+streams.  We would then have the Potomac to bring our supplies, and the
+tributaries would protect our flanks while we moved out.  I listened
+respectfully, but did not suggest that the same streams would protect
+Lee's flanks while he was shutting us up.
+
+I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to the
+Secretary of War or to General Halleck.
+
+March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated, at Culpeper, and the
+work of preparing for an early campaign commenced.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN ASSIGNED TO
+COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT FORT PILLOW--GENERAL
+BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS
+CAMPAIGN.
+
+When I assumed command of all the armies the situation was about this:
+the Mississippi River was guarded from St. Louis to its mouth; the line
+of the Arkansas was held, thus giving us all the North-west north of
+that river.  A few points in Louisiana not remote from the river were
+held by the Federal troops, as was also the mouth of the Rio Grande.
+East of the Mississippi we held substantially all north of the Memphis
+and Charleston Railroad as far east as Chattanooga, thence along the
+line of the Tennessee and Holston rivers, taking in nearly all of the
+State of Tennessee.  West Virginia was in our hands; and that part of
+old Virginia north of the Rapidan and east of the Blue Ridge we also
+held.  On the sea-coast we had Fortress Monroe and Norfolk in Virginia;
+Plymouth, Washington and New Berne in North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly
+and Morris islands, Hilton Head, Port Royal and Fort Pulaski in South
+Carolina and Georgia; Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West and Pensacola
+in Florida. The balance of the Southern territory, an empire in extent,
+was still in the hands of the enemy.
+
+Sherman, who had succeeded me in the command of the military division of
+the Mississippi, commanded all the troops in the territory west of the
+Alleghanies and north of Natchez, with a large movable force about
+Chattanooga. His command was subdivided into four departments, but the
+commanders all reported to Sherman and were subject to his orders.  This
+arrangement, however, insured the better protection of all lines of
+communication through the acquired territory, for the reason that these
+different department commanders could act promptly in case of a sudden
+or unexpected raid within their respective jurisdictions without
+awaiting the orders of the division commander.
+
+In the East the opposing forces stood in substantially the same
+relations towards each other as three years before, or when the war
+began; they were both between the Federal and Confederate capitals.  It
+is true, footholds had been secured by us on the sea-coast, in Virginia
+and North Carolina, but, beyond that, no substantial advantage had been
+gained by either side.  Battles had been fought of as great severity as
+had ever been known in war, over ground from the James River and
+Chickahominy, near Richmond, to Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in
+Pennsylvania, with indecisive results, sometimes favorable to the
+National army, sometimes to the Confederate army; but in every instance,
+I believe, claimed as victories for the South by the Southern press if
+not by the Southern generals.  The Northern press, as a whole, did not
+discourage these claims; a portion of it always magnified rebel success
+and belittled ours, while another portion, most sincerely earnest in
+their desire for the preservation of the Union and the overwhelming
+success of the Federal armies, would nevertheless generally express
+dissatisfaction with whatever victories were gained because they were
+not more complete.
+
+That portion of the Army of the Potomac not engaged in guarding lines of
+communication was on the northern bank of the Rapidan.  The Army of
+Northern Virginia confronting it on the opposite bank of the same river,
+was strongly intrenched and commanded by the acknowledged ablest general
+in the Confederate army.  The country back to the James River is cut up
+with many streams, generally narrow, deep, and difficult to cross except
+where bridged.  The region is heavily timbered, and the roads narrow,
+and very bad after the least rain.  Such an enemy was not, of course,
+unprepared with adequate fortifications at convenient intervals all the
+way back to Richmond, so that when driven from one fortified position
+they would always have another farther to the rear to fall back into.
+
+To provision an army, campaigning against so formidable a foe through
+such a country, from wagons alone seemed almost impossible.  System and
+discipline were both essential to its accomplishment.
+
+The Union armies were now divided into nineteen departments, though four
+of them in the West had been concentrated into a single military
+division.  The Army of the Potomac was a separate command and had no
+territorial limits.  There were thus seventeen distinct commanders.
+Before this time these various armies had acted separately and
+independently of each other, giving the enemy an opportunity often of
+depleting one command, not pressed, to reinforce another more actively
+engaged.  I determined to stop this.  To this end I regarded the Army of
+the Potomac as the centre, and all west to Memphis along the line
+described as our position at the time, and north of it, the right wing;
+the Army of the James, under General Butler, as the left wing, and all
+the troops south, as a force in rear of the enemy.  Some of these latter
+were occupying positions from which they could not render service
+proportionate to their numerical strength.  All such were depleted to
+the minimum necessary to hold their positions as a guard against
+blockade runners; where they could not do this their positions were
+abandoned altogether.  In this way ten thousand men were added to the
+Army of the James from South Carolina alone, with General Gillmore in
+command.  It was not contemplated that General Gillmore should leave his
+department; but as most of his troops were taken, presumably for active
+service, he asked to accompany them and was permitted to do so.
+Officers and soldiers on furlough, of whom there were many thousands,
+were ordered to their proper commands; concentration was the order of
+the day, and to have it accomplished in time to advance at the earliest
+moment the roads would permit was the problem.
+
+As a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or to act in support of
+it, the 9th army corps, over twenty thousand strong, under General
+Burnside, had been rendezvoused at Annapolis, Maryland.  This was an
+admirable position for such a reinforcement.  The corps could be brought
+at the last moment as a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or it
+could be thrown on the sea-coast, south of Norfolk, in Virginia or North
+Carolina, to operate against Richmond from that direction.  In fact
+Burnside and the War Department both thought the 9th corps was intended
+for such an expedition up to the last moment.
+
+My general plan now was to concentrate all the force possible against
+the Confederate armies in the field.  There were but two such, as we
+have seen, east of the Mississippi River and facing north.  The Army of
+Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee commanding, was on the south
+bank of the Rapidan, confronting the Army of the Potomac; the second,
+under General Joseph E. Johnston, was at Dalton, Georgia, opposed to
+Sherman who was still at Chattanooga. Beside these main armies the
+Confederates had to guard the Shenandoah Valley, a great storehouse to
+feed their armies from, and their line of communications from Richmond
+to Tennessee.  Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry general, was in the
+West with a large force; making a larger command necessary to hold what
+we had gained in Middle and West Tennessee.  We could not abandon any
+territory north of the line held by the enemy because it would lay the
+Northern States open to invasion.  But as the Army of the Potomac was
+the principal garrison for the protection of Washington even while it
+was moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of the
+James, guarded their special trusts when advancing from them as well as
+when remaining at them.  Better indeed, for they forced the enemy to
+guard his own lines and resources at a greater distance from ours, and
+with a greater force.  Little expeditions could not so well be sent out
+to destroy a bridge or tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a
+storehouse, or inflict other little annoyances.  Accordingly I arranged
+for a simultaneous movement all along the line.  Sherman was to move
+from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his objective
+points. (*23)  Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was to move from the
+mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force and some artillery, the
+Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to be his objective.  Either the enemy
+would have to keep a large force to protect their communications, or see
+them destroyed and a large amount of forage and provision, which they so
+much needed, fall into our hands.  Sigel was in command in the Valley of
+Virginia. He was to advance up the valley, covering the North from an
+invasion through that channel as well while advancing as by remaining
+near Harper's Ferry.  Every mile he advanced also gave us possession of
+stores on which Lee relied.  Butler was to advance by the James River,
+having Richmond and Petersburg as his objective.
+
+Before the advance commenced I visited Butler at Fort Monroe. This was
+the first time I had ever met him.  Before giving him any order as to
+the part he was to play in the approaching campaign I invited his views.
+They were very much such as I intended to direct, and as I did direct
+(*24), in writing, before leaving.
+
+General W. F. Smith, who had been promoted to the rank of major-general
+shortly after the battle of Chattanooga on my recommendation, had not
+yet been confirmed.  I found a decided prejudice against his
+confirmation by a majority of the Senate, but I insisted that his
+services had been such that he should be rewarded.  My wishes were now
+reluctantly complied with, and I assigned him to the command of one of
+the corps under General Butler.  I was not long in finding out that the
+objections to Smith's promotion were well founded.
+
+In one of my early interviews with the President I expressed my
+dissatisfaction with the little that had been accomplished by the
+cavalry so far in the war, and the belief that it was capable of
+accomplishing much more than it had done if under a thorough leader.  I
+said I wanted the very best man in the army for that command.  Halleck
+was present and spoke up, saying: "How would Sheridan do?"  I replied:
+"The very man I want." The President said I could have anybody I wanted.
+Sheridan was telegraphed for that day, and on his arrival was assigned
+to the command of the cavalry corps with the Army of the Potomac.  This
+relieved General Alfred Pleasonton.  It was not a reflection on that
+officer, however, for I did not know but that he had been as efficient
+as any other cavalry commander.
+
+Banks in the Department of the Gulf was ordered to assemble all the
+troops he had at New Orleans in time to join in the general move, Mobile
+to be his objective.
+
+At this time I was not entirely decided as to whether I should move the
+Army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy, or by his left.
+Each plan presented advantages. (*25)  If by his right--my left--the
+Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries would furnish us an easy hauling
+distance of every position the army could occupy from the Rapidan to the
+James River.  But Lee could, if he chose, detach or move his whole army
+north on a line rather interior to the one I would have to take in
+following.  A movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but
+all that was done would have to be done with the supplies and ammunition
+we started with.  All idea of adopting this latter plan was abandoned
+when the limited quantity of supplies possible to take with us was
+considered.  The country over which we would have to pass was so
+exhausted of all food or forage that we would be obliged to carry
+everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not entirely idle.
+In the West Forrest made a raid in West Tennessee up to the northern
+border, capturing the garrison of four or five hundred men at Union
+City, and followed it up by an attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks
+of the Ohio.  While he was able to enter the city he failed to capture
+the forts or any part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of
+Forrest's raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against
+him, and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself into.
+Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him before he got
+my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at Fort
+Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of the
+Mississippi River.  The garrison consisted of a regiment of colored
+troops, infantry, and a detachment of Tennessee cavalry.  These troops
+fought bravely, but were overpowered.  I will leave Forrest in his
+dispatches to tell what he did with them.
+
+"The river was dyed," he says, "with the blood of the slaughtered for
+two hundred yards.  The approximate loss was upward of five hundred
+killed, but few of the officers escaping.  My loss was about twenty
+killed.  It is hoped that these facts will demonstrate to the Northern
+people that negro soldiers cannot cope with Southerners."  Subsequently
+Forrest made a report in which he left out the part which shocks
+humanity to read.
+
+At the East, also, the rebels were busy.  I had said to Halleck that
+Plymouth and Washington, North Carolina, were unnecessary to hold.  It
+would be better to have the garrisons engaged there added to Butler's
+command.  If success attended our arms both places, and others too,
+would fall into our hands naturally. These places had been occupied by
+Federal troops before I took command of the armies, and I knew that the
+Executive would be reluctant to abandon them, and therefore explained my
+views; but before my views were carried out the rebels captured the
+garrison at Plymouth.  I then ordered the abandonment of Washington, but
+directed the holding of New Berne at all hazards.  This was essential
+because New Berne was a port into which blockade runners could enter.
+
+General Banks had gone on an expedition up the Red River long before my
+promotion to general command.  I had opposed the movement strenuously,
+but acquiesced because it was the order of my superior at the time.  By
+direction of Halleck I had reinforced Banks with a corps of about ten
+thousand men from Sherman's command.  This reinforcement was wanted back
+badly before the forward movement commenced.  But Banks had got so far
+that it seemed best that he should take Shreveport on the Red River, and
+turn over the line of that river to Steele, who commanded in Arkansas,
+to hold instead of the line of the Arkansas.  Orders were given
+accordingly, and with the expectation that the campaign would be ended
+in time for Banks to return A. J. Smith's command to where it belonged
+and get back to New Orleans himself in time to execute his part in the
+general plan.  But the expedition was a failure.  Banks did not get back
+in time to take part in the programme as laid down. Nor was Smith
+returned until long after the movements of May, 1864, had been begun.
+The services of forty thousand veteran troops, over and above the number
+required to hold all that was necessary in the Department of the Gulf,
+were thus paralyzed. It is but just to Banks, however, to say that his
+expedition was ordered from Washington and he was in no way responsible
+except for the conduct of it.  I make no criticism on this point.  He
+opposed the expedition.
+
+By the 27th of April spring had so far advanced as to justify me in
+fixing a day for the great move.  On that day Burnside left Annapolis to
+occupy Meade's position between Bull Run and the Rappahannock.  Meade
+was notified and directed to bring his troops forward to his advance.
+On the following day Butler was notified of my intended advance on the
+4th of May, and he was directed to move the night of the same day and
+get as far up the James River as possible by daylight, and push on from
+there to accomplish the task given him.  He was also notified that
+reinforcements were being collected in Washington City, which would be
+forwarded to him should the enemy fall back into the trenches at
+Richmond.  The same day Sherman was directed to get his forces up ready
+to advance on the 5th.  Sigel was in Winchester and was notified to move
+in conjunction with the others.
+
+The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the Rapidan
+to the James River that all the loss of life could have been obviated by
+moving the army there on transports.  Richmond was fortified and
+intrenched so perfectly that one man inside to defend was more than
+equal to five outside besieging or assaulting.  To get possession of
+Lee's army was the first great object.  With the capture of his army
+Richmond would necessarily follow.  It was better to fight him outside
+of his stronghold than in it.  If the Army of the Potomac had been moved
+bodily to the James River by water Lee could have moved a part of his
+forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to reinforce
+it, and with the balance moved on to Washington. Then, too, I ordered a
+move, simultaneous with that of the Army of the Potomac, up the James
+River by a formidable army already collected at the mouth of the river.
+
+While my headquarters were at Culpeper, from the 26th of March to the
+4th of May, I generally visited Washington once a week to confer with
+the Secretary of War and President.  On the last occasion, a few days
+before moving, a circumstance occurred which came near postponing my
+part in the campaign altogether. Colonel John S. Mosby had for a long
+time been commanding a partisan corps, or regiment, which operated in
+the rear of the Army of the Potomac.  On my return to the field on this
+occasion, as the train approached Warrenton Junction, a heavy cloud of
+dust was seen to the east of the road as if made by a body of cavalry on
+a charge.  Arriving at the junction the train was stopped and inquiries
+made as to the cause of the dust. There was but one man at the station,
+and he informed us that Mosby had crossed a few minutes before at full
+speed in pursuit of Federal cavalry.  Had he seen our train coming, no
+doubt he would have let his prisoners escape to capture the train.  I
+was on a special train, if I remember correctly, without any guard.
+
+Since the close of the war I have come to know Colonel Mosby personally,
+and somewhat intimately.  He is a different man entirely from what I had
+supposed.  He is slender, not tall, wiry, and looks as if he could
+endure any amount of physical exercise.  He is able, and thoroughly
+honest and truthful. There were probably but few men in the South who
+could have commanded successfully a separate detachment in the rear of
+an opposing army, and so near the border of hostilities, as long as he
+did without losing his entire command.
+
+On this same visit to Washington I had my last interview with the
+President before reaching the James River.  He had of course become
+acquainted with the fact that a general movement had been ordered all
+along the line, and seemed to think it a new feature in war.  I
+explained to him that it was necessary to have a great number of troops
+to guard and hold the territory we had captured, and to prevent
+incursions into the Northern States.  These troops could perform this
+service just as well by advancing as by remaining still; and by
+advancing they would compel the enemy to keep detachments to hold them
+back, or else lay his own territory open to invasion.  His answer was:
+"Oh, yes!  I see that.  As we say out West, if a man can't skin he must
+hold a leg while somebody else does."
+
+There was a certain incident connected with the Wilderness campaign of
+which it may not be out of place to speak; and to avoid a digression
+further on I will mention it here.
+
+A few days before my departure from Culpeper the Honorable E. B.
+Washburne visited me there, and remained with my headquarters for some
+distance south, through the battle in the Wilderness and, I think, to
+Spottsylvania. He was accompanied by a Mr. Swinton, whom he presented as
+a literary gentleman who wished to accompany the army with a view of
+writing a history of the war when it was over.  He assured me--and I
+have no doubt Swinton gave him the assurance--that he was not present as
+a correspondent of the press.  I expressed an entire willingness to have
+him (Swinton) accompany the army, and would have allowed him to do so as
+a correspondent, restricted, however, in the character of the
+information he could give.  We received Richmond papers with about as
+much regularity as if there had been no war, and knew that our papers
+were received with equal regularity by the Confederates.  It was
+desirable, therefore, that correspondents should not be privileged spies
+of the enemy within our lines.
+
+Probably Mr. Swinton expected to be an invited guest at my headquarters,
+and was disappointed that he was not asked to become so.  At all events
+he was not invited, and soon I found that he was corresponding with some
+paper (I have now forgotten which one), thus violating his word either
+expressed or implied.  He knew of the assurance Washburne had given as
+to the character of his mission.  I never saw the man from the day of
+our introduction to the present that I recollect.  He accompanied us,
+however, for a time at least.
+
+The second night after crossing the Rapidan (the night of the 5th of
+May) Colonel W. R. Rowley, of my staff, was acting as night officer at
+my headquarters.  A short time before midnight I gave him verbal
+instructions for the night.  Three days later I read in a Richmond paper
+a verbatim report of these instructions.
+
+A few nights still later (after the first, and possibly after the
+second, day's fighting in the Wilderness) General Meade came to my tent
+for consultation, bringing with him some of his staff officers.  Both
+his staff and mine retired to the camp-fire some yards in front of the
+tent, thinking our conversation should be private.  There was a stump a
+little to one side, and between the front of the tent and camp-fire.
+One of my staff, Colonel T. S. Bowers, saw what he took to be a man
+seated on the ground and leaning against the stump, listening to the
+conversation between Meade and myself.  He called the attention of
+Colonel Rowley to it.  The latter immediately took the man by the
+shoulder and asked him, in language more forcible than polite, what he
+was doing there.  The man proved to be Swinton, the "historian," and his
+replies to the question were evasive and unsatisfactory, and he was
+warned against further eaves-dropping.
+
+The next I heard of Mr. Swinton was at Cold Harbor.  General Meade came
+to my headquarters saying that General Burnside had arrested Swinton,
+who at some previous time had given great offence, and had ordered him
+to be shot that afternoon.  I promptly ordered the prisoner to be
+released, but that he must be expelled from the lines of the army not to
+return again on pain of punishment.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S POSITION
+--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+The armies were now all ready to move for the accomplishment of a single
+object.  They were acting as a unit so far as such a thing was possible
+over such a vast field.  Lee, with the capital of the Confederacy, was
+the main end to which all were working.  Johnston, with Atlanta, was an
+important obstacle in the way of our accomplishing the result aimed at,
+and was therefore almost an independent objective.  It was of less
+importance only because the capture of Johnston and his army would not
+produce so immediate and decisive a result in closing the rebellion as
+would the possession of Richmond, Lee and his army.  All other troops
+were employed exclusively in support of these two movements.  This was
+the plan; and I will now endeavor to give, as concisely as I can, the
+method of its execution, outlining first the operations of minor
+detached but co-operative columns.
+
+As stated before, Banks failed to accomplish what he had been sent to do
+on the Red River, and eliminated the use of forty thousand veterans
+whose cooperation in the grand campaign had been expected--ten thousand
+with Sherman and thirty thousand against Mobile.
+
+Sigel's record is almost equally brief.  He moved out, it is true,
+according to programme; but just when I was hoping to hear of good work
+being done in the valley I received instead the following announcement
+from Halleck:  "Sigel is in full retreat on Strasburg.  He will do
+nothing but run; never did anything else."  The enemy had intercepted
+him about New Market and handled him roughly, leaving him short six
+guns, and some nine hundred men out of his six thousand.
+
+The plan had been for an advance of Sigel's forces in two columns.
+Though the one under his immediate command failed ingloriously the other
+proved more fortunate.  Under Crook and Averell his western column
+advanced from the Gauley in West Virginia at the appointed time, and
+with more happy results. They reached the Virginia and Tennessee
+Railroad at Dublin and destroyed a depot of supplies, besides tearing up
+several miles of road and burning the bridge over New River.  Having
+accomplished this they recrossed the Alleghanies to Meadow Bluffs and
+there awaited further orders.
+
+Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his command, except the cavalry
+and some artillery which moved up the south bank of the James River.
+His steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and York River as if
+threatening the rear of Lee's army.  At midnight they turned back, and
+Butler by daylight was far up the James River.  He seized City Point and
+Bermuda Hundred early in the day, without loss and, no doubt, very much
+to the surprise of the enemy.
+
+This was the accomplishment of the first step contemplated in my
+instructions to Butler.  He was to act from here, looking to Richmond as
+his objective point.  I had given him to understand that I should aim to
+fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond if he would stand; but should
+Lee fall back into Richmond I would follow up and make a junction of the
+armies of the Potomac and the James on the James River.  He was directed
+to secure a footing as far up the south side of the river as he could at
+as early a date as possible.
+
+Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had begun intrenching, and
+on the 7th he sent out his cavalry from Suffolk to cut the Weldon
+Railroad.  He also sent out detachments to destroy the railroad between
+Petersburg and Richmond, but no great success attended these latter
+efforts.  He made no great effort to establish himself on that road and
+neglected to attack Petersburg, which was almost defenceless.  About the
+11th he advanced slowly until he reached the works at Drury's Bluff,
+about half way between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond.  In the mean time
+Beauregard had been gathering reinforcements.  On the 16th he attacked
+Butler with great vigor, and with such success as to limit very
+materially the further usefulness of the Army of the James as a distinct
+factor in the campaign.  I afterward ordered a portion of it to join the
+Army of the Potomac, leaving a sufficient force with Butler to man his
+works, hold securely the footing he had already gained and maintain a
+threatening front toward the rear of the Confederate capital.
+
+The position which General Butler had chosen between the two rivers, the
+James and Appomattox, was one of great natural strength, one where a
+large area of ground might be thoroughly inclosed by means of a single
+intrenched line, and that a very short one in comparison with the extent
+of territory which it thoroughly protected.  His right was protected by
+the James River, his left by the Appomattox, and his rear by their
+junction--the two streams uniting near by.  The bends of the two streams
+shortened the line that had been chosen for intrenchments, while it
+increased the area which the line inclosed.
+
+Previous to ordering any troops from Butler I sent my chief engineer,
+General Barnard, from the Army of the Potomac to that of the James to
+inspect Butler's position and ascertain whether I could again safely
+make an order for General Butler's movement in co-operation with mine,
+now that I was getting so near Richmond; or, if I could not, whether his
+position was strong enough to justify me in withdrawing some of his
+troops and having them brought round by water to White House to join me
+and reinforce the Army of the Potomac.  General Barnard reported the
+position very strong for defensive purposes, and that I could do the
+latter with great security; but that General Butler could not move from
+where he was, in co-operation, to produce any effect. He said that the
+general occupied a place between the James and Appomattox rivers which
+was of great strength, and where with an inferior force he could hold it
+for an indefinite length of time against a superior; but that he could
+do nothing offensively.  I then asked him why Butler could not move out
+from his lines and push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to
+the rear and on the south side of Richmond.  He replied that it was
+impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line across
+the neck of land that General Butler had.  He then took out his pencil
+and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that the position was like
+a bottle and that Butler's line of intrenchments across the neck
+represented the cork; that the enemy had built an equally strong line
+immediately in front of him across the neck; and it was therefore as if
+Butler was in a bottle.  He was perfectly safe against an attack; but,
+as Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a
+small force could hold the cork in its place.  This struck me as being
+very expressive of his position, particularly when I saw the hasty
+sketch which General Barnard had drawn; and in making my subsequent
+report I used that expression without adding quotation marks, never
+thinking that anything had been said that would attract attention--as
+this did, very much to the annoyance, no doubt, of General Butler and, I
+know, very much to my own.  I found afterwards that this was mentioned
+in the notes of General Badeau's book, which, when they were shown to
+me, I asked to have stricken out; yet it was retained there, though
+against my wishes.
+
+I make this statement here because, although I have often made it
+before, it has never been in my power until now to place it where it
+will correct history; and I desire to rectify all injustice that I may
+have done to individuals, particularly to officers who were gallantly
+serving their country during the trying period of the war for the
+preservation of the Union. General Butler certainly gave his very
+earnest support to the war; and he gave his own best efforts personally
+to the suppression of the rebellion.
+
+The further operations of the Army of the James can best be treated of
+in connection with those of the Army of the Potomac, the two being so
+intimately associated and connected as to be substantially one body in
+which the individuality of the supporting wing is merged.
+
+Before giving the reader a summary of Sherman's great Atlanta campaign,
+which must conclude my description of the various co-operative movements
+preparatory to proceeding with that of the operations of the centre, I
+will briefly mention Sheridan's first raid upon Lee's communications
+which, though an incident of the operations on the main line and not
+specifically marked out in the original plan, attained in its brilliant
+execution and results all the proportions of an independent campaign.
+By thus anticipating, in point of time, I will be able to more perfectly
+observe the continuity of events occurring in my immediate front when I
+shall have undertaken to describe our advance from the Rapidan.
+
+On the 8th of May, just after the battle of the Wilderness and when we
+were moving on Spottsylvania I directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose
+from the Army of the Potomac, pass around the left of Lee's army and
+attack his cavalry:  to cut the two roads--one running west through
+Gordonsville, Charlottesville and Lynchburg, the other to Richmond, and,
+when compelled to do so for want of forage and rations, to move on to
+the James River and draw these from Butler's supplies.  This move took
+him past the entire rear of Lee's army.  These orders were also given in
+writing through Meade.
+
+The object of this move was three-fold.  First, if successfully
+executed, and it was, he would annoy the enemy by cutting his line of
+supplies and telegraphic communications, and destroy or get for his own
+use supplies in store in the rear and coming up.  Second, he would draw
+the enemy's cavalry after him, and thus better protect our flanks, rear
+and trains than by remaining with the army.  Third, his absence would
+save the trains drawing his forage and other supplies from
+Fredericksburg, which had now become our base.  He started at daylight
+the next morning, and accomplished more than was expected.  It was
+sixteen days before he got back to the Army of the Potomac.
+
+The course Sheridan took was directly to Richmond.  Before night Stuart,
+commanding the Confederate cavalry, came on to the rear of his command.
+But the advance kept on, crossed the North Anna, and at Beaver Dam, a
+station on the Virginia Central Railroad, recaptured four hundred Union
+prisoners on their way to Richmond, destroyed the road and used and
+destroyed a large amount of subsistence and medical stores.
+
+Stuart, seeing that our cavalry was pushing towards Richmond, abandoned
+the pursuit on the morning of the 10th and, by a detour and an
+exhausting march, interposed between Sheridan and Richmond at Yellow
+Tavern, only about six miles north of the city.  Sheridan destroyed the
+railroad and more supplies at Ashland, and on the 11th arrived in
+Stuart's front.  A severe engagement ensued in which the losses were
+heavy on both sides, but the rebels were beaten, their leader mortally
+wounded, and some guns and many prisoners were captured.
+
+Sheridan passed through the outer defences of Richmond, and could, no
+doubt, have passed through the inner ones.  But having no supports near
+he could not have remained.  After caring for his wounded he struck for
+the James River below the city, to communicate with Butler and to rest
+his men and horses as well as to get food and forage for them.
+
+He moved first between the Chickahominy and the James, but in the
+morning (the 12th) he was stopped by batteries at Mechanicsville.  He
+then turned to cross to the north side of the Chickahominy by Meadow
+Bridge.  He found this barred, and the defeated Confederate cavalry,
+reorganized, occupying the opposite side.  The panic created by his
+first entrance within the outer works of Richmond having subsided troops
+were sent out to attack his rear.
+
+He was now in a perilous position, one from which but few generals could
+have extricated themselves.  The defences of Richmond, manned, were to
+the right, the Chickahominy was to the left with no bridge remaining and
+the opposite bank guarded, to the rear was a force from Richmond.  This
+force was attacked and beaten by Wilson's and Gregg's divisions, while
+Sheridan turned to the left with the remaining division and hastily
+built a bridge over the Chickahominy under the fire of the enemy, forced
+a crossing and soon dispersed the Confederates he found there. The enemy
+was held back from the stream by the fire of the troops not engaged in
+bridge building.
+
+On the 13th Sheridan was at Bottom's Bridge, over the Chickahominy.  On
+the 14th he crossed this stream and on that day went into camp on the
+James River at Haxall's Landing.  He at once put himself into
+communication with General Butler, who directed all the supplies he
+wanted to be furnished.
+
+Sheridan had left the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, but did not
+know where either this or Lee's army was now.  Great caution therefore
+had to be exercised in getting back.  On the 17th, after resting his
+command for three days, he started on his return.  He moved by the way
+of White House.  The bridge over the Pamunkey had been burned by the
+enemy, but a new one was speedily improvised and the cavalry crossed
+over it.  On the 22d he was at Aylett's on the Matapony, where he
+learned the position of the two armies.  On the 24th he joined us on the
+march from North Anna to Cold Harbor, in the vicinity of Chesterfield.
+
+Sheridan in this memorable raid passed entirely around Lee's army:
+encountered his cavalry in four engagements, and defeated them in all;
+recaptured four hundred Union prisoners and killed and captured many of
+the enemy; destroyed and used many supplies and munitions of war;
+destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph, and freed us from annoyance
+by the cavalry of the enemy for more than two weeks.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF GENERAL
+MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF ATLANTA.
+
+After separating from Sherman in Cincinnati I went on to Washington, as
+already stated, while he returned to Nashville to assume the duties of
+his new command.  His military division was now composed of four
+departments and embraced all the territory west of the Alleghany
+Mountains and east of the Mississippi River, together with the State of
+Arkansas in the trans-Mississippi.  The most easterly of these was the
+Department of the Ohio, General Schofield commanding; the next was the
+Department of the Cumberland, General Thomas commanding; the third the
+Department of the Tennessee, General McPherson commanding; and General
+Steele still commanded the trans-Mississippi, or Department of Arkansas.
+The last-named department was so far away that Sherman could not
+communicate with it very readily after starting on his spring campaign,
+and it was therefore soon transferred from his military division to that
+of the Gulf, where General Canby, who had relieved General Banks, was in
+command.
+
+The movements of the armies, as I have stated in a former chapter, were
+to be simultaneous, I fixing the day to start when the season should be
+far enough advanced, it was hoped, for the roads to be in a condition
+for the troops to march.
+
+General Sherman at once set himself to work preparing for the task which
+was assigned him to accomplish in the spring campaign.  McPherson lay at
+Huntsville with about twenty-four thousand men, guarding those points of
+Tennessee which were regarded as most worth holding; Thomas, with over
+sixty thousand men of the Army of the Cumberland, was at Chattanooga;
+and Schofield, with about fourteen thousand men, was at Knoxville. With
+these three armies, numbering about one hundred thousand men in all,
+Sherman was to move on the day fixed for the general advance, with a
+view of destroying Johnston's army and capturing Atlanta. He visited
+each of these commands to inform himself as to their condition, and it
+was found to be, speaking generally, good.
+
+One of the first matters to turn his attention to was that of getting,
+before the time arrived for starting, an accumulation of supplies
+forward to Chattanooga, sufficiently large to warrant a movement.  He
+found, when he got to that place, that the trains over the single-track
+railroad, which was frequently interrupted for a day or two at a time,
+were only sufficient to meet the daily wants of the troops without
+bringing forward any surplus of any kind.  He found, however, that
+trains were being used to transport all the beef cattle, horses for the
+cavalry, and even teams that were being brought to the front.  He at
+once changed all this, and required beef cattle, teams, cavalry horses,
+and everything that could travel, even the troops, to be marched, and
+used the road exclusively for transporting supplies.  In this way he was
+able to accumulate an abundance before the time finally fixed upon for
+the move, the 4th of May.
+
+As I have said already, Johnston was at Dalton, which was nearly
+one-fourth of the way between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The country is
+mountainous all the way to Atlanta, abounding in mountain streams, some
+of them of considerable volume.  Dalton is on ground where water drains
+towards Atlanta and into one of the main streams rising north-east from
+there and flowing south-west--this being the general direction which all
+the main streams of that section take, with smaller tributaries entering
+into them.  Johnston had been preparing himself for this campaign during
+the entire winter.  The best positions for defence had been selected all
+the way from Dalton back to Atlanta, and very strongly intrenched; so
+that, as he might be forced to fall back from one position, he would
+have another to fall into in his rear.  His position at Dalton was so
+very strongly intrenched that no doubt he expected, or at least hoped,
+to hold Sherman there and prevent him from getting any further.  With a
+less skilful general, and one disposed to take no risks, I have no doubt
+that he would have succeeded.
+
+Sherman's plan was to start Schofield, who was farthest back, a few days
+in advance from Knoxville, having him move on the direct road to Dalton.
+Thomas was to move out to Ringgold.  It had been Sherman's intention to
+cross McPherson over the Tennessee River at Huntsville or Decatur, and
+move him south from there so as to have him come into the road running
+from Chattanooga to Atlanta a good distance to the rear of the point
+Johnston was occupying; but when that was contemplated it was hoped that
+McPherson alone would have troops enough to cope with Johnston, if the
+latter should move against him while unsupported by the balance of the
+army.  In this he was disappointed.  Two of McPherson's veteran
+divisions had re-enlisted on the express provision that they were to
+have a furlough.  This furlough had not yet expired, and they were not
+back.
+
+Then, again, Sherman had lent Banks two divisions under A. J. Smith, the
+winter before, to co-operate with the trans-Mississippi forces, and this
+with the express pledge that they should be back by a time specified, so
+as to be prepared for this very campaign.  It is hardly necessary to say
+they were not returned.  That department continued to absorb troops to
+no purpose to the end of the war.  This left McPherson so weak that the
+part of the plan above indicated had to be changed.  He was therefore
+brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a road to the right of
+Thomas--the two coming together about Dalton.  The three armies were
+abreast, all ready to start promptly on time.
+
+Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it was
+useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even to carry it
+by regular approaches was impracticable.  There was a narrowing up in
+the mountain, between the National and Confederate armies, through which
+a stream, a wagon road and a railroad ran.  Besides, the stream had been
+dammed so that the valley was a lake.  Through this gorge the troops
+would have to pass.  McPherson was therefore sent around by the right,
+to come out by the way of Snake Creek Gap into the rear of the enemy.
+This was a surprise to Johnston, and about the 13th he decided to
+abandon his position at Dalton.
+
+On the 15th there was very hard fighting about Resaca; but our cavalry
+having been sent around to the right got near the road in the enemy's
+rear.  Again Johnston fell back, our army pursuing.  The pursuit was
+continued to Kingston, which was reached on the 19th with very little
+fighting, except that Newton's division overtook the rear of Johnston's
+army and engaged it.  Sherman was now obliged to halt for the purpose of
+bringing up his railroad trains.  He was depending upon the railroad for
+all of his supplies, and as of course the railroad was wholly destroyed
+as Johnston fell back, it had to be rebuilt.  This work was pushed
+forward night and day, and caused much less delay than most persons
+would naturally expect in a mountainous country where there were so many
+bridges to be rebuilt.
+
+The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate skill, the
+enemy being flanked out of one position after another all the way there.
+It is true this was not accomplished without a good deal of fighting
+--some of it very hard fighting, rising to the dignity of very important
+battles--neither were single positions gained in a day.  On the
+contrary, weeks were spent at some; and about Atlanta more than a month
+was consumed.
+
+It was the 23d of May before the road was finished up to the rear of
+Sherman's army and the pursuit renewed.  This pursuit brought him up to
+the vicinity of Allatoona. This place was very strongly intrenched, and
+naturally a very defensible position. An assault upon it was not thought
+of, but preparations were made to flank the enemy out of it.  This was
+done by sending a large force around our right, by the way of Dallas, to
+reach the rear of the enemy.  Before reaching there, however, they found
+the enemy fortified in their way, and there resulted hard fighting for
+about a week at a place called New Hope Church.  On the left our troops
+also were fortified, and as close up to the enemy as they could get.
+They kept working still farther around to the left toward the railroad.
+This was the case more particularly with the cavalry.  By the 4th of
+June Johnston found that he was being hemmed in so rapidly that he drew
+off and Allatoona was left in our possession.
+
+Allatoona, being an important place, was strongly intrenched for
+occupation by our troops before advancing farther, and made a secondary
+base of supplies.  The railroad was finished up to that point, the
+intrenchments completed, storehouses provided for food, and the army got
+in readiness for a further advance. The rains, however, were falling in
+such torrents that it was impossible to move the army by the side roads
+which they would have to move upon in order to turn Johnston out of his
+new position.
+
+While Sherman's army lay here, General F. P. Blair returned to it,
+bringing with him the two divisions of veterans who had been on
+furlough.
+
+Johnston had fallen back to Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain, where strong
+intrenchments awaited him.  At this latter place our troops made an
+assault upon the enemy's lines after having got their own lines up close
+to him, and failed, sustaining considerable loss.  But during the
+progress of the battle Schofield was gaining ground to the left; and the
+cavalry on his left were gaining still more toward the enemy's rear.
+These operations were completed by the 3d of July, when it was found
+that Johnston had evacuated the place.  He was pursued at once.  Sherman
+had made every preparation to abandon the railroad, leaving a strong
+guard in his intrenchments.  He had intended, moving out with twenty
+days' rations and plenty of ammunition, to come in on the railroad again
+at the Chattahoochee River.  Johnston frustrated this plan by himself
+starting back as above stated.  This time he fell back to the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+About the 5th of July he was besieged again, Sherman getting easy
+possession of the Chattahoochee River both above and below him.  The
+enemy was again flanked out of his position, or so frightened by
+flanking movements that on the night of the 9th he fell back across the
+river.
+
+Here Johnston made a stand until the 17th, when Sherman's old tactics
+prevailed again and the final movement toward Atlanta began.  Johnston
+was now relieved of the command, and Hood superseded him.
+
+Johnston's tactics in this campaign do not seem to have met with much
+favor, either in the eyes of the administration at Richmond, or of the
+people of that section of the South in which he was commanding.  The
+very fact of a change of commanders being ordered under such
+circumstances was an indication of a change of policy, and that now they
+would become the aggressors--the very thing our troops wanted.
+
+For my own part, I think that Johnston's tactics were right. Anything
+that could have prolonged the war a year beyond the time that it did
+finally close, would probably have exhausted the North to such an extent
+that they might then have abandoned the contest and agreed to a
+separation.
+
+Atlanta was very strongly intrenched all the way around in a circle
+about a mile and a half outside of the city.  In addition to this, there
+were advanced intrenchments which had to be taken before a close siege
+could be commenced.
+
+Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy was
+about to assume the offensive.  On the 20th he came out and attacked the
+Army of the Cumberland most furiously.  Hooker's corps, and Newton's and
+Johnson's divisions were the principal ones engaged in this contest,
+which lasted more than an hour; but the Confederates were then forced to
+fall back inside their main lines.  The losses were quite heavy on both
+sides.  On this day General Gresham, since our Postmaster-General, was
+very badly wounded.  During the night Hood abandoned his outer lines,
+and our troops were advanced.  The investment had not been relinquished
+for a moment during the day.
+
+During the night of the 21st Hood moved out again, passing by our left
+flank, which was then in motion to get a position farther in rear of
+him, and a desperate battle ensued, which lasted most of the day of the
+22d.  At first the battle went very much in favor of the Confederates,
+our troops being somewhat surprised.  While our troops were advancing
+they were struck in flank, and their flank was enveloped.  But they had
+become too thorough veterans to be thrown into irreparable confusion by
+an unexpected attack when off their guard, and soon they were in order
+and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now of knowing where their
+antagonist was.  The field of battle continued to expand until it
+embraced about seven miles of ground.  Finally, however, and before
+night, the enemy was driven back into the city (*26).
+
+It was during this battle that McPherson, while passing from one column
+to another, was instantly killed.  In his death the army lost one of its
+ablest, purest and best generals.
+
+Garrard had been sent out with his cavalry to get upon the railroad east
+of Atlanta and to cut it in the direction of Augusta. He was successful
+in this, and returned about the time of the battle.  Rousseau had also
+come up from Tennessee with a small division of cavalry, having crossed
+the Tennessee River about Decatur and made a raid into Alabama. Finally,
+when hard pressed, he had come in, striking the railroad in rear of
+Sherman, and reported to him about this time.
+
+The battle of the 22d is usually known as the Battle of Atlanta,
+although the city did not fall into our hands until the 2d of September.
+Preparations went on, as before, to flank the enemy out of his position.
+The work was tedious, and the lines that had to be maintained were very
+long.  Our troops were gradually worked around to the east until they
+struck the road between Decatur and Atlanta. These lines were strongly
+fortified, as were those to the north and west of the city--all as close
+up to the enemy's lines as practicable--in order to hold them with the
+smallest possible number of men, the design being to detach an army to
+move by our right and try to get upon the railroad down south of
+Atlanta.
+
+On the 27th the movement by the right flank commenced.  On the 28th the
+enemy struck our right flank, General Logan commanding, with great
+vigor.  Logan intrenched himself hastily, and by that means was enabled
+to resist all assaults and inflict a great deal of damage upon the
+enemy.  These assaults were continued to the middle of the afternoon,
+and resumed once or twice still later in the day.  The enemy's losses in
+these unsuccessful assaults were fearful.
+
+During that evening the enemy in Logan's front withdrew into the town.
+This now left Sherman's army close up to the Confederate lines,
+extending from a point directly east of the city around by the north and
+west of it for a distance of fully ten miles; the whole of this line
+being intrenched, and made stronger every day they remained there.
+
+In the latter part of July Sherman sent Stoneman to destroy the
+railroads to the south, about Macon.  He was then to go east and, if
+possible, release our prisoners about Andersonville. There were painful
+stories current at the time about the great hardships these prisoners
+had to endure in the way of general bad treatment, in the way in which
+they were housed, and in the way in which they were fed.  Great sympathy
+was felt for them; and it was thought that even if they could be turned
+loose upon the country it would be a great relief to them.  But the
+attempt proved a failure.  McCook, who commanded a small brigade, was
+first reported to have been captured; but he got back, having inflicted
+a good deal of damage upon the enemy.  He had also taken some prisoners;
+but encountering afterwards a largely superior force of the enemy he was
+obliged to drop his prisoners and get back as best he could with what
+men he had left.  He had lost several hundred men out of his small
+command.  On the 4th of August Colonel Adams, commanding a little
+brigade of about a thousand men, returned reporting Stoneman and all but
+himself as lost.  I myself had heard around Richmond of the capture of
+Stoneman, and had sent Sherman word, which he received.  The rumor was
+confirmed there, also, from other sources.  A few days after Colonel
+Adams's return Colonel Capron also got in with a small detachment and
+confirmed the report of the capture of Stoneman with something less than
+a thousand men.
+
+It seems that Stoneman, finding the escape of all his force was
+impossible, had made arrangements for the escape of two divisions.  He
+covered the movement of these divisions to the rear with a force of
+about seven hundred men, and at length surrendered himself and this
+detachment to the commanding Confederate.  In this raid, however, much
+damage was inflicted upon the enemy by the destruction of cars,
+locomotives, army wagons, manufactories of military supplies, etc.
+
+On the 4th and 5th Sherman endeavored to get upon the railroad to our
+right, where Schofield was in command, but these attempts failed
+utterly.  General Palmer was charged with being the cause of this
+failure, to a great extent, by both General Sherman and General
+Schofield; but I am not prepared to say this, although a question seems
+to have arisen with Palmer as to whether Schofield had any right to
+command him.  If he did raise this question while an action was going
+on, that act alone was exceedingly reprehensible.
+
+About the same time Wheeler got upon our railroad north of Resaca and
+destroyed it nearly up to Dalton.  This cut Sherman off from
+communication with the North for several days.  Sherman responded to
+this attack on his lines of communication by directing one upon theirs.
+
+Kilpatrick started on the night of the 18th of August to reach the Macon
+road about Jonesboro.  He succeeded in doing so, passed entirely around
+the Confederate lines of Atlanta, and was back again in his former
+position on our left by the 22d.  These little affairs, however,
+contributed but very little to the grand result.  They annoyed, it is
+true, but any damage thus done to a railroad by any cavalry expedition
+is soon repaired.
+
+Sherman made preparations for a repetition of his tactics; that is, for
+a flank movement with as large a force as could be got together to some
+point in the enemy's rear.  Sherman commenced this last movement on the
+25th of August, and on the 1st of September was well up towards the
+railroad twenty miles south of Atlanta.  Here he found Hardee
+intrenched, ready to meet him.  A battle ensued, but he was unable to
+drive Hardee away before night set in.  Under cover of the night,
+however, Hardee left of his own accord.  That night Hood blew up his
+military works, such as he thought would be valuable in our hands, and
+decamped.
+
+The next morning at daylight General H. W. Slocum, who was commanding
+north of the city, moved in and took possession of Atlanta, and notified
+Sherman.  Sherman then moved deliberately back, taking three days to
+reach the city, and occupied a line extending from Decatur on the left
+to Atlanta in the centre, with his troops extending out of the city for
+some distance to the right.
+
+The campaign had lasted about four months, and was one of the most
+memorable in history.  There was but little if anything in the whole
+campaign, now that it is over, to criticise at all, and nothing to
+criticise severely.  It was creditable alike to the general who
+commanded and the army which had executed it. Sherman had on this
+campaign some bright, wide-awake division and brigade commanders whose
+alertness added a host to the efficiency of his command.
+
+The troops now went to work to make themselves comfortable, and to enjoy
+a little rest after their arduous campaign.  The city of Atlanta was
+turned into a military base.  The citizens were all compelled to leave.
+Sherman also very wisely prohibited the assembling of the army of
+sutlers and traders who always follow in the wake of an army in the
+field, if permitted to do so, from trading with the citizens and getting
+the money of the soldiers for articles of but little use to them, and
+for which they are made to pay most exorbitant prices.  He limited the
+number of these traders to one for each of his three armies.
+
+The news of Sherman's success reached the North instantaneously, and set
+the country all aglow.  This was the first great political campaign for
+the Republicans in their canvass of 1864.  It was followed later by
+Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley; and these two campaigns
+probably had more effect in settling the election of the following
+November than all the speeches, all the bonfires, and all the parading
+with banners and bands of music in the North.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE RAPIDAN
+--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+Soon after midnight, May 3d-4th, the Army of the Potomac moved out from
+its position north Rapidan, to start upon that memorable campaign,
+destined to result in the capture of the Confederate capital and the
+army defending it.  This was not to be accomplished, however, without as
+desperate fighting as the world has ever witnessed; not to be
+consummated in a day, a week, a month, single season.  The losses
+inflicted, and endured, were destined to be severe; but the armies now
+confronting each other had already been in deadly conflict for a period
+of three years, with immense losses in killed, by death from sickness,
+captured and wounded; and neither had made any real progress
+accomplishing the final end.  It is true the Confederates had, so far,
+held their capital, and they claimed this to be their sole object.  But
+previously they had boldly proclaimed their intention to capture
+Philadelphia, New York, and the National Capital, and had made several
+attempts to do so, and once or twice had come fearfully near making
+their boast good--too near for complacent contemplation by the loyal
+North. They had also come near losing their own capital on at least one
+occasion.  So here was a stand-off.  The campaign now begun was destined
+to result in heavier losses, to both armies, in a given time, than any
+previously suffered; but the carnage was to be limited to a single year,
+and to accomplish all that had been anticipated or desired at the
+beginning in that time.  We had to have hard fighting to achieve this.
+The two armies had been confronting each other so long, without any
+decisive result, that they hardly knew which could whip.
+
+Ten days' rations, with a supply of forage and ammunition were taken in
+wagons.  Beef cattle were driven with the trains, and butchered as
+wanted.  Three days rations in addition, in haversacks, and fifty rounds
+of cartridges, were carried on the person of each soldier.
+
+The country over which the army had to operate, from the Rapidan to the
+crossing of the James River, is rather flat, and is cut by numerous
+streams which make their way to the Chesapeake Bay.  The crossings of
+these streams by the army were generally made not far above tide-water,
+and where they formed a considerable obstacle to the rapid advance of
+troops even when the enemy did not appear in opposition.  The country
+roads were narrow and poor. Most of the country is covered with a dense
+forest, in places, like the Wilderness and along the Chickahominy,
+almost impenetrable even for infantry except along the roads.  All
+bridges were naturally destroyed before the National troops came to
+them.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was composed of three infantry and one cavalry
+corps, commanded respectively by Generals W. S. Hancock, G. K. Warren,
+(*27) John Sedgwick and P. H. Sheridan.  The artillery was commanded by
+General Henry J. Hunt.  This arm was in such abundance that the fourth
+of it could not be used to advantage in such a country as we were
+destined to pass through.  The surplus was much in the way, taking up as
+it did so much of the narrow and bad roads, and consuming so much of the
+forage and other stores brought up by the trains.
+
+The 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was in advance on the right,
+and marched directly for Germania Ford, preceded by one division of
+cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson.  General Sedgwick followed Warren
+with the 6th corps.  Germania Ford was nine or ten miles below the right
+of Lee's line.  Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved by another road,
+farther east, directly upon Ely's Ford, six miles below Germania,
+preceded by Gregg's division of cavalry, and followed by the artillery.
+Torbert's division of cavalry was left north of the Rapidan, for the
+time, to picket the river and prevent the enemy from crossing and
+getting into our rear.  The cavalry seized the two crossings before
+daylight, drove the enemy's pickets guarding them away, and by six
+o'clock A.M. had the pontoons laid ready for the crossing of the
+infantry and artillery.  This was undoubtedly a surprise to Lee.  The
+fact that the movement was unopposed proves this.
+
+Burnside, with the 9th corps, was left back at Warrenton, guarding the
+railroad from Bull Run forward to preserve control of it in case our
+crossing the Rapidan should be long delayed. He was instructed, however,
+to advance at once on receiving notice that the army had crossed; and a
+dispatch was sent to him a little after one P.M. giving the information
+that our crossing had been successful.
+
+The country was heavily wooded at all the points of crossing,
+particularly on the south side of the river.  The battle-field from the
+crossing of the Rapidan until the final movement from the Wilderness
+toward Spottsylvania was of the same character. There were some
+clearings and small farms within what might be termed the battle-field;
+but generally the country was covered with a dense forest.  The roads
+were narrow and bad.  All the conditions were favorable for defensive
+operations.
+
+There are two roads, good for that part of Virginia, running from Orange
+Court House to the battle-field.  The most southerly of these roads is
+known as the Orange Court House Plank Road, the northern one as the
+Orange Turnpike.  There are also roads from east of the battle-field
+running to Spottsylvania Court House, one from Chancellorsville,
+branching at Aldrich's; the western branch going by Piney Branch Church,
+Alsop's, thence by the Brock Road to Spottsylvania; the east branch goes
+by Gates's, thence to Spottsylvania.  The Brock Road runs from Germania
+Ford through the battle-field and on to the Court House.  As
+Spottsylvania is approached the country is cut up with numerous roads,
+some going to the town direct, and others crossing so as to connect the
+farms with roads going there.
+
+Lee's headquarters were at Orange Court House.  From there to
+Fredericksburg he had the use of the two roads above described running
+nearly parallel to the Wilderness.  This gave him unusual facilities,
+for that country, for concentrating his forces to his right.  These
+roads strike the road from Germania Ford in the Wilderness.
+
+As soon as the crossing of the infantry was assured, the cavalry pushed
+forward, Wilson's division by Wilderness Tavern to Parker's store, on
+the Orange Plank Road; Gregg to the left towards Chancellorsville.
+Warren followed Wilson and reached the Wilderness Tavern by noon, took
+position there and intrenched.  Sedgwick followed Warren.  He was across
+the river and in camp on the south bank, on the right of Warren, by
+sundown.  Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved parallel with Warren and
+camped about six miles east of him.  Before night all the troops, and by
+the evening of the 5th the trains of more than four thousand wagons,
+were safely on the south side of the river.
+
+There never was a corps better organized than was the quartermaster's
+corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864. With a wagon-train that
+would have extended from the Rapidan to Richmond, stretched along in
+single file and separated as the teams necessarily would be when moving,
+we could still carry only three days' forage and about ten to twelve
+days' rations, besides a supply of ammunition.  To overcome all
+difficulties, the chief quartermaster, General Rufus Ingalls, had marked
+on each wagon the corps badge with the division color and the number of
+the brigade.  At a glance, the particular brigade to which any wagon
+belonged could be told.  The wagons were also marked to note the
+contents:  if ammunition, whether for artillery or infantry; if forage,
+whether grain or hay; if rations, whether, bread, pork, beans, rice,
+sugar, coffee or whatever it might be.  Empty wagons were never allowed
+to follow the army or stay in camp.  As soon as a wagon was empty it
+would return to the base of supply for a load of precisely the same
+article that had been taken from it.  Empty trains were obliged to leave
+the road free for loaded ones.  Arriving near the army they would be
+parked in fields nearest to the brigades they belonged to.  Issues,
+except of ammunition, were made at night in all cases.  By this system
+the hauling of forage for the supply train was almost wholly dispensed
+with.  They consumed theirs at the depots.
+
+I left Culpeper Court House after all the troops had been put in motion,
+and passing rapidly to the front, crossed the Rapidan in advance of
+Sedgwick's corps; and established headquarters for the afternoon and
+night in a deserted house near the river.
+
+Orders had been given, long before this movement began, to cut down the
+baggage of officers and men to the lowest point possible.
+Notwithstanding this I saw scattered along the road from Culpeper to
+Germania Ford wagon-loads of new blankets and overcoats, thrown away by
+the troops to lighten their knapsacks; an improvidence I had never
+witnessed before.
+
+Lee, while his pickets and signal corps must have discovered at a very
+early hour on the morning of the 4th of May, that the Army of the
+Potomac was moving, evidently did not learn until about one o'clock in
+the afternoon by what route we would confront his army.  This I judge
+from the fact that at 1.15 P.M., an hour and a quarter after Warren had
+reached Old Wilderness Tavern, our officers took off rebel signals
+which, when translated, were seen to be an order to his troops to occupy
+their intrenchments at Mine Run.
+
+Here at night dispatches were received announcing that Sherman, Butler
+and Crook had moved according to programme.
+
+On discovering the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Lee ordered Hill,
+Ewell and Longstreet, each commanding corps, to move to the right to
+attack us, Hill on the Orange Plank Road, Longstreet to follow on the
+same road.  Longstreet was at this time--middle of the afternoon--at
+Gordonsville, twenty or more miles away.  Ewell was ordered by the
+Orange Pike.  He was near by and arrived some four miles east of Mine
+Run before bivouacking for the night.
+
+My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance on the
+morning of the 5th.  Warren was to move to Parker's store, and Wilson's
+cavalry--then at Parker's store--to move on to Craig's meeting-house.
+Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in on his right.  The Army of the
+Potomac was facing to the west, though our advance was made to the
+south, except when facing the enemy.  Hancock was to move south-westward
+to join on the left of Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church.
+
+At six o'clock, before reaching Parker's store, Warren discovered the
+enemy.  He sent word back to this effect, and was ordered to halt and
+prepare to meet and attack him.  Wright, with his division of Sedgwick's
+corps, was ordered, by any road he could find, to join on to Warren's
+right, and Getty with his division, also of Sedgwick's corps, was
+ordered to move rapidly by Warren's rear and get on his left.  This was
+the speediest way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on
+both the Orange plank and turnpike roads.
+
+Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that the Army
+of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan.  By making a night march,
+although some of his troops had to march forty miles to reach the river,
+he was crossing with the head of his column early on the morning of the
+5th.  Meade moved his headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four
+miles south of the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the
+road.  I remained to hasten Burnside's crossing and to put him in
+position.  Burnside at this time was not under Meade's command, and was
+his senior in rank.  Getting information of the proximity of the enemy,
+I informed Meade, and without waiting to see Burnside, at once moved
+forward my headquarters to where Meade was.
+
+It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take the
+initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his intrenchments if
+we were not intrenched ourselves.  Warren had not yet reached the point
+where he was to halt, when he discovered the enemy near by.  Neither
+party had any advantage of position.  Warren was, therefore, ordered to
+attack as soon as he could prepare for it.  At nine o'clock Hancock was
+ordered to come up to the support of Getty.  He himself arrived at
+Getty's front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the rear.
+Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards until relieved.
+About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked with favorable though not
+decisive results.  Getty was somewhat isolated from Warren and was in a
+precarious condition for a time.  Wilson, with his division of cavalry,
+was farther south, and was cut off from the rest of the army.  At two
+o'clock Hancock's troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered
+to join Getty and attack the enemy.  But the heavy timber and narrow
+roads prevented him from getting into position for attack as promptly as
+he generally did when receiving such orders.  At four o'clock he again
+received his orders to attack, and General Getty received orders from
+Meade a few minutes later to attack whether Hancock was ready or not.
+He met the enemy under Heth within a few hundred yards.
+
+Hancock immediately sent two divisions, commanded by Birney and Mott,
+and later two brigades, Carroll's and Owen's, to the support of Getty.
+This was timely and saved Getty.  During the battle Getty and Carroll
+were wounded, but remained on the field.  One of Birney's most gallant
+brigade commanders--Alexander Hays--was killed.
+
+I had been at West Point with Hays for three years, and had served with
+him through the Mexican war, a portion of the time in the same regiment.
+He was a most gallant officer, ready to lead his command wherever
+ordered.  With him it was "Come, boys," not "Go."
+
+Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the 2d division were sent
+to reinforce Hancock and Getty; but the density of the intervening
+forest was such that, there being no road to march upon, they did not
+get up with the head of column until night, and bivouacked where they
+were without getting into position.
+
+During the afternoon Sheridan sent Gregg's division of cavalry to Todd's
+Tavern in search of Wilson.  This was fortunate.  He found Wilson
+engaged with a superior force under General Rosser, supported by
+infantry, and falling back before it.  Together they were strong enough
+to turn the tables upon the enemy and themselves become aggressive.
+They soon drove the rebel cavalry back beyond Corbin's Bridge.
+
+Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a close to
+it.  Neither side made any special progress.
+
+After the close of the battle of the 5th of May my orders were given for
+the following morning.  We knew Longstreet with 12,000 men was on his
+way to join Hill's right, near the Brock Road, and might arrive during
+the night.  I was anxious that the rebels should not take the initiative
+in the morning, and therefore ordered Hancock to make an assault at 4.30
+o'clock.  Meade asked to have the hour changed to six.  Deferring to his
+wishes as far as I was willing, the order was modified and five was
+fixed as the hour to move.
+
+Hancock had now fully one-half of the Army of the Potomac. Wadsworth
+with his division, which had arrived the night before, lay in a line
+perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the right of Hancock.  He was
+directed to move at the same time, and to attack Hill's left.
+
+Burnside, who was coming up with two divisions, was directed to get in
+between Warren and Wadsworth, and attack as soon as he could get in
+position to do so.  Sedgwick and Warren were to make attacks in their
+front, to detain as many of the enemy as they could and to take
+advantage of any attempt to reinforce Hill from that quarter.  Burnside
+was ordered if he should succeed in breaking the enemy's centre, to
+swing around to the left and envelop the right of Lee's army.  Hancock
+was informed of all the movements ordered.
+
+Burnside had three divisions, but one of them--a colored division--was
+sent to guard the wagon train, and he did not see it again until July.
+
+Lee was evidently very anxious that there should be no battle on his
+right until Longstreet got up.  This is evident from the fact that
+notwithstanding the early hour at which I had ordered the assault, both
+for the purpose of being the attacking party and to strike before
+Longstreet got up, Lee was ahead in his assault on our right.  His
+purpose was evident, but he failed.
+
+Hancock was ready to advance by the hour named, but learning in time
+that Longstreet was moving a part of his corps by the Catharpin Road,
+thus threatening his left flank, sent a division of infantry, commanded
+by General Barlow, with all his artillery, to cover the approaches by
+which Longstreet was expected.  This disposition was made in time to
+attack as ordered.  Hancock moved by the left of the Orange Plank Road,
+and Wadsworth by the right of it. The fighting was desperate for about
+an hour, when the enemy began to break up in great confusion.
+
+I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now, that if
+the country had been such that Hancock and his command could have seen
+the confusion and panic in the lines of the enemy, it would have been
+taken advantage of so effectually that Lee would not have made another
+stand outside of his Richmond defences.
+
+Gibbon commanded Hancock's left, and was ordered to attack, but was not
+able to accomplish much.
+
+On the morning of the 6th Sheridan was sent to connect with Hancock's
+left and attack the enemy's cavalry who were trying to get on our left
+and rear.  He met them at the intersection of the Furnace and Brock
+roads and at Todd's Tavern, and defeated them at both places.  Later he
+was attacked, and again the enemy was repulsed.
+
+Hancock heard the firing between Sheridan and Stuart, and thinking the
+enemy coming by that road, still further reinforced his position
+guarding the entrance to the Brock Road.  Another incident happened
+during the day to further induce Hancock to weaken his attacking column.
+Word reached him that troops were seen moving towards him from the
+direction of Todd's Tavern, and Brooke's brigade was detached to meet
+this new enemy; but the troops approaching proved to be several hundred
+convalescents coming from Chancellorsville, by the road Hancock had
+advanced upon, to join their respective commands.  At 6.50 o'clock A.M.,
+Burnside, who had passed Wilderness Tavern at six o'clock, was ordered
+to send a division to the support of Hancock, but to continue with the
+remainder of his command in the execution of his previous order.  The
+difficulty of making a way through the dense forests prevented Burnside
+from getting up in time to be of any service on the forenoon of the
+sixth.
+
+Hancock followed Hill's retreating forces, in the morning, a mile or
+more.  He maintained this position until, along in the afternoon,
+Longstreet came upon him.  The retreating column of Hill meeting
+reinforcements that had not yet been engaged, became encouraged and
+returned with them.  They were enabled, from the density of the forest,
+to approach within a few hundred yards of our advance before being
+discovered.  Falling upon a brigade of Hancock's corps thrown to the
+advance, they swept it away almost instantly.  The enemy followed up his
+advantage and soon came upon Mott's division, which fell back in great
+confusion.  Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced position, but
+after holding it for a time, fell back into the position that he had
+held in the morning, which was strongly intrenched.  In this engagement
+the intrepid Wadsworth while trying to rally his men was mortally
+wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy.  The enemy followed up,
+but made no immediate attack.
+
+The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet seriously
+wounded in this engagement.  Longstreet had to leave the field, not to
+resume command for many weeks.  His loss was a severe one to Lee, and
+compensated in a great measure for the mishap, or misapprehensions,
+which had fallen to our lot during the day.
+
+After Longstreet's removal from the field Lee took command of his right
+in person.  He was not able, however, to rally his men to attack
+Hancock's position, and withdrew from our front for the purpose of
+reforming.  Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front of all remnants
+that might be left of Longstreet's or Hill's commands.  This brigade
+having been formed at right angles to the intrenchments held by
+Hancock's command, swept down the whole length of them from left to
+right.  A brigade of the enemy was encountered in this move; but it
+broke and disappeared without a contest.
+
+Firing was continued after this, but with less fury.  Burnside had not
+yet been able to get up to render any assistance.  But it was now only
+about nine in the morning, and he was getting into position on Hancock's
+right.
+
+At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left.  His line moved up to
+within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire. This status was
+maintained for about half an hour.  Then a part of Mott's division and
+Ward's brigade of Birney's division gave way and retired in disorder.
+The enemy under R. H. Anderson took advantage of this and pushed through
+our line, planting their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on
+fire.  But owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but
+temporary.  Carroll, of Gibbon's division, moved at a double quick with
+his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting great loss.  Fighting
+had continued from five in the morning sometimes along the whole line,
+at other times only in places. The ground fought over had varied in
+width, but averaged three-quarters of a mile.  The killed, and many of
+the severely wounded, of both armies, lay within this belt where it was
+impossible to reach them.  The woods were set on fire by the bursting
+shells, and the conflagration raged.  The wounded who had not strength
+to move themselves were either suffocated or burned to death.  Finally
+the fire communicated with our breastworks, in places.  Being
+constructed of wood, they burned with great fury.  But the battle still
+raged, our men firing through the flames until it became too hot to
+remain longer.
+
+Lee was now in distress.  His men were in confusion, and his personal
+efforts failed to restore order.  These facts, however, were learned
+subsequently, or we would have taken advantage of his condition and no
+doubt gained a decisive success.  His troops were withdrawn now, but I
+revoked the order, which I had given previously to this assault, for
+Hancock to attack, because his troops had exhausted their ammunition and
+did not have time to replenish from the train, which was at some
+distance.
+
+Burnside, Sedgwick, and Warren had all kept up an assault during all
+this time; but their efforts had no other effect than to prevent the
+enemy from reinforcing his right from the troops in their front.
+
+I had, on the 5th, ordered all the bridges over the Rapidan to be taken
+up except one at Germania Ford.
+
+The troops on Sedgwick's right had been sent to enforce our left.  This
+left our right in danger of being turned, and us of being cut off from
+all present base of supplies.  Sedgwick had refused his right and
+intrenched it for protection against attack.  But late in the afternoon
+of the 6th Early came out from his lines in considerable force and got
+in upon Sedgwick's right, notwithstanding the precautions taken, and
+created considerable confusion.  Early captured several hundred
+prisoners, among them two general officers.  The defence, however, was
+vigorous; and night coming on, the enemy was thrown into as much
+confusion as our troops, engaged, were.  Early says in his Memoirs that
+if we had discovered the confusion in his lines we might have brought
+fresh troops to his great discomfort.  Many officers, who had not been
+attacked by Early, continued coming to my headquarters even after
+Sedgwick had rectified his lines a little farther to the rear, with news
+of the disaster, fully impressed with the idea that the enemy was
+pushing on and would soon be upon me.
+
+During the night all of Lee's army withdrew within their intrenchments.
+On the morning of the 7th General Custer drove the enemy's cavalry from
+Catharpin Furnace to Todd's Tavern. Pickets and skirmishers were sent
+along our entire front to find the position of the enemy.  Some went as
+far as a mile and a half before finding him. But Lee showed no
+disposition to come out of his Works.  There was no battle during the
+day, and but little firing except in Warren's front; he being directed
+about noon to make a reconnoissance in force.  This drew some sharp
+firing, but there was no attempt on the part of Lee to drive him back.
+This ended the Battle of the Wilderness.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT
+FLANK.
+
+More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent than
+that of the 5th and 6th of May.  Our victory consisted in having
+successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the face of an
+enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit. We gained an
+advantage on the morning of the 6th, which, if it had been followed up,
+must have proven very decisive.  In the evening the enemy gained an
+advantage; but was speedily repulsed.  As we stood at the close, the two
+armies were relatively in about the same condition to meet each other as
+when the river divided them.  But the fact of having safely crossed was
+a victory.
+
+Our losses in the Wilderness were very severe.  Those of the
+Confederates must have been even more so; but I have no means of
+speaking with accuracy upon this point.  The Germania Ford bridge was
+transferred to Ely's Ford to facilitate the transportation of the
+wounded to Washington.
+
+It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things connected with
+all movements of the Army of the Potomac:  first, in every change of
+position or halt for the night, whether confronting the enemy or not,
+the moment arms were stacked the men intrenched themselves.  For this
+purpose they would build up piles of logs or rails if they could be
+found in their front, and dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on the
+timber.  Thus the digging they did counted in making a depression to
+stand in, and increased the elevation in front of them.  It was
+wonderful how quickly they could in this way construct defences of
+considerable strength.  When a halt was made with the view of assaulting
+the enemy, or in his presence, these would be strengthened or their
+positions changed under the direction of engineer officers.  The second
+was, the use made of the telegraph and signal corps.  Nothing could be
+more complete than the organization and discipline of this body of brave
+and intelligent men.  Insulated wires--insulated so that they would
+transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water--were wound
+upon reels, making about two hundred pounds weight of wire to each reel.
+Two men and one mule were detailed to each reel.  The pack-saddle on
+which this was carried was provided with a rack like a sawbuck placed
+crosswise of the saddle, and raised above it so that the reel, with its
+wire, would revolve freely.  There was a wagon, supplied with a
+telegraph operator, battery and telegraph instruments for each division,
+each corps, each army, and one for my headquarters.  There were wagons
+also loaded with light poles, about the size and length of a wall tent
+pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold the wires up
+when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not run over them.  The
+mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades, and always kept with the
+command they were assigned to.  The operators were also assigned to
+particular headquarters, and never changed except by special orders.
+
+The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all the men
+connected with this branch of service would proceed to put up their
+wires.  A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be led to the rear of
+the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged to, and would be led in a
+line parallel thereto, while one man would hold an end of the wire and
+uncoil it as the mule was led off.  When he had walked the length of the
+wire the whole of it would be on the ground.  This would be done in rear
+of every brigade at the same time.  The ends of all the wires would then
+be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole army.  The
+men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all commence at once
+raising the wires with their telegraph poles. This was done by making a
+loop in the wire and putting it over the spike and raising the pole to a
+perpendicular position.  At intervals the wire would be attached to
+trees, or some other permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient
+at a place. In the absence of such a support two poles would have to be
+used, at intervals, placed at an angle so as to hold the wire firm in
+its place.  While this was being done the telegraph wagons would take
+their positions near where the headquarters they belonged to were to be
+established, and would connect with the wire. Thus, in a few minutes
+longer time than it took a mule to walk the length of its coil,
+telegraphic communication would be effected between all the headquarters
+of the army.  No orders ever had to be given to establish the telegraph.
+
+The signal service was used on the march.  The men composing this corps
+were assigned to specified commands.  When movements were made, they
+would go in advance, or on the flanks, and seize upon high points of
+ground giving a commanding view of the country, if cleared, or would
+climb tall trees on the highest points if not cleared, and would denote,
+by signals, the positions of different parts of our own army, and often
+the movements of the enemy.  They would also take off the signals of the
+enemy and transmit them.  It would sometimes take too long a time to
+make translations of intercepted dispatches for us to receive any
+benefit from them.  But sometimes they gave useful information.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th I received news from Washington announcing
+that Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day, and that Butler
+had reached City Point safely and taken it by surprise on the 5th.  I
+had given orders for a movement by the left flank, fearing that Lee
+might move rapidly to Richmond to crush Butler before I could get there.
+
+My order for this movement was as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P.
+
+Make all preparations during the day for a night march to take position
+at Spottsylvania C. H. with one army corps, at Todd's Tavern with one,
+and another near the intersection of the Piney Branch and Spottsylvania
+road with the road from Alsop's to Old Court House.  If this move is
+made the trains should be thrown forward early in the morning to the Ny
+River.
+
+I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave Hancock
+where he is until Warren passes him.  He could then follow and become
+the right of the new line.  Burnside will move to Piney Branch Church.
+Sedgwick can move along the pike to Chancellorsville and on to his
+destination.  Burnside will move on the plank road to the intersection
+of it with the Orange and Fredericksburg plank road, then follow
+Sedgwick to his place of destination.
+
+All vehicles should be got out of hearing of the enemy before the troops
+move, and then move off quietly.
+
+It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy attack
+on Hancock this afternoon.  In case they do we must be prepared to
+resist them, and follow up any success we may gain, with our whole
+force.  Such a result would necessarily modify these instructions.
+
+All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+During the 7th Sheridan had a fight with the rebel cavalry at Todd's
+Tavern, but routed them, thus opening the way for the troops that were
+to go by that route at night.  Soon after dark Warren withdrew from the
+front of the enemy, and was soon followed by Sedgwick.  Warren's march
+carried him immediately behind the works where Hancock's command lay on
+the Brock Road.  With my staff and a small escort of cavalry I preceded
+the troops.  Meade with his staff accompanied me.  The greatest
+enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's men as we passed by.  No doubt it
+was inspired by the fact that the movement was south. It indicated to
+them that they had passed through the "beginning of the end" in the
+battle just fought.  The cheering was so lusty that the enemy must have
+taken it for a night attack.  At all events it drew from him a furious
+fusillade of artillery and musketry, plainly heard but not felt by us.
+
+Meade and I rode in advance.  We had passed but a little way beyond our
+left when the road forked.  We looked to see, if we could, which road
+Sheridan had taken with his cavalry during the day.  It seemed to be the
+right-hand one, and accordingly we took it.  We had not gone far,
+however, when Colonel C. B. Comstock, of my staff, with the instinct of
+the engineer, suspecting that we were on a road that would lead us into
+the lines of the enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a
+rapid gallop and all alone.  In a few minutes he returned and reported
+that Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into
+his lines in a short distance.  We returned to the forks of the road,
+left a man to indicate the right road to the head of Warren's column
+when it should come up, and continued our journey to Todd's Tavern,
+where we arrived after midnight.
+
+My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold:  first, I did not
+want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush Butler
+before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between his army and
+Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into the open field.  But
+Lee, by accident, beat us to Spottsylvania.  Our wagon trains had been
+ordered easterly of the roads the troops were to march upon before the
+movement commenced.  Lee interpreted this as a semi-retreat of the Army
+of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his government.
+Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps--now commanded by Anderson--to
+move in the morning (the 8th) to Spottsylvania.  But the woods being
+still on fire, Anderson could not go into bivouac, and marched directly
+on to his destination that night.  By this accident Lee got possession
+of Spottsylvania.  It is impossible to say now what would have been the
+result if Lee's orders had been obeyed as given; but it is certain that
+we would have been in Spottsylvania, and between him and his capital.
+My belief is that there would have been a race between the two armies to
+see which could reach Richmond first, and the Army of the Potomac would
+have had the shorter line.  Thus, twice since crossing the Rapidan we
+came near closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned, from
+the Rapidan to the James River or Richmond.  The first failure was
+caused by our not following up the success gained over Hill's corps on
+the morning of the 6th, as before described:  the second, when fires
+caused by that battle drove Anderson to make a march during the night of
+the 7th-8th which he was ordered to commence on the morning of the 8th.
+But accident often decides the fate of battle.
+
+Sheridan's cavalry had had considerable fighting during the afternoon of
+the 7th, lasting at Todd's Tavern until after night, with the field his
+at the close.  He issued the necessary orders for seizing Spottsylvania
+and holding the bridge over the Po River, which Lee's troops would have
+to cross to get to Spottsylvania.  But Meade changed Sheridan's orders
+to Merritt--who was holding the bridge--on his arrival at Todd's Tavern,
+and thereby left the road free for Anderson when he came up.  Wilson,
+who was ordered to seize the town, did so, with his division of cavalry;
+but he could not hold it against the Confederate corps which had not
+been detained at the crossing of the Po, as it would have been but for
+the unfortunate change in Merritt's orders.  Had he been permitted to
+execute the orders Sheridan gave him, he would have been guarding with
+two brigades of cavalry the bridge over the Po River which Anderson had
+to cross, and must have detained him long enough to enable Warren to
+reinforce Wilson and hold the town.
+
+Anderson soon intrenched himself--if indeed the intrenchments were not
+already made--immediately across Warren's front. Warren was not aware of
+his presence, but probably supposed it was the cavalry which Merritt had
+engaged earlier in the day. He assaulted at once, but was repulsed.  He
+soon organized his men, as they were not pursued by the enemy, and made
+a second attack, this time with his whole corps.  This time he succeeded
+in gaining a position immediately in the enemy's front, where he
+intrenched.  His right and left divisions--the former Crawford's, the
+latter Wadsworth's, now commanded by Cutler--drove the enemy back some
+distance.
+
+At this time my headquarters had been advanced to Piney Branch Church.
+I was anxious to crush Anderson before Lee could get a force to his
+support.  To this end Sedgwick who was at Piney Branch Church, was
+ordered to Warren's support.  Hancock, who was at Todd's Tavern, was
+notified of Warren's engagement, and was directed to be in readiness to
+come up.  Burnside, who was with the wagon trains at Aldrich's on our
+extreme left, received the same instructions.  Sedgwick was slow in
+getting up for some reason--probably unavoidable, because he was never
+at fault when serious work was to be done--so that it was near night
+before the combined forces were ready to attack.  Even then all of
+Sedgwick's command did not get into the engagement.  Warren led the last
+assault, one division at a time, and of course it failed.
+
+Warren's difficulty was twofold:  when he received an order to do
+anything, it would at once occur to his mind how all the balance of the
+army should be engaged so as properly to co-operate with him.  His ideas
+were generally good, but he would forget that the person giving him
+orders had thought of others at the time he had of him.  In like manner,
+when he did get ready to execute an order, after giving most intelligent
+instructions to division commanders, he would go in with one division,
+holding the others in reserve until he could superintend their movements
+in person also, forgetting that division commanders could execute an
+order without his presence.  His difficulty was constitutional and
+beyond his control.  He was an officer of superior ability, quick
+perceptions, and personal courage to accomplish anything that could be
+done with a small command.
+
+Lee had ordered Hill's corps--now commanded by Early--to move by the
+very road we had marched upon.  This shows that even early in the
+morning of the 8th Lee had not yet become acquainted with my move, but
+still thought that the Army of the Potomac had gone to Fredericksburg.
+Indeed, he informed the authorities at Richmond he had possession of
+Spottsylvania and was on my flank. Anderson was in possession of
+Spottsylvania, through no foresight of Lee, however.  Early only found
+that he had been following us when he ran against Hancock at Todd's
+Tavern.  His coming detained Hancock from the battle-field of
+Spottsylvania for that day; but he, in like manner, kept Early back and
+forced him to move by another route.
+
+Had I ordered the movement for the night of the 7th by my left flank, it
+would have put Hancock in the lead.  It would also have given us an hour
+or earlier start.  It took all that time for Warren to get the head of
+his column to the left of Hancock after he had got his troops out of
+their line confronting the enemy.  This hour, and Hancock's capacity to
+use his whole force when necessary, would, no doubt, have enabled him to
+crush Anderson before he could be reinforced.  But the movement made was
+tactical.  It kept the troops in mass against a possible assault by the
+enemy.  Our left occupied its intrenchments while the two corps to the
+right passed.  If an attack had been made by the enemy he would have
+found the 2d corps in position, fortified, and, practically, the 5th and
+6th corps in position as reserves, until his entire front was passed.
+By a left flank movement the army would have been scattered while still
+passing the front of the enemy, and before the extreme right had got by
+it would have been very much exposed.  Then, too, I had not yet learned
+the special qualifications of the different corps commanders.  At that
+time my judgment was that Warren was the man I would suggest to succeed
+Meade should anything happen to that gallant soldier to take him from
+the field.  As I have before said, Warren was a gallant soldier, an able
+man; and he was beside thoroughly imbued with the solemnity and
+importance of the duty he had to perform.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S AND
+WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM BUTLER AND
+SHERIDAN.
+
+The Mattapony River is formed by the junction of the Mat, the Ta, the Po
+and the Ny rivers, the last being the northernmost of the four.  It
+takes its rise about a mile south and a little east of the Wilderness
+Tavern.  The Po rises south-west of the place, but farther away.
+Spottsylvania is on the ridge dividing these two streams, and where they
+are but a few miles apart.  The Brock Road reaches Spottsylvania without
+crossing either of these streams. Lee's army coming up by the Catharpin
+Road, had to cross the Po at Wooden Bridge.  Warren and Hancock came by
+the Brock Road.  Sedgwick crossed the Ny at Catharpin Furnace. Burnside
+coming by Aldrich's to Gates's house, had to cross the Ny near the
+enemy.  He found pickets at the bridge, but they were soon driven off by
+a brigade of Willcox's division, and the stream was crossed.  This
+brigade was furiously attacked; but the remainder of the division coming
+up, they were enabled to hold their position, and soon fortified it.
+
+About the time I received the news of this attack, word came from
+Hancock that Early had left his front.  He had been forced over to the
+Catharpin Road, crossing the Po at Corbin's and again at Wooden Bridge.
+These are the bridges Sheridan had given orders to his cavalry to occupy
+on the 8th, while one division should occupy Spottsylvania.  These
+movements of the enemy gave me the idea that Lee was about to make the
+attempt to get to, or towards, Fredericksburg to cut off my supplies.  I
+made arrangements to attack his right and get between him and Richmond
+if he should try to execute this design.  If he had any such intention
+it was abandoned as soon as Burnside was established south of the Ny.
+
+The Po and the Ny are narrow little streams, but deep, with abrupt
+banks, and bordered by heavily wooded and marshy bottoms--at the time we
+were there--and difficult to cross except where bridged.  The country
+about was generally heavily timbered, but with occasional clearings.  It
+was a much better country to conduct a defensive campaign in than an
+offensive one.
+
+By noon of the 9th the position of the two armies was as follows:  Lee
+occupied a semicircle facing north, north-west and north-east, inclosing
+the town.  Anderson was on his left extending to the Po, Ewell came
+next, then Early.  Warren occupied our right, covering the Brock and
+other roads converging at Spottsylvania; Sedgwick was to his left and
+Burnside on our extreme left.  Hancock was yet back at Todd's Tavern,
+but as soon as it was known that Early had left Hancock's front the
+latter was ordered up to Warren's right.  He formed a line with three
+divisions on the hill overlooking the Po early in the afternoon, and was
+ordered to cross the Po and get on the enemy's flank.  The fourth
+division of Hancock's corps, Mott commanding, was left at Todd's when
+the corps first came up; but in the afternoon it was brought up and
+placed to the left of Sedgwick's--now Wright's--6th corps.  In the
+morning General Sedgwick had been killed near the right of his
+intrenchments by rebel sharpshooters.  His loss was a severe one to the
+Army of the Potomac and to the Nation.  General H. G. Wright succeeded
+him in the command of his corps.
+
+Hancock was now, nine P.M. of the 9th of May, across the left flank of
+Lee's army, but separated from it, and also from the remainder of
+Meade's army, by the Po River.  But for the lateness of the hour and the
+darkness of the night he would have attempted to cross the river again
+at Wooden Bridge, thus bringing himself on the same side with both
+friend and foe.
+
+The Po at the points where Hancock's corps crossed runs nearly due east.
+Just below his lower crossing--the troops crossed at three points--it
+turns due south, and after passing under Wooden Bridge soon resumes a
+more easterly direction.  During the night this corps built three
+bridges over the Po; but these were in rear.
+
+The position assumed by Hancock's corps forced Lee to reinforce his left
+during the night.  Accordingly on the morning of the 10th, when Hancock
+renewed his effort to get over the Po to his front, he found himself
+confronted by some of Early's command, which had been brought from the
+extreme right of the enemy during the night.  He succeeded in effecting
+a crossing with one brigade, however, but finding the enemy intrenched
+in his front, no more were crossed.
+
+Hancock reconnoitred his front on the morning of the 10th, with the view
+of forcing a crossing, if it was found that an advantage could be
+gained.  The enemy was found strongly intrenched on the high ground
+overlooking the river, and commanding the Wooden Bridge with artillery.
+Anderson's left rested on the Po, where it turns south; therefore, for
+Hancock to cross over--although it would bring him to the same side of
+the stream with the rest of the army--would still farther isolate him
+from it.  The stream would have to be crossed twice in the face of the
+enemy to unite with the main body.  The idea of crossing was therefore
+abandoned.
+
+Lee had weakened the other parts of his line to meet this movement of
+Hancock's, and I determined to take advantage of it.  Accordingly in the
+morning, orders were issued for an attack in the afternoon on the centre
+by Warren's and Wright's corps, Hancock to command all the attacking
+force.  Two of his divisions were brought to the north side of the Po.
+Gibbon was placed to the right of Warren, and Birney in his rear as a
+reserve.  Barlow's division was left south of the stream, and Mott of
+the same corps was still to the left of Wright's corps.  Burnside was
+ordered to reconnoitre his front in force, and, if an opportunity
+presented, to attack with vigor.  The enemy seeing Barlow's division
+isolated from the rest of the army, came out and attacked with fury.
+Barlow repulsed the assault with great slaughter, and with considerable
+loss to himself.  But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault.
+Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river crossings
+built by our troops, and covered the crossings.  The second assault was
+repulsed, again with severe loss to the enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn
+without further molestation. General T. G. Stevenson was killed in this
+move.
+
+Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place, there was a
+ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush, making it almost
+impenetrable by man.  The slopes on both sides were also covered with a
+heavy growth of timber.  Warren, before noon, reconnoitred his front
+twice, the first time with one and the second with two divisions.  He
+was repulsed on both occasions, but gained such information of the
+ground as to induce him to report recommending the assault.
+
+Wright also reconnoitred his front and gained a considerably advanced
+position from the one he started from.  He then organized a storming
+party, consisting of twelve regiments, and assigned Colonel Emory Upton,
+of the 121st New York Volunteers, to the command of it.  About four
+o'clock in the afternoon the assault was ordered, Warren's and Wright's
+corps, with Mott's division of Hancock's corps, to move simultaneously.
+The movement was prompt, and in a few minutes the fiercest of struggles
+began.  The battle-field was so densely covered with forest that but
+little could be seen, by any one person, as to the progress made.  Meade
+and I occupied the best position we could get, in rear of Warren.
+
+Warren was repulsed with heavy loss, General J. C. Rice being among the
+killed.  He was not followed, however, by the enemy, and was thereby
+enabled to reorganize his command as soon as covered from the guns of
+the enemy.  To the left our success was decided, but the advantage was
+lost by the feeble action of Mott.  Upton with his assaulting party
+pushed forward and crossed the enemy's intrenchments.  Turning to the
+right and left he captured several guns and some hundreds of prisoners.
+Mott was ordered to his assistance but failed utterly.  So much time was
+lost in trying to get up the troops which were in the right position to
+reinforce, that I ordered Upton to withdraw; but the officers and men of
+his command were so averse to giving up the advantage they had gained
+that I withdrew the order.  To relieve them, I ordered a renewal of the
+assault.  By this time Hancock, who had gone with Birney's division to
+relieve Barlow, had returned, bringing the division with him.  His corps
+was now joined with Warren's and Wright's in this last assault.  It was
+gallantly made, many men getting up to, and over, the works of the
+enemy; but they were not able to hold them.  At night they were
+withdrawn.  Upton brought his prisoners with him, but the guns he had
+captured he was obliged to abandon.  Upton had gained an important
+advantage, but a lack in others of the spirit and dash possessed by him
+lost it to us.  Before leaving Washington I had been authorized to
+promote officers on the field for special acts of gallantry.  By this
+authority I conferred the rank of brigadier-general upon Upton on the
+spot, and this act was confirmed by the President.  Upton had been badly
+wounded in this fight.
+
+Burnside on the left had got up to within a few hundred yards of
+Spottsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right.  He was not
+aware of the importance of the advantage he had gained, and I, being
+with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did not know of it at the
+time.  He had gained his position with but little fighting, and almost
+without loss.  Burnside's position now separated him widely from
+Wright's corps, the corps nearest to him.  At night he was ordered to
+join on to this.  This brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an
+important advantage.  I attach no blame to Burnside for this, but I do
+to myself for not having had a staff officer with him to report to me
+his position.
+
+The enemy had not dared to come out of his line at any point to follow
+up his advantage, except in the single instance of his attack on Barlow.
+Then he was twice repulsed with heavy loss, though he had an entire
+corps against two brigades.  Barlow took up his bridges in the presence
+of this force.
+
+On the 11th there was no battle and but little firing; none except by
+Mott who made a reconnoissance to ascertain if there was a weak point in
+the enemy's line.
+
+I wrote the following letter to General Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 11, 1864--8.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, D. C.
+
+We have now ended the 6th day of very hard fighting.  The result up to
+this time is much in our favor.  But our losses have been heavy as well
+as those of the enemy.  We have lost to this time eleven general
+officers killed, wounded and missing, and probably twenty thousand men.
+I think the loss of the enemy must be greater--we having taken over four
+thousand prisoners in battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except
+a few stragglers.  I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons
+for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and purpose to fight it
+out on this line if it takes all summer.
+
+The arrival of reinforcements here will be very encouraging to the men,
+and I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and in as great
+numbers.  My object in having them sent to Belle Plain was to use them
+as an escort to our supply trains.  If it is more convenient to send
+them out by train to march from the railroad to Belle Plain or
+Fredericksburg, send them so.
+
+I am satisfied the enemy are very shaky, and are only kept up to the
+mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers, and by
+keeping them intrenched in every position they take.
+
+Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's army
+being detached for the defence of Richmond.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+And also, I received information, through the War Department, from
+General Butler that his cavalry under Kautz had cut the railroad south
+of Petersburg, separating Beauregard from Richmond, and had whipped
+Hill, killing, wounding and capturing many.  Also that he was
+intrenched, and could maintain himself.  On this same day came news from
+Sheridan to the effect that he had destroyed ten miles of the railroad
+and telegraph between Lee and Richmond, one and a half million rations,
+and most of the medical stores for his army.
+
+On the 8th I had directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose from the Army
+of the Potomac and pass around the left of Lee's army and attack his
+cavalry and communications, which was successfully executed in the
+manner I have already described.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT-LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS RECOMMENDED
+--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK-REDUCING THE ARTILLERY.
+
+In the reconnoissance made by Mott on the 11th, a salient was discovered
+at the right centre. I determined that an assault should be made at that
+point. (*28) Accordingly in the afternoon Hancock was ordered to move
+his command by the rear of Warren and Wright, under cover of night, to
+Wright's left, and there form it for an assault at four o'clock the next
+morning.  The night was dark, it rained heavily, and the road was
+difficult, so that it was midnight when he reached the point where he
+was to halt.  It took most of the night to get the men in position for
+their advance in the morning.  The men got but little rest.  Burnside
+was ordered to attack (*29) on the left of the salient at the same hour.
+I sent two of my staff officers to impress upon him the importance of
+pushing forward vigorously.  Hancock was notified of this.  Warren and
+Wright were ordered to hold themselves in readiness to join in the
+assault if circumstances made it advisable.  I occupied a central
+position most convenient for receiving information from all points.
+Hancock put Barlow on his left, in double column, and Birney to his
+right.  Mott followed Birney, and Gibbon was held in reserve.
+
+The morning of the 12th opened foggy, delaying the start more than half
+an hour.
+
+The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy, was
+ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred yards of the
+enemy's intrenchments.  In front of Birney there was also a marsh to
+cross.  But, notwithstanding all these difficulties, the troops pushed
+on in quick time without firing a gun, and when within four or five
+hundred yards of the enemy's line broke out in loud cheers, and with a
+rush went up to and over the breastworks.  Barlow and Birney entered
+almost simultaneously.  Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took
+place.  The men of the two sides were too close together to fire, but
+used their guns as clubs.  The hand conflict was soon over.  Hancock's
+corps captured some four thousand prisoners among them a division and a
+brigade commander twenty or more guns with their horses, caissons, and
+ammunition, several thousand stand of arms, and many colors.  Hancock,
+as soon as the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the
+enemy against him and advanced inside the rebel lines.  About six
+o'clock I ordered Warren's corps to the support of Hancock's. Burnside,
+on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to the very parapet of
+the enemy.  Potter, commanding one of his divisions, got over but was
+not able to remain there.  However, he inflicted a heavy loss upon the
+enemy; but not without loss in return.
+
+This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to leave
+us in full possession of.  He made the most strenuous efforts to regain
+the position he had lost.  Troops were brought up from his left and
+attacked Hancock furiously.  Hancock was forced to fall back:  but he
+did so slowly, with his face to the enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss,
+until behind the breastworks he had captured.  These he turned, facing
+them the other way, and continued to hold.  Wright was ordered up to
+reinforce Hancock, and arrived by six o'clock.  He was wounded soon
+after coming up but did not relinquish the command of his corps,
+although the fighting lasted until one o'clock the next morning.  At
+eight o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making his
+dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and with
+emphasis.  At eleven o'clock I gave Meade written orders to relieve
+Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly. Hancock placed
+batteries on high ground in his rear, which he used against the enemy,
+firing over the heads of his own troops.
+
+Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive nature, but
+negatively a great deal.  He kept Lee from reinforcing his centre from
+that quarter.  If the 5th corps, or rather if Warren, had been as prompt
+as Wright was with the 6th corps, better results might have been
+obtained.
+
+Lee massed heavily from his left flank on the broken point of his line.
+Five times during the day he assaulted furiously, but without dislodging
+our troops from their new position.  His losses must have been fearful.
+Sometimes the belligerents would be separated by but a few feet.  In one
+place a tree, eighteen inches in diameter, was cut entirely down by
+musket balls.  All the trees between the lines were very much cut to
+pieces by artillery and musketry.  It was three o'clock next morning
+before the fighting ceased.  Some of our troops had then been twenty
+hours under fire.  In this engagement we did not lose a single
+organization, not even a company.  The enemy lost one division with its
+commander, one brigade and one regiment, with heavy losses
+elsewhere.(*30)  Our losses were heavy, but, as stated, no whole company
+was captured.  At night Lee took a position in rear of his former one,
+and by the following morning he was strongly intrenched in it.
+
+Warren's corps was now temporarily broken up, Cutler's division sent to
+Wright, and Griffin's to Hancock.  Meade ordered his chief of staff,
+General Humphreys, to remain with Warren and the remaining division, and
+authorized him to give it orders in his name.
+
+During the day I was passing along the line from wing to wing
+continuously.  About the centre stood a house which proved to be
+occupied by an old lady and her daughter.  She showed such unmistakable
+signs of being strongly Union that I stopped.  She said she had not seen
+a Union flag for so long a time that it did her heart good to look upon
+it again.  She said her husband and son, being, Union men, had had to
+leave early in the war, and were now somewhere in the Union army, if
+alive.  She was without food or nearly so, so I ordered rations issued
+to her, and promised to find out if I could where the husband and son
+were.
+
+There was no fighting on the 13th, further than a little skirmishing
+between Mott's division and the enemy.  I was afraid that Lee might be
+moving out, and I did not want him to go without my knowing it. The
+indications were that he was moving, but it was found that he was only
+taking his new position back from the salient that had been captured.
+Our dead were buried this day.  Mott's division was reduced to a
+brigade, and assigned to Birney's division.
+
+During this day I wrote to Washington recommending Sherman and Meade
+(*31) for promotion to the grade of Major-General in the regular army;
+Hancock for Brigadier-General; Wright, Gibbon and Humphreys to be
+Major-Generals of Volunteers; and Upton and Carroll to be Brigadiers.
+Upton had already been named as such, but the appointment had to be
+confirmed by the Senate on the nomination of the President.
+
+The night of the 13th Warren and Wright were moved by the rear to the
+left of Burnside.  The night was very dark and it rained heavily, the
+roads were so bad that the troops had to cut trees and corduroy the road
+a part of the way, to get through.  It was midnight before they got to
+the point where they were to halt, and daylight before the troops could
+be organized to advance to their position in line.  They gained their
+position in line, however, without any fighting, except a little in
+Wright's front.  Here Upton had to contend for an elevation which we
+wanted and which the enemy was not disposed to yield.  Upton first drove
+the enemy, and was then repulsed in turn.  Ayres coming to his support
+with his brigade (of Griffin's division, Warren's corps), the position
+was secured and fortified.  There was no more battle during the 14th.
+This brought our line east of the Court House and running north and
+south and facing west.
+
+During the night of the 14th-15th Lee moved to cover this new front.
+This left Hancock without an enemy confronting him.  He was brought to
+the rear of our new centre, ready to be moved in any direction he might
+be wanted.
+
+On the 15th news came from Butler and Averill.  The former reported the
+capture of the outer works at Drury's Bluff, on the James River, and
+that his cavalry had cut the railroad and telegraph south of Richmond on
+the Danville road:  and the latter, the destruction of a depot of
+supplies at Dublin, West Virginia, and the breaking of New River Bridge
+on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.  The next day news came from
+Sherman and Sheridan.  Sherman had forced Johnston out of Dalton,
+Georgia, and was following him south.  The report from Sheridan embraced
+his operations up to his passing the outer defences of Richmond.  The
+prospect must now have been dismal in Richmond. The road and telegraph
+were cut between the capital and Lee. The roads and wires were cut in
+every direction from the rebel capital.  Temporarily that city was cut
+off from all communication with the outside except by courier.  This
+condition of affairs, however, was of but short duration.
+
+I wrote Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 16, 1864, 8 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Washington, D. C.:
+
+We have had five days almost constant rain without any prospect yet of
+it clearing up.  The roads have now become so impassable that ambulances
+with wounded men can no longer run between here and Fredericksburg.  All
+offensive operations necessarily cease until we can have twenty-four
+hours of dry weather.  The army is in the best of spirits, and feel the
+greatest confidence of ultimate success. *        *        *        *
+*        * You can assure the President and Secretary of War that the
+elements alone have suspended hostilities, and that it is in no manner
+due to weakness or exhaustion on our part.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the 17th.
+But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night march back to
+their old positions, and to make an assault at four o'clock in the
+morning.  Lee got troops back in time to protect his old line, so the
+assault was unsuccessful.  On this day (18th) the news was almost as
+discouraging to us as it had been two days before in the rebel capital.
+As stated above, Hancock's and Wright's corps had made an unsuccessful
+assault. News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly,
+and was retreating down the valley.  Not two hours before, I had sent
+the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to stop
+supplies coming from there to Lee.  I asked at once that Sigel might be
+relieved, and some one else put in his place. Hunter's name was
+suggested, and I heartily approved.  Further news from Butler reported
+him driven from Drury's Bluff, but still in possession of the Petersburg
+road.  Banks had been defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in
+his place. This change of commander was not on my suggestion.  All this
+news was very discouraging.  All of it must have been known by the enemy
+before it was by me.  In fact, the good news (for the enemy) must have
+been known to him at the moment I thought he was in despair, and his
+anguish had been already relieved when we were enjoying his supposed
+discomfiture, But this was no time for repining.  I immediately gave
+orders for a movement by the left flank, on towards Richmond, to
+commence on the night of the 19th.  I also asked Halleck to secure the
+cooperation of the navy in changing our base of supplies from
+Fredericksburg to Port Royal, on the Rappahannock.
+
+Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six thousand
+raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler, just arrived.  They
+had not yet joined their command, Hancock's corps, but were on our
+right.  This corps had been brought to the rear of the centre, ready to
+move in any direction.  Lee, probably suspecting some move on my part,
+and seeing our right entirely abandoned, moved Ewell's corps about five
+o'clock in the afternoon, with Early's as a reserve, to attack us in
+that quarter.  Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been
+halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching's brigade of
+Warren's corps.  Tyler received the attack with his raw troops, and they
+maintained their position, until reinforced, in a manner worthy of
+veterans.
+
+Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the soldier to
+do it without waiting to make dispositions.  Birney was thrown to
+Tyler's right and Crawford to his left, with Gibbon as a reserve; and
+Ewell was whirled back speedily and with heavy loss.
+
+Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell's flank and in his rear, to cut
+him off from his intrenchments.  But his efforts were so feeble that
+under the cover of night Ewell got back with only the loss of a few
+hundred prisoners, besides his killed and wounded.  The army being
+engaged until after dark, I rescinded the order for the march by our
+left flank that night.
+
+As soon as it was discovered that the enemy were coming out to attack, I
+naturally supposed they would detach a force to destroy our trains.  The
+withdrawal of Hancock from the right uncovered one road from
+Spottsylvania to Fredericksburg over which trains drew our supplies.
+This was guarded by a division of colored troops, commanded by General
+Ferrero, belonging to Burnside's corps.  Ferrero was therefore promptly
+notified, and ordered to throw his cavalry pickets out to the south and
+be prepared to meet the enemy if he should come; if he had to retreat to
+do so towards Fredericksburg.  The enemy did detach as expected, and
+captured twenty-five or thirty wagons which, however, were soon retaken.
+
+In consequence of the disasters that had befallen us in the past few
+days, Lee could be reinforced largely, and I had no doubt he would be.
+Beauregard had come up from the south with troops to guard the
+Confederate capital when it was in danger.  Butler being driven back,
+most of the troops could be sent to Lee. Hoke was no longer needed in
+North Carolina; and Sigel's troops having gone back to Cedar Creek,
+whipped, many troops could be spared from the valley.
+
+The Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles convinced me that we had more
+artillery than could ever be brought into action at any one time.  It
+occupied much of the road in marching, and taxed the trains in bringing
+up forage.  Artillery is very useful when it can be brought into action,
+but it is a very burdensome luxury where it cannot be used.  Before
+leaving Spottsylvania, therefore, I sent back to the defences of
+Washington over one hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and
+caissons.  This relieved the roads over which we were to march of more
+than two hundred six-horse teams, and still left us more artillery than
+could be advantageously used.  In fact, before reaching the James River
+I again reduced the artillery with the army largely.
+
+I believed that, if one corps of the army was exposed on the road to
+Richmond, and at a distance from the main army, Lee would endeavor to
+attack the exposed corps before reinforcements could come up; in which
+case the main army could follow Lee up and attack him before he had time
+to intrench.  So I issued the following orders:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., VA., May 18, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Before daylight to-morrow morning I propose to draw Hancock and Burnside
+from the position they now hold, and put Burnside to the left of Wright.
+Wright and Burnside should then force their way up as close to the enemy
+as they can get without a general engagement, or with a general
+engagement if the enemy will come out of their works to fight, and
+intrench.  Hancock should march and take up a position as if in support
+of the two left corps. To-morrow night, at twelve or one o'clock, he
+will be moved south-east with all his force and as much cavalry as can
+be given to him, to get as far towards Richmond on the line of the
+Fredericksburg Railroad as he can make, fighting the enemy in whatever
+force he can find him.  If the enemy make a general move to meet this,
+they will be followed by the other three corps of the army, and
+attacked, if possible, before time is given to intrench.
+
+Suitable directions will at once be given for all trains and surplus
+artillery to conform to this movement.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+On the 20th, Lee showing no signs of coming out of his lines, orders
+were renewed for a left-flank movement, to commence after night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF THE
+MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF THE
+NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+We were now to operate in a different country from any we had before
+seen in Virginia.  The roads were wide and good, and the country well
+cultivated.  No men were seen except those bearing arms, even the black
+man having been sent away.  The country, however, was new to us, and we
+had neither guides nor maps to tell us where the roads were, or where
+they led to.  Engineer and staff officers were put to the dangerous duty
+of supplying the place of both maps and guides.  By reconnoitring they
+were enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army corps.
+Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in that direction
+which would not separate the army too widely.
+
+Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's Station, on
+the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to Bowling Green and
+Milford.  He was at Milford by the night of the 21st.  Here he met a
+detachment of Pickett's division coming from Richmond to reinforce Lee.
+They were speedily driven away, and several hundred captured.  Warren
+followed on the morning of the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that
+night without molestation.  Burnside and Wright were retained at
+Spottsylvania to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to
+hold Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start enough
+to interpose between him and Richmond.
+
+Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either by
+attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the Telegraph
+Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or even Hancock's alone,
+before reinforcements could come up.  But he did not avail himself of
+either opportunity.  He seemed really to be misled as to my designs; but
+moved by his interior line--the Telegraph Road--to make sure of keeping
+between his capital and the Army of the Potomac.  He never again had
+such an opportunity of dealing a heavy blow.
+
+The evening of the 21st Burnside, 9th corps, moved out followed by
+Wright, 6th corps.  Burnside was to take the Telegraph Road; but finding
+Stanard's Ford, over the Po, fortified and guarded, he turned east to
+the road taken by Hancock and Warren without an attempt to dislodge the
+enemy.  The night of the 21st I had my headquarters near the 6th corps,
+at Guiney's Station, and the enemy's cavalry was between us and Hancock.
+There was a slight attack on Burnside's and Wright's corps as they moved
+out of their lines; but it was easily repulsed.  The object probably was
+only to make sure that we were not leaving a force to follow upon the
+rear of the Confederates.
+
+By the morning of the 22d Burnside and Wright were at Guiney's Station.
+Hancock's corps had now been marching and fighting continuously for
+several days, not having had rest even at night much of the time.  They
+were, therefore, permitted to rest during the 22d.  But Warren was
+pushed to Harris's Store, directly west of Milford, and connected with
+it by a good road, and Burnside was sent to New Bethel Church.  Wright's
+corps was still back at Guiney's Station.
+
+I issued the following order for the movement of the troops the next
+day:
+
+
+NEW BETHEL, VA., May 22, 1864
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Direct corps commanders to hold their troops in readiness to march at
+five A.M. to-morrow.  At that hour each command will send out cavalry
+and infantry on all roads to their front leading south, and ascertain,
+if possible, where the enemy is. If beyond the South Anna, the 5th and
+6th corps will march to the forks of the road, where one branch leads to
+Beaver Dam Station, the other to Jericho Bridge, then south by roads
+reaching the Anna, as near to and east of Hawkins Creek as they can be
+found.
+
+The 2d corps will move to Chesterfield Ford.  The 9th corps will be
+directed to move at the same time to Jericho Bridge.  The map only shows
+two roads for the four corps to march upon, but, no doubt, by the use of
+plantation roads, and pressing in guides, others can be found, to give
+one for each corps.
+
+The troops will follow their respective reconnoitring parties. The
+trains will be moved at the same time to Milford Station.
+
+Headquarters will follow the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Warren's corps was moved from Harris's Store to Jericho Ford, Wright's
+following.  Warren arrived at the ford early in the afternoon, and by
+five o'clock effected a crossing under the protection of sharpshooters.
+The men had to wade in water up to their waists.  As soon as enough
+troops were over to guard the ford, pontoons were laid and the artillery
+and the rest of the troops crossed.  The line formed was almost
+perpendicular to the course of the river--Crawford on the left, next to
+the river, Griffin in the centre, and Cutler on the right.  Lee was
+found intrenched along the front of their line.  The whole of Hill's
+corps was sent against Warren's right before it had got in position.  A
+brigade of Cutler's division was driven back, the enemy following, but
+assistance coming up the enemy was in turn driven back into his trenches
+with heavy loss in killed and wounded, with about five hundred prisoners
+left in our hands. By night Wright's corps was up ready to reinforce
+Warren.
+
+On the 23d Hancock's corps was moved to the wooden bridge which spans
+the North Anna River just west of where the Fredericksburg Railroad
+crosses.  It was near night when the troops arrived. They found the
+bridge guarded, with troops intrenched, on the north side.  Hancock sent
+two brigades, Egan's and Pierce's, to the right and left, and when
+properly disposed they charged simultaneously.  The bridge was carried
+quickly, the enemy retreating over it so hastily that many were shoved
+into the river, and some of them were drowned.  Several hundred
+prisoners were captured.  The hour was so late that Hancock did not
+cross until next morning.
+
+Burnside's corps was moved by a middle road running between those
+described above, and which strikes the North Anna at Ox Ford, midway
+between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford.  The hour of its arrival was
+too late to cross that night.
+
+On the 24th Hancock's corps crossed to the south side of the river
+without opposition, and formed line facing nearly west. The railroad in
+rear was taken possession of and destroyed as far as possible.  Wright's
+corps crossed at Jericho early the same day, and took position to the
+right of Warren's corps, extending south of the Virginia Central
+Railroad.  This road was torn up for a considerable distance to the rear
+(west), the ties burned, and the rails bent and twisted by heating them
+over the burning ties.  It was found, however, that Burnside's corps
+could not cross at Ox Ford.  Lee had taken a position with his centre on
+the river at this point, with the two wings thrown back, his line making
+an acute angle where it overlooked the river.
+
+Before the exact position of the whole of Lee's line was accurately
+known, I directed Hancock and Warren each to send a brigade to Ox Ford
+by the south side of the river.  They found the enemy too strong to
+justify a serious attack.  A third ford was found between Ox Ford and
+Jericho.  Burnside was directed to cross a division over this ford, and
+to send one division to Hancock.  Crittenden was crossed by this
+newly-discovered ford, and formed up the river to connect with
+Crawford's left.  Potter joined Hancock by way of the wooden bridge.
+Crittenden had a severe engagement with some of Hill's corps on his
+crossing the river, and lost heavily.  When joined to Warren's corps he
+was no further molested.  Burnside still guarded Ox Ford from the north
+side.
+
+Lee now had his entire army south of the North Anna.  Our lines covered
+his front, with the six miles separating the two wings guarded by but a
+single division.  To get from one wing to the other the river would have
+to be crossed twice.  Lee could reinforce any part of his line from all
+points of it in a very short march; or could concentrate the whole of it
+wherever he might choose to assault.  We were, for the time, practically
+two armies besieging.
+
+Lee had been reinforced, and was being reinforced, largely. About this
+time the very troops whose coming I had predicted, had arrived or were
+coming in.  Pickett with a full division from Richmond was up; Hoke from
+North Carolina had come with a brigade; and Breckinridge was there:  in
+all probably not less than fifteen thousand men.  But he did not attempt
+to drive us from the field.
+
+On the 22d or 23d I received dispatches from Washington saying that
+Sherman had taken Kingston, crossed the Etowah River and was advancing
+into Georgia.
+
+I was seated at the time on the porch of a fine plantation house waiting
+for Burnside's corps to pass.  Meade and his staff, besides my own
+staff, were with me.  The lady of the house, a Mrs. Tyler, and an
+elderly lady, were present.  Burnside seeing us, came up on the porch,
+his big spurs and saber rattling as he walked.  He touched his hat
+politely to the ladies, and remarked that he supposed they had never
+seen so many "live Yankees" before in their lives.  The elderly lady
+spoke up promptly saying, "Oh yes, I have; many more."  "Where?" said
+Burnside. "In Richmond."  Prisoners, of course, was understood.
+
+I read my dispatch aloud, when it was received.  This threw the younger
+lady into tears. I found the information she had received (and I suppose
+it was the information generally in circulation through the South) was
+that Lee was driving us from the State in the most demoralized condition
+and that in the South-west our troops were but little better than
+prisoners of war.  Seeing our troops moving south was ocular proof that
+a part of her information was incorrect, and she asked me if my news
+from Sherman was true.  I assured her that there was no doubt about it.
+I left a guard to protect the house from intrusion until the troops
+should have all passed, and assured her that if her husband was in
+hiding she could bring him in and he should be protected also.  But I
+presume he was in the Confederate army.
+
+On the 25th I gave orders, through Halleck, to Hunter, who had relieved
+Sigel, to move up the Valley of Virginia, cross over the Blue Ridge to
+Charlottesville and go as far as Lynchburg if possible, living upon the
+country and cutting the railroads and canal as he went.  After doing
+this he could find his way back to his base, or join me.
+
+On the same day news was received that Lee was falling back on Richmond.
+This proved not to be true.  But we could do nothing where we were
+unless Lee would assume the offensive. I determined, therefore, to draw
+out of our present position and make one more effort to get between him
+and Richmond.  I had no expectation now, however, of succeeding in this;
+but I did expect to hold him far enough west to enable me to reach the
+James River high up.  Sheridan was now again with the Army of the
+Potomac.
+
+On the 26th I informed the government at Washington of the position of
+the two armies; of the reinforcements the enemy had received; of the
+move I proposed to make (*32); and directed that our base of supplies
+should be shifted to White House, on the Pamunkey.  The wagon train and
+guards moved directly from Port Royal to White House.  Supplies moved
+around by water, guarded by the navy.  Orders had previously been sent,
+through Halleck, for Butler to send Smith's corps to White House.  This
+order was repeated on the 25th, with directions that they should be
+landed on the north side of the Pamunkey, and marched until they joined
+the Army of the Potomac.
+
+It was a delicate move to get the right wing of the Army of the Potomac
+from its position south of the North Anna in the presence of the enemy.
+To accomplish it, I issued the following order:
+
+
+QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+MAJOR GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P.
+
+Direct Generals Warren and Wright to withdraw all their teams and
+artillery, not in position, to the north side of the river to-morrow.
+Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far on the road to
+Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting attention to the fact.
+Send with it Wright's best division or division under his ablest
+commander.  Have their places filled up in the line so if possible the
+enemy will not notice their withdrawal.  Send the cavalry to-morrow
+afternoon, or as much of it as you may deem necessary, to watch and
+seize, if they can, Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's Ford, and to remain
+on one or other side of the river at these points until the infantry and
+artillery all pass.  As soon as it is dark to-morrow night start the
+division which you withdraw first from Wright's corps to make a forced
+march to Hanover Town, taking with them no teams to impede their march.
+At the same time this division starts commence withdrawing all of the
+5th and 6th corps from the south side of the river, and march them for
+the same place.  The two divisions of the 9th corps not now with
+Hancock, may be moved down the north bank of the river where they will
+be handy to support Hancock if necessary, or will be that much on their
+road to follow the 5th and 6th corps.  Hancock should hold his command
+in readiness to follow as soon as the way is clear for him. To-morrow it
+will leave nothing for him to do, but as soon as he can he should get
+all his teams and spare artillery on the road or roads which he will
+have to take.  As soon as the troops reach Hanover Town they should get
+possession of all the crossings they can in that neighborhood.  I think
+it would be well to make a heavy cavalry demonstration on the enemy's
+left, to-morrow afternoon, also.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Wilson's division of cavalry was brought up from the left and moved by
+our right south to Little River.  Here he manoeuvred to give the
+impression that we were going to attack the left flank of Lee's army.
+
+Under cover of night our right wing was withdrawn to the north side of
+the river, Lee being completely deceived by Wilson's feint.  On the
+afternoon of the 26th Sheridan moved, sending Gregg's and Torbert's
+cavalry to Taylor's and Littlepage's fords towards Hanover.  As soon as
+it was dark both divisions moved quietly to Hanover Ferry, leaving small
+guards behind to keep up the impression that crossings were to be
+attempted in the morning.  Sheridan was followed by a division of
+infantry under General Russell.  On the morning of the 27th the crossing
+was effected with but little loss, the enemy losing thirty or forty,
+taken prisoners.  Thus a position was secured south of the Pamunkey.
+
+Russell stopped at the crossing while the cavalry pushed on to Hanover
+Town.  Here Barringer's, formerly Gordon's, brigade of rebel cavalry was
+encountered, but it was speedily driven away.
+
+Warren's and Wright's corps were moved by the rear of Burnside's and
+Hancock's corps.  When out of the way these latter corps followed,
+leaving pickets confronting the enemy.  Wilson's cavalry followed last,
+watching all the fords until everything had recrossed; then taking up
+the pontoons and destroying other bridges, became the rear-guard.
+
+Two roads were traversed by the troops in this move.  The one nearest to
+and north of the North Anna and Pamunkey was taken by Wright, followed
+by Hancock.  Warren, followed by Burnside, moved by a road farther
+north, and longer.  The trains moved by a road still farther north, and
+had to travel a still greater distance.  All the troops that had crossed
+the Pamunkey on the morning of the 27th remained quiet during the rest
+of the day, while the troops north of that stream marched to reach the
+crossing that had been secured for them.
+
+Lee had evidently been deceived by our movement from North Anna; for on
+the morning of the 27th he telegraphed to Richmond: "Enemy crossed to
+north side, and cavalry and infantry crossed at Hanover Town."  The
+troops that had then crossed left his front the night of the 25th.
+
+The country we were now in was a difficult one to move troops over.  The
+streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes spreading out into
+swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of trees and underbrush.  The
+banks were generally low and marshy, making the streams difficult to
+approach except where there were roads and bridges.
+
+Hanover Town is about twenty miles from Richmond.  There are two roads
+leading there; the most direct and shortest one crossing the
+Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, near the Virginia Central Railroad, the
+second going by New and Old Cold Harbor.  A few miles out from Hanover
+Town there is a third road by way of Mechanicsville to Richmond.  New
+Cold Harbor was important to us because while there we both covered the
+roads back to White House (where our supplies came from), and the roads
+south-east over which we would have to pass to get to the James River
+below the Richmond defences.
+
+On the morning of the 28th the army made an early start, and by noon all
+had crossed except Burnside's corps.  This was left on the north side
+temporarily to guard the large wagon train.  A line was at once formed
+extending south from the river, Wright's corps on the right, Hancock's
+in the centre, and Warren's on the left, ready to meet the enemy if he
+should come.
+
+At the same time Sheridan was directed to reconnoitre towards
+Mechanicsville to find Lee's position.  At Hawes' Shop, just where the
+middle road leaves the direct road to Richmond, he encountered the
+Confederate cavalry dismounted and partially intrenched.  Gregg attacked
+with his division, but was unable to move the enemy.  In the evening
+Custer came up with a brigade. The attack was now renewed, the cavalry
+dismounting and charging as infantry.  This time the assault was
+successful, both sides losing a considerable number of men.  But our
+troops had to bury the dead, and found that more Confederate than Union
+soldiers had been killed.  The position was easily held, because our
+infantry was near.
+
+On the 29th a reconnoissance was made in force, to find the position of
+Lee.  Wright's corps pushed to Hanover Court House.  Hancock's corps
+pushed toward Totopotomoy Creek; Warren's corps to the left on the Shady
+Grove Church Road, while Burnside was held in reserve. Our advance was
+pushed forward three miles on the left with but little fighting.  There
+was now an appearance of a movement past our left flank, and Sheridan
+was sent to meet it.
+
+On the 30th Hancock moved to the Totopotomoy, where he found the enemy
+strongly fortified.  Wright was moved to the right of Hancock's corps,
+and Burnside was brought forward and crossed, taking position to the
+left of Hancock.  Warren moved up near Huntley Corners on the Shady
+Grove Church Road.  There was some skirmishing along the centre, and in
+the evening Early attacked Warren with some vigor, driving him back at
+first, and threatening to turn our left flank.  As the best means of
+reinforcing the left, Hancock was ordered to attack in his front.  He
+carried and held the rifle-pits.  While this was going on Warren got his
+men up, repulsed Early, and drove him more than a mile.
+
+On this day I wrote to Halleck ordering all the pontoons in Washington
+to be sent to City Point.
+
+In the evening news was received of the arrival of Smith with his corps
+at White House.  I notified Meade, in writing, as follows:
+
+
+NEAR HAWES' SHOP, VA., 6.40 P.M., May 30, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Commanding A. P.
+
+General Smith will debark his force at the White House tonight and start
+up the south bank of the Pamunkey at an early hour, probably at 3 A.M.
+in the morning.  It is not improbable that the enemy, being aware of
+Smith's movement, will be feeling to get on our left flank for the
+purpose of cutting him off, or by a dash to crush him and get back
+before we are aware of it. Sheridan ought to be notified to watch the
+enemy's movements well out towards Cold Harbor, and also on the
+Mechanicsville road.  Wright should be got well massed on Hancock's
+right, so that, if it becomes necessary, he can take the place of the
+latter readily whilst troops are being thrown east of the Totopotomoy if
+necessary.
+
+I want Sheridan to send a cavalry force of at least half a brigade, if
+not a whole brigade, at 5 A.M. in the morning, to communicate with Smith
+and to return with him.  I will send orders for Smith by the messenger
+you send to Sheridan with his orders.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+I also notified Smith of his danger, and the precautions that would be
+taken to protect him.
+
+The night of the 30th Lee's position was substantially from Atlee's
+Station on the Virginia Central Railroad south and east to the vicinity
+of Cold Harbor.  Ours was:  The left of Warren's corps was on the Shady
+Grove Road, extending to the Mechanicsville Road and about three miles
+south of the Totopotomoy.  Burnside to his right, then Hancock, and
+Wright on the extreme right, extending towards Hanover Court House, six
+miles south-east of it.  Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry was
+watching our left front towards Cold Harbor.  Wilson with his division
+on our right was sent to get on the Virginia Central Railroad and
+destroy it as far back as possible.  He got possession of Hanover Court
+House the next day after a skirmish with Young's cavalry brigade.  The
+enemy attacked Sheridan's pickets, but reinforcements were sent up and
+the attack was speedily repulsed and the enemy followed some distance
+towards Cold Harbor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR
+--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE--RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+On the 31st Sheridan advanced to near Old Cold Harbor.  He found it
+intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry.  A hard fight ensued
+but the place was carried.  The enemy well knew the importance of Cold
+Harbor to us, and seemed determined that we should not hold it.  He
+returned with such a large force that Sheridan was about withdrawing
+without making any effort to hold it against such odds; but about the
+time he commenced the evacuation he received orders to hold the place at
+all hazards, until reinforcements could be sent to him.  He speedily
+turned the rebel works to face against them and placed his men in
+position for defence.  Night came on before the enemy was ready for
+assault.
+
+Wright's corps was ordered early in the evening to march directly to
+Cold Harbor passing by the rear of the army.  It was expected to arrive
+by daylight or before; but the night was dark and the distance great, so
+that it was nine o'clock the 1st of June before it reached its
+destination.  Before the arrival of Wright the enemy had made two
+assaults on Sheridan, both of which were repulsed with heavy loss to the
+enemy.  Wright's corps coming up, there was no further assault on Cold
+Harbor.
+
+Smith, who was coming up from White House, was also directed to march
+directly to Cold Harbor, and was expected early on the morning of the
+1st of June; but by some blunder the order which reached Smith directed
+him to Newcastle instead of Cold Harbor.  Through this blunder Smith did
+not reach his destination until three o'clock in the afternoon, and then
+with tired and worn-out men from their long and dusty march.  He landed
+twelve thousand five hundred men from Butler's command, but a division
+was left at White House temporarily and many men had fallen out of ranks
+in their long march.
+
+Before the removal of Wright's corps from our right, after dark on the
+31st, the two lines, Federal and Confederate, were so close together at
+that point that either side could detect directly any movement made by
+the other.  Finding at daylight that Wright had left his front, Lee
+evidently divined that he had gone to our left.  At all events, soon
+after light on the 1st of June Anderson, who commanded the corps on
+Lee's left, was seen moving along Warren's front.  Warren was ordered to
+attack him vigorously in flank, while Wright was directed to move out
+and get on his front.  Warren fired his artillery at the enemy; but lost
+so much time in making ready that the enemy got by, and at three o'clock
+he reported the enemy was strongly intrenched in his front, and besides
+his lines were so long that he had no mass of troops to move with.  He
+seemed to have forgotten that lines in rear of an army hold themselves
+while their defenders are fighting in their front.  Wright reconnoitred
+some distance to his front:  but the enemy finding Old Cold Harbor
+already taken had halted and fortified some distance west.
+
+By six o'clock in the afternoon Wright and Smith were ready to make an
+assault.  In front of both the ground was clear for several hundred
+yards and then became wooded.  Both charged across this open space and
+into the wood, capturing and holding the first line of rifle-pits of the
+enemy, and also capturing seven or eight hundred prisoners.
+
+While this was going on, the enemy charged Warren three separate times
+with vigor, but were repulsed each time with loss.  There was no officer
+more capable, nor one more prompt in acting, than Warren when the enemy
+forced him to it.  There was also an attack upon Hancock's and
+Burnside's corps at the same time; but it was feeble and probably only
+intended to relieve Anderson who was being pressed by Wright and Smith.
+
+During the night the enemy made frequent attacks with the view of
+dispossessing us of the important position we had gained, but without
+effecting their object.
+
+Hancock was moved from his place in line during the night and ordered to
+the left of Wright.  I expected to take the offensive on the morning of
+the 2d, but the night was so dark, the heat and dust so excessive and
+the roads so intricate and hard to keep, that the head of column only
+reached Old Cold Harbor at six o'clock, but was in position at 7.30 A.M.
+Preparations were made for an attack in the afternoon, but did not take
+place until the next morning.  Warren's corps was moved to the left to
+connect with Smith:  Hancock's corps was got into position to the left
+of Wright's, and Burnside was moved to Bethesda Church in reserve. While
+Warren and Burnside were making these changes the enemy came out several
+times and attacked them, capturing several hundred prisoners.  The
+attacks were repulsed, but not followed up as they should have been.  I
+was so annoyed at this that I directed Meade to instruct his corps
+commanders that they should seize all such opportunities when they
+occurred, and not wait for orders, all of our manoeuvres being made for
+the very purpose of getting the enemy out of his cover.
+
+On this day Wilson returned from his raid upon the Virginia Central
+Railroad, having damaged it considerably.  But, like ourselves, the
+rebels had become experts in repairing such damage.  Sherman, in his
+memoirs, relates an anecdote of his campaign to Atlanta that well
+illustrates this point.  The rebel cavalry lurking in his rear to burn
+bridges and obstruct his communications had become so disgusted at
+hearing trains go whistling by within a few hours after a bridge had
+been burned, that they proposed to try blowing up some of the tunnels.
+One of them said, "No use, boys, Old Sherman carries duplicate tunnels
+with him, and will replace them as fast as you can blow them up; better
+save your powder."
+
+Sheridan was engaged reconnoitring the banks of the Chickahominy, to
+find crossings and the condition of the roads.  He reported favorably.
+
+During the night Lee moved his left up to make his line correspond to
+ours.  His lines extended now from the Totopotomoy to New Cold Harbor.
+Mine from Bethesda Church by Old Cold Harbor to the Chickahominy, with a
+division of cavalry guarding our right.  An assault was ordered for the
+3d, to be made mainly by the corps of Hancock, Wright and Smith; but
+Warren and Burnside were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to
+attack with great earnestness if he should either reinforce more
+threatened points by drawing from that quarter or if a favorable
+opportunity should present itself.
+
+The corps commanders were to select the points in their respective
+fronts where they would make their assaults.  The move was to commence
+at half-past four in the morning.  Hancock sent Barlow and Gibbon
+forward at the appointed hour, with Birney as a reserve.  Barlow pushed
+forward with great vigor, under a heavy fire of both artillery and
+musketry, through thickets and swamps.  Notwithstanding all the
+resistance of the enemy and the natural obstructions to overcome, he
+carried a position occupied by the enemy outside their main line where
+the road makes a deep cut through a bank affording as good a shelter for
+troops as if it had been made for that purpose.  Three pieces of
+artillery had been captured here, and several hundred prisoners.  The
+guns were immediately turned against the men who had just been using
+them.  No (*33) assistance coming to him, he (Barlow) intrenched under
+fire and continued to hold his place.  Gibbon was not so fortunate in
+his front.  He found the ground over which he had to pass cut up with
+deep ravines, and a morass difficult to cross.  But his men struggled on
+until some of them got up to the very parapet covering the enemy.
+Gibbon gained ground much nearer the enemy than that which he left, and
+here he intrenched and held fast.
+
+Wright's corps moving in two lines captured the outer rifle-pits in
+their front, but accomplished nothing more.  Smith's corps also gained
+the outer rifle-pits in its front.  The ground over which this corps
+(18th) had to move was the most exposed of any over which charges were
+made.  An open plain intervened between the contending forces at this
+point, which was exposed both to a direct and a cross fire.  Smith,
+however, finding a ravine running towards his front, sufficiently deep
+to protect men in it from cross fire, and somewhat from a direct fire,
+put Martindale's division in it, and with Brooks supporting him on the
+left and Devens on the right succeeded in gaining the outer--probably
+picket--rifle-pits.  Warren and Burnside also advanced and gained
+ground--which brought the whole army on one line.
+
+This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to compensate:
+but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence sufficiently to induce
+him to take the offensive.  In fact, nowhere after the battle of the
+Wilderness did Lee show any disposition to leave his defences far behind
+him.
+
+Fighting was substantially over by half-past seven in the morning.  At
+eleven o'clock I started to visit all the corps commanders to see for
+myself the different positions gained and to get their opinion of the
+practicability of doing anything more in their respective fronts.
+
+Hancock gave the opinion that in his front the enemy was too strong to
+make any further assault promise success.  Wright thought he could gain
+the lines of the enemy, but it would require the cooperation of
+Hancock's and Smith's corps.  Smith thought a lodgment possible, but was
+not sanguine:  Burnside thought something could be done in his front,
+but Warren differed.  I concluded, therefore to make no more assaults,
+and a little after twelve directed in the following letter that all
+offensive action should cease.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864.-12.30 P.M. MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in case an
+assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of farther advance for
+the present.  Hold our most advanced positions and strengthen them.
+Whilst on the defensive our line may be contracted from the right if
+practicable.
+
+Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and advances made
+to advantageous positions by regular approaches. To aid the expedition
+under General Hunter it is necessary that we should detain all the army
+now with Lee until the former gets well on his way to Lynchburg.  To do
+this effectually it will be better to keep the enemy out of the
+intrenchments of Richmond than to have them go back there.
+
+Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy should
+break through General Smith's lines, and all should be ready to resist
+an assault.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The remainder of the day was spent in strengthening the line we now
+held.  By night we were as strong against Lee as he was against us.
+
+During the night the enemy quitted our right front, abandoning some of
+their wounded, and without burying their dead.  These we were able to
+care for.  But there were many dead and wounded men between the lines of
+the contending forces, which were now close together, who could not be
+cared for without a cessation of hostilities.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 5, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R.  E. LEE, Commanding Confederate Army.
+
+It is reported to me that there are wounded men, probably of both
+armies, now lying exposed and suffering between the lines occupied
+respectively by the two armies.  Humanity would dictate that some
+provision should be made to provide against such hardships.  I would
+propose, therefore, that hereafter, when no battle is raging, either
+party be authorized to send to any point between the pickets or skirmish
+lines, unarmed men bearing litters to pick up their dead or wounded,
+without being fired upon by the other party.  Any other method, equally
+fair to both parties, you may propose for meeting the end desired will
+be accepted by me.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied that he feared such an arrangement would lead to
+misunderstanding, and proposed that in future, when either party wished
+to remove their dead and wounded, a flag of truce be sent.  I answered
+this immediately by saying:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+Your communication of yesterday's date is received.  I will send
+immediately, as you propose, to collect the dead and wounded between the
+lines of the two armies, and will also instruct that you be allowed to
+do the same.  I propose that the time for doing this be between the
+hours of 12 M. and 3 P.M. to-day.  I will direct all parties going out
+to bear a white flag, and not to attempt to go beyond where we have dead
+or wounded, and not beyond or on ground occupied by your troops.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's response was that he could not consent to the burial of the dead
+and removal of the wounded in the way I proposed, but when either party
+desired such permission it should be asked for by flag of truce and he
+had directed that any parties I may have sent out, as mentioned in my
+letter, to be turned back.  I answered:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA, June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE. Commanding Army, N. Va.
+
+The knowledge that wounded men are now suffering from want of attention,
+between the two armies, compels me to ask a suspension of hostilities
+for sufficient time to collect them in, say two hours.  Permit me to say
+that the hours you may fix upon for this will be agreeable to me, and
+the same privilege will be extended to such parties as you may wish to
+send out on the same duty without further application.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee acceded to this; but delays in transmitting the correspondence
+brought it to the 7th of June--forty-eight hours after it commenced
+--before parties were got out to collect the men left upon the field.
+In the meantime all but two of the wounded had died.  And I wrote to
+Lee:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864. 10.30 A.M.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE, Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+I regret that your note of seven P.M. yesterday should have been
+received at the nearest corps headquarters, to where it was delivered,
+after the hour which had been given for the removal of the dead and
+wounded had expired; 10.45 P.M. was the hour at which it was received at
+corps headquarters, and between eleven and twelve it reached my
+headquarters.  As a consequence, it was not understood by the troops of
+this army that there was a cessation of hostilities for the purpose of
+collecting the dead and wounded, and none were collected.  Two officers
+and six men of the 8th and 25th North Carolina Regts., who were out in
+search of the bodies of officers of their respective regiments, were
+captured and brought into our lines, owing to this want of
+understanding.  I regret this, but will state that as soon as I learned
+the fact, I directed that they should not be held as prisoners, but must
+be returned to their commands.  These officers and men having been
+carelessly brought through our lines to the rear have not determined
+whether they will be sent back the way they came, or whether they will
+be sent by some other route.
+
+Regretting that all my efforts for alleviating the sufferings of wounded
+men left upon the battle-field have been rendered nugatory, I remain,
+&c.,
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever
+made.  I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d of May,
+1863, at Vicksburg.  At Cold Harbor no advantage whatever was gained to
+compensate for the heavy loss we sustained.  Indeed, the advantages
+other than those of relative losses, were on the Confederate side.
+Before that, the Army of Northern Virginia seemed to have acquired a
+wholesome regard for the courage, endurance, and soldierly qualities
+generally of the Army of the Potomac.  They no longer wanted to fight
+them "one Confederate to five Yanks."  Indeed, they seemed to have given
+up any idea of gaining any advantage of their antagonist in the open
+field.  They had come to much prefer breastworks in their front to the
+Army of the Potomac.  This charge seemed to revive their hopes
+temporarily; but it was of short duration.  The effect upon the Army of
+the Potomac was the reverse.  When we reached the James River, however,
+all effects of the battle of Cold Harbor seemed to have disappeared.
+
+There was more justification for the assault at Vicksburg.  We were in a
+Southern climate, at the beginning of the hot season.  The Army of the
+Tennessee had won five successive victories over the garrison of
+Vicksburg in the three preceding weeks.  They had driven a portion of
+that army from Port Gibson with considerable loss, after having flanked
+them out of their stronghold at Grand Gulf.  They had attacked another
+portion of the same army at Raymond, more than fifty miles farther in
+the interior of the State, and driven them back into Jackson with great
+loss in killed, wounded, captured and missing, besides loss of large and
+small arms:  they had captured the capital of the State of Mississippi,
+with a large amount of materials of war and manufactures.  Only a few
+days before, they had beaten the enemy then penned up in the town first
+at Champion's Hill, next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him
+a loss of fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from
+returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition.  The Army of the
+Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat their antagonist
+under any circumstances.  There was no telling how long a regular siege
+might last.  As I have stated, it was the beginning of the hot season in
+a Southern climate.  There was no telling what the casualties might be
+among Northern troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface
+water filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun.  If
+Vicksburg could have been carried in May, it would not only have saved
+the army the risk it ran of a greater danger than from the bullets of
+the enemy, but it would have given us a splendid army, well equipped and
+officered, to operate elsewhere with. These are reasons justifying the
+assault.  The only benefit we gained--and it was a slight one for so
+great a sacrifice--was that the men worked cheerfully in the trenches
+after that, being satisfied with digging the enemy out.  Had the assault
+not been made, I have no doubt that the majority of those engaged in the
+siege of Vicksburg would have believed that had we assaulted it would
+have proven successful, and would have saved life, health and comfort.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL LEE
+--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT OF
+PETERSBURG.
+
+Lee's position was now so near Richmond, and the intervening swamps of
+the Chickahominy so great an obstacle to the movement of troops in the
+face of an enemy, that I determined to make my next left flank move
+carry the Army of the Potomac south of the James River. (*34)
+Preparations for this were promptly commenced. The move was a hazardous
+one to make:  the Chickahominy River, with its marshy and heavily
+timbered approaches, had to be crossed; all the bridges over it east of
+Lee were destroyed; the enemy had a shorter line and better roads to
+travel on to confront me in crossing; more than fifty miles intervened
+between me and Butler, by the roads I should have to travel, with both
+the James and the Chickahominy unbridged to cross; and last, the Army of
+the Potomac had to be got out of a position but a few hundred yards from
+the enemy at the widest place.  Lee, if he did not choose to follow me,
+might, with his shorter distance to travel and his bridges over the
+Chickahominy and the James, move rapidly on Butler and crush him before
+the army with me could come to his relief.  Then too he might spare
+troops enough to send against Hunter who was approaching Lynchburg,
+living upon the country he passed through, and without ammunition
+further than what he carried with him.
+
+But the move had to be made, and I relied upon Lee's not seeing my
+danger as I saw it.  Besides we had armies on both sides of the James
+River and not far from the Confederate capital.  I knew that its safety
+would be a matter of the first consideration with the executive,
+legislative and judicial branches of the so-called Confederate
+government, if it was not with the military commanders.  But I took all
+the precaution I knew of to guard against all dangers.
+
+Sheridan was sent with two divisions, to communicate with Hunter and to
+break up the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River Canal, on the
+7th of June, taking instructions to Hunter to come back with him (*35).
+Hunter was also informed by way of Washington and the Valley that
+Sheridan was on the way to meet him.  The canal and Central Road, and
+the regions penetrated by them, were of vast importance to the enemy,
+furnishing and carrying a large per cent. of all the supplies for the
+Army of Northern Virginia and the people of Richmond.  Before Sheridan
+got off on the 7th news was received from Hunter reporting his advance
+to Staunton and successful engagement with the enemy near that place on
+the 5th, in which the Confederate commander, W. S. Jones, was killed.
+On the 4th of June the enemy having withdrawn his left corps, Burnside
+on our right was moved up between Warren and Smith.  On the 5th Birney
+returned to Hancock, which extended his left now to the Chickahominy,
+and Warren was withdrawn to Cold Harbor.  Wright was directed to send
+two divisions to the left to extend down the banks of that stream to
+Bottom's Bridge.  The cavalry extended still farther east to Jones's
+Bridge.
+
+On the 7th Abercrombie--who was in command at White House, and who had
+been in command at our base of supplies in all the changes made from the
+start--was ordered to take up the iron from the York River Railroad and
+put it on boats, and to be in readiness to move by water to City Point.
+
+On the 8th Meade was directed to fortify a line down the bank
+overlooking the Chickahominy, under cover of which the army could move.
+
+On the 9th Abercrombie was directed to send all organized troops
+arriving at White House, without debarking from their transports, to
+report to Butler.  Halleck was at this time instructed to send all
+reinforcements to City Point.
+
+On the 11th I wrote:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Department of Va. and N. C.
+
+The movement to transfer this army to the south side of the James River
+will commence after dark to-morrow night.  Col. Comstock, of my staff,
+was sent specially to ascertain what was necessary to make your position
+secure in the interval during which the enemy might use most of his
+force against you, and also, to ascertain what point on the river we
+should reach to effect a crossing if it should not be practicable to
+reach this side of the river at Bermuda Hundred.  Colonel Comstock has
+not yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as definite as I
+would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being so short in
+which to get word to you, I must do the best I can.  Colonel Dent goes
+to the Chickahominy to take to you the 18th corps.  The corps will leave
+its position in the trenches as early in the evening, tomorrow, as
+possible, and make a forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it
+should reach by ten A.M. the following morning.  This corps numbers now
+15,300 men.  They take with them neither wagons nor artillery; these
+latter marching with the balance of the army to the James River.  The
+remainder of the army will cross the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and at
+Jones's, and strike the river at the most practicable crossing below
+City Point.
+
+I directed several days ago that all reinforcements for the army should
+be sent to you.  I am not advised of the number that may have gone, but
+suppose you have received from six to ten thousand.  General Smith will
+also reach you as soon as the enemy could, going by the way of Richmond.
+
+The balance of the force will not be more than one day behind, unless
+detained by the whole of Lee's army, in which case you will be strong
+enough.
+
+I wish you would direct the proper staff officers, your chief-engineer
+and your chief-quartermaster, to commence at once the collection of all
+the means in their reach for crossing the army on its arrival.  If there
+is a point below City Point where a pontoon bridge can be thrown, have
+it laid.
+
+Expecting the arrival of the 18th corps by Monday night, if you deem it
+practicable from the force you have to seize and hold Petersburg, you
+may prepare to start, on the arrival of troops to hold your present
+lines.  I do not want Petersburg visited, however, unless it is held,
+nor an attempt to take it, unless you feel a reasonable degree of
+confidence of success.  If you should go there, I think troops should
+take nothing with them except what they can carry, depending upon
+supplies being sent after the place is secured.  If Colonel Dent should
+not succeed in securing the requisite amount of transportation for the
+18th corps before reaching you, please have the balance supplied.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--On reflection I will send the 18th corps by way of White House.
+The distance which they will have to march will be enough shorter to
+enable them to reach you about the same time, and the uncertainty of
+navigation on the Chickahominy will be avoided.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL G. G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Colonel Comstock, who visited the James River for the purpose of
+ascertaining the best point below Bermuda Hundred to which to march the
+army has not yet returned.  It is now getting so late, however, that all
+preparations may be made for the move to-morrow night without waiting
+longer.
+
+The movement will be made as heretofore agreed upon, that is, the 18th
+corps make a rapid march with the infantry alone, their wagons and
+artillery accompanying the balance of the army to Cole's Landing or
+Ferry, and there embark for City Point, losing no time for rest until
+they reach the latter point.
+
+The 5th corps will seize Long Bridge and move out on the Long Bridge
+Road to its junction with Quaker Road, or until stopped by the enemy.
+
+The other three corps will follow in such order as you may direct, one
+of them crossing at Long Bridge, and two at Jones's Bridge.  After the
+crossing is effected, the most practicable roads will be taken to reach
+about Fort Powhattan.  Of course, this is supposing the enemy makes no
+opposition to our advance.  The 5th corps, after securing the passage of
+the balance of the army, will join or follow in rear of the corps which
+crosses the same bridge with themselves.  The wagon trains should be
+kept well east of the troops, and if a crossing can be found, or made
+lower down than Jones's they should take it.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--In view of the long march to reach Cole's Landing, and the
+uncertainty of being able to embark a large number of men there, the
+direction of the 18th corps may be changed to White House.  They should
+be directed to load up transports, and start them as fast as loaded
+without waiting for the whole corps or even whole divisions to go
+together.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers of the
+11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving east.  This,
+with the news of Hunter's successful engagement near Staunton, was no
+doubt known to Lee before it was to me. Then Sheridan leaving with two
+divisions of cavalry, looked indeed threatening, both to Lee's
+communications and supplies. Much of his cavalry was sent after
+Sheridan, and Early with Ewell's entire corps was sent to the Valley.
+Supplies were growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to
+draw them were in our hands.  People from outside began to pour into
+Richmond to help eat up the little on hand.  Consternation reigned
+there.
+
+On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House, not to
+stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once for City Point,
+leaving his trains and artillery to move by land.
+
+Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a crossing
+by wading and floundering through the water and mud, leaving their
+horses behind, and drove away the cavalry pickets.  A pontoon bridge was
+speedily thrown across, over which the remainder of the army soon passed
+and pushed out for a mile or two to watch and detain any advance that
+might be made from the other side.  Warren followed the cavalry, and by
+the morning of the 13th had his whole corps over.  Hancock followed
+Warren.  Burnside took the road to Jones's Bridge, followed by Wright.
+Ferrero's division, with the wagon train, moved farther east, by Window
+Shades and Cole's Ferry, our rear being covered by cavalry.
+
+It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond. These might
+run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before they could be
+sunk or captured by our navy.  General Butler had, in advance, loaded
+some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as to obstruct the channel
+in an emergency.  On the 13th I sent orders to have these sunk as high
+up the river as we could guard them, and prevent their removal by the
+enemy.
+
+As soon as Warren's corps was over the Chickahominy it marched out and
+joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond while the army
+passed.  No attempt was made by the enemy to impede our march, however,
+but Warren and Wilson reported the enemy strongly fortified in their
+front.  By the evening of the 13th Hancock's corps was at Charles City
+Court House on the James River.  Burnside's and Wright's corps were on
+the Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren's corps and the
+cavalry still covering the army.  The material for a pontoon bridge was
+already at hand and the work of laying it was commenced immediately,
+under the superintendence of Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the
+engineer brigade.  On the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced,
+Hancock in advance, using both the bridge and boats.
+
+When the Wilderness campaign commenced the Army of the Potomac,
+including Burnside's--which was a separate command until the 24th of May
+when it was incorporated with the main army--numbered about 116,000 men.
+During the progress of the campaign about 40,000 reinforcements were
+received.  At the crossing of the James River June 14th-15th the army
+numbered about 115,000.  Besides the ordinary losses incident to a
+campaign of six weeks' nearly constant fighting or skirmishing, about
+one-half of the artillery was sent back to Washington, and many men were
+discharged by reason of the expiration of their term of service.* In
+estimating our strength every enlisted man and every commissioned
+officer present is included, no matter how employed; in bands, sick in
+field hospitals, hospital attendants, company cooks and all.  Operating
+in an enemy's country, and being supplied always from a distant base,
+large detachments had at all times to be sent from the front, not only
+to guard the base of supplies and the roads to it, but all the roads
+leading to our flanks and rear.  We were also operating in a country
+unknown to us, and without competent guides or maps showing the roads
+accurately.
+
+The manner of estimating numbers in the two armies differs materially.
+In the Confederate army often only bayonets are taken into account,
+never, I believe, do they estimate more than are handling the guns of
+the artillery and armed with muskets (*36) or carbines.  Generally the
+latter are far enough away to be excluded from the count in any one
+field.  Officers and details of enlisted men are not included.  In the
+Northern armies the estimate is most liberal, taking in all connected
+with the army and drawing pay.
+
+Estimated in the same manner as ours, Lee had not less than 80,000 men
+at the start.  His reinforcements were about equal to ours during the
+campaign, deducting the discharged men and those sent back.  He was on
+the defensive, and in a country in which every stream, every road, every
+obstacle to the movement of troops and every natural defence was
+familiar to him and his army.  The citizens were all friendly to him and
+his cause, and could and did furnish him with accurate reports of our
+every move.  Rear guards were not necessary for him, and having always a
+railroad at his back, large wagon trains were not required. All
+circumstances considered we did not have any advantage in numbers.
+
+General Lee, who had led the Army of Northern Virginia in all these
+contests, was a very highly estimated man in the Confederate army and
+States, and filled also a very high place in the estimation of the
+people and press of the Northern States.  His praise was sounded
+throughout the entire North after every action he was engaged in:  the
+number of his forces was always lowered and that of the National forces
+exaggerated.  He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult of
+approach to his subordinates.  To be extolled by the entire press of the
+South after every engagement, and by a portion of the press North with
+equal vehemence, was calculated to give him the entire confidence of his
+troops and to make him feared by his antagonists.  It was not an
+uncommon thing for my staff-officers to hear from Eastern officers,
+"Well, Grant has never met Bobby Lee yet."  There were good and true
+officers who believe now that the Army of Northern Virginia was superior
+to the Army of the Potomac man to man.  I do not believe so, except as
+the advantages spoken of above made them so.  Before the end I believe
+the difference was the other way.  The Army of Northern Virginia became
+despondent and saw the end.  It did not please them.  The National army
+saw the same thing, and were encouraged by it.
+
+The advance of the Army of the Potomac reached the James on the 14th of
+June.  Preparations were at once commenced for laying the pontoon
+bridges and crossing the river.  As already stated, I had previously
+ordered General Butler to have two vessels loaded with stone and carried
+up the river to a point above that occupied by our gunboats, where the
+channel was narrow, and sunk there so as to obstruct the passage and
+prevent Confederate gunboats from coming down the river.  Butler had had
+these boats filled and put in position, but had not had them sunk before
+my arrival.  I ordered this done, and also directed that he should turn
+over all material and boats not then in use in the river to be used in
+ferrying the troops across.
+
+I then, on the 14th, took a steamer and ran up to Bermuda Hundred to see
+General Butler for the purpose of directing a movement against
+Petersburg, while our troops of the Army of the Potomac were crossing.
+
+I had sent General W. F. Smith back from Cold Harbor by the way of White
+House, thence on steamers to City Point for the purpose of giving
+General Butler more troops with which to accomplish this result.
+General Butler was ordered to send Smith with his troops reinforced, as
+far as that could be conveniently done, from other parts of the Army of
+the James.  He gave Smith about six thousand reinforcements, including
+some twenty-five hundred cavalry under Kautz, and about thirty-five
+hundred colored infantry under Hinks.
+
+The distance which Smith had to move to reach the enemy's lines was
+about six miles, and the Confederate advance line of works was but two
+miles outside of Petersburg.  Smith was to move under cover of night, up
+close to the enemy's works, and assault as soon as he could after
+daylight.  I believed then, and still believe, that Petersburg could
+have been easily captured at that time.  It only had about 2,500 men in
+the defences besides some irregular troops, consisting of citizens and
+employees in the city who took up arms in case of emergency.  Smith
+started as proposed, but his advance encountered a rebel force
+intrenched between City Point and their lines outside of Petersburg.
+This position he carried, with some loss to the enemy; but there was so
+much delay that it was daylight before his troops really got off from
+there.  While there I informed General Butler that Hancock's corps would
+cross the river and move to Petersburg to support Smith in case the
+latter was successful, and that I could reinforce there more rapidly
+than Lee could reinforce from his position.
+
+I returned down the river to where the troops of the Army of the Potomac
+now were, communicated to General Meade, in writing, the directions I
+had given to General Butler and directed him (Meade) to cross Hancock's
+corps over under cover of night, and push them forward in the morning to
+Petersburg; halting them, however, at a designated point until they
+could hear from Smith.  I also informed General Meade that I had ordered
+rations from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to
+issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was absolutely
+necessary.  The rations did not reach him, however, and Hancock, while
+he got all his corps over during the night, remained until half-past ten
+in the hope of receiving them.  He then moved without them, and on the
+road received a note from General W. F. Smith, asking him to come on.
+This seems to be the first information that General Hancock had received
+of the fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything particular
+was expected of him.  Otherwise he would have been there by four o'clock
+in the afternoon.
+
+Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the forenoon of the
+15th, and spent the day until after seven o'clock in the evening in
+reconnoitering what appeared to be empty works.  The enemy's line
+consisted of redans occupying commanding positions, with rifle-pits
+connecting them.  To the east side of Petersburg, from the Appomattox
+back, there were thirteen of these redans extending a distance of
+several miles, probably three.  If they had been properly manned they
+could have held out against any force that could have attacked them, at
+least until reinforcements could have got up from the north of Richmond.
+
+Smith assaulted with the colored troops, and with success.  By nine
+o'clock at night he was in possession of five of these redans and, of
+course, of the connecting lines of rifle-pits. All of them contained
+artillery, which fell into our hands. Hancock came up and proposed to
+take any part assigned to him; and Smith asked him to relieve his men
+who were in the trenches.
+
+Next morning, the 16th, Hancock himself was in command, and captured
+another redan.  Meade came up in the afternoon and succeeded Hancock,
+who had to be relieved, temporarily, from the command of his corps on
+account of the breaking out afresh of the wound he had received at
+Gettysburg.  During the day Meade assaulted and carried one more redan
+to his right and two to his left.  In all this we lost very heavily.
+The works were not strongly manned, but they all had guns in them which
+fell into our hands, together with the men who were handling them in the
+effort to repel these assaults.
+
+Up to this time Beauregard, who had commanded south of Richmond, had
+received no reinforcements, except Hoke's division from Drury's
+Bluff,(*37) which had arrived on the morning of the 16th; though he had
+urged the authorities very strongly to send them, believing, as he did,
+that Petersburg would be a valuable prize which we might seek.
+
+During the 17th the fighting was very severe and the losses heavy; and
+at night our troops occupied about the same position they had occupied
+in the morning, except that they held a redan which had been captured by
+Potter during the day.  During the night, however, Beauregard fell back
+to the line which had been already selected, and commenced fortifying
+it.  Our troops advanced on the 18th to the line which he had abandoned,
+and found that the Confederate loss had been very severe, many of the
+enemy's dead still remaining in the ditches and in front of them.
+
+Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the 18th.
+He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he had been in
+the habit of doing in all the engagements in which he had previously
+been engaged.  He had several times been recommended for a
+brigadier-generalcy for gallant and meritorious conduct.  On this
+occasion, however, I promoted him on the spot, and forwarded a copy of
+my order to the War Department, asking that my act might be confirmed
+and Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without any
+delay.  This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious officer
+received partial justice at the hands of his government, which he had
+served so faithfully and so well.
+
+If General Hancock's orders of the 15th had been communicated to him,
+that officer, with his usual promptness, would undoubtedly have been
+upon the ground around Petersburg as early as four o'clock in the
+afternoon of the 15th.  The days were long and it would have given him
+considerable time before night.  I do not think there is any doubt that
+Petersburg itself could have been carried without much loss; or, at
+least, if protected by inner detached works, that a line could have been
+established very much in rear of the one then occupied by the enemy.
+This would have given us control of both the Weldon and South Side
+railroads.  This would also have saved an immense amount of hard
+fighting which had to be done from the 15th to the 18th, and would have
+given us greatly the advantage in the long siege which ensued.
+
+I now ordered the troops to be put under cover and allowed some of the
+rest which they had so long needed.  They remained quiet, except that
+there was more or less firing every day, until the 22d, when General
+Meade ordered an advance towards the Weldon Railroad.  We were very
+anxious to get to that road, and even round to the South Side Railroad
+if possible.
+
+Meade moved Hancock's corps, now commanded by Birney, to the left, with
+a view to at least force the enemy to stay within the limits of his own
+line.  General Wright, with the 6th corps, was ordered by a road farther
+south, to march directly for the Weldon road.  The enemy passed in
+between these two corps and attacked vigorously, and with very serious
+results to the National troops, who were then withdrawn from their
+advanced position.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was given the investment of Petersburg, while
+the Army of the James held Bermuda Hundred and all the ground we
+possessed north of the James River.  The 9th corps, Burnside's, was
+placed upon the right at Petersburg; the 5th, Warren's, next; the 2d,
+Birney's, next; then the 6th, Wright's, broken off to the left and
+south.  Thus began the siege of Petersburg.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON RAILROAD
+--EARLY 'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS BEFORE PETERSBURG
+--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH
+VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON RAILROAD.
+
+On the 7th of June, while at Cold Harbor, I had as already indicated
+sent Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry to destroy as much as he
+could of the Virginia Central Railroad.  General Hunter had been
+operating up the Shenandoah Valley with some success, having fought a
+battle near Staunton where he captured a great many prisoners, besides
+killing and wounding a good many men.  After the battle he formed a
+junction at Staunton with Averell and Crook, who had come up from the
+Kanawha, or Gauley River.  It was supposed, therefore, that General
+Hunter would be about Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time Sheridan
+could get there, doing on the way the damage that he was sent to do.
+
+I gave Sheridan instructions to have Hunter, in case he should meet him
+about Charlottesville, join and return with him to the Army of the
+Potomac.  Lee, hearing of Hunter's success in the valley, started
+Breckinridge out for its defence at once. Learning later of Sheridan's
+going with two divisions, he also sent Hampton with two divisions of
+cavalry, his own and Fitz-Hugh Lee's.
+
+Sheridan moved to the north side of the North Anna to get out west, and
+learned of the movement of these troops to the south side of the same
+stream almost as soon as they had started. He pushed on to get to
+Trevilian Station to commence his destruction at that point.  On the
+night of the 10th he bivouacked some six or seven miles east of
+Trevilian, while Fitz-Hugh Lee was the same night at Trevilian Station
+and Hampton but a few miles away.
+
+During the night Hampton ordered an advance on Sheridan, hoping, no
+doubt, to surprise and very badly cripple him.  Sheridan, however, by a
+counter move sent Custer on a rapid march to get between the two
+divisions of the enemy and into their rear. This he did successfully, so
+that at daylight, when the assault was made, the enemy found himself at
+the same time resisted in front and attacked in rear, and broke in some
+confusion.  The losses were probably very light on both sides in killed
+and wounded, but Sheridan got away with some five hundred prisoners and
+sent them to City Point.
+
+During that day, the 11th, Sheridan moved into Trevilian Station, and
+the following day proceeded to tear up the road east and west.  There
+was considerable fighting during the whole of the day, but the work of
+destruction went on.  In the meantime, at night, the enemy had taken
+possession of the crossing which Sheridan had proposed to take to go
+north when he left Trevilian.  Sheridan learned, however, from some of
+the prisoners he had captured here, that General Hunter was about
+Lynchburg, and therefore that there was no use of his going on to
+Charlottesville with a view to meet him.
+
+Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his way
+north and farther east, coming around by the north side of White House,
+and arriving there on the 21st.  Here he found an abundance of forage
+for his animals, food for his men, and security while resting.  He had
+been obliged to leave about ninety of his own men in the field-hospital
+which he had established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into
+the hands of the enemy.
+
+White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our troops
+were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a store of
+supplies.  Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it up; which he
+did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an immense wagon train
+with him.  All these were over the James River by the 26th of the month,
+and Sheridan ready to follow.
+
+In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson's division on a raid to destroy
+the Weldon and South Side roads.  Now that Sheridan was safe and Hampton
+free to return to Richmond with his cavalry, Wilson's position became
+precarious.  Meade therefore, on the 27th, ordered Sheridan over the
+river to make a demonstration in favor of Wilson.  Wilson got back,
+though not without severe loss, having struck both roads, but the damage
+done was soon repaired.
+
+After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg until late
+in July.  The time, however, was spent in strengthening the
+intrenchments and making our position generally more secure against a
+sudden attack.  In the meantime I had to look after other portions of my
+command, where things had not been going on so favorably, always, as I
+could have wished.
+
+General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the Shenandoah
+Valley immediately took up the offensive.  He met the enemy on the 5th
+of June at Piedmont, and defeated him.  On the 8th he formed a junction
+with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct on
+Lynchburg, via Lexington, which he reached and invested on the 16th.  Up
+to this time he was very successful; and but for the difficulty of
+taking with him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through
+a hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg. The
+destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories had been very
+great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee sent
+Early with his corps, a part of which reached Lynchburg before Hunter.
+After some skirmishing on the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a
+want of ammunition to give battle, retired from before the place.
+Unfortunately, this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for
+his return but by the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up
+the Ohio River, returning to Harper's Ferry by way of the Baltimore and
+Ohio Railroad.  A long time was consumed in making this movement.
+Meantime the valley was left open to Early's troops, and others in that
+quarter; and Washington also was uncovered. Early took advantage of this
+condition of affairs and moved on Washington.
+
+In the absence of Hunter, General Lew Wallace, with headquarters at
+Baltimore, commanded the department in which the Shenandoah lay.  His
+surplus of troops with which to move against the enemy was small in
+number.  Most of these were raw and, consequently, very much inferior to
+our veterans and to the veterans which Early had with him; but the
+situation of Washington was precarious, and Wallace moved with
+commendable promptitude to meet the enemy at the Monocacy.  He could
+hardly have expected to defeat him badly, but he hoped to cripple and
+delay him until Washington could be put into a state of preparation for
+his reception.  I had previously ordered General Meade to send a
+division to Baltimore for the purpose of adding to the defences of
+Washington, and he had sent Ricketts's division of the 6th corps
+(Wright's), which arrived in Baltimore on the 8th of July.  Finding that
+Wallace had gone to the front with his command, Ricketts immediately
+took the cars and followed him to the Monocacy with his entire division.
+They met the enemy and, as might have been expected, were defeated; but
+they succeeded in stopping him for the day on which the battle took
+place.  The next morning Early started on his march to the capital of
+the Nation, arriving before it on the 11th.
+
+Learning of the gravity of the situation I had directed General Meade to
+also order Wright with the rest of his corps directly to Washington for
+the relief of that place, and the latter reached there the very day that
+Early arrived before it.  The 19th corps, which had been stationed in
+Louisiana, having been ordered up to reinforce the armies about
+Richmond, had about this time arrived at Fortress Monroe, on their way
+to join us. I diverted them from that point to Washington, which place
+they reached, almost simultaneously with Wright, on the 11th.  The 19th
+corps was commanded by Major-General Emory.
+
+Early made his reconnoissance with a view of attacking on the following
+morning, the 12th; but the next morning he found our intrenchments,
+which were very strong, fully manned.  He at once commenced to retreat,
+Wright following.  There is no telling how much this result was
+contributed to by General Lew Wallace's leading what might well be
+considered almost a forlorn hope.  If Early had been but one day earlier
+he might have entered the capital before the arrival of the
+reinforcements I had sent. Whether the delay caused by the battle
+amounted to a day or not, General Wallace contributed on this occasion,
+by the defeat of the troops under him a greater benefit to the cause
+than often falls to the lot of a commander of an equal force to render
+by means of a victory.
+
+Farther west also the troubles were threatening.  Some time before,
+Forrest had met Sturgis in command of some of our cavalry in Mississippi
+and handled him very roughly, gaining a very great victory over him.
+This left Forrest free to go almost where he pleased, and to cut the
+roads in rear of Sherman who was then advancing.  Sherman was abundantly
+able to look after the army that he was immediately with, and all of his
+military division so long as he could communicate with it; but it was my
+place to see that he had the means with which to hold his rear.  Two
+divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to Banks in Louisiana some
+months before.  Sherman ordered these back, with directions to attack
+Forrest.  Smith met and defeated him very badly.  I then directed that
+Smith should hang to Forrest and not let him go; and to prevent by all
+means his getting upon the Memphis and Nashville Railroad.  Sherman had
+anticipated me in this matter, and given the same orders in substance;
+but receiving my directions for this order to Smith, he repeated it.
+
+On the 25th of June General Burnside had commenced running a mine from
+about the centre of his front under the Confederate works confronting
+him.  He was induced to do this by Colonel Pleasants, of the
+Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was mostly composed of miners,
+and who was himself a practical miner.  Burnside had submitted the
+scheme to Meade and myself, and we both approved of it, as a means of
+keeping the men occupied.  His position was very favorable for carrying
+on this work, but not so favorable for the operations to follow its
+completion.  The position of the two lines at that point were only about
+a hundred yards apart with a comparatively deep ravine intervening.  In
+the bottom of this ravine the work commenced.  The position was
+unfavorable in this particular: that the enemy's line at that point was
+re-entering, so that its front was commanded by their own lines both to
+the right and left.  Then, too, the ground was sloping upward back of
+the Confederate line for a considerable distance, and it was presumable
+that the enemy had, at least, a detached work on this highest point.
+The work progressed, and on the 23d of July the mine was finished ready
+for charging; but I had this work of charging deferred until we were
+ready for it.
+
+On the 17th of July several deserters came in and said that there was
+great consternation in Richmond, and that Lee was coming out to make an
+attack upon us the object being to put us on the defensive so that he
+might detach troops to go to Georgia where the army Sherman was
+operating against was said to be in great trouble.  I put the army
+commanders, Meade and Butler, on the lookout, but the attack was not
+made.
+
+I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way of
+offensive movement myself, having in view something of the same object
+that Lee had had.  Wright's and Emory's corps were in Washington, and
+with this reduction of my force Lee might very readily have spared some
+troops from the defences to send West.  I had other objects in view,
+however, besides keeping Lee where he was.  The mine was constructed and
+ready to be exploded, and I wanted to take that occasion to carry
+Petersburg if I could.  It was the object, therefore, to get as many of
+Lee's troops away from the south side of the James River as possible.
+Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement with Hancock's corps
+and Sheridan's cavalry to the north side by the way of Deep Bottom,
+where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid. The plan, in the main, was to
+let the cavalry cut loose and, joining with Kautz's cavalry of the Army
+of the James, get by Lee's lines and destroy as much as they could of
+the Virginia Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was
+to move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat back
+when they should have got through with their work.  We were successful
+in drawing the enemy's troops to the north side of the James as I
+expected.  The mine was ordered to be charged, and the morning of the
+30th of July was the time fixed for its explosion.  I gave Meade minute
+orders (*38) on the 24th directing how I wanted the assault conducted,
+which orders he amplified into general instructions for the guidance of
+the troops that were to be engaged.
+
+Meade's instructions, which I, of course, approved most heartily, were
+all that I can see now was necessary.  The only further precaution which
+he could have taken, and which he could not foresee, would have been to
+have different men to execute them.
+
+The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from where it
+entered the ground to the point where it was under the enemy's works,
+and with a cross gallery of something over eighty feet running under
+their lines.  Eight chambers had been left, requiring a ton of powder
+each to charge them.  All was ready by the time I had prescribed; and on
+the 29th Hancock and Sheridan were brought back near the James River
+with their troops.  Under cover of night they started to recross the
+bridge at Deep Bottom, and to march directly for that part of our lines
+in front of the mine.
+
+Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient number of
+men and concentrate the balance on the right next to Burnside's corps,
+while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps, temporarily under Meade, was
+to form in the rear of Burnside to support him when he went in.  All
+were to clear off the parapets and the _abatis_ in their front so as to
+leave the space as open as possible, and be able to charge the moment
+the mine had been sprung and Burnside had taken possession.  Burnside's
+corps was not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the
+hill, supported on the right and left by Ord's and Warren's corps.
+
+Warren and Ord fulfilled their instructions perfectly so far as making
+ready was concerned.  Burnside seemed to have paid no attention whatever
+to the instructions, and left all the obstruction in his own front for
+his troops to get over in the best way they could.  The four divisions
+of his corps were commanded by Generals Potter, Willcox, Ledlie and
+Ferrero.  The last was a colored division; and Burnside selected it to
+make the assault.  Meade interfered with this.  Burnside then took
+Ledlie's division--a worse selection than the first could have been.  In
+fact, Potter and Willcox were the only division commanders Burnside had
+who were equal to the occasion.  Ledlie besides being otherwise
+inefficient, proved also to possess disqualification less common among
+soldiers.
+
+There was some delay about the explosion of the mine so that it did not
+go off until about five o'clock in the morning.  When it did explode it
+was very successful, making a crater twenty feet deep and something like
+a hundred feet in length.  Instantly one hundred and ten cannon and
+fifty mortars, which had been placed in the most commanding positions
+covering the ground to the right and left of where the troops were to
+enter the enemy's lines, commenced playing.  Ledlie's division marched
+into the crater immediately on the explosion, but most of the men
+stopped there in the absence of any one to give directions; their
+commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they
+started.  There was some delay on the left and right in advancing, but
+some of the troops did get in and turn to the right and left, carrying
+the rifle-pits as I expected they would do.
+
+There had been great consternation in Petersburg, as we were well aware,
+about a rumored mine that we were going to explode.  They knew we were
+mining, and they had failed to cut our mine off by countermining, though
+Beauregard had taken the precaution to run up a line of intrenchments to
+the rear of that part of their line fronting where they could see that
+our men were at work.  We had learned through deserters who had come in
+that the people had very wild rumors about what was going on on our
+side.  They said that we had undermined the whole of Petersburg; that
+they were resting upon a slumbering volcano and did not know at what
+moment they might expect an eruption.  I somewhat based my calculations
+upon this state of feeling, and expected that when the mine was exploded
+the troops to the right and left would flee in all directions, and that
+our troops, if they moved promptly, could get in and strengthen
+themselves before the enemy had come to a realization of the true
+situation.  It was just as I expected it would be.  We could see the men
+running without any apparent object except to get away. It was half an
+hour before musketry firing, to amount to anything, was opened upon our
+men in the crater.  It was an hour before the enemy got artillery up to
+play upon them; and it was nine o'clock before Lee got up reinforcements
+from his right to join in expelling our troops.
+
+The effort was a stupendous failure.  It cost us about four thousand
+men, mostly, however, captured; and all due to inefficiency on the part
+of the corps commander and the incompetency of the division commander
+who was sent to lead the assault.
+
+After being fully assured of the failure of the mine, and finding that
+most of that part of Lee's army which had been drawn north of the James
+River were still there, I gave Meade directions to send a corps of
+infantry and the cavalry next morning, before Lee could get his forces
+back, to destroy fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon Railroad.  But
+misfortunes never come singly.  I learned during that same afternoon
+that Wright's pursuit of Early was feeble because of the constant and
+contrary orders he had been receiving from Washington, while I was cut
+off from immediate communication by reason of our cable across
+Chesapeake Bay being broken.  Early, however, was not aware of the fact
+that Wright was not pursuing until he had reached Strasburg.  Finding
+that he was not pursued he turned back to Winchester, where Crook was
+stationed with a small force, and drove him out.  He then pushed north
+until he had reached the Potomac, then he sent McCausland across to
+Chambersburg, Pa., to destroy that town.  Chambersburg was a purely
+defenceless town with no garrison whatever, and no fortifications; yet
+McCausland, under Early's orders, burned the place and left about three
+hundred families houseless.  This occurred on the 30th of July.  I
+rescinded my orders for the troops to go out to destroy the Weldon
+Railroad, and directed them to embark for Washington City.  After
+burning Chambersburg McCausland retreated, pursued by our cavalry,
+towards Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley and
+driven into Virginia.
+
+The Shenandoah Valley was very important to the Confederates, because it
+was the principal storehouse they now had for feeding their armies about
+Richmond.  It was well known that they would make a desperate struggle
+to maintain it.  It had been the source of a great deal of trouble to us
+heretofore to guard that outlet to the north, partly because of the
+incompetency of some of the commanders, but chiefly because of
+interference from Washington.
+
+It seemed to be the policy of General Halleck and Secretary Stanton to
+keep any force sent there, in pursuit of the invading army, moving right
+and left so as to keep between the enemy and our capital; and, generally
+speaking, they pursued this policy until all knowledge of the
+whereabouts of the enemy was lost. They were left, therefore, free to
+supply themselves with horses, beef cattle, and such provisions as they
+could carry away from Western Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I determined
+to put a stop to this.  I started Sheridan at once for that field of
+operation, and on the following day sent another division of his
+cavalry.
+
+I had previously asked to have Sheridan assigned to that command, but
+Mr. Stanton objected, on the ground that he was too young for so
+important a command.  On the 1st of August when I sent reinforcements
+for the protection of Washington, I sent the following orders:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+
+August 1, 1864, 11.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Washington D. C.
+
+I am sending General Sheridan for temporary duty whilst the enemy is
+being expelled from the border.  Unless General Hunter is in the field
+in person, I want Sheridan put in command of all the troops in the
+field, with instructions to put himself south of the enemy and follow
+him to the death.  Wherever the enemy goes let our troops go also.  Once
+started up the valley they ought to be followed until we get possession
+of the Virginia Central Railroad.  If General Hunter is in the field,
+give Sheridan direct command of the 6th corps and cavalry division. All
+the cavalry, I presume, will reach Washington in the course of
+to-morrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The President in some way or other got to see this dispatch of mine
+directing certain instructions to be given to the commanders in the
+field, operating against Early, and sent me the following very
+characteristic dispatch:
+
+
+OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH, WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+August 3, 1864.
+
+Cypher. 6 P.M.,
+
+LT. GENERAL GRANT, City Point, Va.
+
+I have seen your despatch in which you say, "I want Sheridan put in
+command of all the troops in the field, with instructions to put himself
+south of the enemy, and follow him to the death. Wherever the enemy
+goes, let our troops go also."  This, I think, is exactly right, as to
+how our forces should move.  But please look over the despatches you may
+have received from here, even since you made that order, and discover,
+if you can, that there is any idea in the head of any one here, of
+"putting our army south of the enemy," or of "following him to the
+death" in any direction.  I repeat to you it will neither be done nor
+attempted unless you watch it every day, and hour, and force it.
+
+A. LINCOLN.
+
+
+I replied to this that "I would start in two hours for Washington," and
+soon got off, going directly to the Monocacy without stopping at
+Washington on my way.  I found General Hunter's army encamped there,
+scattered over the fields along the banks of the Monocacy, with many
+hundreds of cars and locomotives, belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio
+Railroad, which he had taken the precaution to bring back and collect at
+that point.  I asked the general where the enemy was.  He replied that
+he did not know.  He said the fact was, that he was so embarrassed with
+orders from Washington moving him first to the right and then to the
+left that he had lost all trace of the enemy.
+
+I then told the general that I would find out where the enemy was, and
+at once ordered steam got up and trains made up, giving directions to
+push for Halltown, some four miles above Harper's Ferry, in the
+Shenandoah Valley.  The cavalry and the wagon trains were to march, but
+all the troops that could be transported by the cars were to go in that
+way.  I knew that the valley was of such importance to the enemy that,
+no matter how much he was scattered at that time, he would in a very
+short time be found in front of our troops moving south.
+
+I then wrote out General Hunter's instructions. (*39)  I told him that
+Sheridan was in Washington, and still another division was on its way;
+and suggested that he establish the headquarters of the department at
+any point that would suit him best, Cumberland, Baltimore, or elsewhere,
+and give Sheridan command of the troops in the field.  The general
+replied to this, that he thought he had better be relieved entirely.  He
+said that General Halleck seemed so much to distrust his fitness for the
+position he was in that he thought somebody else ought to be there.  He
+did not want, in any way, to embarrass the cause; thus showing a
+patriotism that was none too common in the army.  There were not many
+major-generals who would voluntarily have asked to have the command of a
+department taken from them on the supposition that for some particular
+reason, or for any reason, the service would be better performed.  I
+told him, "very well then," and telegraphed at once for Sheridan to come
+to the Monocacy, and suggested that I would wait and meet him there.
+
+Sheridan came at once by special train, but reached there after the
+troops were all off.  I went to the station and remained there until he
+arrived.  Myself and one or two of my staff were about all the Union
+people, except General Hunter and his staff, who were left at the
+Monocacy when Sheridan arrived.  I hastily told Sheridan what had been
+done and what I wanted him to do, giving him, at the same time, the
+written instructions which had been prepared for General Hunter and
+directed to that officer.
+
+Sheridan now had about 30,000 men to move with, 8,000 of them being
+cavalry.  Early had about the same number, but the superior ability of
+the National commander over the Confederate commander was so great that
+all the latter's advantage of being on the defensive was more than
+counterbalanced by this circumstance.  As I had predicted, Early was
+soon found in front of Sheridan in the valley, and Pennsylvania and
+Maryland were speedily freed from the invaders.  The importance of the
+valley was so great to the Confederates that Lee reinforced Early, but
+not to the extent that we thought and feared he would.
+
+To prevent as much as possible these reinforcements from being sent out
+from Richmond, I had to do something to compel Lee to retain his forces
+about his capital.  I therefore gave orders for another move to the
+north side of the James River, to threaten Richmond.  Hancock's corps,
+part of the 10th corps under Birney, and Gregg's division of cavalry
+were crossed to the north side of the James during the night of the
+13th-14th of August.  A threatening position was maintained for a number
+of days, with more or less skirmishing, and some tolerably hard
+fighting; although it was my object and my instructions that anything
+like a battle should be avoided, unless opportunities should present
+themselves which would insure great success. General Meade was left in
+command of the few troops around Petersburg, strongly intrenched; and
+was instructed to keep a close watch upon the enemy in that quarter, and
+himself to take advantage of any weakening that might occur through an
+effort on the part of the enemy to reinforce the north side.  There was
+no particular victory gained on either side; but during that time no
+more reinforcements were sent to the valley.
+
+I informed Sheridan of what had been done to prevent reinforcements
+being sent from Richmond against him, and also that the efforts we had
+made had proven that one of the divisions which we supposed had gone to
+the valley was still at Richmond, because we had captured six or seven
+hundred prisoners from that division, each of its four brigades having
+contributed to our list of captures.  I also informed him that but one
+division had gone, and it was possible that I should be able to prevent
+the going of any more.
+
+To add to my embarrassment at this time Sherman, who was now near
+Atlanta, wanted reinforcements.  He was perfectly willing to take the
+raw troops then being raised in the North-west, saying that he could
+teach them more soldiering in one day among his troops than they would
+learn in a week in a camp of instruction.  I therefore asked that all
+troops in camps of instruction in the North-west be sent to him.
+Sherman also wanted to be assured that no Eastern troops were moving out
+against him.  I informed him of what I had done and assured him that I
+would hold all the troops there that it was possible for me to hold, and
+that up to that time none had gone.  I also informed him that his real
+danger was from Kirby Smith, who commanded the trans-Mississippi
+Department.  If Smith should escape Steele, and get across the
+Mississippi River, he might move against him.  I had, therefore, asked
+to have an expedition ready to move from New Orleans against Mobile in
+case Kirby Smith should get across.  This would have a tendency to draw
+him to the defence of that place, instead of going against Sherman.
+
+Right in the midst of all these embarrassments Halleck informed me that
+there was an organized scheme on foot in the North to resist the draft,
+and suggested that it might become necessary to draw troops from the
+field to put it down.  He also advised taking in sail, and not going too
+fast.
+
+The troops were withdrawn from the north side of the James River on the
+night of the 20th.  Before they were withdrawn, however, and while most
+of Lee's force was on that side of the river, Warren had been sent with
+most of the 5th corps to capture the Weldon Railroad.  He took up his
+line of march well back to the rear, south of the enemy, while the
+troops remaining in the trenches extended so as to cover that part of
+the line which he had vacated by moving out.  From our left, near the
+old line, it was about three miles to the Weldon Railroad.  A division
+was ordered from the right of the Petersburg line to reinforce Warren,
+while a division was brought back from the north side of the James River
+to take its place.
+
+This road was very important to the enemy.  The limits from which his
+supplies had been drawn were already very much contracted, and I knew
+that he must fight desperately to protect it.  Warren carried the road,
+though with heavy loss on both sides.  He fortified his new position,
+and our trenches were then extended from the left of our main line to
+connect with his new one.  Lee made repeated attempts to dislodge
+Warren's corps, but without success, and with heavy loss.
+
+As soon as Warren was fortified and reinforcements reached him, troops
+were sent south to destroy the bridges on the Weldon Railroad; and with
+such success that the enemy had to draw in wagons, for a distance of
+about thirty miles, all the supplies they got thereafter from that
+source.  It was on the 21st that Lee seemed to have given up the Weldon
+Railroad as having been lost to him; but along about the 24th or 25th he
+made renewed attempts to recapture it; again he failed and with very
+heavy losses to him as compared with ours.
+
+On the night of the 20th our troops on the north side of the James were
+withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg were sent south to destroy the Weldon
+Railroad.  They were attacked on the 25th at Reams's Station, and after
+desperate fighting a part of our line gave way, losing five pieces of
+artillery.  But the Weldon Railroad never went out of our possession
+from the 18th of August to the close of the war.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE
+WINTER.
+
+We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a large
+force that regarded this road of so much importance that they could
+afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman just getting through
+to Atlanta with great losses of men from casualties, discharges and
+detachments left along as guards to occupy and hold the road in rear of
+him; Washington threatened but a short time before, and now Early being
+strengthened in the valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt.  It
+kept me pretty active in looking after all these points.
+
+On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the Shenandoah
+Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg.  On the 12th I learned that Lee
+had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two divisions of infantry and a
+considerable cavalry force to strengthen Early.  It was important that
+Sheridan should be informed of this, so I sent the information to
+Washington by telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to
+get the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the information.
+The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed through with great energy
+and reached Sheridan just in time. The officer went through by way of
+Snicker's Gap, escorted by some cavalry.  He found Sheridan just making
+his preparations to attack Early in his chosen position.  Now, however,
+he was thrown back on the defensive.
+
+On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in the
+Shenandoah Valley.  My purpose was to have him attack Early, or drive
+him out of the valley and destroy that source of supplies for Lee's
+army.  I knew it was impossible for me to get orders through Washington
+to Sheridan to make a move, because they would be stopped there and such
+orders as Halleck's caution (and that of the Secretary of War) would
+suggest would be given instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to
+mine.  I therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly
+through to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper's Ferry, and waited
+there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance to
+inform him where to meet me.
+
+When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the positions
+of his army and that of the enemy.  He at once drew one out of his side
+pocket, showing all roads and streams, and the camps of the two armies.
+He said that if he had permission he would move so and so (pointing out
+how) against the Confederates, and that he could "whip them."  Before
+starting I had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had
+brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so positive in his
+views and so confident of success, I said nothing about this and did not
+take it out of my pocket.
+
+Sheridan's wagon trains were kept at Harper's Ferry, where all of his
+stores were.  By keeping the teams at that place, their forage did not
+have to be hauled to them.  As supplies of ammunition, provisions and
+rations for the men were wanted, trains would be made up to deliver the
+stores to the commissaries and quartermasters encamped at Winchester.
+Knowing that he, in making preparations to move at a given day, would
+have to bring up wagons trains from Harper's Ferry, I asked him if he
+could be ready to get off by the following Tuesday.  This was on Friday.
+"O Yes," he said, he "could be off before daylight on Monday."  I told
+him then to make the attack at that time and according to his own plan;
+and I immediately started to return to the army about Richmond.  After
+visiting Baltimore and Burlington, New Jersey, I arrived at City Point
+on the 19th.
+
+On the way out to Harper's Ferry I had met Mr. Robert Garrett, President
+of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  He seemed very anxious to know when
+workmen might be put upon the road again so as to make repairs and put
+it in shape for running.  It was a large piece of property to have
+standing idle.  I told him I could not answer then positively but would
+try and inform him before a great while.  On my return Mr. Garrett met
+me again with the same and I told him I thought that by the Wednesday he
+might send his workmen out on his road.  I gave him no further
+information however, and he had no suspicion of how I expected to have
+the road cleared for his workmen.
+
+Sheridan moved at the time he had fixed upon.  He met Early at the
+crossing of Opequon Creek, a most decisive victory--one which the
+country.  Early had invited this attack himself by his bad generalship
+and made the victory easy.  He had sent G. T. Anderson's division east
+of the Blue Ridge before I went to Harper's Ferry; and about the time I
+arrived there he started other divisions (leaving but two in their
+camps) to march to Martinsburg for the purpose destroying the Baltimore
+and Ohio Railroad at that point.  Early here learned that I had been
+with Sheridan and, supposing there was some movement on foot, started
+back as soon as he got the information.  But his forces were separated
+and, as I have said, he was very badly defeated.  He fell back to
+Fisher's Hill, Sheridan following.
+
+The valley is narrow at that point, and Early made another stand there,
+behind works which extended across.  But Sheridan turned both his flanks
+and again sent him speeding up the valley, following in hot pursuit.
+The pursuit was continued up the valley to Mount Jackson and New Market.
+Sheridan captured about eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen guns.  The
+houses which he passed all along the route were found to be filled with
+Early's wounded, and the country swarmed with his deserters.  Finally,
+on the 25th, Early turned from the valley eastward, leaving Sheridan at
+Harrisonburg in undisputed possession.
+
+Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be accomplished.
+Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering in the crops, cattle,
+and everything in the upper part of the valley required by our troops;
+and especially taking what might be of use to the enemy.  What he could
+not take away he destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to
+come back there.  I congratulated Sheridan upon his recent great victory
+and had a salute of a hundred guns fired in honor of it, the guns being
+aimed at the enemy around Petersburg.  I also notified the other
+commanders throughout the country, who also fired salutes in honor of
+his victory.
+
+I had reason to believe that the administration was a little afraid to
+have a decisive battle at that time, for fear it might go against us and
+have a bad effect on the November elections. The convention which had
+met and made its nomination of the Democratic candidate for the
+presidency had declared the war a failure.  Treason was talked as boldly
+in Chicago at that convention as ever been in Charleston.  It was a
+question whether the government would then have had the power to make
+arrests and punish those who talked treason.  But this decisive victory
+was the most effective campaign argument made in the canvass.
+
+Sheridan, in his pursuit, got beyond where they could hear from him in
+Washington, and the President became very much frightened about him.  He
+was afraid that the hot pursuit had been a little like that of General
+Cass was said to have been, in one of our Indian wars, when he was an
+officer of army.  Cass was pursuing the Indians so closely that the
+first thing he knew he found himself in front, and the Indians pursuing
+him.  The President was afraid that Sheridan had got on the other side
+of Early and that Early was in behind him.  He was afraid that Sheridan
+was getting so far away that reinforcements would be sent out from
+Richmond to enable Early to beat him.  I replied to the President that I
+had taken steps to prevent Lee from sending reinforcements to Early, by
+attacking the former where he was.
+
+On the 28th of September, to retain Lee in his position, I sent Ord with
+the 18th corps and Birney with the 10th corps to make an advance on
+Richmond, to threaten it.  Ord moved with the left wing up to Chaffin's
+Bluff; Birney with the 10th corps took a road farther north; while Kautz
+with the cavalry took the Darby road, still farther to the north.  They
+got across the river by the next morning, and made an effort to surprise
+the enemy.  In that, however, they were unsuccessful.
+
+The enemy's lines were very strong and very intricate. Stannard's
+division of the 18th corps with General Burnham's brigade leading, tried
+an assault against Fort Harrison and captured it with sixteen guns and a
+good many prisoners. Burnham was killed in the assault.  Colonel Stevens
+who succeeded him was badly wounded; and his successor also fell in the
+same way.  Some works to the right and left were also carried with the
+guns in them--six in number--and a few more prisoners.  Birney's troops
+to the right captured the enemy's intrenched picket-lines, but were
+unsuccessful in their efforts upon the main line.
+
+Our troops fortified their new position, bringing Fort Harrison into the
+new line and extending it to the river.  This brought us pretty close to
+the enemy on the north side of the James, and the two opposing lines
+maintained their relative positions to the close of the siege.
+
+In the afternoon a further attempt was made to advance, but it failed.
+Ord fell badly wounded, and had to be relieved; the command devolved
+upon General Heckman, and later General Weitzel was assigned to the
+command of the 18th corps.  During the night Lee reinforced his troops
+about Fort Gilmer, which was at the right of Fort Harrison, by eight
+additional brigades from Petersburg, and attempted to retake the works
+which we had captured by concentrating ten brigades against them.  All
+their efforts failed, their attacks being all repulsed with very heavy
+loss.  In one of these assaults upon us General Stannard, a gallant
+officer who was defending Fort Harrison, lost an arm. Our casualties
+during these operations amounted to 394 killed, I,554 wounded and 324
+missing.
+
+Whilst this was going on General Meade was instructed to keep up an
+appearance of moving troops to our extreme left.  Parke and Warren were
+kept with two divisions, each under arms, ready to move leaving their
+enclosed batteries manned, with a scattering line on the other
+intrenchments.  The object of this was to prevent reinforcements from
+going to the north side of the river.  Meade was instructed to watch the
+enemy closely and, if Lee weakened his lines, to make an attack.
+
+On the 30th these troops moved out, under Warren, and captured an
+advanced intrenched camp at Peeble's farm, driving the enemy back to the
+main line.  Our troops followed and made an attack in the hope of
+carrying the enemy's main line; but in this they were unsuccessful and
+lost a large number of men, mostly captured.  The number of killed and
+wounded was not large.  The next day our troops advanced again and
+established themselves, intrenching a new line about a mile in front of
+the enemy.  This advanced Warren's position on the Weldon Railroad very
+considerably.
+
+Sheridan having driven the enemy out of the valley, and taken the
+productions of the valley so that instead of going there for supplies
+the enemy would have to bring his provisions with him if he again
+entered it, recommended a reduction of his own force, the surplus to be
+sent where it could be of more use.  I approved of his suggestion, and
+ordered him to send Wright's corps back to the James River.  I further
+directed him to repair the railroad up the Shenandoah Valley towards the
+advanced position which we would hold with a small force.  The troops
+were to be sent to Washington by the way of Culpeper, in order to watch
+the east side of the Blue Ridge, and prevent the enemy from getting into
+the rear of Sheridan while he was still doing his work of destruction.
+
+The valley was so very important, however, to the Confederate army that,
+contrary to our expectations, they determined to make one more strike,
+and save it if possible before the supplies should be all destroyed.
+Reinforcements were sent therefore to Early, and this before any of our
+troops had been withdrawn. Early prepared to strike Sheridan at
+Harrisonburg; but the latter had not remained there.
+
+On the 6th of October Sheridan commenced retiring down the valley,
+taking or destroying all the food and forage and driving the cattle
+before him, Early following.  At Fisher's Hill Sheridan turned his
+cavalry back on that of Early, which, under the lead of Rosser, was
+pursuing closely, and routed it most completely, capturing eleven guns
+and a large number of prisoners.  Sheridan lost only about sixty men.
+His cavalry pursued the enemy back some twenty-five miles.  On the 10th
+of October the march down the valley was again resumed, Early again
+following.
+
+I now ordered Sheridan to halt, and to improve the opportunity if
+afforded by the enemy's having been sufficiently weakened, to move back
+again and cut the James River Canal and Virginia Central Railroad.  But
+this order had to go through Washington where it was intercepted; and
+when Sheridan received what purported to be a statement of what I wanted
+him to do it was something entirely different.  Halleck informed
+Sheridan that it was my wish for him to hold a forward position as a
+base from which to act against Charlottesville and Gordonsville; that he
+should fortify this position and provision it.
+
+Sheridan objected to this most decidedly; and I was impelled to
+telegraph him, on the 14th, as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., October 14, 1864.--12.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN, Cedar Creek, Va.
+
+What I want is for you to threaten the Virginia Central Railroad and
+canal in the manner your judgment tells you is best, holding yourself
+ready to advance, if the enemy draw off their forces. If you make the
+enemy hold a force equal to your own for the protection of those
+thoroughfares, it will accomplish nearly as much as their destruction.
+If you cannot do this, then the next best thing to do is to send here
+all the force you can.  I deem a good cavalry force necessary for your
+offensive, as well as defensive operations.  You need not therefore send
+here more than one division of cavalry.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sheridan having been summoned to Washington City, started on the 15th
+leaving Wright in command.  His army was then at Cedar Creek, some
+twenty miles south of Winchester.  The next morning while at Front
+Royal, Sheridan received a dispatch from Wright, saying that a dispatch
+from Longstreet to Early had been intercepted.  It directed the latter
+to be ready to move and to crush Sheridan as soon as he, Longstreet,
+arrived.  On the receipt of this news Sheridan ordered the cavalry up
+the valley to join Wright.
+
+On the 18th of October Early was ready to move, and during the night
+succeeded in getting his troops in the rear of our left flank, which
+fled precipitately and in great confusion down the valley, losing
+eighteen pieces of artillery and a thousand or more prisoners.  The
+right under General Getty maintained a firm and steady front, falling
+back to Middletown where it took a position and made a stand.  The
+cavalry went to the rear, seized the roads leading to Winchester and
+held them for the use of our troops in falling back, General Wright
+having ordered a retreat back to that place.
+
+Sheridan having left Washington on the 18th, reached Winchester that
+night.  The following morning he started to join his command.  He had
+scarcely got out of town, when he met his men returning in panic from
+the front and also heard heavy firing to the south.  He immediately
+ordered the cavalry at Winchester to be deployed across the valley to
+stop the stragglers.  Leaving members of his staff to take care of
+Winchester and the public property there, he set out with a small escort
+directly for the scene of battle.  As he met the fugitives he ordered
+them to turn back, reminding them that they were going the wrong way.
+His presence soon restored confidence.  Finding themselves worse
+frightened than hurt the men did halt and turn back.  Many of those who
+had run ten miles got back in time to redeem their reputation as gallant
+soldiers before night.
+
+When Sheridan got to the front he found Getty and Custer still holding
+their ground firmly between the Confederates and our retreating troops.
+Everything in the rear was now ordered up. Sheridan at once proceeded to
+intrench his position; and he awaited an assault from the enemy.  This
+was made with vigor, and was directed principally against Emory's corps,
+which had sustained the principal loss in the first attack.  By one
+o'clock the attack was repulsed.  Early was so badly damaged that he
+seemed disinclined to make another attack, but went to work to intrench
+himself with a view to holding the position he had already gained.  He
+thought, no doubt, that Sheridan would be glad enough to leave him
+unmolested; but in this he was mistaken.
+
+About the middle of the afternoon Sheridan advanced.  He sent his
+cavalry by both flanks, and they penetrated to the enemy's rear.  The
+contest was close for a time, but at length the left of the enemy broke,
+and disintegration along the whole line soon followed.  Early tried to
+rally his men, but they were followed so closely that they had to give
+way very quickly every time they attempted to make a stand.  Our
+cavalry, having pushed on and got in the rear of the Confederates,
+captured twenty-four pieces of artillery, besides retaking what had been
+lost in the morning.  This victory pretty much closed the campaigning in
+the Valley of Virginia.  All the Confederate troops were sent back to
+Richmond with the exception of one division of infantry and a little
+cavalry.  Wright's corps was ordered back to the Army of the Potomac,
+and two other divisions were withdrawn from the valley.  Early had lost
+more men in killed, wounded and captured in the valley than Sheridan had
+commanded from first to last.
+
+On more than one occasion in these engagements General R. B. Hayes, who
+succeeded me as President of the United States, bore a very honorable
+part.  His conduct on the field was marked by conspicuous gallantry as
+well as the display of qualities of a higher order than that of mere
+personal daring.  This might well have been expected of one who could
+write at the time he is said to have done so:  "Any officer fit for duty
+who at this crisis would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in
+Congress, ought to be scalped."  Having entered the army as a Major of
+Volunteers at the beginning of the war, General Hayes attained by
+meritorious service the rank of Brevet Major-General before its close.
+
+On the north side of the James River the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry
+on the 7th of October, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed,
+wounded and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery.  This was
+followed up by an attack on our intrenched infantry line, but was
+repulsed with severe slaughter.  On the 13th a reconnoissance was sent
+out by General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new
+works he was constructing, which resulted in heavy loss to us.
+
+On the 24th I ordered General Meade to attempt to get possession of the
+South Side Railroad, and for that purpose to advance on the 27th.  The
+attempt proved a failure, however, the most advanced of our troops not
+getting nearer than within six miles of the point aimed for.  Seeing the
+impossibility of its accomplishment I ordered the troops to withdraw,
+and they were all back in their former positions the next day.
+
+Butler, by my directions, also made a demonstration on the north side of
+the James River in order to support this move, by detaining there the
+Confederate troops who were on that side. He succeeded in this, but
+failed of further results by not marching past the enemy's left before
+turning in on the Darby road and by reason of simply coming up against
+their lines in place.
+
+This closed active operations around Richmond for the winter. Of course
+there was frequent skirmishing between pickets, but no serious battle
+was fought near either Petersburg or Richmond. It would prolong this
+work to give a detailed account of all that took place from day to day
+around Petersburg and at other parts of my command, and it would not
+interest the general reader if given.  All these details can be found by
+the military student in a series of books published by the Scribners,
+Badeau's history of my campaigns, and also in the publications of the
+War Department, including both the National and Confederate reports.
+
+In the latter part of November General Hancock was relieved from the
+command of the 2d corps by the Secretary of War and ordered to
+Washington, to organize and command a corps of veteran troops to be
+designated the 1st corps.  It was expected that this would give him a
+large command to co-operate with in the spring.  It was my expectation,
+at the time, that in the final operations Hancock should move either up
+the valley, or else east of the Blue Ridge to Lynchburg; the idea being
+to make the spring campaign the close of the war.  I expected, with
+Sherman coming up from the South, Meade south of Petersburg and around
+Richmond, and Thomas's command in Tennessee with depots of supplies
+established in the eastern part of that State, to move from the
+direction of Washington or the valley towards Lynchburg.  We would then
+have Lee so surrounded that his supplies would be cut off entirely,
+making it impossible for him to support his army.
+
+General Humphreys, chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac, was
+assigned to the command of the 2d corps, to succeed Hancock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR ANECDOTES--THE
+MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+Let us now return to the operations in the military division of the
+Mississippi, and accompany Sherman in his march to the sea.
+
+The possession of Atlanta by us narrowed the territory of the enemy very
+materially and cut off one of his two remaining lines of roads from east
+to west.
+
+A short time after the fall of Atlanta Mr. Davis visited Palmetto and
+Macon and made speeches at each place.  He spoke at Palmetto on the 20th
+of September, and at Macon on the 22d. Inasmuch as he had relieved
+Johnston and appointed Hood, and Hood had immediately taken the
+initiative, it is natural to suppose that Mr. Davis was disappointed
+with General Johnston's policy.  My own judgment is that Johnston acted
+very wisely:  he husbanded his men and saved as much of his territory as
+he could, without fighting decisive battles in which all might be lost.
+As Sherman advanced, as I have show, his army became spread out, until,
+if this had been continued, it would have been easy to destroy it in
+detail.  I know that both Sherman and I were rejoiced when we heard of
+the change.  Hood was unquestionably a brave, gallant soldier and not
+destitute of ability; but unfortunately his policy was to fight the
+enemy wherever he saw him, without thinking much of the consequences of
+defeat.
+
+In his speeches Mr. Davis denounced Governor Brown, of Georgia, and
+General Johnston in unmeasured terms, even insinuating that their
+loyalty to the Southern cause was doubtful.  So far as General Johnston
+is concerned, I think Davis did him a great injustice in this
+particular.  I had know the general before the war and strongly believed
+it would be impossible for him to accept a high commission for the
+purpose of betraying the cause he had espoused.  There, as I have said,
+I think that his policy was the best one that could have been pursued by
+the whole South--protract the war, which was all that was necessary to
+enable them to gain recognition in the end.  The North was already
+growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with this
+difference.  In the North the people governed, and could stop
+hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies.  The South was a
+military camp, controlled absolutely by the government with soldiers to
+back it, and the war could have been protracted, no matter to what
+extent the discontent reached, up to the point of open mutiny of the
+soldiers themselves.  Mr. Davis's speeches were frank appeals to the
+people of Georgia and that portion of the South to come to their relief.
+He tried to assure his frightened hearers that the Yankees were rapidly
+digging their own graves; that measures were already being taken to cut
+them off from supplies from the North; and that with a force in front,
+and cut off from the rear, they must soon starve in the midst of a
+hostile people.  Papers containing reports of these speeches immediately
+reached the Northern States, and they were republished.  Of course, that
+caused no alarm so long as telegraphic communication was kept up with
+Sherman.
+
+When Hood was forced to retreat from Atlanta he moved to the south-west
+and was followed by a portion of Sherman's army.  He soon appeared upon
+the railroad in Sherman's rear, and with his whole army began destroying
+the road.  At the same time also the work was begun in Tennessee and
+Kentucky which Mr. Davis had assured his hearers at Palmetto and Macon
+would take place.  He ordered Forrest (about the ablest cavalry general
+in the South) north for this purpose; and Forrest and Wheeler carried
+out their orders with more or less destruction, occasionally picking up
+a garrison.  Forrest indeed performed the very remarkable feat of
+capturing, with cavalry, two gunboats and a number of transports,
+something the accomplishment of which is very hard to account for.
+Hood's army had been weakened by Governor Brown's withdrawing the
+Georgia State troops for the purpose of gathering in the season's crops
+for the use of the people and for the use of the army.  This not only
+depleted Hood's forces but it served a most excellent purpose in
+gathering in supplies of food and forage for the use of our army in its
+subsequent march.  Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go
+himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was clearly
+demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it would be
+impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave him any force
+whatever with which to take the offensive.  Had that plan been adhered
+to, very large reinforcements would have been necessary; and Mr. Davis's
+prediction of the destruction of the army would have been realized, or
+else Sherman would have been obliged to make a successful retreat, which
+Mr. Davis said in his speeches would prove more disastrous than
+Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.
+
+These speeches of Mr. Davis were not long in reaching Sherman. He took
+advantage of the information they gave, and made all the preparation
+possible for him to make to meet what now became expected, attempts to
+break his communications.  Something else had to be done:  and to
+Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind the idea was not long in dawning
+upon him, not only that something else had to be done, but what that
+something else should be.
+
+On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 10, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia.
+
+So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations can be
+made, it is desirable that another campaign should be commenced.  We
+want to keep the enemy constantly pressed to the end of the war.  If we
+give him no peace whilst the war lasts, the end cannot be distant.  Now
+that we have all of Mobile Bay that is valuable, I do not know but it
+will be the best move to transfer Canby's troops to act upon Savannah,
+whilst you move on Augusta. I should like to hear from you, however, in
+this matter.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sherman replied promptly:
+
+"If I could be sure of finding provisions and ammunition at Augusta, or
+Columbus, Georgia, I can march to Milledgeville, and compel Hood to give
+up Augusta or Macon, and then turn on the other.  * * * If you can
+manage to take the Savannah River as high up as Augusta, or the
+Chattahoochee as far up as Columbus, I can sweep the whole State of
+Georgia."
+
+On the 12th I sent a special messenger, one of my own staff, with a
+letter inviting Sherman's views about the next campaign.
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 12, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN, Commanding Mill Division of the
+Mississippi.
+
+I send Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, of my staff, with this. Colonel Porter
+will explain to you the exact condition of affairs here better than I
+can do in the limits of a letter. Although I feel myself strong enough
+for offensive operations, I am holding on quietly to get advantage of
+recruits and convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly.  My
+lines are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom north of the
+James across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the James, and
+south of the Appomattox to the Weldon Road.  This line is very strongly
+fortified, and can be held with comparatively few men, but from its
+great length takes many in the aggregate.  I propose, when I do move, to
+extend my left so as to control what is known as the South Side, or
+Lynchburg and Petersburg Road, then if possible to keep the Danville
+Road cut.  At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force of
+from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington.
+
+The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort Fisher,
+and hold that point.  At the same time a large naval fleet will be
+assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the batteries as they did
+at Mobile.  This will give us the same control of the harbor of
+Wilmington that we now have of the harbor of Mobile. What you are to do
+with the forces at your command, I do not see. The difficulties of
+supplying your army, except when you are constantly moving, beyond where
+you are, I plainly see.  If it had not been for Price's movements Canby
+would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile.  From your command
+on the Mississippi an equal number could have been taken.  With these
+forces my idea would have been to divide them, sending one half to
+Mobile and the other half to Savannah.  You could then move as proposed
+in your telegram, so as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally.
+Whichever was abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new
+base of supplies.  My object now in sending a staff officer is not so
+much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and have plans
+matured by the time everything can be got ready.  It will probably be
+the 5th of October before any of the plans herein indicated will be
+executed.
+
+If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward and I
+will approve them. * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+This reached Sherman on September 20th.
+
+On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that Hood's
+troops were in his rear.  He had provided against this by sending a
+division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome, Georgia, which was in
+the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood would fall back in the direction
+from which he had come to reach the railroad.  At the same time Sherman
+and Hood kept up a correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners,
+the treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged
+between hostile commanders in the field.  On the 27th of September I
+telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., September 27, 1864--10.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN:
+
+I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western States to
+be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders from you.  * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and afterwards to
+Nashville, with another division (Morgan's) of the advanced army.
+Sherman then suggested that, when he was prepared, his movements should
+take place against Milledgeville and then to Savannah.  His expectation
+at that time was, to make this movement as soon as he could get up his
+supplies.  Hood was moving in his own country, and was moving light so
+that he could make two miles to Sherman's one.  He depended upon the
+country to gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays.
+
+As I have said, until this unexpected state of affairs happened, Mobile
+had been looked upon as the objective point of Sherman's army.  It had
+been a favorite move of mine from 1862, when I first suggested to the
+then commander-in-chief that the troops in Louisiana, instead of
+frittering away their time in the trans-Mississippi, should move
+against Mobile.  I recommended this from time to time until I came into
+command of the army, the last of March 1864.  Having the power in my own
+hands, I now ordered the concentration of supplies, stores and troops,
+in the department of the Gulf about New Orleans, with a view to a move
+against Mobile, in support of, and in conjunction with, the other armies
+operating in the field.  Before I came into command, these troops had
+been scattered over the trans-Mississippi department in such a way that
+they could not be, or were not, gotten back in time to take any part in
+the original movement; hence the consideration, which had caused Mobile
+to be selected as the objective point for Sherman's army to find his
+next base of supplies after having cut loose from Atlanta, no longer
+existed.
+
+General G. M. Dodge, an exceedingly efficient officer, having been badly
+wounded, had to leave the army about the first of October. He was in
+command of two divisions of the 16th corps, consolidated into one.
+Sherman then divided his army into the right and left wings the right
+commanded by General O. O. Howard and the left by General Slocum.
+General Dodge's two divisions were assigned, one to each of these wings.
+Howard's command embraced the 15th and 17th corps, and Slocum's the 14th
+and 20th corps, commanded by Generals Jeff. C. Davis and A. S. Williams.
+Generals Logan and Blair commanded the two corps composing the right
+wing.  About this time they left to take part in the presidential
+election, which took place that year, leaving their corps to Osterhaus
+and Ransom.  I have no doubt that their leaving was at the earnest
+solicitation of the War Department. General Blair got back in time to
+resume his command and to proceed with it throughout the march to the
+sea and back to the grand review at Washington.  General Logan did not
+return to his command until after it reached Savannah.
+
+Logan felt very much aggrieved at the transfer of General Howard from
+that portion of the Army of the Potomac which was then with the Western
+Army, to the command of the Army of the Tennessee, with which army
+General Logan had served from the battle of Belmont to the fall of
+Atlanta--having passed successively through all grades from colonel
+commanding a regiment to general commanding a brigade, division and army
+corps, until upon the death of McPherson the command of the entire Army
+of the Tennessee devolved upon him in the midst of a hotly contested
+battle.  He conceived that he had done his full duty as commander in
+that engagement; and I can bear testimony, from personal observation,
+that he had proved himself fully equal to all the lower positions which
+he had occupied as a soldier.  I will not pretend to question the motive
+which actuated Sherman in taking an officer from another army to
+supersede General Logan.  I have no doubt, whatever, that he did this
+for what he considered would be to the good of the service, which was
+more important than that the personal feelings of any individual should
+not be aggrieved; though I doubt whether he had an officer with him who
+could have filled the place as Logan would have done.  Differences of
+opinion must exist between the best of friends as to policies in war,
+and of judgment as to men's fitness.  The officer who has the command,
+however, should be allowed to judge of the fitness of the officers under
+him, unless he is very manifestly wrong.
+
+Sherman's army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty thousand
+effective men.  All weak men had been left to hold the rear, and those
+remaining were not only well men, but strong and hardy, so that he had
+sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever trod the earth; better than any
+European soldiers, because they not only worked like a machine but the
+machine thought. European armies know very little what they are fighting
+for, and care less. Included in these sixty thousand troops, there were
+two small divisions of cavalry, numbering altogether about four thousand
+men.  Hood had about thirty-five to forty thousand men, independent of
+Forrest, whose forces were operating in Tennessee and Kentucky, as Mr.
+Davis had promised they should.  This part of Mr. Davis's military plan
+was admirable, and promised the best results of anything he could have
+done, according to my judgment. I say this because I have criticised his
+military judgment in the removal of Johnston, and also in the
+appointment of Hood.  I am aware, however, that there was high feeling
+existing at that time between Davis and his subordinate, whom I regarded
+as one of his ablest lieutenants.
+
+On the 5th of October the railroad back from Atlanta was again very
+badly broken, Hood having got on the track with his army. Sherman saw
+after night, from a high point, the road burning for miles.  The defence
+of the railroad by our troops was very gallant, but they could not hold
+points between their intrenched positions against Hood's whole army; in
+fact they made no attempt to do so; but generally the intrenched
+positions were held, as well as important bridges, and store located at
+them. Allatoona, for instance, was defended by a small force of men
+under the command of General Corse, one of the very able and efficient
+volunteer officers produced by the war.  He, with a small force, was cut
+off from the remainder of the National army and was attacked with great
+vigor by many times his own number. Sherman from his high position could
+see the battle raging, with the Confederate troops between him and his
+subordinate.  He sent men, of course, to raise the temporary siege, but
+the time that would be necessarily consumed in reaching Corse, would be
+so great that all occupying the intrenchments might be dead.  Corse was
+a man who would never surrender.  From a high position some of Sherman's
+signal corps discovered a signal flag waving from a hole in the block
+house at Allatoona.  It was from Corse.  He had been shot through the
+face, but he signalled to his chief a message which left no doubt of his
+determination to hold his post at all hazards.  It was at this point
+probably, that Sherman first realized that with the forces at his
+disposal, the keeping open of his line of communication with the North
+would be impossible if he expected to retain any force with which to
+operate offensively beyond Atlanta.  He proposed, therefore, to destroy
+the roads back to Chattanooga, when all ready to move, and leave the
+latter place garrisoned.  Yet, before abandoning the railroad, it was
+necessary that he should repair damages already done, and hold the road
+until he could get forward such supplies, ordnance stores and small
+rations, as he wanted to carry with him on his proposed march, and to
+return to the north his surplus artillery; his object being to move
+light and to have no more artillery than could be used to advantage on
+the field.
+
+Sherman thought Hood would follow him, though he proposed to prepare for
+the contingency of the latter moving the other way while he was moving
+south, by making Thomas strong enough to hold Tennessee and Kentucky.
+I, myself, was thoroughly satisfied that Hood would go north, as he did.
+On the 2d of November I telegraphed Sherman authorizing him definitely
+to move according to the plan he had proposed:  that is, cutting loose
+from his base, giving up Atlanta and the railroad back to Chattanooga.
+To strengthen Thomas he sent Stanley (4th corps) back, and also ordered
+Schofield, commanding the Army of the Ohio, twelve thousand strong, to
+report to him.  In addition to this, A. J. Smith, who, with two
+divisions of Sherman's army, was in Missouri aiding Rosecrans in driving
+the enemy from that State, was under orders to return to Thomas and,
+under the most unfavorable circumstances, might be expected to arrive
+there long before Hood could reach Nashville.
+
+In addition to this, the new levies of troops that were being raised in
+the  North-west went to Thomas as rapidly as enrolled and equipped.
+Thomas, without any of these additions spoken of, had a garrison at
+Chattanooga which had been strengthened by one division and garrisons at
+Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur, Murfreesboro, and Florence.  There were
+already with him in Nashville ten thousand soldiers in round numbers,
+and many thousands of employees in the quartermaster's and other
+departments who could be put in the intrenchments in front of Nashville,
+for its defence.  Also, Wilson was there with ten thousand dismounted
+cavalrymen, who were being equipped for the field.  Thomas had at this
+time about forty-five thousand men without any of the reinforcements
+here above enumerated.  These reinforcements gave him  altogether about
+seventy thousand men, without counting what might be added by the new
+levies already spoken of.
+
+About this time Beauregard arrived upon the field, not to supersede Hood
+in command, but to take general charge over the entire district in which
+Hood and Sherman were, or might be, operating.  He made the most frantic
+appeals to the citizens for assistance to be rendered in every way:  by
+sending reinforcements, by destroying supplies on the line of march of
+the invaders, by destroying the bridges over which they would have to
+cross, and by, in every way, obstructing the roads to their front. But
+it was hard to convince the people of the propriety of destroying
+supplies which were so much needed by themselves, and each one hoped
+that his own possessions might escape.
+
+Hood soon started north, and went into camp near Decatur, Alabama, where
+he remained until the 29th of October, but without making an attack on
+the garrison of that place.
+
+The Tennessee River was patrolled by gunboats, from Muscle Shoals east;
+and, also, below the second shoals out to the Ohio River.  These, with
+the troops that might be concentrated from the garrisons along the river
+at any point where Hood might choose to attempt to cross, made it
+impossible for him to cross the Tennessee at any place where it was
+navigable.  But Muscle Shoals is not navigable, and below them again is
+another shoal which also obstructs navigation.  Hood therefore moved
+down to a point nearly opposite Florence, Alabama, crossed over and
+remained there for some time, collecting supplies of food, forage and
+ammunition. All of these had to come from a considerable distance south,
+because the region in which he was then situated was mountainous, with
+small valleys which produced but little, and what they had produced had
+long since been exhausted.  On the 1st of November I suggested to
+Sherman, and also asked his views thereon, the propriety of destroying
+Hood before he started on his campaign.
+
+On the 2d of November, as stated, I approved definitely his making his
+proposed campaign through Georgia, leaving Hood behind to the tender
+mercy of Thomas and the troops in his command.  Sherman fixed the 10th
+of November as the day of starting.
+
+Sherman started on that day to get back to Atlanta, and on the 15th the
+real march to the sea commenced.  The right wing, under Howard, and the
+cavalry went to Jonesboro, Milledgeville, then the capital of Georgia,
+being Sherman's objective or stopping place on the way to Savannah.  The
+left wing moved to Stone Mountain, along roads much farther east than
+those taken by the right wing. Slocum was in command, and threatened
+Augusta as the point to which he was moving, but he was to turn off and
+meet the right wing at Milledgeville.
+
+Atlanta was destroyed so far as to render it worthless for military
+purposes before starting, Sherman himself remaining over a day to
+superintend the work, and see that it was well done. Sherman's orders
+for this campaign were perfect.  Before starting, he had sent back all
+sick, disabled and weak men, retaining nothing but the hardy,
+well-inured soldiers to accompany him on his long march in prospect.
+His artillery was reduced to sixty-five guns. The ammunition carried
+with them was two hundred rounds for musket and gun.  Small rations were
+taken in a small wagon train, which was loaded to its capacity for rapid
+movement.  The army was expected to live on the country, and to always
+keep the wagons full of forage and provisions against a possible delay
+of a few days.
+
+The troops, both of the right and left wings, made most of their advance
+along the line of railroads, which they destroyed.  The method adopted
+to perform this work, was to burn and destroy all the bridges and
+culverts, and for a long distance, at places, to tear up the track and
+bend the rails.  Soldiers to do this rapidly would form a line along one
+side of the road with crowbars and poles, place these under the rails
+and, hoisting all at once, turn over many rods of road at one time.  The
+ties would then be placed in piles, and the rails, as they were
+loosened, would be carried and put across these log heaps.  When a
+sufficient number of rails were placed upon a pile of ties it would be
+set on fire.  This would heat the rails very much more in the middle,
+that being over the main part of the fire, than at the ends, so that
+they would naturally bend of their own weight; but the soldiers, to
+increase the damage, would take tongs and, one or two men at each end of
+the rail, carry it with force against the nearest tree and twist it
+around, thus leaving rails forming bands to ornament the forest trees of
+Georgia. All this work was going on at the same time, there being a
+sufficient number of men detailed for that purpose. Some piled the logs
+and built the fire; some put the rails upon the fire; while others would
+bend those that were sufficiently heated: so that, by the time the last
+bit of road was torn up, that it was designed to destroy at a certain
+place, the rails previously taken up were already destroyed.
+
+The organization for supplying the army was very complete.  Each brigade
+furnished a company to gather supplies of forage and provisions for the
+command to which they belonged.  Strict injunctions were issued against
+pillaging, or otherwise unnecessarily annoying the people; but
+everything in shape of food for man and forage for beast was taken.  The
+supplies were turned over to the brigade commissary and quartermaster,
+and were issued by them to their respective commands precisely the same
+as if they had been purchased.  The captures consisted largely of
+cattle, sheep, poultry, some bacon, cornmeal, often molasses, and
+occasionally coffee or other small rations.
+
+The skill of these men, called by themselves and the army "bummers," in
+collecting their loads and getting back to their respective commands,
+was marvellous.  When they started out in the morning, they were always
+on foot; but scarcely one of them returned in the evening without being
+mounted on a horse or mule. These would be turned in for the general use
+of the army, and the next day these men would start out afoot and return
+again in the evening mounted.
+
+Many of the exploits of these men would fall under the head of romance;
+indeed, I am afraid that in telling some of their experiences, the
+romance got the better of the truth upon which the story was founded,
+and that, in the way many of these anecdotes are told, very little of
+the foundation is left.  I suspect that most of them consist chiefly of
+the fiction added to make the stories better.  In one instance it was
+reported that a few men of Sherman's army passed a house where they
+discovered some chickens under the dwelling.  They immediately proceeded
+to capture them, to add to the army's supplies.  The lady of the house,
+who happened to be at home, made piteous appeals to have these spared,
+saying they were a few she had put away to save by permission of other
+parties who had preceded and who had taken all the others that she had.
+The soldiers seemed moved at her appeal; but looking at the chickens
+again they were tempted and one of them replied:  "The rebellion must be
+suppressed if it takes the last chicken in the Confederacy," and
+proceeded to appropriate the last one.
+
+Another anecdote characteristic of these times has been told. The South,
+prior to the rebellion, kept bloodhounds to pursue runaway slaves who
+took refuge in the neighboring swamps, and also to hunt convicts.
+Orders were issued to kill all these animals as they were met with.  On
+one occasion a soldier picked up a poodle, the favorite pet of its
+mistress, and was carrying it off to execution when the lady made a
+strong appeal to him to spare it. The soldier replied, "Madam, our
+orders are to kill every bloodhound."  "But this is not a bloodhound,"
+said the lady.  "Well, madam, we cannot tell what it will grow into if
+we leave it behind," said the soldier as he went off with it.
+
+Notwithstanding these anecdotes, and the necessary hardship they would
+seem to imply, I do not believe there was much unwarrantable pillaging
+considering that we were in the enemy's territory and without any
+supplies except such as the country afforded.
+
+On the 23d Sherman, with the left wing, reached Milledgeville. The right
+wing was not far off:  but proceeded on its way towards Savannah
+destroying the road as it went.  The troops at Milledgeville remained
+over a day to destroy factories, buildings used for military purposes,
+etc., before resuming its march.
+
+The governor, who had been almost defying Mr. Davis before this, now
+fled precipitately, as did the legislature of the State and all the
+State officers.  The governor, Sherman says, was careful to carry away
+even his garden vegetables, while he left the archives of the State to
+fall into our hands.  The only military force that was opposed to
+Sherman's forward march was the Georgia militia, a division under the
+command of General G. W. Smith, and a battalion under Harry Wayne.
+Neither the quality of the forces nor their numbers was sufficient to
+even retard the progress of Sherman's army.
+
+The people at the South became so frantic at this time at the successful
+invasion of Georgia that they took the cadets from the military college
+and added them to the ranks of the militia.  They even liberated the
+State convicts under promise from them that they would serve in the
+army.  I have but little doubt that the worst acts that were attributed
+to Sherman's army were committed by these convicts, and by other
+Southern people who ought to have been under sentence--such people as
+could be found in every community, North and South--who took advantage
+of their country being invaded to commit crime.  They were in but little
+danger of detection, or of arrest even if detected.
+
+The Southern papers in commenting upon Sherman's movements pictured him
+as in the most deplorable condition:  stating that his men were
+starving, that they were demoralized and wandering about almost without
+object, aiming only to reach the sea coast and get under the protection
+of our navy.  These papers got to the North and had more or less effect
+upon the minds of the people, causing much distress to all loyal persons
+particularly to those who had husbands, sons or brothers with Sherman.
+Mr. Lincoln seeing these accounts, had a letter written asking me if I
+could give him anything that he could say to the loyal people that would
+comfort them.  I told him there was not the slightest occasion for
+alarm; that with 60,000 such men as Sherman had with him, such a
+commanding officer as he was could not be cut off in the open country.
+He might possibly be prevented from reaching the point he had started
+out to reach, but he would get through somewhere and would finally get
+to his chosen destination:  and even if worst came to worst he could
+return North.  I heard afterwards of Mr. Lincoln's saying, to those who
+would inquire of him as to what he thought about the safety of Sherman's
+army, that Sherman was all right:  "Grant says they are safe with such a
+general, and that if they cannot get out where they want to, they can
+crawl back by the hole they went in at."
+
+While at Milledgeville the soldiers met at the State House, organized a
+legislature, and proceeded to business precisely as if they were the
+legislative body belonging to the State of Georgia. The debates were
+exciting, and were upon the subject of the situation the South was in at
+that time, particularly the State of Georgia.  They went so far as to
+repeal, after a spirited and acrimonious debate, the ordinance of
+secession.
+
+The next day (24th) Sherman continued his march, going by the way of
+Waynesboro and Louisville, Millen being the next objective and where the
+two columns (the right and left wings) were to meet.  The left wing
+moved to the left of the direct road, and the cavalry still farther off
+so as to make it look as though Augusta was the point they were aiming
+for.  They moved on all the roads they could find leading in that
+direction.  The cavalry was sent to make a rapid march in hope of
+surprising Millen before the Union prisoners could be carried away; but
+they failed in this.
+
+The distance from Milledgeville to Millen was about one hundred miles.
+At this point Wheeler, who had been ordered from Tennessee, arrived and
+swelled the numbers and efficiency of the troops confronting Sherman.
+Hardee, a native of Georgia, also came, but brought no troops with him.
+It was intended that he should raise as large an army as possible with
+which to intercept Sherman's march.  He did succeed in raising some
+troops, and with these and those under the command of Wheeler and Wayne,
+had an army sufficient to cause some annoyance but no great detention.
+Our cavalry and Wheeler's had a pretty severe engagement, in which
+Wheeler was driven towards Augusta, thus giving the idea that Sherman
+was probably making for that point.
+
+Millen was reached on the 3d of December, and the march was resumed the
+following day for Savannah, the final objective. Bragg had now been sent
+to Augusta with some troops.  Wade Hampton was there also trying to
+raise cavalry sufficient to destroy Sherman's army.  If he ever raised a
+force it was too late to do the work expected of it.  Hardee's whole
+force probably numbered less than ten thousand men.
+
+From Millen to Savannah the country is sandy and poor, and affords but
+very little forage other than rice straw, which was then growing.  This
+answered a very good purpose as forage, and the rice grain was an
+addition to the soldier's rations.  No further resistance worthy of note
+was met with, until within a few miles of Savannah.  This place was
+found to be intrenched and garrisoned.  Sherman proceeded at once on his
+arrival to invest the place, and found that the enemy had placed
+torpedoes in the ground, which were to explode when stepped on by man or
+beast. One of these exploded under an officer's horse, blowing the
+animal to pieces and tearing one of the legs of the officer so badly
+that it had to be amputated.  Sherman at once ordered his prisoners to
+the front, moving them in a compact body in advance, to either explode
+the torpedoes or dig them up.  No further explosion took place.
+
+On the 10th of December the siege of Savannah commenced. Sherman then,
+before proceeding any further with operations for the capture of the
+place, started with some troops to open communication with our fleet,
+which he expected to find in the lower harbor or as near by as the forts
+of the enemy would permit. In marching to the coast he encountered Fort
+McAllister, which it was necessary to reduce before the supplies he
+might find on shipboard could be made available.  Fort McAllister was
+soon captured by an assault made by General Hazen's division.
+Communication was then established with the fleet.  The capture of
+Savannah then only occupied a few days, and involved no great loss of
+life.  The garrison, however, as we shall see, was enabled to escape by
+crossing the river and moving eastward.
+
+When Sherman had opened communication with the fleet he found there a
+steamer, which I had forwarded to him, carrying the accumulated mails
+for his army, also supplies which I supposed he would be in need of.
+General J. G. Foster, who commanded all the troops south of North
+Carolina on the Atlantic sea-board, visited General Sherman before he
+had opened communication with the fleet, with the view of ascertaining
+what assistance he could be to him.  Foster returned immediately to his
+own headquarters at Hilton Head, for the purpose of sending Sherman
+siege guns, and also if he should find he had them to spare, supplies of
+clothing, hard bread, etc., thinking that these articles might not be
+found outside.  The mail on the steamer which I sent down, had been
+collected by Colonel A. H. Markland of the Post Office Department, who
+went in charge of it.  On this same vessel I sent an officer of my staff
+(Lieutenant Dunn) with the following letter to General Sherman:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 3, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN, Commanding Armies near Savannah, Ga.
+
+The little information gleaned from the Southern press, indicating no
+great obstacle to your progress, I have directed your mails (which had
+been previously collected at Baltimore by Colonel Markland, Special
+Agent of the Post Office Department) to be sent as far as the blockading
+squadron off Savannah, to be forwarded to you as soon as heard from on
+the coast.
+
+Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain from
+congratulating you and those under your command, until bottom has been
+struck.  I have never had a fear, however, for the result.
+
+Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made here. The
+enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented from detaching
+against you.  I think not one man has gone from here, except some twelve
+or fifteen hundred dismounted cavalry.  Bragg has gone from Wilmington.
+I am trying to take advantage of his absence to get possession of that
+place.  Owing to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are
+making to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do
+not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this expedition
+off.  I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th, and that Bragg will
+not have started back by that time.
+
+In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like directions for
+future action, but will state a general idea I have, and will get your
+views after you have established yourself on the sea-coast. With your
+veteran army I hope to get control of the only two through routes from
+east to west possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta.  The
+condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by holding
+any other port to the east of Savannah and Branchville.  If Wilmington
+falls, a force from there can co-operate with you.
+
+Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood close upon
+him.  Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the roads except the
+main one leading to Chattanooga.  Part of this falling back was
+undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have been.  It did not look so,
+however, to me.  In my opinion, Thomas far outnumbers Hood in infantry.
+In cavalry, Hood has the advantage in morale and numbers.  I hope yet
+that Hood will be badly crippled if not destroyed.  The general news you
+will learn from the papers better than I could give it.
+
+After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that there is
+likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I will run down the
+coast to see you.  If you desire it, I will ask Mrs. Sherman to go with
+me.
+
+Yours truly, U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General
+
+
+I quote this letter because it gives the reader a full knowledge of the
+events of that period.
+
+Sherman now (the 15th) returned to Savannah to complete its investment
+and insure the surrender of the garrison.  The country about Savannah is
+low and marshy, and the city was well intrenched from the river above to
+the river below; and assaults could not be made except along a
+comparatively narrow causeway. For this reason assaults must have
+resulted in serious destruction of life to the Union troops, with the
+chance of failing altogether. Sherman therefore decided upon a complete
+investment of the place.  When he believed this investment completed, he
+summoned the garrison to surrender.  General Hardee, who was in command,
+replied in substance that the condition of affairs was not such as
+Sherman had described.  He said he was in full communication with his
+department and was receiving supplies constantly.
+
+Hardee, however, was cut off entirely from all communication with the
+west side of the river, and by the river itself to the north and south.
+On the South Carolina side the country was all rice fields, through
+which it would have been impossible to bring supplies so that Hardee had
+no possible communication with the outside world except by a dilapidated
+plank road starting from the west bank of the river.  Sherman, receiving
+this reply, proceeded in person to a point on the coast, where General
+Foster had troops stationed under General Hatch, for the purpose of
+making arrangements with the latter officer to go through by one of the
+numerous channels running inland along that part of the coast of South
+Carolina, to the plank road which General Hardee still possessed, and
+thus to cut him off from the last means he had of getting supplies, if
+not of communication.
+
+While arranging for this movement, and before the attempt to execute the
+plan had been commenced, Sherman received information through one of his
+staff officers that the enemy had evacuated Savannah the night before.
+This was the night of the 21st of December.  Before evacuating the place
+Hardee had blown up the navy yard.  Some iron-clads had been destroyed,
+as well as other property that might have been valuable to us; but he
+left an immense amount of stores untouched, consisting of cotton,
+railroad cars, workshops, numerous pieces of artillery, and several
+thousand stands of small arms.
+
+A little incident occurred, soon after the fall of Savannah, which
+Sherman relates in his Memoirs, and which is worthy of repetition.
+Savannah was one of the points where blockade runners entered. Shortly
+after the city fell into our possession, a blockade runner came sailing
+up serenely, not doubting but the Confederates were still in possession.
+It was not molested, and the captain did not find out his mistake until
+he had tied up and gone to the Custom House, where he found a new
+occupant of the building, and made a less profitable disposition of his
+vessel and cargo than he had expected.
+
+As there was some discussion as to the authorship of Sherman's march to
+the sea, by critics of his book when it appeared before the public, I
+want to state here that no question upon that subject was ever raised
+between General Sherman and myself. Circumstances made the plan on which
+Sherman expected to act impracticable, as as commander of the forces he
+necessarily had to devise a new on which would give more promise of
+success: consequently he recommended the destruction of the railroad
+back to Chattanooga, and that he should be authorized then to move, as
+he did, from Atlanta forward.  His suggestions were finally approved,
+although they did not immediately find favor in Washington.  Even when
+it came to the time of starting, the greatest apprehension, as to the
+propriety of the campaign he was about commence, filled the mind of the
+President, induced no doubt by his advisers.  This went so far as to
+move the President to ask me to suspend Sherman's march for a day or two
+until I could think the matter over.  My recollection is, though I find
+no record to show it, that out of deference to the President's wish I
+did send a dispatch to Sherman asking him to wait a day or two, or else
+the connections between us were already cut so that I could not do so.
+However this may be, the question of who devised the plan of march from
+Atlanta to Savannah is easily answered:  it was clearly Sherman, and to
+him also belongs the credit of its brilliant execution.  It was hardly
+possible that any one else than those on the spot could have devised a
+new plan of campaign to supersede one that did not promise success.
+(*40)
+
+I was in favor of Sherman's plan from the time it was first submitted to
+me.  My chief of staff, however, was very bitterly opposed to it and, as
+I learned subsequently, finding that he could not move me, he appealed
+to the authorities at Washington to stop it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE.
+
+As we have seen, Hood succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River between
+Muscle Shoals and the lower shoals at the end of October, 1864.  Thomas
+sent Schofield with the 4th and 23d corps, together with three brigades
+of Wilson's cavalry to Pulaski to watch him.  On the 17th of November
+Hood started and moved in such a manner as to avoid Schofield, thereby
+turning his position.  Hood had with him three infantry corps, commanded
+respectively by Stephen D. Lee, Stewart and Cheatham.  These, with his
+cavalry, numbered about forty-five thousand men. Schofield had, of all
+arms, about thirty thousand.  Thomas's orders were, therefore, for
+Schofield to watch the movements of the enemy, but not to fight a battle
+if he could avoid it; but to fall back in case of an advance on
+Nashville, and to fight the enemy, as he fell back, so as to retard the
+enemy's movements until he could be reinforced by Thomas himself.  As
+soon as Schofield saw this movement of Hood's, he sent his trains to the
+rear, but did not fall back himself until the 21st, and then only to
+Columbia.  At Columbia there was a slight skirmish but no battle.  From
+this place Schofield then retreated to Franklin.  He had sent his wagons
+in advance, and Stanley had gone with them with two divisions to protect
+them.  Cheatham's corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went
+into camp at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th.
+
+Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring Hill,
+where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without molestation,
+though within half a mile of where the Confederates were encamped.  On
+the morning of the 30th he had arrived at Franklin.
+
+Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an attack the
+same day.  The fight was very desperate and sanguinary.  The Confederate
+generals led their men in the repeated charges, and the loss among them
+was of unusual proportions.  This fighting continued with great severity
+until long after the night closed in, when the Confederates drew off.
+General Stanley, who commanded two divisions of the Union troops, and
+whose troops bore the brunt of the battle, was wounded in the fight, but
+maintained his position.
+
+The enemy's loss at Franklin, according to Thomas's report, was 1,750
+buried upon the field by our troops, 3,800 in the hospital, and 702
+prisoners besides.  Schofield's loss, as officially reported, was 189
+killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104 captured and missing.
+
+Thomas made no effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, as it seemed
+to me at the time he should have done, and fight out the battle there.
+He simply ordered Schofield to continue his retreat to Nashville, which
+the latter did during that night and the next day.
+
+Thomas, in the meantime, was making his preparations to receive Hood.
+The road to Chattanooga was still well guarded with strong garrisons at
+Murfreesboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport and Chattanooga.  Thomas had
+previously given up Decatur and had been reinforced by A. J. Smith's two
+divisions just returned from Missouri.  He also had Steedman's division
+and R. S. Granger's, which he had drawn from the front.  His
+quartermaster's men, about ten thousand in number, had been organized
+and armed under the command of the chief quartermaster, General J. L.
+Donaldson, and placed in the fortifications under the general
+supervision of General Z. B. Tower, of the United States Engineers.
+
+Hood was allowed to move upon Nashville, and to invest that place almost
+without interference.  Thomas was strongly fortified in his position, so
+that he would have been safe against the attack of Hood.  He had troops
+enough even to annihilate him in the open field.  To me his delay was
+unaccountable--sitting there and permitting himself to be invested, so
+that, in the end, to raise the siege he would have to fight the enemy
+strongly posted behind fortifications.  It is true the weather was very
+bad.  The rain was falling and freezing as it fell, so that the ground
+was covered with a sheet of ice, that made it very difficult to move.
+But I was afraid that the enemy would find means of moving, elude Thomas
+and manage to get north of the Cumberland River.  If he did this, I
+apprehended most serious results from the campaign in the North, and was
+afraid we might even have to send troops from the East to head him off
+if he got there, General Thomas's movements being always so deliberate
+and so slow, though effective in defence.
+
+I consequently urged Thomas in frequent dispatches sent from City
+Point(*41) to make the attack at once.  The country was alarmed, the
+administration was alarmed, and I was alarmed lest the very thing would
+take place which I have just described that is, Hood would get north.
+It was all without avail further than to elicit dispatches from Thomas
+saying that he was getting ready to move as soon as he could, that he
+was making preparations, etc.  At last I had to say to General Thomas
+that I should be obliged to remove him unless he acted promptly.  He
+replied that he was very sorry, but he would move as soon as he could.
+
+General Logan happening to visit City Point about that time, and knowing
+him as a prompt, gallant and efficient officer, I gave him an order to
+proceed to Nashville to relieve Thomas.  I directed him, however, not to
+deliver the order or publish it until he reached there, and if Thomas
+had moved, then not to deliver it at all, but communicate with me by
+telegraph.  After Logan started, in thinking over the situation, I
+became restless, and concluded to go myself.  I went as far as
+Washington City, when a dispatch was received from General Thomas
+announcing his readiness at last to move, and designating the time of
+his movement.  I concluded to wait until that time. He did move, and was
+successful from the start.  This was on the 15th of December.  General
+Logan was at Louisville at the time this movement was made, and
+telegraphed the fact to Washington, and proceeded no farther himself.
+
+The battle during the 15th was severe, but favorable to the Union
+troops, and continued until night closed in upon the combat.  The next
+day the battle was renewed.  After a successful assault upon Hood's men
+in their intrenchments the enemy fled in disorder, routed and broken,
+leaving their dead, their artillery and small arms in great numbers on
+the field, besides the wounded that were captured.  Our cavalry had
+fought on foot as infantry, and had not their horses with them; so that
+they were not ready to join in the pursuit the moment the enemy
+retreated.  They sent back, however, for their horses, and endeavored to
+get to Franklin ahead of Hood's broken army by the Granny White Road,
+but too much time was consumed in getting started.  They had got but a
+few miles beyond the scene of the battle when they found the enemy's
+cavalry dismounted and behind intrenchments covering the road on which
+they were advancing. Here another battle ensued, our men dismounting and
+fighting on foot, in which the Confederates were again routed and driven
+in great disorder.  Our cavalry then went into bivouac, and renewed the
+pursuit on the following morning.  They were too late.  The enemy
+already had possession of Franklin, and was beyond them. It now became a
+chase in which the Confederates had the lead.
+
+Our troops continued the pursuit to within a few miles of Columbia,
+where they found the rebels had destroyed the railroad bridge as well as
+all other bridges over Duck River.  The heavy rains of a few days before
+had swelled the stream into a mad torrent, impassable except on bridges.
+Unfortunately, either through a mistake in the wording of the order or
+otherwise, the pontoon bridge which was to have been sent by rail out to
+Franklin, to be taken thence with the pursuing column, had gone toward
+Chattanooga.  There was, consequently, a delay of some four days in
+building bridges out of the remains of the old railroad bridge.  Of
+course Hood got such a start in this time that farther pursuit was
+useless, although it was continued for some distance, but without coming
+upon him again.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF THE
+EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER.
+
+Up to January, 1865, the enemy occupied Fort Fisher, at the mouth of
+Cape Fear River and below the City of Wilmington.  This port was of
+immense importance to the Confederates, because it formed their
+principal inlet for blockade runners by means of which they brought in
+from abroad such supplies and munitions of war as they could not produce
+at home.  It was equally important to us to get possession of it, not
+only because it was desirable to cut off their supplies so as to insure
+a speedy termination of the war, but also because foreign governments,
+particularly the British Government, were constantly threatening that
+unless ours could maintain the blockade of that coast they should cease
+to recognize any blockade.  For these reasons I determined, with the
+concurrence of the Navy Department, in December, to send an expedition
+against Fort Fisher for the purpose of capturing it.
+
+To show the difficulty experienced in maintaining the blockade, I will
+mention a circumstance that took place at Fort Fisher after its fall.
+Two English blockade runners came in at night.  Their commanders, not
+supposing the fort had fallen, worked their way through all our fleet
+and got into the river unobserved.  They then signalled the fort,
+announcing their arrival.  There was a colored man in the fort who had
+been there before and who understood these signals.  He informed General
+Terry what reply he should make to have them come in, and Terry did as
+he advised.  The vessels came in, their officers entirely unconscious
+that they were falling into the hands of the Union forces.  Even after
+they were brought in to the fort they were entertained in conversation
+for some little time before suspecting that the Union troops were
+occupying the fort.  They were finally informed that their vessels and
+cargoes were prizes.
+
+I selected General Weitzel, of the Army of the James, to go with the
+expedition, but gave instructions through General Butler.  He commanded
+the department within whose geographical limits Fort Fisher was
+situated, as well as Beaufort and other points on that coast held by our
+troops; he was, therefore, entitled to the right of fitting out the
+expedition against Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler conceived the idea that if a steamer loaded heavily with
+powder could be run up to near the shore under the fort and exploded, it
+would create great havoc and make the capture an easy matter.  Admiral
+Porter, who was to command the naval squadron, seemed to fall in with
+the idea, and it was not disapproved of in Washington; the navy was
+therefore given the task of preparing the steamer for this purpose.  I
+had no confidence in the success of the scheme, and so expressed myself;
+but as no serious harm could come of the experiment, and the authorities
+at Washington seemed desirous to have it tried, I permitted it.  The
+steamer was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina, and was there loaded with
+powder and prepared for the part she was to play in the reduction of
+Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler chose to go in command of the expedition himself, and was
+all ready to sail by the 9th of December (1864).  Very heavy storms
+prevailed, however, at that time along that part of the sea-coast, and
+prevented him from getting off until the 13th or 14th.  His advance
+arrived off Fort Fisher on the 15th.  The naval force had been already
+assembled, or was assembling, but they were obliged to run into Beaufort
+for munitions, coal, etc.; then, too, the powder-boat was not yet fully
+prepared. The fleet was ready to proceed on the 18th; but Butler, who
+had remained outside from the 15th up to that time, now found himself
+out of coal, fresh water, etc., and had to put into Beaufort to
+replenish.  Another storm overtook him, and several days more were lost
+before the army and navy were both ready at the same time to co-operate.
+
+On the night of the 23d the powder-boat was towed in by a gunboat as
+near to the fort as it was safe to run.  She was then propelled by her
+own machinery to within about five hundred yards of the shore.  There
+the clockwork, which was to explode her within a certain length of time,
+was set and she was abandoned.  Everybody left, and even the vessels put
+out to sea to prevent the effect of the explosion upon them.  At two
+o'clock in the morning the explosion took place--and produced no more
+effect on the fort, or anything else on land, than the bursting of a
+boiler anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean would have done.  Indeed when the
+troops in Fort Fisher heard the explosion they supposed it was the
+bursting of a boiler in one of the Yankee gunboats.
+
+Fort Fisher was situated upon a low, flat peninsula north of Cape Fear
+River.  The soil is sandy.  Back a little the peninsula is very heavily
+wooded, and covered with fresh-water swamps.  The fort ran across this
+peninsula, about five hundred yards in width, and extended along the sea
+coast about thirteen hundred yards.  The fort had an armament of 21 guns
+and 3 mortars on the land side, and 24 guns on the sea front.  At that
+time it was only garrisoned by four companies of infantry, one light
+battery and the gunners at the heavy guns less than seven hundred men
+with a reserve of less than a thousand men five miles up the peninsula.
+General Whiting of the Confederate army was in command, and General
+Bragg was in command of the force at Wilmington.  Both commenced calling
+for reinforcements the moment they saw our troops landing.  The Governor
+of North Carolina called for everybody who could stand behind a parapet
+and shoot a gun, to join them.  In this way they got two or three
+hundred additional men into Fort Fisher; and Hoke's division, five or
+six thousand strong, was sent down from Richmond.  A few of these troops
+arrived the very day that Butler was ready to advance.
+
+On the 24th the fleet formed for an attack in arcs of concentric
+circles, their heavy iron-clads going in very close range, being nearest
+the shore, and leaving intervals or spaces so that the outer vessels
+could fire between them.  Porter was thus enabled to throw one hundred
+and fifteen shells per minute.  The damage done to the fort by these
+shells was very slight, only two or three cannon being disabled in the
+fort.  But the firing silenced all the guns by making it too hot for the
+men to maintain their positions about them and compelling them to seek
+shelter in the bomb-proofs.
+
+On the next day part of Butler's troops under General Adelbert Ames
+effected a landing out of range of the fort without difficulty.  This
+was accomplished under the protection of gunboats sent for the purpose,
+and under cover of a renewed attack upon the fort by the fleet.  They
+formed a line across the peninsula and advanced, part going north and
+part toward the fort, covering themselves as they did so.  Curtis pushed
+forward and came near to Fort Fisher, capturing the small garrison at
+what was called the Flag Pond Battery.  Weitzel accompanied him to
+within a half a mile of the works.  Here he saw that the fort had not
+been injured, and so reported to Butler, advising against an assault.
+Ames, who had gone north in his advance, captured 228 of the reserves.
+These prisoners reported to Butler that sixteen hundred of Hoke's
+division of six thousand from Richmond had already arrived and the rest
+would soon be in his rear.
+
+Upon these reports Butler determined to withdraw his troops from the
+peninsula and return to the fleet.  At that time there had not been a
+man on our side injured except by one of the shells from the fleet.
+Curtis had got within a few yards of the works.  Some of his men had
+snatched a flag from the parapet of the fort, and others had taken a
+horse from the inside of the stockade.  At night Butler informed Porter
+of his withdrawal, giving the reasons above stated, and announced his
+purpose as soon as his men could embark to start for Hampton Roads.
+Porter represented to him that he had sent to Beaufort for more
+ammunition.  He could fire much faster than he had been doing, and would
+keep the enemy from showing himself until our men were within twenty
+yards of the fort, and he begged that Butler would leave some brave
+fellows like those who had snatched the flag from the parapet and taken
+the horse from the fort.
+
+Butler was unchangeable.  He got all his troops aboard, except Curtis's
+brigade, and started back.  In doing this, Butler made a fearful
+mistake.  My instructions to him, or to the officer who went in command
+of the expedition, were explicit in the statement that to effect a
+landing would be of itself a great victory, and if one should be
+effected, the foothold must not be relinquished; on the contrary, a
+regular siege of the fort must be commenced and, to guard against
+interference by reason of storms, supplies of provisions must be laid in
+as soon as they could be got on shore.  But General Butler seems to have
+lost sight of this part of his instructions, and was back at Fort Monroe
+on the 28th.
+
+I telegraphed to the President as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure.  Many
+of the troops are back here.  Delays and free talk of the object of the
+expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it.
+After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather
+were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect
+himself. Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Porter sent dispatches to the Navy Department in which he complained
+bitterly of having been abandoned by the army just when the fort was
+nearly in our possession, and begged that our troops might be sent back
+again to cooperate, but with a different commander.  As soon as I heard
+this I sent a messenger to Porter with a letter asking him to hold on.
+I assured him that I fully sympathized with him in his disappointment,
+and that I would send the same troops back with a different commander,
+with some reinforcements to offset those which the enemy had received.
+I told him it would take some little time to get transportation for the
+additional troops; but as soon as it could be had the men should be on
+their way to him, and there would be no delay on my part.  I selected A.
+H. Terry to command.
+
+It was the 6th of January before the transports could be got ready and
+the troops aboard.  They sailed from Fortress Monroe on that day.  The
+object and destination of the second expedition were at the time kept a
+secret to all except a few in the Navy Department and in the army to
+whom it was necessary to impart the information.  General Terry had not
+the slightest idea of where he was going or what he was to do.  He
+simply knew that he was going to sea and that he had his orders with
+him, which were to be opened when out at sea.
+
+He was instructed to communicate freely with Porter and have entire
+harmony between army and navy, because the work before them would
+require the best efforts of both arms of service. They arrived off
+Beaufort on the 8th. A heavy storm, however, prevented a landing at
+Forth Fisher until the 13th.  The navy prepared itself for attack about
+as before, and the same time assisted the army in landing, this time
+five miles away.  Only iron-clads fired at first; the object being to
+draw the fire of the enemy's guns so as to ascertain their positions.
+This object being accomplished, they then let in their shots thick and
+fast.  Very soon the guns were all silenced, and the fort showed evident
+signs of being much injured.
+
+Terry deployed his men across the peninsula as had been done before, and
+at two o'clock on the following morning was up within two miles of the
+fort with a respectable abatis in front of his line. His artillery was
+all landed on that day, the 14th.  Again Curtis's brigade of Ame's
+division had the lead. By noon they had carried an unfinished work less
+than a half mile from the fort, and turned it so as to face the other
+way.
+
+Terry now saw Porter and arranged for an assault on the following day.
+The two commanders arranged their signals so that they could communicate
+with each other from time to time as they might have occasion.  At day
+light the fleet commenced its firing.  The time agreed upon for the
+assault was the middle of the afternoon, and Ames who commanded the
+assaulting column moved at 3.30.  Porter landed a force of sailors and
+marines to move against the sea-front in co-operation with Ames's
+assault.  They were under Commander Breese of the navy.  These sailors
+and marines had worked their way up to within a couple of hundred yards
+of the fort before the assault.  The signal was given and the assault
+was made; but the poor sailors and marines were repulsed and very badly
+handled by the enemy, losing 280 killed and wounded out of their number.
+
+Curtis's brigade charged successfully though met by a heavy fire, some
+of the men having to wade through the swamp up to their waists to reach
+the fort.  Many were wounded, of course, and some killed; but they soon
+reached the palisades.  These they cut away, and pushed on through.  The
+other troops then came up, Pennypacker's following Curtis, and Bell, who
+commanded the 3d brigade of Ames's division, following Pennypacker.  But
+the fort was not yet captured though the parapet was gained.
+
+The works were very extensive.  The large parapet around the work would
+have been but very little protection to those inside except when they
+were close up under it.  Traverses had, therefore, been run until really
+the work was a succession of small forts enclosed by a large one.  The
+rebels made a desperate effort to hold the fort, and had to be driven
+from these traverses one by one.  The fight continued till long after
+night.  Our troops gained first one traverse and then another, and by 10
+o'clock at night the place was carried.  During this engagement the
+sailors, who had been repulsed in their assault on the bastion, rendered
+the best service they could by reinforcing Terry's northern line--thus
+enabling him to send a detachment to the assistance of Ames.  The fleet
+kept up a continuous fire upon that part of the fort which was still
+occupied by the enemy.  By means of signals they could be informed where
+to direct their shots.
+
+During the succeeding nights the enemy blew up Fort Caswell on the
+opposite side of Cape Fear River, and abandoned two extensive works on
+Smith's Island in the river.
+
+Our captures in all amounted to 169 guns, besides small-arms, with full
+supplies of ammunition, and 2,083 prisoners.  In addition to these,
+there were about 700 dead and wounded left there.  We had lost 110
+killed and 536 wounded.
+
+In this assault on Fort Fisher, Bell, one of the brigade commanders, was
+killed, and two, Curtis and Pennypacker, were badly wounded.
+
+Secretary Stanton, who was on his way back from Savannah, arrived off
+Fort Fisher soon after it fell.  When he heard the good news he promoted
+all the officers of any considerable rank for their conspicuous
+gallantry.  Terry had been nominated for major-general, but had not been
+confirmed.  This confirmed him; and soon after I recommended him for a
+brigadier-generalcy in the regular army, and it was given to him for
+this victory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY ORDERED TO
+MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND THOMAS--CAPTURE OF
+COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS.
+
+When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the North,
+distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to see him.  Among
+others who went was the Secretary of War, who seemed much pleased at the
+result of his campaign.  Mr. Draper, the collector of customs of New
+York, who was with Mr. Stanton's party, was put in charge of the public
+property that had been abandoned and captured.  Savannah was then turned
+over to General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his
+own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the future.
+I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac (General Barnard)
+with letters to General Sherman.  He remained some time with the
+general, and when he returned brought back letters, one of which
+contained suggestions from Sherman as to what ought to be done in
+co-operation with him, when he should have started upon his march
+northward.
+
+I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea originally
+of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or even to North
+Carolina.  The season was bad, the roads impassable for anything except
+such an army as he had, and I should not have thought of ordering such a
+move.  I had, therefore, made preparations to collect transports to
+carry Sherman and his army around to the James River by water, and so
+informed him.  On receiving this letter he went to work immediately to
+prepare for the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to
+collect the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north
+through the Carolinas.  I was only too happy to approve this; for if
+successful, it promised every advantage.  His march through Georgia had
+thoroughly destroyed all lines of transportation in that State, and had
+completely cut the enemy off from all sources of supply to the west of
+it.  If North and South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as
+capacity for feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison
+at Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw supplies,
+to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and, although that
+section of the country was fertile, it was already well exhausted of
+both forage and food.  I approved Sherman's suggestion therefore at
+once.
+
+The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load the
+wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long distance.  Sherman
+would now have to march through a country furnishing fewer provisions
+than that he had previously been operating in during his march to the
+sea.  Besides, he was confronting, or marching toward, a force of the
+enemy vastly superior to any his troops had encountered on their
+previous march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now
+become of such vast importance to the very existence of the Confederate
+army, that the most desperate efforts were to be expected in order to
+save it.
+
+Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to start
+with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who commanded that part
+of the navy on the South Carolina and Georgia coast, and General Foster,
+commanding the troops, to take positions, and hold a few points on the
+sea coast, which he (Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of
+Charleston.
+
+This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea coast,
+in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop his onward
+progress.  He also wrote me a letter, making suggestions as to what he
+would like to have done in support of his movement farther north.  This
+letter was brought to City Point by General Barnard at a time when I
+happened to be going to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of
+January.  I cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate
+with Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than by
+giving my reply to this letter.
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21,
+1865.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received at City
+Point, and read with interest.  Not having them with me, however, I
+cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on all points of
+recommendation.  As I arrived here at one P.M., and must leave at six
+P.M., having in the meantime spent over three hours with the Secretary
+and General Halleck, I must be brief.  Before your last request to have
+Thomas make a campaign into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered
+Schofield to Annapolis, Md., with his corps.  The advance (six thousand)
+will reach the seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly
+as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati.  The corps
+numbers over twenty-one thousand men.  I was induced to do this because
+I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring.  His
+pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would
+never do to conduct one of your campaigns.  The command of the advance
+of the pursuit was left to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far
+behind.  When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had
+reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from
+whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is
+possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty, but he is
+not good on a pursuit.  He also reported his troops fagged, and that it
+was necessary to equip up.  This report and a determination to give the
+enemy no rest determined me to use his surplus troops elsewhere.
+
+Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to Selma
+under an energetic leader.  He has been telegraphed to, to know whether
+he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes he would select.
+No reply is yet received.  Canby has been ordered to act offensively
+from the sea-coast to the interior, towards Montgomery and Selma.
+Thomas's forces will move from the north at an early day, or some of his
+troops will be sent to Canby.  Without further reinforcements Canby will
+have a moving column of twenty thousand men.
+
+Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured.  We have a force there of
+eight thousand effective.  At New Bern about half the number.  It is
+rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also has fallen.  I am
+inclined to believe the rumor, because on the 17th we knew the enemy
+were blowing up their works about Fort Caswell, and that on the 18th
+Terry moved on Wilmington.
+
+If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there.  If not, he will be
+sent to New Bern.  In either event, all the surplus forces at the two
+points will move to the interior toward Goldsboro' in co-operation with
+your movements.  From either point, railroad communications can be run
+out, there being here abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of
+those roads.
+
+There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army south.
+Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, if Wilmington is
+not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort Fisher having overtaken about
+two thousand.
+
+All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in communication
+with them.  They will be so instructed.  From about Richmond I will
+watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much more, or attempts to
+evacuate, will pitch in.  In the meantime, should you be brought to a
+halt anywhere, I can send two corps of thirty thousand effective men to
+your support, from the troops about Richmond.
+
+To resume:  Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the Gulf.
+A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful.  A force of
+twenty-eight or thirty thousand will co-operate with you from New Bern
+or Wilmington, or both.  You can call for reinforcements.
+
+This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will return
+with any message you may have for me.  If there is anything I can do for
+you in the way of having supplies on ship-board, at any point on the
+sea-coast, ready for you, let me know it.
+
+Yours truly, U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving him the
+news of the battle of Nashville.  He was much pleased at the result,
+although, like myself, he had been very much disappointed at Thomas for
+permitting Hood to cross the Tennessee River and nearly the whole State
+of Tennessee, and come to Nashville to be attacked there.  He, however,
+as I had done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.
+
+On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to Sherman and
+his army passed by Congress were approved.
+
+Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up,
+commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from the river,
+and taking up all obstructions.  He had then intrenched the city, so
+that it could be held by a small garrison.  By the middle of January all
+his work was done, except the accumulation of supplies to commence his
+movement with.
+
+He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going along by
+the river of the same name, and the other by roads farther east,
+threatening Charleston.  He commenced the advance by moving his right
+wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to Pocotaligo by water.  This
+column, in moving north, threatened Charleston, and, indeed, it was not
+determined at first that they would have a force visit Charleston.
+South Carolina had done so much to prepare the public mind of the South
+for secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision of
+the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it, that there
+was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and also largely
+entertained by people of the South, that the State of South Carolina,
+and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in particular, ought to have a
+heavy hand laid upon them.  In fact, nothing but the decisive results
+that followed, deterred the radical portion of the people from
+condemning the movement, because Charleston had been left out.  To pass
+into the interior would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the
+city, and its possession by the navy and Foster's troops.  It is so
+situated between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have
+held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold out.
+Sherman therefore passed it by.
+
+By the first of February all preparations were completed for the final
+march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective;
+Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or
+neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be
+determined upon.  The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the left from
+about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns taking a pretty
+direct route for Columbia.  The cavalry, however, were to threaten
+Charleston on the right, and Augusta on the left.
+
+On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which Sherman had
+received before starting out on his march.  We already had New Bern and
+had soon Wilmington, whose fall followed that of Fort Fisher; as did
+other points on the sea coast, where the National troops were now in
+readiness to co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed
+Fayetteville.
+
+On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New Orleans, to
+move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, for the purpose of
+destroying roads, machine shops, etc.  On the 8th of February I ordered
+Sheridan, who was in the Valley of Virginia, to push forward as soon as
+the weather would permit and strike the canal west of Richmond at or
+about Lynchburg; and on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as
+soon as the roads would permit, saying:  "As soon as it is possible to
+travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg
+with a cavalry force alone.  From there you could destroy the railroad
+and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the
+rebellion. * * * This additional raid, with one starting from East
+Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering about four or five thousand cavalry;
+one from Eastport, Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile
+Bay, with about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter
+pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large
+army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will be wanted
+to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise you to
+overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston was evacuated
+on Tuesday last."
+
+On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had received his
+orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was extremely anxious to
+hear of his being in Alabama.  I notified him, also, that I had sent
+Grierson to take command of his cavalry, he being a very efficient
+officer.  I further suggested that Forrest was probably in Mississippi,
+and if he was there, he would find him an officer of great courage and
+capacity whom it would be difficult to get by.  I still further informed
+him that Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into
+Mississippi on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter.
+This force did not get off however.
+
+All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's march,
+the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the West from leaving
+there.  But neither Canby nor Thomas could be got off in time.  I had
+some time before depleted Thomas's army to reinforce Canby, for the
+reason that Thomas had failed to start an expedition which he had been
+ordered to send out, and to have the troops where they might do
+something.  Canby seemed to be equally deliberate in all of his
+movements.  I ordered him to go in person; but he prepared to send a
+detachment under another officer.  General Granger had got down to New
+Orleans, in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put
+him in command of troops.  In spite of this he asked the War Department
+to assign Granger to the command of a corps.
+
+Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the cause in
+that quarter, I said to Canby:  "I am in receipt of a dispatch * * *
+informing me that you have made requisitions for a construction corps
+and material to build seventy miles of railroad.  I have directed that
+none be sent.  Thomas's army has been depleted to send a force to you
+that they might be where they could act in winter, and at least detain
+the force the enemy had in the West.  If there had been any idea of
+repairing railroads, it could have been done much better from the North,
+where we already had the troops.  I expected your movements to be
+co-operative with Sherman's last.  This has now entirely failed.  I
+wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly and to live upon the
+country, and destroy railroads, machine shops, etc., not to build them.
+Take Mobile and hold it, and push your forces to the interior--to
+Montgomery and to Selma. Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and
+everything useful for carrying on war, and, when you have done this,
+take such positions as can be supplied by water.  By this means alone
+you can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the interior
+can be kept broken."
+
+Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to render any
+service in the direction for which they were designed.
+
+The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's troops
+and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand men in all;
+but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as I was sure would be
+the case, to retard Sherman's movements. Everything possible was being
+done to raise troops in the South.  Lee dispatched against Sherman the
+troops which had been sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including
+those of the other defences of the harbor and its neighborhood,
+amounted, after deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured,
+to fourteen thousand men.  After Thomas's victory at Nashville what
+remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as rapidly
+as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces; and, finally,
+General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest commanders of the South
+though not in favor with the administration (or at least with Mr.
+Davis), was put in command of all the troops in North and South
+Carolina.
+
+Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January, but before
+sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him down the coast to
+see the situation of affairs, as I could give fuller directions after
+being on the ground than I could very well have given without.  We soon
+returned, and the troops were sent by sea to Cape Fear River.  Both New
+Bern and Wilmington are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite
+at Goldsboro.  Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the
+mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to secure the
+Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad.  This column took their pontoon
+bridges with them, to enable them to cross over to the island south of
+the city of Wilmington.  A large body was sent by the north side to
+co-operate with them.  They succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of
+February.  I took the precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case
+he should be forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching
+North Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was
+liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected march.  I
+also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a great abundance, now
+that we were not operating the roads in Virginia.  The gauge of the
+North Carolina railroads being the same as the Virginia railroads had
+been altered too; these cars and locomotives were ready for use there
+without any change.
+
+On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to Thomas to
+move south to Alabama and Georgia.  (I had previously reduced his force
+by sending a portion of it to Terry.)  I directed in lieu of this
+movement, that he should send Stoneman through East Tennessee, and push
+him well down toward Columbia, South Carolina, in support of Sherman.
+Thomas did not get Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I
+had supposed he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his
+being in Louisville, Kentucky.  I immediately changed the order, and
+directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg.  Finally, however, on the
+12th of March, he did push down through the north-western end of South
+Carolina, creating some consternation.  I also ordered Thomas to send
+the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and to destroy no more roads east
+of that.  I also directed him to concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with
+a view to a probable movement of his army through that way toward
+Lynchburg.
+
+Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah. Sherman's
+march was without much incident until he entered Columbia, on the 17th
+of February.  He was detained in his progress by having to repair and
+corduroy the roads, and rebuild the bridges.  There was constant
+skirmishing and fighting between the cavalry of the two armies, but this
+did not retard the advance of the infantry.  Four days, also, were lost
+in making complete the destruction of the most important railroads south
+of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, and the
+destruction of the bridges on the line of the road.  A formidable river
+had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in the face of a small
+garrison under General Wade Hampton.  There was but little delay,
+however, further than that caused by high water in the stream.  Hampton
+left as Sherman approached, and the city was found to be on fire.
+
+There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in discussions
+of the question as to who set Columbia on fire. Sherman denies it on the
+part of his troops, and Hampton denies it on the part of the
+Confederates.  One thing is certain:  as soon as our troops took
+possession, they at once proceeded to extinguish the flames to the best
+of their ability with the limited means at hand.  In any case, the
+example set by the Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg,
+Pa., a town which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of
+the act of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible
+for the conflict then raging, not imperative.
+
+The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took
+possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the National
+forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making terms for the
+protection of property, etc.  Sherman paid no attention at all to the
+overture, but pushed forward and took the town without making any
+conditions whatever with its citizens.  He then, however, co-operated
+with the mayor in extinguishing the flames and providing for the people
+who were rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes.  When he
+left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to be
+distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some arrangement
+could be made for their future supplies.  He remained in Columbia until
+the roads, public buildings, workshops and everything that could be
+useful to the enemy were destroyed.  While at Columbia, Sherman learned
+for the first time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting
+him, under the command of General Beauregard.
+
+Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster garrisoned
+the place.  Wilmington was captured on the 22d. Columbia and Cheraw
+farther north, were regarded as so secure from invasion that the wealthy
+people of Charleston and Augusta had sent much of their valuable
+property to these two points to be stored.  Among the goods sent there
+were valuable carpets, tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture.
+I am afraid much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops.
+There was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery,
+small-arms and fixed ammunition.  These, of course were among the
+articles destroyed.  While here, Sherman also learned of Johnston's
+restoration to command.  The latter was given, as already stated, all
+troops in North and South Carolina.  After the completion of the
+destruction of public property about Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his
+march and reached Cheraw without any special opposition and without
+incident to relate. The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed
+on the way.  Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on
+the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced straight
+for Fayetteville.  Hardee and Hampton were there, and barely escaped.
+Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of March.  He had dispatched
+scouts from Cheraw with letters to General Terry, at Wilmington, asking
+him to send a steamer with some supplies of bread, clothing and other
+articles which he enumerated.  The scouts got through successfully, and
+a boat was sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had
+asked as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those
+stores did not contain clothing.
+
+Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for Goldsboro.
+The march, now, had to be made with great caution, for he was
+approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that still remained open
+to the enemy.  Besides, he was confronting all that he had had to
+confront in his previous march up to that point, reinforced by the
+garrisons along the road and by what remained of Hood's army.  Frantic
+appeals were made to the people to come in voluntarily and swell the
+ranks of our foe.  I presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all
+over 35,000 or 40,000 men.  The people had grown tired of the war, and
+desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous than the
+voluntary accessions.
+
+There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between Johnston's
+troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at Bentonville on the 19th and
+21st of March, but Johnston withdrew from the contest before the morning
+of the 22d.  Sherman's loss in these last engagements in killed,
+wounded, and missing, was about sixteen hundred.  Sherman's troops at
+last reached Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac;
+and there his men were destined to have a long rest.  Schofield was
+there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to Wilmington.
+
+Sherman was no longer in danger.  He had Johnston confronting him; but
+with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers and morale.  He
+had Lee to the north of him with a force largely superior; but I was
+holding Lee with a still greater force, and had he made his escape and
+gotten down to reinforce Johnston, Sherman, with the reinforcements he
+now had from Schofield and Terry, would have been able to hold the
+Confederates at bay for an indefinite period.  He was near the sea-shore
+with his back to it, and our navy occupied the harbors.  He had a
+railroad to both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly
+protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country and
+deepen as they approach the sea.  Then, too, Sherman knew that if Lee
+should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and Johnson together
+would be crushed in one blow if they attempted to make a stand.  With
+the loss of their capital, it is doubtful whether Lee's army would have
+amounted to much as an army when it reached North Carolina.  Johnston's
+army was demoralized by constant defeat and would hardly have made an
+offensive movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on
+duty.  The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like their
+brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man is so brave
+that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as to discourage him and
+dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter how just he deems it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS
+--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS
+THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE
+--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF WHITE OAK ROAD.
+
+On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the so-called
+Confederate States presented themselves on our lines around Petersburg,
+and were immediately conducted to my headquarters at City Point.  They
+proved to be Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy,
+Judge Campbell, Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly
+United States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.
+
+It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at once
+conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River boat which was
+very comfortably fitted up for the use of passengers.  I at once
+communicated by telegraph with Washington and informed the Secretary of
+War and the President of the arrival of these commissioners and that
+their object was to negotiate terms of peace between he United States
+and, as they termed it, the Confederate Government.  I was instructed to
+retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom he
+would designate, should come to meet them.  They remained several days
+as guests on board the boat.  I saw them quite frequently, though I have
+no recollection of having had any conversation whatever with them on the
+subject of their mission.  It was something I had nothing to do with,
+and I therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject.  For
+my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit, that
+they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT.  There had been too great
+a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything of the kind.  As long
+as they remained there, however, our relations were pleasant and I found
+them all very agreeable gentlemen.  I directed the captain to furnish
+them with the best the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort
+in every way possible.  No guard was placed over them and no restriction
+was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked that they
+would not abuse the privileges extended to them.  They were permitted to
+leave the boat when they felt like it, and did so, coming up on the bank
+and visiting me at my headquarters.
+
+I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but knew them
+well by reputation and through their public services, and I had been a
+particular admirer of Mr. Stephens.  I had always supposed that he was a
+very small man, but when I saw him in the dusk of the evening I was very
+much surprised to find so large a man as he seemed to be.  When he got
+down on to the boat I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen
+overcoat, a manufacture that had been introduced into the South during
+the rebellion.  The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I had
+ever seen, even in Canada.  The overcoat extended nearly to his feet,
+and was so large that it gave him the appearance of being an
+average-sized man.  He took this off when he reached the cabin of the
+boat, and I was struck with the apparent change in size, in the coat and
+out of it.
+
+After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a dispatch from
+Washington, directing me to send the commissioners to Hampton Roads to
+meet the President and a member of the cabinet.  Mr. Lincoln met them
+there and had an interview of short duration.  It was not a great while
+after they met that the President visited me at City Point.  He spoke of
+his having met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there
+would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they would
+recognize, first:  that the Union as a whole must be forever preserved,
+and second:  that slavery must be abolished. If they were willing to
+concede these two points, then he was ready to enter into negotiations
+and was almost willing to hand them a blank sheet of paper with his
+signature attached for them to fill in the terms upon which they were
+willing to live with us in the Union and be one people.  He always
+showed a generous and kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I
+never heard him abuse an enemy.  Some of the cruel things said about
+President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the
+heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition
+and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he seemed glad to get
+away from the cares and anxieties of the capital.
+
+Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln.  It was on the
+occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the peace
+commissioners at Hampton Roads.  After a little conversation, he asked
+me if I had seen that overcoat of Stephens's.  I replied that I had.
+"Well," said he, "did you see him take it off?"  I said yes.  "Well,"
+said he, "didn't you think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear
+that ever you did see?"  Long afterwards I told this story to the
+Confederate General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate.
+He repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens laughed
+immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.
+
+The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace commissioners,
+passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for two or three little
+incidents.  On one occasion during this period, while I was visiting
+Washington City for the purpose of conferring with the administration,
+the enemy's cavalry under General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left
+and then going to the south, got in east of us.  Before their presence
+was known, they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were
+grazing in that section.  It was a fair capture, and they were
+sufficiently needed by the Confederates.  It was only retaliating for
+what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a time, when out of
+supplies taking what the Confederate army otherwise would have gotten.
+As appears in this book, on one single occasion we captured five
+thousand head of cattle which were crossing the Mississippi River near
+Port Hudson on their way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in
+the East.
+
+One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the rebellion
+was the last few weeks before Petersburg.  I felt that the situation of
+the Confederate army was such that they would try to make an escape at
+the earliest practicable moment, and I was afraid, every morning, that I
+would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing
+was left but a picket line.  He had his railroad by the way of Danville
+south, and I was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores
+and ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him for
+his immediate defence.  I knew he could move much more lightly and more
+rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start, he would leave me behind
+so that we would have the same army to fight again farther south and the
+war might be prolonged another year.
+
+I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it was
+possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where they were.
+There is no doubt that Richmond would have been evacuated much sooner
+than it was, if it had not been that it was the capital of the so-called
+Confederacy, and the fact of evacuating the capital would, of course,
+have had a very demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army.  When it
+was evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once
+began to crumble and fade away.  Then, too, desertions were taking
+place, not only among those who were with General Lee in the
+neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole Confederacy.  I
+remember that in a conversation with me on one occasion long prior to
+this, General Butler remarked that the Confederates would find great
+difficulty in getting more men for their army; possibly adding, though I
+am not certain as to this, "unless they should arm the slave."
+
+The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied man
+between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they had passed a
+law for the further conscription of boys from fourteen to eighteen,
+calling them the junior reserves, and men from forty-five to sixty to be
+called the senior reserves.  The latter were to hold the necessary
+points not in immediate danger, and especially those in the rear.
+General Butler, in alluding to this conscription, remarked that they
+were thus "robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I
+afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.
+
+It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits they
+were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout the entire
+army, by desertions alone.  Then by casualties of war, sickness, and
+other natural causes, their losses were much heavier.  It was a mere
+question of arithmetic to calculate how long they could hold out while
+that rate of depletion was going on.  Of course long before their army
+would be thus reduced to nothing the army which we had in the field
+would have been able to capture theirs.  Then too I knew from the great
+number of desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so
+gallantly and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as
+earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which they
+were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent.  Many of them were
+making application to be sent North where they might get employment
+until the war was over, when they could return to their Southern homes.
+
+For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for the time
+to come when I could commence the spring campaign, which I thoroughly
+believed would close the war.
+
+There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and which
+detained me.  One was the fact that the winter had been one of heavy
+rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery and teams.  It was
+necessary to wait until they had dried sufficiently to enable us to move
+the wagon trains and artillery necessary to the efficiency of an army
+operating in the enemy's country.  The other consideration was that
+General Sheridan with the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was
+operating on the north side of the James River, having come down from
+the Shenandoah. It was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me,
+and I was therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the
+James River.
+
+Let us now take account of what he was doing.
+
+On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan.  He had met Early between
+Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing nearly his
+entire command.  Early and some of his officers escaped by finding
+refuge in the neighboring houses or in the woods.
+
+On the 12th I heard from him again.  He had turned east, to come to
+White House.  He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because the rains
+had been so very heavy and the streams were so very much swollen.  He
+had a pontoon train with him, but it would not reach half way across
+some of the streams, at their then stage of water, which he would have
+to get over in going south as first ordered.
+
+I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the depot
+there open until he arrived.  We had intended to abandon it because the
+James River had now become our base of supplies.
+
+Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into two
+divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin. General Merritt
+was acting as chief of cavalry.  Sheridan moved very light, carrying
+only four days' provisions with him, with a larger supply of coffee,
+salt and other small rations, and a very little else besides ammunition.
+They stopped at Charlottesville and commenced tearing up the railroad
+back toward Lynchburg.  He also sent a division along the James River
+Canal to destroy locks, culverts etc.  All mills and factories along the
+lines of march of his troops were destroyed also.
+
+Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a march
+to White House was now somewhat hazardous.  He determined therefore to
+fight his way along the railroad and canal till he was as near to
+Richmond as it was possible to get, or until attacked.  He did this,
+destroying the canal as far as Goochland, and the railroad to a point as
+near Richmond as he could get.  On the 10th he was at Columbia.  Negroes
+had joined his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they
+assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads and the
+canal.  His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when he started,
+because he had been able to find plenty of forage. He had captured most
+of Early's horses and picked up a good many others on the road.  When he
+reached Ashland he was assailed by the enemy in force.  He resisted
+their assault with part of his command, moved quickly across the South
+and North Anna, going north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.
+
+The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to the time
+he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was. Supplies had to be
+got up to him which would last him through a long march, as there would
+probably not be much to be obtained in the country through which he
+would pass.  I had to arrange, therefore, that he should start from
+where he was, in the neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the
+earliest day at which he supposed he could be ready.
+
+Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he could come
+up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined to move as soon as
+the roads and weather would admit of my doing so.  I had been tied down
+somewhat in the matter of fixing any time at my pleasure for starting,
+until Sheridan, who was on his way from the Shenandoah Valley to join
+me, should arrive, as both his presence and that of his cavalry were
+necessary to the execution of the plans which I had in mind.  However,
+having arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to
+make my plans.
+
+Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night before I was
+aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into North Carolina to join
+with Johnston in attempting to crush out Sherman, I had, as early as the
+1st of the month of March, given instructions to the troops around
+Petersburg to keep a sharp lookout to see that such a movement should
+not escape their notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was
+undertaken.
+
+It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and General
+Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in and about and
+Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no longer tenable for them,
+and that they must get away as soon as possible.  They, too, were
+waiting for dry roads, or a condition of the roads which would make it
+possible to move.
+
+General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider opening
+to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater security than he
+would have in the way the two armies were situated, determined upon an
+assault upon the right of our lines around Petersburg.  The night of the
+24th of March was fixed upon for this assault, and General Gordon was
+assigned to the execution of the plan.  The point between Fort Stedman
+and Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was selected
+as the point of his attack.  The attack was to be made at night, and the
+troops were to get possession of the higher ground in the rear where
+they supposed we had intrenchments, then sweep to the right and left,
+create a panic in the lines of our army, and force me to contract my
+lines.  Lee hoped this would detain me a few days longer and give him an
+opportunity of escape.  The plan was well conceived and the execution of
+it very well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our
+line.
+
+Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the point at
+which they were to make their charge, and got possession of our
+picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of the troops inside of our
+main line of intrenchments; this reduced the distance he would have to
+charge over to not much more than fifty yards.  For some time before the
+deserters had been coming in with great frequency, often bringing their
+arms with them, and this the Confederate general knew.  Taking advantage
+of this knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through
+to ours as if to desert.  When they got to our lines they at once took
+possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In the main
+line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great security.  This plan
+was to have been executed and much damage done before daylight; but the
+troops that were to reinforce Gordon had to be brought from the north
+side of the James River and, by some accident on the railroad on their
+way over, they were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to
+be nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.
+
+The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the enemy
+passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery No. 10.  Then
+turning to the right and left they captured the fort and the battery,
+with all the arms and troops in them. Continuing the charge, they also
+carried batteries Eleven and Twelve to our left, which they turned
+toward City Point.
+
+Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in his
+line cut him off from all communication with his headquarters.  Parke,
+however, commanding the 9th corps when this breach took place,
+telegraphed the facts to Meade's headquarters, and learning that the
+general was away, assumed command himself and with commendable
+promptitude made all preparations to drive the enemy back.  General
+Tidball gathered a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them
+in rear of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground
+between the lines very thoroughly.  Hartranft was soon out with his
+division, as also was Willcox.  Hartranft to the right of the breach
+headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly drove them back into
+Fort Stedman.  On the other side they were driven back into the
+intrenchments which they had captured, and batteries eleven and twelve
+were retaken by Willcox early in the morning.
+
+Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and
+batteries, and communication was once more established.  The artillery
+fire was kept up so continuously that it was impossible for the
+Confederates to retreat, and equally impossible for reinforcements to
+join them.  They all, therefore, fell captives into our hands.  This
+effort of Lee's cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their
+killing, wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.
+
+After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates, our
+troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched picket line,
+which they strengthened and held.  This, in turn, gave us but a short
+distance to charge over when our attack came to be made a few days
+later.
+
+The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack (24th of
+March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence on the 29th.
+Ord, with three divisions of infantry and Mackenzie's cavalry, was to
+move in advance on the night of the 27th, from the north side of the
+James River and take his place on our extreme left, thirty miles away.
+He left Weitzel with the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda
+Hundred and the north of the James River.  The engineer brigade was to
+be left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about Petersburg.
+(*42)
+
+Ord was at his place promptly.  Humphreys and Warren were then on our
+extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps.  They were directed on the
+arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position in their places, to
+cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west toward Five Forks, the object
+being to get into a position from which we could strike the South Side
+Railroad and ultimately the Danville Railroad.  There was considerable
+fighting in taking up these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in
+which the Army of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the
+losses were quite severe.
+
+This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
+--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--PARKE AND
+WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG.
+
+Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March.  His horses, of
+course, were jaded and many of them had lost their shoes.  A few days of
+rest were necessary to recuperate the animals and also to have them shod
+and put in condition for moving.  Immediately on General Sheridan's
+arrival at City Point I prepared his instructions for the move which I
+had decided upon.  The movement was to commence on the 29th of the
+month.
+
+After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked out of
+my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with him by himself
+--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a member of my staff.  In
+preparing his instructions I contemplated just what took place; that is
+to say, capturing Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and
+Richmond and terminating the contest before separating from the enemy.
+But the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the
+prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never terminate
+except by compromise.  Knowing that unless my plan proved an entire
+success it would be interpreted as a disastrous defeat, I provided in
+these instructions that in a certain event he was to cut loose from the
+Army of the Potomac and his base of supplies, and living upon the
+country proceed south by the way of the Danville Railroad, or near it,
+across the Roanoke, get in the rear of Johnston, who was guarding that
+road, and cooperate with Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these
+combined forces to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already
+had received, to act in cooperation with the armies around Petersburg
+and Richmond.
+
+I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed somewhat
+disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut loose again from
+the Army of the Potomac, and place himself between the two main armies
+of the enemy.  I said to him: "General, this portion of your
+instructions I have put in merely as a blind;" and gave him the reason
+for doing so, heretofore described.  I told him that, as a matter of
+fact, I intended to close the war right here, with this movement, and
+that he should go no farther.  His face at once brightened up, and
+slapping his hand on his leg he said:  "I am glad to hear it, and we can
+do it."
+
+Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks until
+he got further instructions from me.
+
+One day, after the movement I am about to describe had commenced, and
+when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far to the rear, south,
+Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters were then established, at
+Dabney's Mills.  He met some of my staff officers outside, and was
+highly jubilant over the prospects of success, giving reasons why he
+believed this would prove the final and successful effort.  Although my
+chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our position
+about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he asked Sheridan
+to come in to see me and say to me what he had been saying to them.
+Sheridan felt a little modest about giving his advice where it had not
+been asked; so one of my staff came in and told me that Sheridan had
+what they considered important news, and suggested that I send for him.
+I did so, and was glad to see the spirit of confidence with which he was
+imbued. Knowing as I did from experience, of what great value that
+feeling of confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a
+movement at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen
+after I had started out the roads were still very heavy.  Orders were
+given accordingly.
+
+Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having been a few
+days free from rain, the surface of the ground was dry, giving
+indications that the time had come when we could move.  On that date I
+moved out with all the army available after leaving sufficient force to
+hold the line about Petersburg.  It soon set in raining again however,
+and in a very short time the roads became practically impassable for
+teams, and almost so for cavalry.  Sometimes a horse or mule would be
+standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot would
+sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all his feet would
+sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of the quicksands so
+common in that part of Virginia and other southern States.  It became
+necessary therefore to build corduroy roads every foot of the way as we
+advanced, to move our artillery upon.  The army had become so accustomed
+to this kind of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done
+very rapidly.  The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient progress
+to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan with his cavalry
+over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then come up by the road leading
+north-west to Five Forks, thus menacing the right of Lee's line.
+
+This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to the
+west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, or Five
+Forks.  The column moving detached from the army still in the trenches
+was, excluding the cavalry, very small.  The forces in the trenches were
+themselves extending to the left flank. Warren was on the extreme left
+when the extension began, but Humphreys was marched around later and
+thrown into line between him and Five Forks.
+
+My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get on the
+enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken their centre to
+protect their right so that an assault in the centre might be
+successfully made.  General Wright's corps had been designated to make
+this assault, which I intended to order as soon as information reached
+me of Sheridan's success.  He was to move under cover as close to the
+enemy as he could get.
+
+It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to be to
+get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville Railroad, as
+soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on the 29th.  These roads
+were so important to his very existence while he remained in Richmond
+and Petersburg, and of such vital importance to him even in case of
+retreat, that naturally he would make most strenuous efforts to defend
+them.  He did on the 30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce
+Five Forks.  He also sent around to the right of his army some two or
+three other divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in
+readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on call.  He
+came over himself to superintend in person the defence of his right
+flank.
+
+Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the 30th,
+and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks.  He had only his
+cavalry with him.  Soon encountering the rebel cavalry he met with a
+very stout resistance.  He gradually drove them back however until in
+the neighborhood of Five Forks.  Here he had to encounter other troops
+besides those he had been contending with, and was forced to give way.
+
+In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken place and
+stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie gradually and slowly,
+and asked me to send Wright's corps to his assistance.  I replied to him
+that it was impossible to send Wright's corps because that corps was
+already in line close up to the enemy, where we should want to assault
+when the proper time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but
+the 2d (Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left
+and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the left flank
+of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send Warren.
+
+Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that night (the
+31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in communication with
+Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to him.  He was very slow in
+moving, some of his troops not starting until after 5 o'clock next
+morning.  When he did move it was done very deliberately, and on
+arriving at Gravelly Run he found the stream swollen from the recent
+rains so that he regarded it as not fordable.  Sheridan of course knew
+of his coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as
+possible, sent orders to him to hasten.  He was also hastened or at
+least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade.  He now felt that he
+could not cross that creek without bridges, and his orders were changed
+to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in flank or get in their
+rear; but he was so late in getting up that Sheridan determined to move
+forward without him.  However, Ayres's division of Warren's corps
+reached him in time to be in the fight all day, most of the time
+separated from the remainder of the 5th corps and fighting directly
+under Sheridan.
+
+Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the whole
+of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until late in the
+afternoon.  Griffin's division in backing to get out of the way of a
+severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching away from the
+fighting.  This did not continue long, however; the division was brought
+back and with Ayres's division did most excellent service during the
+day.  Crawford's division of the same corps had backed still farther
+off, and although orders were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was
+late before it finally got to where it could be of material assistance.
+Once there it did very excellent service.
+
+Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little later, in
+advancing up to the point from which to make his designed assault upon
+Five Forks itself.  He was very impatient to make the assault and have
+it all over before night, because the ground he occupied would be
+untenable for him in bivouac during the night.  Unless the assault was
+made and was successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie
+Court-House, or even further than that for the night.
+
+It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get
+Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren.  He sent staff
+officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing that general
+to report to him, but they were unable to find him.  At all events
+Sheridan was unable to get that officer to him.  Finally he went
+himself.  He issued an order relieving Warren and assigning Griffin to
+the command of the 5th corps. The troops were then brought up and the
+assault successfully made.
+
+I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in the
+battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach Sheridan in time,
+that I was very much afraid that at the last moment he would fail
+Sheridan.  He was a man of fine intelligence, great earnestness, quick
+perception, and could make his dispositions as quickly as any officer,
+under difficulties where he was forced to act.  But I had before
+discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very
+prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just before
+us.  He could see every danger at a glance before he had encountered it.
+He would not only make preparations to meet the danger which might
+occur, but he would inform his commanding officer what others should do
+while he was executing his move.
+
+I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his attention to
+these defects, and to say that as much as I liked General Warren, now
+was not a time when we could let our personal feelings for any one stand
+in the way of success; and if his removal was necessary to success, not
+to hesitate.  It was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed
+Warren.  I was very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still
+more that I had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another
+field of duty.
+
+It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the parapets of the
+enemy.  The two armies were mingled together there for a time in such
+manner that it was almost a question which one was going to demand the
+surrender of the other.  Soon, however, the enemy broke and ran in every
+direction; some six thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms
+in large quantities, falling into our hands.  The flying troops were
+pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under
+Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.
+
+This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when Sheridan
+halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of the part of the
+enemy's line which had been captured, returned, sending the 5th corps
+across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of Petersburg, and facing them
+toward it.  Merritt, with the cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of
+Five Forks.
+
+This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the 1st of
+April.  I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and Parke at four
+o'clock on the morning of the 2d.  I also ordered the 2d corps, General
+Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army of the James, on the left, to
+hold themselves in readiness to take any advantage that could be taken
+from weakening in their front.
+
+I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day; in fact
+I had reported to him during the day and evening as I got news, because
+he was so much interested in the movements taking place that I wanted to
+relieve his mind as much as I could.  I notified Weitzel on the north
+side of the James River, directing him, also, to keep close up to the
+enemy, and take advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to
+promptly enter the city of Richmond.
+
+I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks as of so
+much importance that he would make a last desperate effort to retake it,
+risking everything upon the cast of a single die.  It was for this
+reason that I had ordered the assault to take place at once, as soon as
+I had received the news of the capture of Five Forks.  The corps
+commanders, however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not
+see to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But we
+kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the whole line
+including that north of the James River, until it was light enough to
+move, which was about a quarter to five in the morning.
+
+At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, brushed
+the abatis from their front as they advanced under a heavy fire of
+musketry and artillery, and went without flinching directly on till they
+mounted the parapets and threw themselves inside of the enemy's line.
+Parke, who was on the right, swept down to the right and captured a very
+considerable length of line in that direction, but at that point the
+outer was so near the inner line which closely enveloped the city of
+Petersburg that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a
+very serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the defence
+of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in this.
+
+Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run, sweeping
+everything before him.  The enemy had traverses in rear of his captured
+line, under cover of which he made something of a stand, from one to
+another, as Wright moved on; but the latter met no serious obstacle.  As
+you proceed to the left the outer line becomes gradually much farther
+from the inner one, and along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly
+two miles apart. Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of
+artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of them.
+
+In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the instructions they
+had received, had succeeded by daylight, or very early in the morning,
+in capturing the intrenched picket-lines in their front; and before
+Wright got up to that point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of
+the enemy's intrenchments.  The second corps soon followed; and the
+outer works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops,
+never to be wrenched from them again.  When Wright reached Hatcher's
+Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side Railroad just outside
+of the city.
+
+My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills.  As soon as I received
+the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches announcing the fact to
+all points around the line, including the troops at Bermuda Hundred and
+those on the north side of the James, and to the President at City
+Point.  Further dispatches kept coming in, and as they did I sent the
+additional news to these points.  Finding at length that they were all
+in, I mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works.
+When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as Wright's
+three thousand prisoners were coming out.  I was soon joined inside by
+General Meade and his staff.
+
+Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost ground.
+Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but repulsed every effort.
+Before noon Longstreet was ordered up from the north side of the James
+River thus bringing the bulk of Lee's army around to the support of his
+extreme right.  As soon as I learned this I notified Weitzel and
+directed him to keep up close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff,
+commanding the Bermuda Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they
+found any break to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this
+would separate Richmond and Petersburg.
+
+Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to Petersburg,
+coming in on our left.  This gave us a continuous line from the
+Appomattox River below the city to the same river above.  At eleven
+o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I reinforced Parke with two
+brigades from City Point.  With this additional force he completed his
+captured works for better defence, and built back from his right, so as
+to protect his flank.  He also carried in and made an abatis between
+himself and the enemy.  Lee brought additional troops and artillery
+against Parke even after this was done, and made several assaults with
+very heavy losses.
+
+The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to
+Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and Fort
+Whitworth.  We thought it had now become necessary to carry them by
+assault.  About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was assaulted by
+Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's), supported by two
+brigades from Ord's command.  The battle was desperate and the National
+troops were repulsed several times; but it was finally carried, and
+immediately the troops in Fort Whitworth evacuated the place.  The guns
+of Fort Gregg were turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding
+officer with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.
+
+I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan.  In moving to
+execute this order he came upon the enemy at the intersection of the
+White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road.  The enemy fell back to
+Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and were followed by Miles.
+This position, naturally a strong and defensible one, was also strongly
+intrenched.  Sheridan now came up and Miles asked permission from him to
+make the assault, which Sheridan gave.  By this time Humphreys had got
+through the outer works in his front, and came up also and assumed
+command over Miles, who commanded a division in his corps.  I had sent
+an order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards Petersburg.
+This order he now got, and started off, thus leaving Miles alone.  The
+latter made two assaults, both of which failed, and he had to fall back
+a few hundred yards.
+
+Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed Humphreys
+to send a division back to his relief.  He went himself.
+
+Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent Merritt
+with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate cavalry that had
+assembled there.  Merritt drove them north to the Appomattox River.
+Sheridan then took the enemy at Sutherland Station on the reverse side
+from where Miles was, and the two together captured the place, with a
+large number of prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the
+remainder, portions of three Confederate corps, to flight.  Sheridan
+followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was stopped.
+Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he with Sheridan had
+carried so handsomely by assault.  I cannot explain the situation here
+better than by giving my dispatch to City Point that evening:
+
+
+BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG, April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M.
+
+COLONEL T. S. BOWERS, City Point.
+
+We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few hours
+will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to the river
+above.  Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of them as were not
+captured, were cut off from town, either designedly on their part or
+because they could not help it. Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps
+is above them.  Miles's division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak
+Road to Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met
+them, and at last accounts was engaged with them.  Not knowing whether
+Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was sent with another
+division from here.  The whole captures since the army started out
+gunning will amount to not less than twelve thousand men, and probably
+fifty pieces of artillery.  I do not know the number of men and guns
+accurately however.  * * *  I think the President might come out and pay
+us a visit tomorrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the river
+above to the river below.  I ordered a bombardment to be commenced the
+next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an assault at six o'clock;
+but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early in the morning.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN PETERSBURG--THE
+CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d and took
+a position under cover of a house which protected us from the enemy's
+musketry which was flying thick and fast there.  As we would
+occasionally look around the corner we could see the streets and the
+Appomattox bottom, presumably near the bridge, packed with the
+Confederate army.  I did not have artillery brought up, because I was
+sure Lee was trying to make his escape, and I wanted to push immediately
+in pursuit.  At all events I had not the heart to turn the artillery
+upon such a mass of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture
+them soon.
+
+Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man came in
+who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of Northern
+Virginia.  He said that Lee had for some time been at work preparing a
+strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he would throw himself when
+forced out of Petersburg, and fight his final battle there; that he was
+actually at that time drawing his troops from Richmond, and falling back
+into this prepared work. This statement was made to General Meade and
+myself when we were together.  I had already given orders for the
+movement up the south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading
+off Lee; but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he
+thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move against
+Lee in his new position.  I knew that Lee was no fool, as he would have
+been to have put himself and his army between two formidable streams
+like the James and Appomattox rivers, and between two such armies as
+those of the Potomac and the James. Then these streams coming together
+as they did to the east of him, it would be only necessary to close up
+in the west to have him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or
+possibility of reinforcement.  It would only have been a question of
+days, and not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him
+by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to surrender
+his army.  Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war to deceive your
+antagonist.  My judgment was that Lee would necessarily have to evacuate
+Richmond, and that the only course for him to pursue would be to follow
+the Danville Road. Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that
+road south of Lee, and I told Meade this.  He suggested that if Lee was
+going that way we would follow him.  My reply was that we did not want
+to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut him off, and if he
+would only stay in the position he (Meade) believed him to be in at that
+time, I wanted nothing better; that when we got in possession of the
+Danville Railroad, at its crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still
+found him between the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward
+and close him up.  That we would then have all the advantage we could
+possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg, even if he
+remained in the position assigned him by the engineer officer.
+
+I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so as to
+start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning, supposing that
+Lee would be gone during the night.  During the night I strengthened
+Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.
+
+Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond, during the
+day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it would be impossible
+for him to hold out longer than night, if he could hold out that long.
+Davis was at church when he received Lee's dispatch.  The congregation
+was dismissed with the notice that there would be no evening service.
+The rebel government left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of
+the 2d.
+
+At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court House, his
+object being to get away, join Johnston if possible, and to try to crush
+Sherman before I could get there.  As soon as I was sure of this I
+notified Sheridan and directed him to move out on the Danville Railroad
+to the south side of the Appomattox River as speedily as possible.  He
+replied that he already had some of his command nine miles out.  I then
+ordered the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the
+same road in the morning.  Parke's corps followed by the same road, and
+the Army of the James was directed to follow the road which ran
+alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's Station, and to repair
+the railroad and telegraph as they proceeded.  That road was a 5 feet
+gauge, while our rolling stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge;
+consequently the rail on one side of the track had to be taken up
+throughout the whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of
+our cars and locomotives.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some days.
+I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only while I felt a
+strong conviction that the move was going to be successful, yet it might
+not prove so; and then I would have only added another to the many
+disappointments he had been suffering for the past three years.  But
+when we started out he saw that we were moving for a purpose, and
+bidding us Godspeed, remained there to hear the result.
+
+The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed Mr.
+Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I would await his
+arrival.  I had started all the troops out early in the morning, so that
+after the National army left Petersburg there was not a soul to be seen,
+not even an animal in the streets.  There was absolutely no one there,
+except my staff officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry.  We
+had selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until the
+President arrived.
+
+About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm
+congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and to the
+army which had accomplished it, was:  "Do you know, general, that I have
+had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days that you intended to do
+something like this."  Our movements having been successful up to this
+point, I no longer had any object in concealing from the President all
+my movements, and the objects I had in view.  He remained for some days
+near City Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by
+telegraph.
+
+Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join me at a
+fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's army.  I told him
+that I had been very anxious to have the Eastern armies vanquish their
+old enemy who had so long resisted all their repeated and gallant
+attempts to subdue them or drive them from their capital.  The Western
+armies had been in the main successful until they had conquered all the
+territory from the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and
+were now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking
+admittance.  I said to him that if the Western armies should be even
+upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the credit would be
+given to them for the capture, by politicians and non-combatants from
+the section of country which those troops hailed from.  It might lead to
+disagreeable bickerings between members of Congress of the East and
+those of the West in some of their debates.  Western members might be
+throwing it up to the members of the East that in the suppression of the
+rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to accomplish much
+in the way of contributing toward that end, but had to wait until the
+Western armies had conquered all the territory south and west of them,
+and then come on to help them capture the only army they had been
+engaged with.
+
+Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it before,
+because his anxiety was so great that he did not care where the aid came
+from so the work was done.
+
+The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four years'
+record in the suppression of the rebellion.  The army it had to fight
+was the protection to the capital of a people which was attempting to
+found a nation upon the territory of the United States.  Its loss would
+be the loss of the cause.  Every energy, therefore, was put forth by the
+Confederacy to protect and maintain their capital.  Everything else
+would go if it went. Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to
+maintain its position, no matter what territory was wrested from the
+South in another quarter.
+
+I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between the
+soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has been none
+between the politicians.  Possibly I am the only one who thought of the
+liability of such a state of things in advance.
+
+When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his horse and
+started on his return to City Point, while I and my staff started to
+join the army, now a good many miles in advance.  Up to this time I had
+not received the report of the capture of Richmond.
+
+Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from General
+Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession of Richmond at
+about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day, the 3d, and that he had
+found the city on fire in two places. The city was in the most utter
+confusion.  The authorities had taken the precaution to empty all the
+liquor into the gutter, and to throw out the provisions which the
+Confederate government had left, for the people to gather up.  The city
+had been deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any
+notice whatever that they were about to leave.  In fact, up to the very
+hour of the evacuation the people had been led to believe that Lee had
+gained an important victory somewhere around Petersburg.
+
+Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in Lee's army,
+there being still a great many men and even officers in the town.  The
+city was on fire.  Our troops were directed to extinguish the flames,
+which they finally succeeded in doing. The fire had been started by some
+one connected with the retreating army.  All authorities deny that it
+was authorized, and I presume it was the work of excited men who were
+leaving what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it
+was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of their
+enemy.  Be that as it may, the National troops found the city in flames,
+and used every effort to extinguish them.
+
+The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them, were cut
+off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued by our cavalry
+so hotly and closely that they threw away caissons, ammunition,
+clothing, and almost everything to lighten their loads, and pushed along
+up the Appomattox River until finally they took water and crossed over.
+
+I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join the
+command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine miles out.  We
+had still time to march as much farther, and time was an object; but the
+roads were bad and the trains belonging to the advance corps had blocked
+up the road so that it was impossible to get on.  Then, again, our
+cavalry had struck some of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the
+orders were that the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever
+they appeared.  This caused further delay.
+
+General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which were left
+back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into bivouac and trying
+to get up some rations for them, and clearing out the road, so that when
+they did start they would be uninterrupted.  Humphreys, who was far
+ahead, was also out of rations.  They did not succeed in getting them up
+through the night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were
+so elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a
+victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations to
+running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them.  So the march
+was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.
+
+Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven them
+north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were forced to
+cross.
+
+On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations up from
+Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to meet him at
+Farmville.  This showed that Lee had already abandoned the idea of
+following the railroad down to Danville, but had determined to go
+farther west, by the way of Farmville.  I notified Sheridan of this and
+directed him to get possession of the road before the supplies could
+reach Lee.  He responded that he had already sent Crook's division to
+get upon the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face
+north and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought
+Crook must be there now.  The bulk of the army moved directly for
+Jetersville by two roads.
+
+After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that Crook was on
+the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to make a forced march
+with the Army of the Potomac, and to send Parke's corps across from the
+road they were on to the South Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the
+Army of the James and to protect the railroad which that army was
+repairing as it went along.
+
+Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph office,
+they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred thousand rations
+from Danville.  The dispatch had not been sent, but Sheridan sent a
+special messenger with it to Burkesville and had it forwarded from
+there.  In the meantime, however, dispatches from other sources had
+reached Danville, and they knew there that our army was on the line of
+the road; so that they sent no further supplies from that quarter.
+
+At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off between
+the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on and the
+Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in flank.  They picked up
+a great many prisoners and forced the abandonment of some property.
+
+Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his advance north
+of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect forage.  The country
+was very poor and afforded but very little.  His foragers scattered a
+great deal; many of them were picked up by our men, and many others
+never returned to the Army of Northern Virginia.
+
+Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of Jetersville,
+and Sheridan notified me of the situation.  I again ordered Meade up
+with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one corps of infantry with a
+little cavalry confronting Lee's entire army.  Meade, always prompt in
+obeying orders, now pushed forward with great energy, although he was
+himself sick and hardly able to be out of bed.  Humphreys moved at two,
+and Wright at three o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have
+said, the wagons being far in the rear.
+
+I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side Railroad.  On
+the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of the progress Meade was
+making, and suggested that he might now attack Lee.  We had now no other
+objective than the Confederate armies, and I was anxious to close the
+thing up at once.
+
+On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about ten
+miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I then
+received from Sheridan the following dispatch:
+
+"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and on this
+side of it.  General Davies, whom I sent out to Painesville on their
+right flank, has just captured six pieces of artillery and some wagons.
+We can capture the Army of Northern Virginia if force enough can be
+thrown to this point, and then advance upon it.  My cavalry was at
+Burkesville yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last
+night.  General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person.  They are out of
+rations, or nearly so.  They were advancing up the railroad towards
+Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them at this point."
+
+It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to his
+provisions.
+
+Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards
+Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him. Davies
+found the movement had already commenced.  He attacked and drove away
+their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the west, capturing and
+burning 180 wagons.  He also captured five pieces of artillery.  The
+Confederate infantry then moved against him and probably would have
+handled him very roughly, but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of
+cavalry to follow Davies, and they came to his relief in time.  A sharp
+engagement took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the
+enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.
+
+Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the afternoon,
+but in advance of all his troops.  The head of Humphreys's corps
+followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan stationed the troops as
+they came up, at Meade's request, the latter still being very sick.  He
+extended two divisions of this corps off to the west of the road to the
+left of Griffin's corps, and one division to the right.  The cavalry by
+this time had also come up, and they were put still farther off to the
+left, Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the
+enemy intended to escape.  He wanted to attack, feeling that if time was
+given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented this, preferring to
+wait till his troops were all up.
+
+At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed to him
+by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he wished I was
+there myself.  The letter was dated Amelia Court House, April 5th, and
+signed by Colonel Taylor.  It was to his mother, and showed the
+demoralization of the Confederate army. Sheridan's note also gave me the
+information as here related of the movements of that day.  I received a
+second message from Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more
+emphatically the importance of my presence.  This was brought to me by a
+scout in gray uniform.  It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up
+in tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in.  This was a precaution
+taken so that if the scout should be captured he could take this
+tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into his mouth, chew it.  It
+would cause no surprise at all to see a Confederate soldier chewing
+tobacco. It was nearly night when this letter was received.  I gave Ord
+directions to continue his march to Burkesville and there intrench
+himself for the night, and in the morning to move west to cut off all
+the roads between there and Farmville.
+
+I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of
+cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's army.  The
+distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being dark our progress
+was slow through the woods in the absence of direct roads.  However, we
+got to the outposts about ten o'clock in the evening, and after some
+little parley convinced the sentinels of our identity and were conducted
+in to where Sheridan was bivouacked.  We talked over the situation for
+some little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was
+trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to the
+right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of escaping us and
+putting us in rear of him.
+
+We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about
+midnight.  I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow the
+enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders would allow
+the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no doubt that Lee was
+moving right then.  Meade changed his orders at once.  They were now
+given for an advance on Amelia Court House, at an early hour in the
+morning, as the army then lay; that is, the infantry being across the
+railroad, most of it to the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out
+still farther to the left.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH
+GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.
+
+The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the south-west
+from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge, and
+then trends north-westerly.  Sailor's Creek, an insignificant stream,
+running northward, empties into the Appomattox between the High Bridge
+and Jetersville.  Near the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to
+Lynchburg crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge.  The railroad
+runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles west, and
+from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of it.  The roads
+coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross the Appomattox River
+there on a bridge and run on the north side, leaving the Lynchburg and
+Petersburg Railroad well to the left.
+
+Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of all the
+roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to move upon, and
+never permitted the head of his columns to stop because of any fighting
+that might be going on in his rear.  In this way he came very near
+succeeding in getting to his provision trains and eluding us with at
+least part of his army.
+
+As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and our
+army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered them.  There was
+a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek was reached.  Our cavalry
+charged in upon a body of theirs which was escorting a wagon train in
+order to get it past our left.  A severe engagement ensued, in which we
+captured many prisoners, and many men also were killed and wounded.
+There was as much gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in
+these little engagements as was displayed at any time during the war,
+notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.
+
+The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy engagement took
+place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry were all brought into
+action.  Our men on the right, as they were brought in against the
+enemy, came in on higher ground, and upon his flank, giving us every
+advantage to be derived from the lay of the country.  Our firing was
+also very much more rapid, because the enemy commenced his retreat
+westward and in firing as he retreated had to turn around every time he
+fired.  The enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded
+as in captures.  Some six general officers fell into our hands in this
+engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners.  This engagement
+was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the 6th, and the retreat
+and pursuit were continued until nightfall, when the armies bivouacked
+upon the ground where the night had overtaken them.
+
+When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that morning, I
+ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme right, to be moved to
+the left past the whole army, to take the place of Griffin's, and
+ordered the latter at the same time to move by and place itself on the
+right.  The object of this movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's,
+next to the cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously
+and so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.
+
+The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's direct
+command until after the surrender.
+
+Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads southward
+between Burkesville and the High Bridge.  On the morning of the 6th he
+sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry regiments with instructions to
+destroy High Bridge and to return rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he
+prepared himself to resist the enemy there.  Soon after Washburn had
+started Ord became a little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel
+Read, of his staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and
+bring him back.  Very shortly after this he heard that the head of Lee's
+column had got up to the road between him and where Washburn now was,
+and attempted to send reinforcements, but the reinforcements could not
+get through.  Read, however, had got through ahead of the enemy.  He
+rode on to Farmville and was on his way back again when he found his
+return cut off, and Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's
+army.  Read drew his men up into line of battle, his force now
+consisting of less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode
+along their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the
+same enthusiasm that he himself felt.  He then gave the order to charge.
+This little band made several charges, of course unsuccessful ones, but
+inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than equal to their own entire
+number.  Colonel Read fell mortally wounded, and then Washburn; and at
+the close of the conflict nearly every officer of the command and most
+of the rank and file had been either killed or wounded.  The remainder
+then surrendered.  The Confederates took this to be only the advance of
+a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to intrench;
+so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked the progress of a
+strong detachment of the Confederate army.
+
+This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains following.
+Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road bridge near the High
+Bridge, and attempted to destroy it.  He did set fire to it, but the
+flames had made but little headway when Humphreys came up with his corps
+and drove away the rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it
+was being burned up.  Humphreys forced his way across with some loss,
+and followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at Farmville
+with the one from Petersburg.  Here Lee held a position which was very
+strong, naturally, besides being intrenched.  Humphreys was alone,
+confronting him all through the day, and in a very hazardous position.
+He put on a bold face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was
+not assaulted in return.
+
+Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's Court
+House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in between
+Griffin and the Appomattox.  Crook's division of cavalry and Wright's
+corps pushed on west of Farmville.  When the cavalry reached Farmville
+they found that some of the Confederates were in ahead of them, and had
+already got their trains of provisions back to that point; but our
+troops were in time to prevent them from securing anything to eat,
+although they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did
+not get them for some time.  These troops retreated to the north side of
+the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying the bridge after
+them.  Considerable fighting ensued there between Wright's corps and a
+portion of our cavalry and the Confederates, but finally the cavalry
+forded the stream and drove them away.  Wright built a foot-bridge for
+his men to march over on and then marched out to the junction of the
+roads to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night.  I had stopped
+the night before at Burkesville Junction.  Our troops were then pretty
+much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital there, and Ord's
+command was extended from that point towards Farmville.
+
+Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular army,
+who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one of the
+prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when we had got
+across the James River he knew their cause was lost, and it was the duty
+of their authorities to make the best terms they could while they still
+had a right to claim concessions. The authorities thought differently,
+however.  Now the cause was lost and they had no right to claim
+anything.  He said further, that for every man that was killed after
+this in the war somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little
+better than murder.  He was not sure that Lee would consent to surrender
+his army without being able to consult with the President, but he hoped
+he would.
+
+I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the day.
+Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the south.  Meade was
+back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys confronting Lee as before
+stated.  After having gone into bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House,
+Sheridan learned that seven trains of provisions and forage were at
+Appomattox, and determined to start at once and capture them; and a
+forced march was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could
+secure them.  He wrote me a note telling me this.  This fact, together
+with the incident related the night before by Dr. Smith, gave me the
+idea of opening correspondence with General Lee on the subject of the
+surrender of his army.  I therefore wrote to him on this day, as
+follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., 5 P.M., April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE Commanding C. S. A.
+
+The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this
+struggle.  I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from
+myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of
+you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States army known
+as the Army of Northern Virginia.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:
+
+
+April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I have received your note of this day.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further
+resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate
+your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore before
+considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition
+of its surrender.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies of the U. S.
+
+
+This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving another letter
+and wrote him as follows:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking the
+condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern
+Virginia is just received.  In reply I would say that, peace being my
+great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely:
+that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking
+up arms again against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any
+officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to
+you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the
+surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's army was rapidly crumbling.  Many of his soldiers had enlisted
+from that part of the State where they now were, and were continually
+dropping out of the ranks and going to their homes.  I know that I
+occupied a hotel almost destitute of furniture at Farmville, which had
+probably been used as a Confederate hospital.  The next morning when I
+came out I found a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and
+said that he was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel
+of a regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood.  He said that
+when he came along past home, he found that he was the only man of the
+regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped out, and now
+wanted to surrender himself.  I told him to stay there and he would not
+be molested.  That was one regiment which had been eliminated from Lee's
+force by this crumbling process.
+
+Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved with
+alacrity and without any straggling.  They began to see the end of what
+they had been fighting four years for.  Nothing seemed to fatigue them.
+They were ready to move without rations and travel without rest until
+the end.  Straggling had entirely ceased, and every man was now a rival
+for the front.  The infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry
+could.
+
+Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of Appomattox
+Station, which is about five miles south-west of the Court House, to get
+west of the trains and destroy the roads to the rear.  They got there
+the night of the 8th, and succeeded partially; but some of the train men
+had just discovered the movement of our troops and succeeded in running
+off three of the trains.  The other four were held by Custer.
+
+The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning of the
+9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union soldiers near.
+The Confederates were surprised to find our cavalry had possession of
+the trains.  However, they were desperate and at once assaulted, hoping
+to recover them.  In the melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one
+of the trains, but not in getting anything from it.  Custer then ordered
+the other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the fight
+continued.
+
+So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were engaged.
+Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the rear, no doubt
+expecting they had nothing to meet but our cavalry.  But our infantry
+had pushed forward so rapidly that by the time the enemy got up they
+found Griffin's corps and the Army of the James confronting them.  A
+sharp engagement ensued, but Lee quickly set up a white flag.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S HOUSE--THE
+TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AFTER THE
+SURRENDER.
+
+On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of Lee.  I was
+suffering very severely with a sick headache, and stopped at a farmhouse
+on the road some distance in rear of the main body of the army.  I spent
+the night in bathing my feet in hot water and mustard, and putting
+mustard plasters on my wrists and the back part of my neck, hoping to be
+cured by morning. During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter
+of the 8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following
+morning. (*43)  But it was for a different purpose from that of
+surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of yesterday is received.  As I have no authority to treat on
+the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day could
+lead to no good.  I will state, however, General, that I am equally
+anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same
+feeling.  The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood.  By
+the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable
+event, save thousands of human lives and hundreds of millions of
+property not yet destroyed.  Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties
+may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself,
+etc.,
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering with the
+headache, to get to the head of the column.  I was not more than two or
+three miles from Appomattox Court House at the time, but to go direct I
+would have to pass through Lee's army, or a portion of it.  I had
+therefore to move south in order to get upon a road coming up from
+another direction.
+
+When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I was in
+this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and consequently could
+not be communicated with immediately, and be informed of what Lee had
+done.  Lee, therefore, sent a flag to the rear to advise Meade and one
+to the front to Sheridan, saying that he had sent a message to me for
+the purpose of having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his
+army, and asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be
+communicated with.  As they had heard nothing of this until the fighting
+had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of these commanders
+hesitated very considerably about suspending hostilities at all.  They
+were afraid it was not in good faith, and we had the Army of Northern
+Virginia where it could not escape except by some deception.  They,
+however, finally consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours
+to give an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if
+possible.  It was found that, from the route I had taken, they would
+probably not be able to communicate with me and get an answer back
+within the time fixed unless the messenger should pass through the rebel
+lines.
+
+Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this message
+through his lines to me.
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I received your note of this morning on the picket-line
+whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were
+embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender
+of this army.  I now request an interview in accordance with the offer
+contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT Commanding U. S. Armies.
+
+
+When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick
+headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was cured.  I
+wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. Armies.
+
+Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, in
+consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to
+the Farmville and Lynchburg road.  I am at this writing about four miles
+west of Walker's Church and will push forward to the front for the
+purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish
+the interview to take place will meet me.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his troops
+drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army near by.  They
+were very much excited, and expressed their view that this was all a
+ruse employed to enable the Confederates to get away.  They said they
+believed that Johnston was marching up from North Carolina now, and Lee
+was moving to join him; and they would whip the rebels where they now
+were in five minutes if I would only let them go in.  But I had no doubt
+about the good faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he
+was.  I found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court
+House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers, awaiting my
+arrival.  The head of his column was occupying a hill, on a portion of
+which was an apple orchard, beyond a little valley which separated it
+from that on the crest of which Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line
+of battle to the south.
+
+Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I will
+give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.
+
+Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they
+are believed to be true.  The war of the rebellion was no exception to
+this rule, and the story of the apple tree is one of those fictions
+based on a slight foundation of fact. As I have said, there was an apple
+orchard on the side of the hill occupied by the Confederate forces.
+Running diagonally up the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point,
+ran very near one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on
+that side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little embankment.
+General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that when he first met
+General Lee he was sitting upon this embankment with his feet in the
+road below and his back resting against the tree.  The story had no
+other foundation than that.  Like many other stories, it would be very
+good if it was only true.
+
+I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him in the
+Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference in our age and
+rank, that he would remember me, while I would more naturally remember
+him distinctly, because he was the chief of staff of General Scott in
+the Mexican War.
+
+When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the result
+that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough garb.  I was
+without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback on the field, and
+wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the shoulder straps of my rank
+to indicate to the army who I was. When I went into the house I found
+General Lee.  We greeted each other, and after shaking hands took our
+seats.  I had my staff with me, a good portion of whom were in the room
+during the whole of the interview.
+
+What General Lee's feelings were I do not know.  As he was a man of much
+dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to say whether he
+felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the
+result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were
+entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had
+been quite jubilant on the receipt of his letter, were sad and
+depressed.  I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall
+of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much
+for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for
+which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least
+excuse.  I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of
+those who were opposed to us.
+
+General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and
+was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword which
+had been presented by the State of Virginia; at all events, it was an
+entirely different sword from the one that would ordinarily be worn in
+the field.  In my rough traveling suit, the uniform of a private with
+the straps of a lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very
+strangely with a man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of
+faultless form. But this was not a matter that I thought of until
+afterwards.
+
+We soon fell into a conversation about old army times.  He remarked that
+he remembered me very well in the old army; and I told him that as a
+matter of course I remembered him perfectly, but from the difference in
+our rank and years (there being about sixteen years' difference in our
+ages), I had thought it very likely that I had not attracted his
+attention sufficiently to be remembered by him after such a long
+interval.  Our conversation grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the
+object of our meeting.  After the conversation had run on in this style
+for some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our
+meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the purpose
+of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his army.  I said that I
+meant merely that his army should lay down their arms, not to take them
+up again during the continuance of the war unless duly and properly
+exchanged.  He said that he had so understood my letter.
+
+Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters foreign
+to the subject which had brought us together.  This continued for some
+little time, when General Lee again interrupted the course of the
+conversation by suggesting that the terms I proposed to give his army
+ought to be written out. I called to General Parker, secretary on my
+staff, for writing materials, and commenced writing out the following
+terms:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+
+Ap 19th, 1865.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE, Comd'g C. S. A.
+
+GEN:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th
+inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the
+following terms, to wit:  Rolls of all the officers and men to be made
+in duplicate.  One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the
+other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate.
+The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms
+against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged,
+and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men
+of their commands.  The arms, artillery and public property to be parked
+and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive
+them.  This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their
+private horses or baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be
+allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force
+where they may reside.
+
+Very respectfully, U. S. GRANT, Lt. Gen.
+
+
+When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word that I
+should make use of in writing the terms.  I only knew what was in my
+mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that there could be no
+mistaking it.  As I wrote on, the thought occurred to me that the
+officers had their own private horses and effects, which were important
+to them, but of no value to us; also that it would be an unnecessary
+humiliation to call upon them to deliver their side arms.
+
+No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and myself,
+either about private property, side arms, or kindred subjects.  He
+appeared to have no objections to the terms first proposed; or if he had
+a point to make against them he wished to wait until they were in
+writing to make it.  When he read over that part of the terms about side
+arms, horses and private property of the officers, he remarked, with
+some feeling, I thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his
+army.
+
+Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked to me
+again that their army was organized a little differently from the army
+of the United States (still maintaining by implication that we were two
+countries); that in their army the cavalrymen and artillerists owned
+their own horses; and he asked if he was to understand that the men who
+so owned their horses were to be permitted to retain them.  I told him
+that as the terms were written they would not; that only the officers
+were permitted to take their private property.  He then, after reading
+over the terms a second time, remarked that that was clear.
+
+I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last battle of
+the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I took it that most of
+the men in the ranks were small farmers. The whole country had been so
+raided by the two armies that it was doubtful whether they would be able
+to put in a crop to carry themselves and their families through the next
+winter without the aid of the horses they were then riding.  The United
+States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the officers I
+left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to let every man of the
+Confederate army who claimed to own a horse or mule take the animal to
+his home.  Lee remarked again that this would have a happy effect.
+
+He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the terms of
+the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you.  As
+they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the
+8th inst., they are accepted.  I will proceed to designate the proper
+officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
+
+R. E. LEE, General. LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union generals
+present were severally presented to General Lee.
+
+The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it back,
+this and much more that has been said about it is the purest romance.
+The word sword or side arms was not mentioned by either of us until I
+wrote it in the terms.  There was no premeditation, and it did not occur
+to me until the moment I wrote it down.  If I had happened to omit it,
+and General Lee had called my attention to it, I should have put it in
+the terms precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers
+retaining their horses.
+
+General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his leave,
+remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for want of food, and
+that they were without forage; that his men had been living for some
+days on parched corn exclusively, and that he would have to ask me for
+rations and forage.  I told him "certainly," and asked for how many men
+he wanted rations.  His answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I
+authorized him to send his own commissary and quartermaster to
+Appomattox Station, two or three miles away, where he could have, out of
+the trains we had stopped, all the provisions wanted.  As for forage, we
+had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.
+
+Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to carry into
+effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they should start for their
+homes--General Lee leaving Generals Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for
+them to confer with in order to facilitate this work.  Lee and I then
+separated as cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and
+all went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.
+
+Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington.
+
+General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon on
+terms proposed by myself.  The accompanying additional correspondence
+will show the conditions fully.
+
+U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General.
+
+
+When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced
+firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory.  I at once
+sent word, however, to have it stopped.  The Confederates were now our
+prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall.
+
+I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to putting a
+stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now deemed other useless
+outlay of money.  Before leaving, however, I thought I (*44) would like
+to see General Lee again; so next morning I rode out beyond our lines
+towards his headquarters, preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer
+carrying a white flag.
+
+Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me.  We had there
+between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very pleasant conversation of
+over half an hour, in the course of which Lee said to me that the South
+was a big country and that we might have to march over it three or four
+times before the war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do
+it as they could no longer resist us.  He expressed it as his earnest
+hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more loss and
+sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the result.  I then
+suggested to General Lee that there was not a man in the Confederacy
+whose influence with the soldiery and the whole people was as great as
+his, and that if he would now advise the surrender of all the armies I
+had no doubt his advice would be followed with alacrity.  But Lee said,
+that he could not do that without consulting the President first.  I
+knew there was no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of
+what was right.
+
+I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom seemed to
+have a great desire to go inside the Confederate lines.  They finally
+asked permission of Lee to do so for the purpose of seeing some of their
+old army friends, and the permission was granted.  They went over, had a
+very pleasant time with their old friends, and brought some of them back
+with them when they returned.
+
+When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I returned to the
+house of Mr. McLean.  Here the officers of both armies came in great
+numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as much as though they had been
+friends separated for a long time while fighting battles under the same
+flag.  For the time being it looked very much as if all thought of the
+war had escaped their minds.  After an hour pleasantly passed in this
+way I set out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort,
+for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by this
+time been repaired.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH
+--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT
+LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac and the
+James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale of the National
+troops had greatly improved.  There was no more straggling, no more rear
+guards.  The men who in former times had been falling back, were now, as
+I have already stated, striving to get to the front.  For the first time
+in four weary years they felt that they were now nearing the time when
+they could return to their homes with their country saved.  On the other
+hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly depressed.  Their
+despondency increased with each returning day, and especially after the
+battle of Sailor's Creek.  They threw away their arms in constantly
+increasing numbers, dropping out of the ranks and betaking themselves to
+the woods in the hope of reaching their homes.  I have already instanced
+the case of the entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met
+at Farmville.  As a result of these and other influences, when Lee
+finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356 officers and
+men left to be paroled, and many of these were without arms.  It was
+probably this latter fact which gave rise to the statement sometimes
+made, North and South, that Lee surrendered a smaller number of men than
+what the official figures show.  As a matter of official record, and in
+addition to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March
+29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say nothing of
+Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing, during the series of
+desperate conflicts which marked his headlong and determined flight.
+The same record shows the number of cannon, including those at
+Appomattox, to have been 689 between the dates named.
+
+There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the number of
+troops engaged in every battle, or all important battles, fought between
+the sections, the South magnifying the number of Union troops engaged
+and belittling their own. Northern writers have fallen, in many
+instances, into the same error.  I have often heard gentlemen, who were
+thoroughly loyal to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South
+had made and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with
+their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the twelve
+four being colored slaves, non-combatants.  I will add to their
+argument.  We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who volunteered
+under great difficulty from the twelve million belonging to the South.
+
+But the South had rebelled against the National government.  It was not
+bound by any constitutional restrictions.  The whole South was a
+military camp.  The occupation of the colored people was to furnish
+supplies for the army.  Conscription was resorted to early, and embraced
+every male from the age of eighteen to forty-five, excluding only those
+physically unfit to serve in the field, and the necessary number of
+civil officers of State and intended National government.  The old and
+physically disabled furnished a good portion of these.  The slaves, the
+non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in the
+field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to age.  Children
+from the age of eight years could and did handle the hoe; they were not
+much older when they began to hold the plough.  The four million of
+colored non-combatants were equal to more than three times their number
+in the North, age for age and sex for sex, in supplying food from the
+soil to support armies.  Women did not work in the fields in the North,
+and children attended school.
+
+The arts of peace were carried on in the North.  Towns and cities grew
+during the war.  Inventions were made in all kinds of machinery to
+increase the products of a day's labor in the shop, and in the field.
+In the South no opposition was allowed to the government which had been
+set up and which would have become real and respected if the rebellion
+had been successful.  No rear had to be protected.  All the troops in
+service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of ground
+threatened with invasion.  The press of the South, like the people who
+remained at home, were loyal to the Southern cause.
+
+In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented about the
+same appearance they do in time of peace.  The furnace was in blast, the
+shops were filled with workmen, the fields were cultivated, not only to
+supply the population of the North and the troops invading the South,
+but to ship abroad to pay a part of the expense of the war.  In the
+North the press was free up to the point of open treason.  The citizen
+could entertain his views and express them.  Troops were necessary in
+the Northern States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being
+released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by fire our
+Northern cities.  Plans were formed by Northern and Southern citizens to
+burn our cities, to poison the water supplying them, to spread infection
+by importing clothing from infected regions, to blow up our river and
+lake steamers--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives.  The
+copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel successes,
+and belittled those of the Union army.  It was, with a large following,
+an auxiliary to the Confederate army.  The North would have been much
+stronger with a hundred thousand of these men in the Confederate ranks
+and the rest of their kind thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment
+was in the South, than we were as the battle was fought.
+
+As I have said, the whole South was a military camp.  The colored
+people, four million in number, were submissive, and worked in the field
+and took care of the families while the able-bodied white men were at
+the front fighting for a cause destined to defeat.  The cause was
+popular, and was enthusiastically supported by the young men.  The
+conscription took all of them.  Before the war was over, further
+conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of age as
+junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty as senior
+reserves.  It would have been an offence, directly after the war, and
+perhaps it would be now, to ask any able-bodied man in the South, who
+was between the ages of fourteen and sixty at any time during the war,
+whether he had been in the Confederate army.  He would assert that he
+had, or account for his absence from the ranks.  Under such
+circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a
+superiority of force in every battle fought.  I know they did not.
+
+During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no military
+education, but possessed of courage and endurance, operated in the rear
+of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and Tennessee.  He had no base of
+supplies to protect, but was at home wherever he went.  The army
+operating against the South, on the contrary, had to protect its lines
+of communication with the North, from which all supplies had to come to
+the front.  Every foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at
+convenient distances apart.  These guards could not render assistance
+beyond the points where stationed.  Morgan Was foot-loose and could
+operate where, his information--always correct--led him to believe he
+could do the greatest damage.  During the time he was operating in this
+way he killed, wounded and captured several times the number he ever had
+under his command at any one time.  He destroyed many millions of
+property in addition. Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if
+threatened by him.  Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west,
+and held from the National front quite as many men as could be spared
+for offensive operations.  It is safe to say that more than half the
+National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were on
+leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their bearing arms.
+Then, again, large forces were employed where no Confederate army
+confronted them.  I deem it safe to say that there were no large
+engagements where the National numbers compensated for the advantage of
+position and intrenchment occupied by the enemy.
+
+While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to Richmond in
+company with Admiral Porter, and on board his flagship.  He found the
+people of that city in great consternation.  The leading citizens among
+the people who had remained at home surrounded him, anxious that
+something should be done to relieve them from suspense.  General Weitzel
+was not then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring
+villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the conflagration
+which they had found in progress on entering the Confederate capital.
+The President sent for him, and, on his arrival, a short interview was
+had on board the vessel, Admiral Porter and a leading citizen of
+Virginia being also present. After this interview the President wrote an
+order in about these words, which I quote from memory:  "General Weitzel
+is authorized to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of
+Virginia to meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from
+the Confederate armies."
+
+Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out a call
+for a meeting and had it published in their papers.  This call, however,
+went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had contemplated, as he did not
+say the "Legislature of Virginia" but "the body which called itself the
+Legislature of Virginia." Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the
+Northern papers the very next issue and took the liberty of
+countermanding the order authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or
+any other body, and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was
+nearer the spot than he was.
+
+This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton.  He was a man who never
+questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time what he
+wanted to do.  He was an able constitutional lawyer and jurist; but the
+Constitution was not an impediment to him while the war lasted.  In this
+latter particular I entirely agree with the view he evidently held.  The
+Constitution was not framed with a view to any such rebellion as that of
+1861-5.  While it did not authorize rebellion it made no provision
+against it.  Yet the right to resist or suppress rebellion is as
+inherent as the right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an
+individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy.  The Constitution was
+therefore in abeyance for the time being, so far as it in any way
+affected the progress and termination of the war.
+
+Those in rebellion against the government of the United States were not
+restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other, except the acts
+of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted to the cause for which
+the South was then fighting.  It would be a hard case when one-third of
+a nation, united in rebellion against the national authority, is
+entirely untrammeled, that the other two-thirds, in their efforts to
+maintain the Union intact, should be restrained by a Constitution
+prepared by our ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the
+permanency of the confederation of the States.
+
+After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my staff and
+a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way to Washington.
+The road from Burkesville back having been newly repaired and the ground
+being soft, the train got off the track frequently, and, as a result, it
+was after midnight of the second day when I reached City Point.  As soon
+as possible I took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.
+
+While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the
+necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating with my
+different commanders of separate departments, bodies of troops, etc.
+But by the 14th I was pretty well through with this work, so as to be
+able to visit my children, who were then in Burlington, New Jersey,
+attending school.  Mrs. Grant was with me in Washington at the time, and
+we were invited by President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the
+theatre on the evening of that day.  I replied to the President's verbal
+invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would take
+great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very anxious to get
+away and visit my children, and if I could get through my work during
+the day I should do so.  I did get through and started by the evening
+train on the 14th, sending Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not
+be at the theatre.
+
+At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on Broad
+Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the Delaware River,
+and then ferried to Camden, at which point they took the cars again.
+When I reached the ferry, on the east side of the City of Philadelphia,
+I found people awaiting my arrival there; and also dispatches informing
+me of the assassination of the President and Mr. Seward, and of the
+probable assassination of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and
+requesting my immediate return.
+
+It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that overcame me
+at the news of these assassinations, more especially the assassination
+of the President.  I knew his goodness of heart, his generosity, his
+yielding disposition, his desire to have everybody happy, and above all
+his desire to see all the people of the United States enter again upon
+the full privileges of citizenship with equality among all.  I knew also
+the feeling that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation
+against the Southern people, and I feared that his course towards them
+would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling citizens; and if they
+became such they would remain so for a long while.  I felt that
+reconstruction had been set back, no telling how far.
+
+I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to Washington
+City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after midnight and Burlington
+was but an hour away.  Finding that I could accompany her to our house
+and return about as soon as they would be ready to take me from the
+Philadelphia station, I went up with her and returned immediately by the
+same special train.  The joy that I had witnessed among the people in
+the street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had
+been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of mourning.  I
+have stated what I believed then the effect of this would be, and my
+judgment now is that I was right.  I believe the South would have been
+saved from very much of the hardness of feeling that was engendered by
+Mr. Johnson's course towards them during the first few months of his
+administration.  Be this as it may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was
+particularly unfortunate for the entire nation.
+
+Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness of
+feeling.  His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready remark,
+"Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was repeated to all those
+men of the South who came to him to get some assurances of safety so
+that they might go to work at something with the feeling that what they
+obtained would be secure to them.  He uttered his denunciations with
+great vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of
+safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond endurance.
+
+The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or ought to
+be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and judgment of those over
+whom he presides; and the Southerners who read the denunciations of
+themselves and their people must have come to the conclusion that he
+uttered the sentiments of the Northern people; whereas, as a matter of
+fact, but for the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great
+majority of the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would
+have been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be the
+least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against their
+government.  They believed, I have no doubt, as I did, that besides
+being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.
+
+The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back into the
+Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the nation.  Naturally
+the nearer they were placed to an equality with the people who had not
+rebelled, the more reconciled they would feel with their old
+antagonists, and the better citizens they would be from the beginning.
+They surely would not make good citizens if they felt that they had a
+yoke around their necks.
+
+I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at that time
+were in favor of negro suffrage.  They supposed that it would naturally
+follow the freedom of the negro, but that there would be a time of
+probation, in which the ex-slaves could prepare themselves for the
+privileges of citizenship before the full right would be conferred; but
+Mr. Johnson, after a complete revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard
+the South not only as an oppressed people, but as the people best
+entitled to consideration of any of our citizens.  This was more than
+the people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were
+prepared for, and they became more radical in their views.  The
+Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr. Johnson
+having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and such sympathy
+and support as they could get from the North, they felt that they would
+be able to control the nation at once, and already many of them acted as
+if they thought they were entitled to do so.
+
+Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and receiving the
+support of the South on the other, drove Congress, which was
+overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one measure and then
+another to restrict his power.  There being a solid South on one side
+that was in accord with the political party in the North which had
+sympathized with the rebellion, it finally, in the judgment of Congress
+and of the majority of the legislatures of the States, became necessary
+to enfranchise the negro, in all his ignorance.  In this work, I shall
+not discuss the question of how far the policy of Congress in this
+particular proved a wise one.  It became an absolute necessity, however,
+because of the foolhardiness of the President and the blindness of the
+Southern people to their own interest.  As to myself, while strongly
+favoring the course that would be the least humiliating to the people
+who had been in rebellion, I gradually worked up to the point where,
+with the majority of the people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE OF
+MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS--GENERAL
+THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed leisurely back
+to Burkesville Station with the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the
+James, and to go into camp there until further orders from me.  General
+Johnston, as has been stated before, was in North Carolina confronting
+General Sherman.  It could not be known positively, of course, whether
+Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though I
+supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was the
+natural point from which to move to attack him.  The army which I could
+have sent against him was superior to his, and that with which Sherman
+confronted him was also superior; and between the two he would
+necessarily have been crushed, or driven away.  With the loss of their
+capital and the Army of Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether
+Johnston's men would have the spirit to stand.  My belief was that he
+would make no such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution
+against what might happen, however improbable.
+
+Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a messenger to
+North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General Sherman, informing him
+of the surrender of Lee and his army; also of the terms which I had
+given him; and I authorized Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston
+if the latter chose to accept them.  The country is familiar with the
+terms that Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a
+political question as well as a military one and he would therefore have
+to confer with the government before agreeing to them definitely.
+
+General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting there
+to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what Mr. Lincoln
+had said to the peace commissioners when he met them at Hampton Roads,
+viz.:  that before he could enter into negotiations with them they would
+have to agree to two points: one being that the Union should be
+preserved, and the other that slavery should be abolished; and if they
+were ready to concede these two points he was almost ready to sign his
+name to a blank piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance
+of the terms upon which we would live together.  He had also seen
+notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond, and had
+read in the same papers that while there he had authorized the convening
+of the Legislature of Virginia.
+
+Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had made with
+general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes of the President of
+the United States.  But seeing that he was going beyond his authority,
+he made it a point that the terms were only conditional.  They signed
+them with this understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms
+could be sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper
+authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved, then he
+would give due notice, before resuming hostilities.  As the world knows,
+Sherman, from being one of the most popular generals of the land
+(Congress having even gone so far as to propose a bill providing for a
+second lieutenant-general for the purpose of advancing him to that
+grade), was denounced by the President and Secretary of War in very
+bitter terms.  Some people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor
+--a most preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much
+service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in granting such
+terms as he did to Johnston and his army.  If Sherman had taken
+authority to send Johnston with his army home, with their arms to be put
+in the arsenals of their own States, without submitting the question to
+the authorities at Washington, the suspicions against him might have
+some foundation.  But the feeling against Sherman died out very rapidly,
+and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the fullest
+confidence of the American people.
+
+When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson and the
+Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman had forwarded
+for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately called and I was sent
+for.  There seemed to be the greatest consternation, lest Sherman would
+commit the government to terms which they were not willing to accede to
+and which he had no right to grant.  A message went out directing the
+troops in the South not to obey General Sherman.  I was ordered to
+proceed at once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there
+myself. Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as
+possible.  I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly as
+possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of my
+presence.
+
+When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at once
+closeted together.  I showed him the instruction and orders under which
+I visited him.  I told him that I wanted him to notify General Johnston
+that the terms which they had conditionally agreed upon had not been
+approved in Washington, and that he was authorized to offer the same
+terms I had given General Lee.  I sent Sherman to do this himself.  I
+did not wish the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army
+generally; so I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the
+surrender solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was
+anywhere near the field.  As soon as possible I started to get away, to
+leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.
+
+At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last
+newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement in the
+North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and harsh orders that
+had been promulgated by the President and Secretary of War.  I knew that
+Sherman must see these papers, and I fully realized what great
+indignation they would cause him, though I do not think his feelings
+could have been more excited than were my own.  But like the true and
+loyal soldier that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given
+him, obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in his
+camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.
+
+There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could not be
+communicated with, and had to be left to act according to the judgment
+of their respective commanders.  With these it was impossible to tell
+how the news of the surrender of Lee and Johnston, of which they must
+have heard, might affect their judgment as to what was best to do.
+
+The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from the
+commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off:  one under Canby
+himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman from East
+Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson, starting from Eastport,
+Mississippi, on the 22d of March.  They were all eminently successful,
+but without any good result. Indeed much valuable property was destroyed
+and many lives lost at a time when we would have liked to spare them.
+The war was practically over before their victories were gained.  They
+were so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any troops
+away that otherwise would have been operating against the armies which
+were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a surrender.  The only
+possible good that we may have experienced from these raids was by
+Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about the time the armies of the
+Potomac and the James were closing in on Lee at Appomattox.
+
+Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike the
+Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.  He got upon that road, destroyed its
+bridges at different places and rendered the road useless to the enemy
+up to within a few miles of Lynchburg.  His approach caused the
+evacuation of that city about the time we were at Appomattox, and was
+the cause of a commotion we heard of there.  He then pushed south, and
+was operating in the rear of Johnston's army about the time the
+negotiations were going on between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's
+surrender.  In this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount
+of stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners were
+the trophies of his success.
+
+Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March.  The city of Mobile
+was protected by two forts, besides other intrenchments--Spanish Fort,
+on the east side of the bay, and Fort Blakely, north of the city.  These
+forts were invested.  On the night of the 8th of April, the National
+troops having carried the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was
+evacuated; and on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was
+carried by assault, with a considerable loss to us.  On the 11th the
+city was evacuated.
+
+I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent against
+Mobile when its possession by us would have been of great advantage.  It
+finally cost lives to take it when its possession was of no importance,
+and when, if left alone, it would within a few days have fallen into our
+hands without any bloodshed whatever.
+
+Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well armed.  He
+was an energetic officer and accomplished his work rapidly.  Forrest was
+in his front, but with neither his old-time army nor his old-time
+prestige.  He now had principally conscripts.  His conscripts were
+generally old men and boys.  He had a few thousand regular cavalry left,
+but not enough to even retard materially the progress of Wilson's
+cavalry.  Selma fell on the 2d of April, with a large number of
+prisoners and a large quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to
+be disposed of by the victors.  Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point
+fell in quick succession.  These were all important points to the enemy
+by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies, and
+because of their manufactories of war material.  They were fortified or
+intrenched, and there was considerable fighting before they were
+captured.  Macon surrendered on the 21st of April.  Here news was
+received of the negotiations for the surrender of Johnston's army.
+Wilson belonged to the military division commanded by Sherman, and of
+course was bound by his terms.  This stopped all fighting.
+
+General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate officer
+still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on the 4th of May he
+surrendered everything within the limits of this extensive command.
+General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the trans-Mississippi department on
+the 26th of May, leaving no other Confederate army at liberty to
+continue the war.
+
+Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president of the
+defunct confederacy before he got out of the country. This occurred at
+Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May.  For myself, and I believe Mr.
+Lincoln shared the feeling, I would have been very glad to have seen Mr.
+Davis succeed in escaping, but for one reason:  I feared that if not
+captured, he might get into the trans-Mississippi region and there set
+up a more contracted confederacy.  The young men now out of homes and
+out of employment might have rallied under his standard and protracted
+the war yet another year.  The Northern people were tired of the war,
+they were tired of piling up a debt which would be a further mortgage
+upon their homes.
+
+Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he did not
+wish to deal with the matter of his punishment.  He knew there would be
+people clamoring for the punishment of the ex-Confederate president, for
+high treason.  He thought blood enough had already been spilled to atone
+for our wickedness as a nation.  At all events he did not wish to be the
+judge to decide whether more should be shed or not.  But his own life
+was sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president of
+the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government which he
+had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.
+
+All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best interest of
+all concerned.  This reflection does not, however, abate in the
+slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely loss of so good and
+great a man as Abraham Lincoln.
+
+He would have proven the best friend the South could have had, and saved
+much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling brought out by
+reconstruction under a President who at first wished to revenge himself
+upon Southern men of better social standing than himself, but who still
+sought their recognition, and in a short time conceived the idea and
+advanced the proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly
+out of all their difficulties.
+
+The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction period to
+stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the minds of the people
+to be told now.  Much of it, no doubt, was unconstitutional; but it was
+hoped that the laws enacted would serve their purpose before the
+question of constitutionality could be submitted to the judiciary and a
+decision obtained. These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a
+dead letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one taking
+interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.
+
+Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing when he
+was captured.  I cannot settle this question from personal knowledge of
+the facts; but I have been under the belief, from information given to
+me by General Wilson shortly after the event, that when Mr. Davis
+learned that he was surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed
+in a gentleman's dressing gown.  Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted to
+escape, and would not reflect much how this should be accomplished
+provided it might be done successfully.  If captured, he would be no
+ordinary prisoner.  He represented all there was of that hostility to
+the government which had caused four years of the bloodiest war--and the
+most costly in other respects of which history makes any record.  Every
+one supposed he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he
+would be executed.  Had he succeeded in making his escape in any
+disguise it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his
+admirers.
+
+As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as my
+remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling somewhat
+upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to him, that I give
+my estimate of him as a soldier.  The same remark will apply also in the
+case of General Canby.  I had been at West Point with Thomas one year,
+and had known him later in the old army.  He was a man of commanding
+appearance, slow and deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest
+and brave.  He possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent
+degree.  He gained the confidence of all who served under him, and
+almost their love.  This implies a very valuable quality.  It is a
+quality which calls out the most efficient services of the troops
+serving under the commander possessing it.
+
+Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good. He could
+not be driven from a point he was given to hold.  He was not as good,
+however, in pursuit as he was in action.  I do not believe that he could
+ever have conducted Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta against
+the defences and the commander guarding that line in 1864.  On the other
+hand, if it had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to
+hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer could have
+done it better.
+
+Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has received,
+the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played in the great
+tragedy of 1861-5.
+
+General Canby was an officer of great merit.  He was naturally studious,
+and inclined to the law.  There have been in the army but very few, if
+any, officers who took as much interest in reading and digesting every
+act of Congress and every regulation for the government of the army as
+he.  His knowledge gained in this way made him a most valuable staff
+officer, a capacity in which almost all his army services were rendered
+up to the time of his being assigned to the Military Division of the
+Gulf.  He was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and
+learning.  I presume his feelings when first called upon to command a
+large army against a fortified city, were somewhat like my own when
+marching a regiment against General Thomas Harris in Missouri in 1861.
+Neither of us would have felt the slightest trepidation in going into
+battle with some one else commanding.  Had Canby been in other
+engagements afterwards, he would, I have no doubt, have advanced without
+any fear arising from a sense of the responsibility.  He was afterwards
+killed in the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the
+hostile Modoc Indians.  His character was as pure as his talent and
+learning were great.  His services were valuable during the war, but
+principally as a bureau officer.  I have no idea that it was from choice
+that his services were rendered in an office, but because of his
+superior efficiency there.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S ANECDOTES
+--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF LINCOLN AND STANTON
+--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there would be no
+more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in North Carolina and
+Virginia were ordered to march immediately to the capital, and go into
+camp there until mustered out.  Suitable garrisons were left at the
+prominent places throughout the South to insure obedience to the laws
+that might be enacted for the government of the several States, and to
+insure security to the lives and property of all classes.  I do not know
+how far this was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time,
+that such a course should be pursued.  I think now that these garrisons
+were continued after they ceased to be absolutely required; but it is
+not to be expected that such a rebellion as was fought between the
+sections from 1861 to 1865 could terminate without leaving many serious
+apprehensions in the mind of the people as to what should be done.
+
+Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on the
+south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there put them in
+camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the situation was
+there.
+
+It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon him.
+Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and had issued
+orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from obeying his,
+Sherman's, orders.  Sherman met the papers on his return, containing
+this order of Halleck, and very justly felt indignant at the outrage.
+On his arrival at Fortress Monroe returning from Savannah, Sherman
+received an invitation from Halleck to come to Richmond and be his
+guest.  This he indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore,
+that he had seen his order.  He also stated that he was coming up to
+take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would probably
+be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he (Sherman) would
+not be responsible for what some rash person might do through
+indignation for the treatment he had received.  Very soon after that,
+Sherman received orders from me to proceed to Washington City, and to go
+into camp on the south side of the city pending the mustering-out of the
+troops.
+
+There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from
+Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington City.
+The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been engaged in all
+the battles of the West and had marched from the Mississippi through the
+Southern States to the sea, from there to Goldsboro, and thence to
+Washington City, had passed over many of the battle-fields of the Army
+of the Potomac, thus having seen, to a greater extent than any other
+body of troops, the entire theatre of the four years' war for the
+preservation of the Union.
+
+The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to
+Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was
+anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally magnificent
+in the way it was conducted.  It had an important bearing, in various
+ways, upon the great object we had in view, that of closing the war.
+All the States east of the Mississippi River up to the State of Georgia,
+had felt the hardships of the war.  Georgia, and South Carolina, and
+almost all of North Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from
+invasion by the Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts.
+Their newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success, that
+the people who remained at home had been convinced that the Yankees had
+been whipped from first to last, and driven from pillar to post, and
+that now they could hardly be holding out for any other purpose than to
+find a way out of the war with honor to themselves.
+
+Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front were
+proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a mob of men who
+were frightened out of their wits and hastening, panic-stricken, to try
+to get under the cover of our navy for protection against the Southern
+people.  As the army was seen marching on triumphantly, however, the
+minds of the people became disabused and they saw the true state of
+affairs.  In turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to
+submit without compromise.
+
+Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was
+calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great storehouse of
+Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate armies.  As the troops
+advanced north from Savannah, the destruction of the railroads in South
+Carolina and the southern part of North Carolina, further cut off their
+resources and left the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina
+dependent for supplies upon a very small area of country, already very
+much exhausted of food and forage.
+
+In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and the other
+from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, arrived and went into
+camp near the Capital, as directed.  The troops were hardy, being inured
+to fatigue, and they appeared in their respective camps as ready and fit
+for duty as they had ever been in their lives.  I doubt whether an equal
+body of men of any nation, take them man for man, officer for officer,
+was ever gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great
+battle.
+
+The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the officers
+capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of the nations of
+Europe are taken from a class of people who are not very intelligent and
+who have very little interest in the contest in which they are called
+upon to take part.  Our armies were composed of men who were able to
+read, men who knew what they were fighting for, and could not be induced
+to serve as soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the
+nation was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal
+to men who fought merely because they were brave and because they were
+thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.
+
+There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the time
+these troops were in camp before starting North.
+
+I remember one little incident which I will relate as an anecdote
+characteristic of Mr. Lincoln.  It occurred a day after I reached
+Washington, and about the time General Meade reached Burkesville with
+the army.  Governor Smith of Virginia had left Richmond with the
+Confederate States government, and had gone to Danville.  Supposing I
+was necessarily with the army at Burkesville, he addressed a letter to
+me there informing me that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State
+of Virginia, he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond
+to Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the
+functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal
+authorities.  I give this letter only in substance.  He also inquired of
+me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the duties of his
+office, he with a few others might not be permitted to leave the country
+and go abroad without interference.  General Meade being informed that a
+flag of truce was outside his pickets with a letter to me, at once sent
+out and had the letter brought in without informing the officer who
+brought it that I was not present.  He read the letter and telegraphed
+me its contents. Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this
+dispatch, I repeated its contents to him.  Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was
+asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor Smith's
+letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would be permitted
+to leave the country unmolested, that his position was like that of a
+certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in Springfield who was very
+popular with the people, a man of considerable promise, and very much
+liked.  Unfortunately he had acquired the habit of drinking, and his
+friends could see that the habit was growing on him.  These friends
+determined to make an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a
+pledge to abstain from all alcoholic drinks.  They asked Pat to join
+them in signing the pledge, and he consented.  He had been so long out
+of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he resorted to
+soda-water as a substitute.  After a few days this began to grow
+distasteful to him.  So holding the glass behind him, he said:  "Doctor,
+couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in that unbeknownst to myself."
+
+I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave me, but
+I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform the duties of
+his office.  I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had been spared, there
+would have been no efforts made to prevent any one from leaving the
+country who desired to do so.  He would have been equally willing to
+permit the return of the same expatriated citizens after they had time
+to repent of their choice.
+
+On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general for a
+grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's and Meade's
+armies.  The review commenced on the 23d and lasted two days.  Meade's
+army occupied over six hours of the first day in passing the grand stand
+which had been erected in front of the President's house.  Sherman
+witnessed this review from the grand stand which was occupied by the
+President and his cabinet.  Here he showed his resentment for the cruel
+and harsh treatment that had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by
+the Secretary of War, by refusing to take his extended hand.
+
+Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the Potomac.
+During the night of the 23d he crossed over and bivouacked not far from
+the Capitol.  Promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of the 24th, his
+troops commenced to pass in review.  Sherman's army made a different
+appearance from that of the Army of the Potomac.  The latter had been
+operating where they received directly from the North full supplies of
+food and clothing regularly:  the review of this army therefore was the
+review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and orderly
+soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but without the
+experience of gathering their own food and supplies in an enemy's
+country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's army was not so
+well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but their marching could not
+be excelled; they gave the appearance of men who had been thoroughly
+drilled to endure hardships, either by long and continuous marches or
+through exposure to any climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp.
+They exhibited also some of the order of march through Georgia where the
+"sweet potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went
+marching through.  In the rear of a company there would be a captured
+horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils, captured chickens and
+other food picked up for the use of the men.  Negro families who had
+followed the army would sometimes come along in the rear of a company,
+with three or four children packed upon a single mule, and the mother
+leading it.
+
+The sight was varied and grand:  nearly all day for two successive days,
+from the Capitol to the Treasury Building, could be seen a mass of
+orderly soldiers marching in columns of companies.  The National flag
+was flying from almost every house and store; the windows were filled
+with spectators; the door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored
+people and poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters
+from which to get a view of the grand armies.  The city was about as
+full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually is on
+inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.
+
+It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln and the
+Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great conspicuous figures in
+the executive branch of the government. There is no great difference of
+opinion now, in the public mind, as to the characteristics of the
+President.  With Mr. Stanton the case is different.  They were the very
+opposite of each other in almost every particular, except that each
+possessed great ability.  Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by
+making them feel that it was a pleasure to serve him.  He preferred
+yielding his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon
+having his own way.  It distressed him to disappoint others.  In matters
+of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least
+offensive way.  Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority to
+command, unless resisted.  He cared nothing for the feeling of others.
+In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to disappoint than to gratify.
+He felt no hesitation in assuming the functions of the executive, or in
+acting without advising with him.  If his act was not sustained, he
+would change it--if he saw the matter would be followed up until he did
+so.
+
+It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the complement
+of each other.  The Secretary was required to prevent the President's
+being imposed upon.  The President was required in the more responsible
+place of seeing that injustice was not done to others.  I do not know
+that this view of these two men is still entertained by the majority of
+the people.  It is not a correct view, however, in my estimation.  Mr.
+Lincoln did not require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a
+public trust.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his generals in
+making and executing their plans.  The Secretary was very timid, and it
+was impossible for him to avoid interfering with the armies covering the
+capital when it was sought to defend it by an offensive movement against
+the army guarding the Confederate capital.  He could see our weakness,
+but he could not see that the enemy was in danger.  The enemy would not
+have been in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field.  These
+characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly after
+Early came so near getting into the capital.
+
+Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during the war
+between the States, and who attracted much public attention, but of
+whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given any estimate, are Meade,
+Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and Hooker.  There were others of
+great merit, such as Griffin, Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie.  Of those
+first named, Burnside at one time had command of the Army of the
+Potomac, and later of the Army of the Ohio.  Hooker also commanded the
+Army of the Potomac for a short time.
+
+General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to his
+usefulness that were beyond his control.  He had been an officer of the
+engineer corps before the war, and consequently had never served with
+troops until he was over forty-six years of age.  He never had, I
+believe, a command of less than a brigade.  He saw clearly and
+distinctly the position of the enemy, and the topography of the country
+in front of his own position.  His first idea was to take advantage of
+the lay of the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we
+wanted to move afterwards.  He was subordinate to his superiors in rank
+to the extent that he could execute an order which changed his own plans
+with the same zeal he would have displayed if the plan had been his own.
+He was brave and conscientious, and commanded the respect of all who
+knew him.  He was unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his
+control, at times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the
+most offensive manner.  No one saw this fault more plainly than he
+himself, and no one regretted it more.  This made it unpleasant at
+times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him even with
+information.  In spite of this defect he was a most valuable officer and
+deserves a high place in the annals of his country.
+
+General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and respected.
+He was not, however, fitted to command an army.  No one knew this better
+than himself.  He always admitted his blunders, and extenuated those of
+officers under him beyond what they were entitled to.  It was hardly his
+fault that he was ever assigned to a separate command.
+
+Of Hooker I saw but little during the war.  I had known him very well
+before, however.  Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his achievement
+in bringing his command around the point of Lookout Mountain and into
+Chattanooga Valley was brilliant.  I nevertheless regarded him as a
+dangerous man.  He was not subordinate to his superiors.  He was
+ambitious to the extent of caring nothing for the rights of others.  His
+disposition was, when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main
+body of the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his
+standard all he could of his juniors.
+
+Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general officers
+who did not exercise a separate command.  He commanded a corps longer
+than any other one, and his name was never mentioned as having committed
+in battle a blunder for which he was responsible.  He was a man of very
+conspicuous personal appearance.  Tall, well-formed and, at the time of
+which I now write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance
+that would attract the attention of an army as he passed.  His genial
+disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his presence
+with his command in the thickest of the fight won for him the confidence
+of troops serving under him.  No matter how hard the fight, the 2d corps
+always felt that their commander was looking after them.
+
+Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity of
+forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from personal
+observation.  I had known him in Mexico when both of us were
+lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that either of us
+would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He stood very high in
+the army, however, as an officer and a man. He was brave and
+conscientious.  His ambition was not great, and he seemed to dread
+responsibility.  He was willing to do any amount of battling, but always
+wanted some one else to direct. He declined the command of the Army of
+the Potomac once, if not oftener.
+
+General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer without a
+military education.  His way was won without political influence up to
+an important separate command--the expedition against Fort Fisher, in
+January, 1865.  His success there was most brilliant, and won for him
+the rank of brigadier-general in the regular army and of major-general
+of volunteers.  He is a man who makes friends of those under him by his
+consideration of their wants and their dues.  As a commander, he won
+their confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of
+perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed at any
+given time.
+
+Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders, but came
+into that position so near to the close of the war as not to attract
+public attention.  All three served as such, in the last campaign of the
+armies of the Potomac and the James, which culminated at Appomattox
+Court House, on the 9th of April, 1865.  The sudden collapse of the
+rebellion monopolized attention to the exclusion of almost everything
+else.  I regarded Mackenzie as the most promising young officer in the
+army.  Graduating at West Point, as he did, during the second year of
+the war, he had won his way up to the command of a corps before its
+close.  This he did upon his own merit and without influence.
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United Status
+will have to be attributed to slavery.  For some years before the war
+began it was a trite saying among some politicians that "A state half
+slave and half free cannot exist."  All must become slave or all free,
+or the state will go down.  I took no part myself in any such view of
+the case at the time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole
+question, I have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.
+
+Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for its
+security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours where the
+larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by an intelligent and
+well-to-do population, the people would naturally have but little
+sympathy with demands upon them for its protection.  Hence the people of
+the South were dependent upon keeping control of the general government
+to secure the perpetuation of their favorite institution.  They were
+enabled to maintain this control long after the States where slavery
+existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the assistance
+they received from odd men here and there throughout the Northern
+States.  They saw their power waning, and this led them to encroach upon
+the prerogatives and independence of the Northern States by enacting
+such laws as the Fugitive Slave Law.  By this law every Northern man
+was obliged, when properly summoned, to turn out and help apprehend
+the runaway slave of a Southern man.  Northern marshals became
+slave-catchers, and Northern courts had to contribute to the support
+and protection of the institution.
+
+This was a degradation which the North would not permit any longer than
+until they could get the power to expunge such laws from the statute
+books.  Prior to the time of these encroachments the great majority of
+the people of the North had no particular quarrel with slavery, so long
+as they were not forced to have it themselves.  But they were not
+willing to play the role of police for the South in the protection of
+this particular institution.
+
+In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs
+and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any sort--the States were
+each almost a separate nationality.  At that time the subject of slavery
+caused but little or no disturbance to the public mind.  But the country
+grew, rapid transit was established, and trade and commerce between the
+States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of the
+National government became more felt and recognized and, therefore, had
+to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.
+
+It is probably well that we had the war when we did.  We are better off
+now than we would have been without it, and have made more rapid
+progress than we otherwise should have made.  The civilized nations of
+Europe have been stimulated into unusual activity, so that commerce,
+trade, travel, and thorough acquaintance among people of different
+nationalities, has become common; whereas, before, it was but the few
+who had ever had the privilege of going beyond the limits of their own
+country or who knew anything about other people.  Then, too, our
+republican institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking
+out of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that our
+republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the slightest
+strain was brought upon it.  Now it has shown itself capable of dealing
+with one of the greatest wars that was ever made, and our people have
+proven themselves to be the most formidable in war of any nationality.
+
+But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the necessity of
+avoiding wars in the future.
+
+The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles shows the
+lack of conscience of communities where the responsibility does not come
+upon a single individual.  Seeing a nation that extended from ocean to
+ocean, embracing the better part of a continent, growing as we were
+growing in population, wealth and intelligence, the European nations
+thought it would be well to give us a check.  We might, possibly, after
+a while threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their
+institutions.  Hence, England was constantly finding fault with the
+administration at Washington because we were not able to keep up an
+effective blockade.  She also joined, at first, with France and Spain in
+setting up an Austrian prince upon the throne in Mexico, totally
+disregarding any rights or claims that Mexico had of being treated as an
+independent power.  It is true they trumped up grievances as a pretext,
+but they were only pretexts which can always be found when wanted.
+
+Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that
+protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would have liked
+to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had forced loans from
+them.  Under pretence of protecting their citizens, these nations seized
+upon Mexico as a foothold for establishing a European monarchy upon our
+continent, thus threatening our peace at home.  I, myself, regarded this
+as a direct act of war against the United States by the powers engaged,
+and supposed as a matter of course that the United States would treat it
+as such when their hands were free to strike.  I often spoke of the
+matter to Mr. Lincoln and the Secretary of War, but never heard any
+special views from them to enable me to judge what they thought or felt
+about it.  I inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were
+unwilling to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our
+hands.
+
+All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the armed
+intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince upon the throne
+of Mexico; but the governing people of these countries continued to the
+close of the war to throw obstacles in our way.  After the surrender of
+Lee, therefore, entertaining the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan
+with a corps to the Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in
+expelling the French from Mexico.  These troops got off before they
+could be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan distributed
+them up and down the river, much to the consternation of the troops in
+the quarter of Mexico bordering on that stream.  This soon led to a
+request from France that we should withdraw our troops from the Rio
+Grande and to negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs.  Finally
+Bazaine was withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government.
+From that day the empire began to totter.  Mexico was then able to
+maintain her independence without aid from us.
+
+France is the traditional ally and friend of the United States.  I did
+not blame France for her part in the scheme to erect a monarchy upon the
+ruins of the Mexican Republic.  That was the scheme of one man, an
+imitator without genius or merit.  He had succeeded in stealing the
+government of his country, and made a change in its form against the
+wishes and instincts of his people.  He tried to play the part of the
+first Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role.  He sought by
+new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal failure
+of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own overthrow.
+
+Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was an
+expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her people.  It
+was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon III.  The beginning was
+when he landed troops on this continent.  Failing here, the prestige of
+his name--all the prestige he ever had--was gone.  He must achieve a
+success or fall.  He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and
+fell.
+
+I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I recognize his
+great genius.  His work, too, has left its impress for good on the face
+of Europe.  The third Napoleon could have no claim to having done a good
+or just act.
+
+To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared for war.
+There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict, such as the last
+one, occurring among our own people again; but, growing as we are, in
+population, wealth and military power, we may become the envy of nations
+which led us in all these particulars only a few years ago; and unless
+we are prepared for it we may be in danger of a combined movement being
+some day made to crush us out.  Now, scarcely twenty years after the
+war, we seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on
+as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an invasion
+by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time until we could
+prepare for them.
+
+We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be put in
+the finest possible condition.  Neither of these cost much when it is
+considered where the money goes, and what we get in return.  Money
+expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our security and tends to
+prevent war in the future, but is very material aid to our commerce with
+foreign nations in the meantime.  Money spent upon sea-coast defences is
+spent among our own people, and all goes back again among the people.
+The work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a feeling of
+security.
+
+England's course towards the United States during the rebellion
+exasperated the people of this country very much against the mother
+country.  I regretted it.  England and the United States are natural
+allies, and should be the best of friends.  They speak one language, and
+are related by blood and other ties.  We together, or even either
+separately, are better qualified than any other people to establish
+commerce between all the nationalities of the world.
+
+England governs her own colonies, and particularly those embracing
+the people of different races from her own, better than any other
+nation.  She is just to the conquered, but rigid.  She makes them
+self-supporting, but gives the benefit of labor to the laborer.  She
+does not seem to look upon the colonies as outside possessions which she
+is at liberty to work for the support and aggrandizement of the home
+government.
+
+The hostility of England to the United States during our rebellion was
+not so much real as it was apparent.  It was the hostility of the
+leaders of one political party.  I am told that there was no time during
+the civil war when they were able to get up in England a demonstration
+in favor of secession, while these were constantly being gotten up in
+favor of the Union, or, as they called it, in favor of the North.  Even
+in Manchester, which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off
+from her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the North
+at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.
+
+It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may come up
+in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery before.  The
+condition of the colored man within our borders may become a source of
+anxiety, to say the least.  But he was brought to our shores by
+compulsion, and he now should be considered as having as good a right to
+remain here as any other class of our citizens.  It was looking to a
+settlement of this question that led me to urge the annexation of Santo
+Domingo during the time I was President of the United States.
+
+Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the administration,
+but by all the people, almost without price. The island is upon our
+shores, is very fertile, and is capable of supporting fifteen millions
+of people.  The products of the soil are so valuable that labor in her
+fields would be so compensated as to enable those who wished to go there
+to quickly repay the cost of their passage.  I took it that the colored
+people would go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states
+governed by their own race.  They would still be States of the Union,
+and under the protection of the General Government; but the citizens
+would be almost wholly colored.
+
+By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen, territory
+almost equal in extent to that we already possessed. It was seen that
+the volunteers of the Mexican war largely composed the pioneers to
+settle up the Pacific coast country. Their numbers, however, were
+scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus for the population of the important
+points of the territory acquired by that war.  After our rebellion, when
+so many young men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found
+they were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of
+the villages, but wanted larger fields.  The mines of the mountains
+first attracted them; but afterwards they found that rich valleys and
+productive grazing and farming lands were there.  This territory, the
+geography of which was not known to us at the close of the rebellion, is
+now as well mapped as any portion of our country.  Railroads traverse it
+in every direction, north, south, east, and west.  The mines are worked.
+The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich agricultural
+lands are found in many of the valleys.  This is the work of the
+volunteer.  It is probable that the Indians would have had control of
+these lands for a century yet but for the war.  We must conclude,
+therefore, that wars are not always evils unmixed with some good.
+
+Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were satisfied to
+remain near the scenes of their birth.  In fact an immense majority of
+the whole people did not feel secure against coming to want should they
+move among entire strangers.  So much was the country divided into small
+communities that localized idioms had grown up, so that you could almost
+tell what section a person was from by hearing him speak.  Before, new
+territories were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with
+others; people who, when the country began to settle up around them,
+would push out farther from civilization.  Their guns furnished meat,
+and the cultivation of a very limited amount of the soil, their bread
+and vegetables.  All the streams abounded with fish.  Trapping would
+furnish pelts to be brought into the States once a year, to pay for
+necessary articles which they could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey,
+tobacco and some store goods.  Occasionally some little articles of
+luxury would enter into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea,
+two or three pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if
+anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.
+
+Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the settlements
+of these frontiersmen.  This is all changed now. The war begot a spirit
+of independence and enterprise.  The feeling now is, that a youth must
+cut loose from his old surroundings to enable him to get up in the
+world.  There is now such a commingling of the people that particular
+idioms and pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent;
+the country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea";
+railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior; maps,
+nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now furnished the
+student of geography.
+
+The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We have
+but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity at home,
+and the respect of other nations.  Our experience ought to teach us the
+necessity of the first; our power secures the latter.
+
+I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be great
+harmony between the Federal and Confederate.  I cannot stay to be a
+living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; but I feel it within
+me that it is to be so.  The universally kind feeling expressed for me
+at a time when it was supposed that each day would prove my last, seemed
+to me the beginning of the answer to "Let us have peace."
+
+The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a section
+of the country, nor to a division of the people.  They came from
+individual citizens of all nationalities; from all denominations--the
+Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and from the various societies of
+the land--scientific, educational, religious or otherwise.  Politics did
+not enter into the matter at all.
+
+I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should be given
+because I was the object of it.  But the war between the States was a
+very bloody and a very costly war.  One side or the other had to yield
+principles they deemed dearer than life before it could be brought to an
+end.  I commanded the whole of the mighty host engaged on the victorious
+side.  I was, no matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative
+of that side of the controversy.  It is a significant and gratifying
+fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this spontaneous
+move.  I hope the good feeling inaugurated may continue to the end.
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMIES
+1864-65.
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 22,
+1865.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+SIR:  I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations
+of the Armies of the United States from the date of my appointment to
+command the same.
+
+From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with the idea
+that active and continuous operations of all the troops that could be
+brought into the field, regardless of season and weather, were necessary
+to a speedy termination of the war.  The resources of the enemy and his
+numerical strength were far inferior to ours; but as an offset to this,
+we had a vast territory, with a population hostile to the government, to
+garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to
+protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.
+
+The armies in the East and West acted independently and without concert,
+like a balky team, no two ever pulling together, enabling the enemy to
+use to great advantage his interior lines of communication for
+transporting troops from East to West, reinforcing the army most
+vigorously pressed, and to furlough large numbers, during seasons of
+inactivity on our part, to go to their homes and do the work of
+producing, for the support of their armies.  It was a question whether
+our numerical strength and resources were not more than balanced by
+these disadvantages and the enemy's superior position.
+
+From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could be had
+that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the people, both
+North and South, until the military power of the rebellion was entirely
+broken.
+
+I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of troops
+practicable against the armed force of the enemy; preventing him from
+using the same force at different seasons against first one and then
+another of our armies, and the possibility of repose for refitting and
+producing necessary supplies for carrying on resistance.  Second, to
+hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his
+resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there should be
+nothing left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of
+our common country to the constitution and laws of the land.
+
+These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given and
+campaigns made to carry them out.  Whether they might have been better
+in conception and execution is for the people, who mourn the loss of
+friends fallen, and who have to pay the pecuniary cost, to say.  All I
+can say is, that what I have done has been done conscientiously, to the
+best of my ability, and in what I conceived to be for the best interests
+of the whole country.
+
+At the date when this report begins, the situation of the contending
+forces was about as follows:  The Mississippi River was strongly
+garrisoned by Federal troops, from St.  Louis, Missouri, to its mouth.
+The line of the Arkansas was also held, thus giving us armed possession
+of all west of the Mississippi, north of that stream.  A few points in
+Southern Louisiana, not remote from the river, were held by us, together
+with a small garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande.  All the
+balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas was in
+the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an army of probably
+not less than eighty thousand effective men, that could have been
+brought into the field had there been sufficient opposition to have
+brought them out.  The let-alone policy had demoralized this force so
+that probably but little more than one-half of it was ever present in
+garrison at any one time.  But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with
+the bands of guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along
+the Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the
+population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to keep
+navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal people to the
+west of it.  To the east of the Mississippi we held substantially with
+the line of the Tennessee and Holston rivers, running eastward to
+include nearly all of the State of Tennessee.  South of Chattanooga, a
+small foothold had been obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East
+Tennessee from incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia.
+West Virginia was substantially within our lines.  Virginia, with the
+exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area about
+the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk and Fort
+Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the Potomac lying along
+the Rapidan, was in the possession of the enemy.  Along the sea-coast
+footholds had been obtained at Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in
+North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort
+Pulaski, and Port Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St.
+Augustine, in Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our
+possession, while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy.
+The accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman and
+other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the territory
+occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and at the opening of
+the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are the lines which it was
+proposed to occupy.
+
+Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a large
+population disloyal to the government, making it necessary to guard
+every foot of road or river used in supplying our armies.  In the South,
+a reign of military despotism prevailed, which made every man and boy
+capable of bearing arms a soldier; and those who could not bear arms in
+the field acted as provosts for collecting deserters and returning them.
+This enabled the enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the
+field.
+
+The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the
+Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and J. E.
+Johnston, his ablest and best generals.  The army commanded by Lee
+occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from Mine Run
+westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending Richmond, the
+rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. The army under Johnston
+occupied a strongly intrenched position at Dalton, Georgia, covering and
+defending Atlanta, Georgia, a place of great importance as a railroad
+centre, against the armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman.  In
+addition to these armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in
+North-east Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the
+Shenandoah Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme
+eastern part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons,
+and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.
+
+These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, were the
+main objective points of the campaign.
+
+Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of the
+Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the armies and
+territory east of the Mississippi River to the Alleghanies and the
+Department of Arkansas, west of the Mississippi, had the immediate
+command of the armies operating against Johnston.
+
+Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the Army of
+the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision of the movements
+of all our armies.
+
+General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, to break
+it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's country as far as he
+could, inflicting all the damage he could upon their war resources.  If
+the enemy in his front showed signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to
+the full extent of his ability, while I would prevent the concentration
+of Lee upon him, if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do
+so.  More specific written instructions were not given, for the reason
+that I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was
+satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the fullest
+extent possible.
+
+Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River against
+Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous to my
+appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of March, of the
+importance it was that Shreveport should be taken at the earliest
+possible day, and that if he found that the taking of it would occupy
+from ten to fifteen days' more time than General Sherman had given his
+troops to be absent from their command, he would send them back at the
+time specified by General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of
+the main object of the Red River expedition, for this force was
+necessary to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his
+expedition prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River
+with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the balance of
+his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans, commencing no move for
+the further acquisition of territory, unless it was to make that then
+held by him more easily held; that it might be a part of the spring
+campaign to move against Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops
+enough could be obtained to make it without embarrassing other
+movements; that New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an
+expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a real move
+from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks), instead of a
+demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.
+
+On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification and
+directions, he was instructed as follows:
+
+
+"1st.  If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that you
+turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and the navy.
+
+"2d.  That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of your hold
+upon the Rio Grande.  This can be held with four thousand men, if they
+will turn their attention immediately to fortifying their positions.  At
+least one-half of the force required for this service might be taken
+from the colored troops.
+
+"3d.  By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force to
+guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten thousand
+men, if not to a less number.  Six thousand more would then hold all the
+rest of the territory necessary to hold until active operations can
+again be resumed west of the river. According to your last return, this
+would give you a force of over thirty thousand effective men with which
+to move against Mobile.  To this I expect to add five thousand men from
+Missouri.  If however, you think the force here stated too small to hold
+the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession of, I would say
+concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of your present command
+for operations against Mobile.  With these and such additions as I can
+give you from elsewhere, lose no time in making a demonstration, to be
+followed by an attack upon Mobile.  Two or more iron-clads will be
+ordered to report to Admiral Farragut.  This gives him a strong naval
+fleet with which to co-operate.  You can make your own arrangements with
+the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of approach.
+My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should be your base; but,
+from your long service in the Gulf Department, you will know best about
+the matter.  It is intended that your movements shall be co-operative
+with movements elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon.  All I
+would now add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at
+once.  Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and start
+at the earliest possible moment.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."
+
+
+Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his
+objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also.  For his
+movement two plans presented themselves:  One to cross the Rapidan below
+Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, moving by his left.
+Each presented advantages over the other, with corresponding objections.
+By crossing above, Lee would be cut off from all chance of ignoring
+Richmond or going north on a raid.  But if we took this route, all we
+did would have to be done whilst the rations we started with held out;
+besides, it separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed
+how to cooperate.  If we took the other route, Brandy Station could be
+used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the York or
+James rivers.  Of these, however, it was decided to take the lower
+route.
+
+The following letter of instruction was addressed to Major-General B. F.
+Butler:
+
+
+"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall commence
+at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have cooperative
+action of all the armies in the field, as far as this object can be
+accomplished.
+
+"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three large
+ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute necessity of holding
+on to the territory already taken from the enemy.  But, generally
+speaking, concentration can be practically effected by armies moving to
+the interior of the enemy's country from the territory they have to
+guard.  By such movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy
+and the country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to
+guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of
+the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's army and
+Richmond being the greater objects towards which our attention must be
+directed in the next campaign, it is desirable to unite all the force we
+can against them.  The necessity of covering Washington with the Army of
+the Potomac, and of covering your department with your army, makes it
+impossible to unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I
+propose, therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems
+practicable:  The Army of the Potomac will act from its present base,
+Lee's army being the objective point.  You will collect all the forces
+from your command that can be spared from garrison duty--I should say
+not less than twenty thousand effective men--to operate on the south
+side of James River, Richmond being your objective point.  To the force
+you already have will be added about ten thousand men from South
+Carolina, under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person.
+Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command the
+troops sent into the field from your own department.
+
+"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress Monroe,
+with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, or as soon
+thereafter as practicable.  Should you not receive notice by that time
+to move, you will make such disposition of them and your other forces as
+you may deem best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to
+be made.
+
+"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as
+possible.  Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and concentrate all
+your troops for the field there as rapidly as you can.  From City Point
+directions cannot be given at this time for your further movements.
+
+"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond is to be
+your objective point, and that there is to be co-operation between your
+force and the Army of the Potomac--must be your guide.  This indicates
+the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the James River
+as you advance.  Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments
+in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of
+transports the two armies would become a unit.
+
+"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your
+direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry
+south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford, about the time
+of the general advance, it would be of immense advantage.
+
+"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest practicable
+day, all orders, details, and instructions you may give for the
+execution of this order.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On the
+19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army and that of
+General Meade, he was informed that I expected him to move from Fort
+Monroe the same day that General Meade moved from Culpeper.  The exact
+time I was to telegraph him as soon as it was fixed, and that it would
+not be earlier than the 27th of April; that it was my intention to fight
+Lee between Culpeper and Richmond, if he would stand.  Should he,
+however, fall back into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction
+with his (General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be
+certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, so as to
+have his left resting on the James, above the city, I would form the
+junction there; that circumstances might make this course advisable
+anyhow; that he should use every exertion to secure footing as far up
+the south side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after
+the receipt of orders to move; that if he could not carry the city, he
+should at least detain as large a force there as possible.
+
+In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and Johnston, I was
+desirous of using all other troops necessarily kept in departments
+remote from the fields of immediate operations, and also those kept in
+the background for the protection of our extended lines between the
+loyal States and the armies operating against them.
+
+A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, was so
+held for the protection of West Virginia, and the frontiers of Maryland
+and Pennsylvania.  Whilst these troops could not be withdrawn to distant
+fields without exposing the North to invasion by comparatively small
+bodies of the enemy, they could act directly to their front, and give
+better protection than if lying idle in garrison.  By such a movement
+they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the protection
+of his supplies and lines of communication, or he would lose them.
+General Sigel was therefore directed to organize all his available force
+into two expeditions, to move from Beverly and Charleston, under command
+of Generals Ord and Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia
+Railroad. Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own
+request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to give up
+the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one under General
+Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten thousand men, and one on the
+Shenandoah, numbering about seven thousand men.  The one on the
+Shenandoah to assemble between Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the
+infantry and artillery advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as
+could be made available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the
+Shenandoah Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook
+would take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down
+the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could, destroying the
+New River Bridge and the salt-works, at Saltville, Va.
+
+Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations were
+delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in readiness and
+the roads favorable, orders were given for a general movement of all the
+armies not later than the 4th of May.
+
+My first object being to break the military power of the rebellion, and
+capture the enemy's important strongholds, made me desirous that General
+Butler should succeed in his movement against Richmond, as that would
+tend more than anything else, unless it were the capture of Lee's army,
+to accomplish this desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my
+determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to retreat, or to
+so cripple him that he could not detach a large force to go north, and
+still retain enough for the defence of Richmond.  It was well
+understood, by both Generals Butler and Meade, before starting on the
+campaign, that it was my intention to put both their armies south of the
+James River, in case of failure to destroy Lee without it.
+
+Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at Fort
+Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent importance of
+getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying railroad communication
+as far south as possible.  Believing, however, in the practicability of
+capturing Richmond unless it was reinforced, I made that the objective
+point of his operations.  As the Army of the Potomac was to move
+simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with safety,
+and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to the defence of
+the city in time to meet a rapid movement from the north of James River.
+
+I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I tried, as
+far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent command of the
+Army of the Potomac.  My instructions for that army were all through
+him, and were general in their nature, leaving all the details and the
+execution to him.  The campaigns that followed proved him to be the
+right man in the right place.  His commanding always in the presence of
+an officer superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that
+public attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he
+would otherwise have received.
+
+The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the morning
+of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and orders of
+Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions.  Before night, the whole
+army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth corps crossing at
+Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's Ford, the cavalry, under
+Major-General Sheridan, moving in advance,) with the greater part of its
+trains, numbering about four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight
+opposition.  The average distance travelled by the troops that day was
+about twelve miles.  This I regarded as a great success, and it removed
+from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had entertained, that of
+crossing the river in the face of an active, large, well-appointed, and
+ably commanded army, and how so large a train was to be carried through
+a hostile country, and protected.  Early on the 5th, the advance corps
+(the fifth, Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the
+enemy outside his intrenchments near Mine Run.  The battle raged
+furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight as fast
+as the corps could be got upon the field, which, considering the density
+of the forest and narrowness of the roads, was done with commendable
+promptness.
+
+General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the Army of the
+Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at the crossing of the
+Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, holding the road back to
+Bull Run, with instructions not to move until he received notice that a
+crossing of the Rapidan was secured, but to move promptly as soon as
+such notice was received.  This crossing he was apprised of on the
+afternoon of the 4th.  By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was
+leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some of his
+troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, crossing both the
+Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.  Considering that a large proportion,
+probably two-thirds of his command, was composed of new troops,
+unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the accoutrements of a soldier,
+this was a remarkable march.
+
+The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock on the
+morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury until darkness set
+in, each army holding substantially the same position that they had on
+the evening of the 5th.  After dark, the enemy made a feeble attempt to
+turn our right flank, capturing several hundred prisoners and creating
+considerable confusion.  But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was
+personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon reformed it
+and restored order.  On the morning of the 7th, reconnoissances showed
+that the enemy had fallen behind his intrenched lines, with pickets to
+the front, covering a part of the battle-field.  From this it was
+evident to my mind that the two days' fighting had satisfied him of his
+inability to further maintain the contest in the open field,
+notwithstanding his advantage of position, and that he would wait an
+attack behind his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my
+whole force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued for
+a movement by his right flank.  On the night of the 7th, the march was
+commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth corps moving on
+the most direct road.  But the enemy having become apprised of our
+movement, and having the shorter line, was enabled to reach there first.
+On the 8th, General Warren met a force of the enemy, which had been sent
+out to oppose and delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line
+taken up at Spottsylvania.  This force was steadily driven back on the
+main force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable
+fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides.  On the morning of the
+9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the enemy's lines of
+communication with Richmond.  The 9th, 10th, and 11th were spent in
+manoeuvring and fighting, without decisive results.  Among the killed on
+the 9th was that able and distinguished soldier Major-General John
+Sedgwick, commanding the sixth army corps.  Major-General H. G. Wright
+succeeded him in command.  Early on the morning of the 12th a general
+attack was made on the enemy in position.  The second corps,
+Major-General Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line,
+capturing most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces
+of artillery.  But the resistance was so obstinate that the advantage
+gained did not prove decisive.  The 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and
+18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting the arrival of
+reinforcements from Washington.  Deeming it impracticable to make any
+further attack upon the enemy at Spottsylvania Court House, orders were
+issued on the 15th with a view to a movement to the North Anna, to
+commence at twelve o'clock on the night of the 19th.  Late in the
+afternoon of the 19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our
+extreme right flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy
+loss. This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of the
+21st, when it was commenced.  But the enemy again, having the shorter
+line, and being in possession of the main roads, was enabled to reach
+the North Anna in advance of us, and took position behind it.  The fifth
+corps reached the North Anna on the afternoon of the 23d, closely
+followed by the sixth corps. The second and ninth corps got up about the
+same time, the second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying
+between that and Jericho Ford.  General Warren effected a crossing the
+same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon after
+getting into position he was violently attacked, but repulsed the enemy
+with great slaughter.  On the 25th, General Sheridan rejoined the Army
+of the Potomac from the raid on which he started from Spottsylvania,
+having destroyed the depots at Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four
+trains of cars, large supplies of rations, and many miles of
+railroad-track; recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to
+Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's cavalry at
+Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around Richmond (but
+finding the second line too strong to be carried by assault), recrossed
+to the north bank of the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge under heavy fire,
+and moved by a detour to Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he
+communicated with General Butler.  This raid had the effect of drawing
+off the whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy
+to guard our trains.
+
+General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in pursuance of
+instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore having joined him with
+the tenth corps.  At the same time he sent a force of one thousand eight
+hundred cavalry, by way of West Point, to form a junction with him
+wherever he might get a foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry,
+under General Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of
+Petersburg and Richmond.  On the 5th, he occupied, without opposition,
+both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement being a complete
+surprise.  On the 6th, he was in position with his main army, and
+commenced intrenching.  On the 7th he made a reconnoissance against the
+Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, destroying a portion of it after some
+fighting.  On the 9th he telegraphed as follows:
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, May 9, 1864.
+
+"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+"Our operations may be summed up in a few words.  With one thousand
+seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the Peninsula, forced the
+Chickahominy, and have safely, brought them to their present position.
+These were colored cavalry, and are now holding our advance pickets
+towards Richmond.
+
+"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the same
+day with our movement up James River, forced the Black Water, burned the
+railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below Petersburg, cutting into
+Beauregard's force at that point.
+
+"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles of
+railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we can hold
+out against the whole of Lee's army.  I have ordered up the supplies.
+
+"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south by the
+cutting of the railroads by Kautz.  That portion which reached
+Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and wounding many,
+and taking many prisoners, after a severe and well-contested fight.
+
+"General Grant will not be troubled with any further reinforcements to
+Lee from Beauregard's force.
+
+"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."
+
+
+On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a portion
+of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff, or Fort Darling,
+with small loss.  The time thus consumed from the 6th lost to us the
+benefit of the surprise and capture of Richmond and Petersburg,
+enabling, as it did, Beauregard to collect his loose forces in North and
+South Carolina, and bring them to the defence of those places.  On the
+16th, the enemy attacked General Butler in his position in front of
+Drury's Bluff.  He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments
+between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy
+intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads, the
+city, and all that was valuable to him.  His army, therefore, though in
+a position of great security, was as completely shut off from further
+operations directly against Richmond as if it had been in a bottle
+strongly corked.  It required but a comparatively small force of the
+enemy to hold it there.
+
+On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a raid
+against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at Coalfield, Powhatan,
+and Chula Stations, destroying them, the railroad-track, two freight
+trains, and one locomotive, together with large quantities of commissary
+and other stores; thence, crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at
+Wilson's, Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the
+road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point, which he
+reached on the 18th.
+
+On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General Butler, the
+enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an iron-clad ram,
+attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H. W. Wessells, and our
+gunboats there, and, after severe fighting, the place was carried by
+assault, and the entire garrison and armament captured.  The gunboat
+Smithfield was sunk, and the Miami disabled.
+
+The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically sealed
+itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to bring the most,
+if not all, the reinforcements brought from the south by Beauregard
+against the Army of the Potomac. In addition to this reinforcement, a
+very considerable one, probably not less than fifteen thousand men, was
+obtained by calling in the scattered troops under Breckinridge from the
+western part of Virginia.
+
+The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was
+difficult to operate from against the enemy.  I determined, therefore,
+to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough only to secure
+what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d, I directed that they
+be sent forward, under command of Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the
+Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by Major-General A. E.
+Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and from this time
+forward constituted a portion of Major-General Meade's command.
+
+Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than either of
+his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th to the north bank
+of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town to turn the enemy's
+position by his right.
+
+Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under Sheridan,
+and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the Pamunkey River at
+Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and on the 28th the two
+divisions of cavalry had a severe, but successful engagement with the
+enemy at Hawes's Shop.  On the 29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy
+skirmishing, to the Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and
+developed the enemy's position north of the Chickahominy.  Late on the
+evening of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but
+was repulsed with very considerable loss.  An attack was immediately
+ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted in
+driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.
+
+On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad
+bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the enemy's cavalry.
+General Sheridan, on the same day, reached Cold Harbor, and held it
+until relieved by the 6th corps and General Smith's command, which had
+just arrived, via White House, from General Butler's army.
+
+On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the 6th corps
+and the troops under General Smith, the other corps being held in
+readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. This resulted in our
+carrying and holding the enemy's first line of works in front of the
+right of the 6th corps, and in front of General Smith.  During the
+attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not engaged
+in the main attack, but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance.
+That night he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the
+day, but failed.  The 2d was spent in getting troops into position for
+an attack on the 3d.  On the 3d of June we again assaulted the enemy's
+works, in the hope of driving him from his position.  In this attempt
+our loss was heavy, while that of the enemy, I have reason to believe,
+was comparatively light.  It was the only general attack made from the
+Rapidan to the James which did not inflict upon the enemy losses to
+compensate for our own losses.  I would not be understood as saying that
+all previous attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished
+as much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy
+severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete overthrow of
+the rebellion.
+
+From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond, it was
+impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between him and the
+city.  I was still in a condition to either move by his left flank, and
+invest Richmond from the north side, or continue my move by his right
+flank to the south side of the James.  While the former might have been
+better as a covering for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground
+satisfied me that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and
+east of Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long,
+vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to guard, and
+that would have to be protected to supply the army, and would leave open
+to the enemy all his lines of communication on the south side of the
+James.  My idea, from the start, had been to beat Lee's army north of
+Richmond, if possible.  Then, after destroying his lines of
+communication north of the James River, to transfer the army to the
+south side, and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he
+should retreat.  After the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that
+the enemy deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the
+army he then had.  He acted purely on the defensive, behind breastworks,
+or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where, in
+case of repulse, he could easily retire behind them.  Without a greater
+sacrifice of life than I was willing to make, all could not be
+accomplished that I had designed north of Richmond.  I therefore
+determined to continue to hold substantially the ground we then
+occupied, taking advantage of any favorable circumstances that might
+present themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville
+and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection between
+Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and when the cavalry
+got well off, to move the army to the south side of the James River, by
+the enemy's right flank, where I felt I could cut off all his sources of
+supply, except by the canal.
+
+On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan, got off on
+the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad, with instructions
+to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near Charlottesville, to join his
+forces to Sheridan's, and after the work laid out for them was
+thoroughly done, to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid down
+in Sheridan's instructions.
+
+On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, under
+General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to capture
+Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and common bridges
+across the Appomattox.  The cavalry carried the works on the south side,
+and penetrated well in towards the town, but were forced to retire.
+General Gillmore, finding the works which he approached very strong, and
+deeming an assault impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without
+attempting one.
+
+Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I sent back
+to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's command by water, via
+the White House, to reach there in advance of the Army of the Potomac.
+This was for the express purpose of securing Petersburg before the
+enemy, becoming aware of our intention, could reinforce the place.
+
+The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the evening of the
+12th.  One division of cavalry, under General Wilson, and the 5th corps,
+crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White Oak
+Swamp, to cover the crossings of the other corps.  The advance corps
+reached James River, at Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House,
+on the night of the 13th.
+
+During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia
+had been confronting each other.  In that time they had fought more
+desperate battles than it probably ever before fell to the lot of two
+armies to fight, without materially changing the vantage ground of
+either.  The Southern press and people, with more shrewdness than was
+displayed in the North, finding that they had failed to capture
+Washington and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do,
+assumed that they only defended their Capital and Southern territory.
+Hence, Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been
+fought, were by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for
+them.  Their army believed this.  It produced a morale which could only
+be overcome by desperate and continuous hard fighting.  The battles of
+the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and
+terrible as they were on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy,
+and so crippled him as to make him wary ever after of taking the
+offensive.  His losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the
+fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the
+attacking party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field.  The
+details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the part of
+the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in the report of
+Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports accompanying it.
+
+During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the James
+River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting base, by
+wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded country, with a lack
+of wharves at each new base from which to conveniently discharge
+vessels.  Too much credit cannot, therefore, be awarded to the
+quartermaster and commissary departments for the zeal and efficiency
+displayed by them. Under the general supervision of the chief
+quartermaster, Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to
+occupy all the available roads between the army and our water-base, and
+but little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.
+
+The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under General Sigel,
+commenced on the 1st of May.  General Crook, who had the immediate
+command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his forces into two columns,
+giving one, composed of cavalry, to General Averell.  They crossed the
+mountains by separate routes. Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia
+Railroad, near Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and
+Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges and
+depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with Crook at
+Union on the 15th.  General Sigel moved up the Shenandoah Valley, met
+the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and, after a severe engagement, was
+defeated with heavy loss, and retired behind Cedar Creek.  Not regarding
+the operations of General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal
+from command, and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him.  His
+instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to Major-General
+H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:
+
+
+"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA. "May 20, 1864.
+
+*        *        *        *        *        *        * "The enemy are
+evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as are brought over the
+branch road running through Staunton.  On the whole, therefore, I think
+it would be better for General Hunter to move in that direction; reach
+Staunton and Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too
+much opposition.  If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he
+will be doing good service.  * * *
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he should
+do so, living on the country.  The railroads and canal should be
+destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks. Completing this, he
+could find his way back to his original base, or from about Gordonsville
+join this army.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up the
+Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and,
+after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated him, capturing on the
+field of battle one thousand five hundred men, three pieces of
+artillery, and three hundred stand of small arms.  On the 8th of the
+same month he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from
+which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he
+reached and invested on the 16th day of June.  Up to this time he was
+very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with him
+sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a hostile
+country, he would, no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important,
+point.  The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was
+very great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee
+sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg a short time before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on the
+17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give
+battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately, this want of
+ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by way of
+Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his troops for several weeks from
+the defence of the North.
+
+Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of
+Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been in a
+position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the enemy, should
+the force he met have seemed to endanger it.  If it did not, he would
+have been within easy distance of the James River Canal, on the main
+line of communication between Lynchburg and the force sent for its
+defence.  I have never taken exception to the operations of General
+Hunter, and am not now disposed to find fault with him, for I have no
+doubt he acted within what he conceived to be the spirit of his
+instructions and the interests of the service.  The promptitude of his
+movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the commendation of
+his country.
+
+To return to the Army of the Potomac:  The 2d corps commenced crossing
+the James River on the morning of the 14th by ferry-boats at Wilcox's
+Landing.  The laying of the pontoon-bridge was completed about midnight
+of the 14th, and the crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly
+pushed forward by both bridge and ferry.
+
+After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to Bermuda
+Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate capture of
+Petersburg.
+
+The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him to send
+General Smith immediately, that night, with all the troops he could give
+him without sacrificing the position he then held.  I told him that I
+would return at once to the Army of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and
+throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be
+done, that we could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the
+enemy could bring troops against us.  General Smith got off as directed,
+and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg before daylight next
+morning, but for some reason that I have never been able to
+satisfactorily understand, did not get ready to assault his main lines
+until near sundown.  Then, with a part of his command only, he made the
+assault, and carried the lines north-east of Petersburg from the
+Appomattox River, for a distance of over two and a half miles, capturing
+fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners.  This was about
+seven P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no
+other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had reinforced
+Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear
+the moon shining brightly and favorable to further operations.  General
+Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached General Smith just
+after dark, and offered the service of these troops as he (Smith) might
+wish, waiving rank to the named commander, who he naturally supposed
+knew best the position of affairs, and what to do with the troops.  But
+instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into Petersburg, he
+requested General Hancock to relieve a part of his line in the captured
+works, which was done before midnight.
+
+By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. An attack
+was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by the troops under
+Smith and the 2d and 9th corps.  It required until that time for the 9th
+corps to get up and into position. The attack was made as ordered, and
+the fighting continued with but little intermission until six o'clock
+the next morning, and resulted in our carrying the advance and some of
+the main works of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously
+captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over four
+hundred prisoners.
+
+The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and persisted in
+with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only resulted in forcing the
+enemy into an interior line, from which he could not be dislodged.  The
+advantages of position gained by us were very great.  The army then
+proceeded to envelop Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far
+as possible without attacking fortifications.
+
+On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of
+his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting, no doubt, to
+get troops from north of the James to take the place of those withdrawn
+before we could discover it.  General Butler, taking advantage of this,
+at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond.
+As soon as I was apprised of the advantage thus gained, to retain it I
+ordered two divisions of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that
+were embarking at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to
+report to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was
+notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of his
+present line urged upon him.
+
+About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced back to the
+line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. General Wright, with
+his two divisions, joined General Butler on the forenoon of the 17th,
+the latter still holding with a strong picket-line the enemy's works.
+But instead of putting these divisions into the enemy's works to hold
+them, he permitted them to halt and rest some distance in the rear of
+his own line. Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
+attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.
+
+On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was effected
+by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the north bank of
+the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by pontoon-bridge with Bermuda
+Hundred.
+
+On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition against
+the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House just as the
+enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled it to retire.  The
+result of this expedition was, that General Sheridan met the enemy's
+cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the morning of the 11th of June, whom
+he attacked, and after an obstinate contest drove from the field in
+complete rout.  He left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our
+hands, and about four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses.  On
+the 12th he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa
+Court House.  This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced
+in the direction of Gordonsville.  He found the enemy reinforced by
+infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles from the
+latter place and too strong to successfully assault.  On the extreme
+right, however, his reserve brigade carried the enemy's works twice, and
+was twice driven therefrom by infantry.  Night closed the contest.  Not
+having sufficient ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals
+being without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing), and
+hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command to the
+north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return march, reaching
+White House at the time before stated.  After breaking up the depot at
+that place, he moved to the James River, which he reached safely after
+heavy fighting.  He commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan,
+without further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of the Army
+of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry of the Army of
+the James moved against the enemy's railroads south of Richmond.
+Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's Station, destroying the depot
+and several miles of the road, and the South Side road about fifteen
+miles from Petersburg, to near Nottoway Station, where he met and
+defeated a force of the enemy's cavalry.  He reached Burkesville Station
+on the afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville
+Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, where he
+found the enemy in force, and in a position from which he could not
+dislodge him.  He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met
+the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon Railroad crossing of Stony
+Creek, where he had a severe but not decisive engagement.  Thence he
+made a detour from his left with a view of reaching Reams's Station
+(supposing it to be in our possession).  At this place he was met by the
+enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the
+loss of his artillery and trains.  In this last encounter, General
+Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made his way
+into our lines.  General Wilson, with the remainder of his force,
+succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming in safely on our
+left and rear.  The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than
+compensated for the losses we sustained.  It severed all connection by
+railroad with Richmond for several weeks.
+
+With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond to the
+Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his army in the
+Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to take advantage of
+his necessary withdrawal of troops from Petersburg, to explode a mine
+that had been prepared in front of the 9th corps and assault the enemy's
+lines at that place, on the night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and
+two divisions of the cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to
+the north bank of the James River and joined the force General Butler
+had there.  On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched
+position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.  On the 28th our
+lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market Road, but in getting
+this position were attacked by the enemy in heavy force.  The fighting
+lasted for several hours, resulting in considerable loss to both sides.
+The first object of this move having failed, by reason of the very large
+force thrown there by the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the
+diversion made, by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force
+back there.  One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night of
+the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th corps, to
+relieve that corps in the line, that it might be foot-loose in the
+assault to be made.  The other two divisions of the 2d corps and
+Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the night of the 29th and moved
+in front of Petersburg.  On the morning of the 30th, between four and
+five o'clock, the mine was sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a
+regiment, and the advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th
+corps, immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion,
+and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a
+detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to advance
+promptly to the ridge beyond.  Had they done this, I have every reason
+to believe that Petersburg would have fallen.  Other troops were
+immediately pushed forward, but the time consumed in getting them up
+enabled the enemy to rally from his surprise (which had been complete),
+and get forces to this point for its defence.  The captured line thus
+held being untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were
+withdrawn, but not without heavy loss.  Thus terminated in disaster what
+promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.
+
+Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter was
+retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus laying the
+Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, he
+returned northward and moved down that valley.  As soon as this movement
+of the enemy was ascertained, General Hunter, who had reached the
+Kanawha River, was directed to move his troops without delay, by river
+and railroad, to Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of
+navigation by reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great
+delay was experienced in getting there.  It became necessary, therefore,
+to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy.  For this
+purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating against
+Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then fortunately beginning
+to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf Department, under orders issued
+immediately after the ascertainment of the result of the Red River
+expedition.  The garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time
+made up of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments
+from the invalid corps.  One division under command of General Ricketts,
+of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the remaining two divisions
+of the 6th corps, under General Wright, were subsequently sent to
+Washington.  On the 3d of July the enemy approached Martinsburg.
+General Sigel, who was in command of our forces there, retreated across
+the Potomac at Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's
+Ferry, crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards
+Frederick City.  General Wallace, with Rickett's division and his own
+command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops, pushed out from
+Baltimore with great promptness, and met the enemy in force on the
+Monocacy, near the crossing of the railroad bridge.  His force was not
+sufficient to insure success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and
+although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy,
+and thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with two
+division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th corps, before
+him.  From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington, his cavalry advance
+reaching Rockville on the evening of the 10th.  On the 12th a
+reconnoissance was thrown out in front of Fort Stevens, to ascertain the
+enemy's position and force.  A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost
+about two hundred and eighty in killed and wounded.  The enemy's loss
+was probably greater.  He commenced retreating during the night.
+Learning the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by
+telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th, the
+assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of all the
+troops that could be made available to operate in the field against the
+enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all
+the force he could, and push Early to the last moment.  General Wright
+commenced the pursuit on the 13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken
+at Snicker's Ferry, on the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred;
+and on the 20th, General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of
+the rebel army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and
+several hundred prisoners.
+
+Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or Richmond,
+I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to the armies
+operating against Richmond, so that they might be used in a movement
+against Lee before the return of the troops sent by him into the valley;
+and that Hunter should remain in the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between
+any force of the enemy and Washington, acting on the defensive as much
+as possible.  I felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the
+fact would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave
+Washington.  Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the order to
+return to the James.
+
+About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again advancing upon
+Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps, then at Washington, was
+ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry.  The rebel force moved
+down the valley, and sent a raiding party into Pennsylvania which on the
+30th burned Chambersburg, and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry,
+towards Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and
+with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West Virginia.
+From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires were frequently down
+between Washington and City Point, making it necessary to transmit
+messages a part of the way by boat.  It took from twenty-four to
+thirty-six hours to get dispatches through and return answers would be
+received showing a different state of facts from those on which they
+were based, causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that
+must have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and
+rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they otherwise
+would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident to my mind that
+some person should have the supreme command of all the forces in the
+Department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna, and the Middle
+Department, and I so recommended.
+
+On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in person to
+Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington, with a view to his
+assignment to the command of all the forces against Early.  At this time
+the enemy was concentrated in the neighborhood of Winchester, while our
+forces, under General Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the
+crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy
+Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.  From where I was, I
+hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces at
+Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington. Therefore, on the
+4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's command, and determine for
+myself what was best to be done.  On arrival there, and after
+consultation with General Hunter, I issued to him the following
+instructions:
+
+
+"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND, August 5, 1864--8 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in the
+vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and
+garrisons for public property as may be necessary.  Use, in this
+concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be saved.  From
+Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved north of the
+Potomac in large force, push north, following him and attacking him
+wherever found; follow him, if driven south of the Potomac, as long as
+it is safe to do so.  If it is ascertained that the enemy has but a
+small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main force,
+detaching under a competent commander, a sufficient force to look after
+the raiders, and drive them to their homes.  In detaching such a force,
+the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington via Rockville
+may be taken into account.
+
+"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of the best
+cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses.  These will be
+instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join you by the south
+side of the Potomac.  One brigade will probably start to-morrow.  In
+pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to
+go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to invite
+the enemy to return.  Take all provisions, forage, and stock wanted for
+the use of your command; such as cannot be consumed, destroy.  It is not
+desirable that the buildings should be destroyed--they should rather be
+protected; but the people should be informed that, so long as an army
+can subsist among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and
+we are determined to stop them at all hazards.
+
+"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this
+you want to keep him always in sight.  Be guided in your course by the
+course he takes.
+
+"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular
+vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country
+through which you march.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."
+
+
+The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance reached
+Halltown that night.
+
+General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a willingness to
+be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have General Sheridan, then
+at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by the morning train, with orders
+to take general command of all the troops in the field, and to call on
+General Hunter at Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of
+instructions.  I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan arrived, on
+the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with him in relation to
+military affairs in that vicinity, I returned to City Point by way of
+Washington.
+
+On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments of West
+Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted into the "Middle
+Military Division," and  Major-General Sheridan was assigned to
+temporary command of the same.
+
+Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and Wilson, were
+sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The first reached him at
+Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.
+
+His operations during the month of August and the fore part of September
+were both of an offensive and defensive character, resulting in many
+severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry, in which we were
+generally successful, but no general engagement took place.  The two
+armies lay in such a position--the enemy on the west bank of the Opequon
+Creek covering Winchester, and our forces in front of Berryville--that
+either could bring on a battle at any time.  Defeat to us would lay open
+to the enemy the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances
+before another army could be interposed to check him.  Under these
+circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to be taken.
+Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Chesapeake
+and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by the enemy, became so
+indispensably necessary to us, and the importance of relieving
+Pennsylvania and Maryland from continuously threatened invasion so
+great, that I determined the risk should be taken.  But fearing to
+telegraph the order for an attack without knowing more than I did of
+General Sheridan's feelings as to what would be the probable result, I
+left City Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his
+headquarters, to decide, after conference with him, what should be done.
+I met him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each army
+lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and expressed such
+confidence of success, that I saw there were but two words of
+instructions necessary--Go in!  For the conveniences of forage, the
+teams for supplying the army were kept at Harper's Ferry.  I asked him
+if he could get out his teams and supplies in time to make an attack on
+the ensuing Tuesday morning.  His reply was, that he could before
+daylight on Monday.  He was off promptly to time, and I may here add,
+that the result was such that I have never since deemed it necessary to
+visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.
+
+Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked General
+Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a most sanguinary
+and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in the evening, defeated
+him with heavy loss, carrying his entire position from Opequon Creek to
+Winchester, capturing several thousand prisoners and five pieces of
+artillery.  The enemy rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at
+Fisher's Hill, where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss
+on the 20th [22d].  Sheridan pursued him with great energy through
+Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge.  After stripping
+the upper valley of most of the supplies and provisions for the rebel
+army, he returned to Strasburg, and took position on the north side of
+Cedar Creek.
+
+Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again
+returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry
+encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated, with
+the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and fifty
+prisoners.  On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the mountains
+which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded the North Fork,
+and early on the morning of the 19th, under cover of the darkness and
+the fog, surprised and turned our left flank, and captured the batteries
+which enfiladed our whole line.  Our troops fell back with heavy loss
+and in much confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and
+Newtown.  At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at Winchester when
+the battle commenced arrived on the field, arranged his lines just in
+time to repulse a heavy attack of the enemy, and immediately assuming
+the offensive, he attacked in turn with great vigor.  The enemy was
+defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and
+trains, and the trophies he had captured in the morning.  The wreck of
+his army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of Staunton
+and Lynchburg.  Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus ended this, the
+enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the Shenandoah Valley.  I
+was now enabled to return the 6th corps to the Army of the Potomac, and
+to send one division from Sheridan's army to the Army of the James, and
+another to Savannah, Georgia, to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the
+sea-coast, and thus enable him to move without detaching from his force
+for that purpose.
+
+Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy had
+detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early in the
+Shenandoah Valley.  I therefore sent the 2d corps and Gregg's division
+of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a force of General Butler's
+army, on the night of the 13th of August, to threaten Richmond from the
+north side of the James, to prevent him from sending troops away, and,
+if possible, to draw back those sent.  In this move we captured six
+pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that
+were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one division
+(Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.
+
+The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist this
+movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was moved out on the
+18th, and took possession of the Weldon Railroad.  During the day he had
+considerable fighting.  To regain possession of the road, the enemy made
+repeated and desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great
+loss.  On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of the
+James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the front at
+Petersburg.  On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's division of cavalry,
+while at Reams's Station destroying the railroad, were attacked, and
+after desperate fighting, a part of our line gave way, and five pieces
+of artillery fell into the hands of the enemy.
+
+By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from the City
+Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, enabling us to
+supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the army in front of
+Petersburg.
+
+The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled the
+enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few troops
+north of the James for the defence of Richmond.  On the night of the
+28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the 18th corps,
+Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's army, were crossed to
+the north side of the James, and advanced on the morning of the 29th,
+carrying the very strong fortifications and intrenchments below
+Chaffin's Farm, known as Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of
+artillery, and the New Market Road and intrenchments.  This success was
+followed up by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front
+of the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with heavy
+loss.  Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to the right of
+this, supported by infantry, and reached the enemy's inner line, but was
+unable to get further.  The position captured from the enemy was so
+threatening to Richmond, that I determined to hold it.  The enemy made
+several desperate attempts to dislodge us, all of which were
+unsuccessful, and for which he paid dearly.  On the morning of the 30th,
+General Meade sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the
+enemy's line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of
+troops to the north side.  In this reconnoissance we captured and held
+the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church.  In the afternoon, troops
+moving to get to the left of the point gained were attacked by the enemy
+in heavy force, and compelled to fall back until supported by the forces
+holding the captured works. Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked,
+but repulsed the enemy with great loss.
+
+On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north of the
+James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, wounded, and
+prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight or nine pieces.  This
+he followed up by an attack on our intrenched infantry line, but was
+repulsed with severe slaughter.  On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent
+out by General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new
+works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to us.
+
+On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient men to
+hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right flank.  The 2d
+corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th corps, with the cavalry in
+advance and covering our left flank, forced a passage of Hatcher's Run,
+and moved up the south side of it towards the South Side Railroad, until
+the 2d corps and part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road
+where it crosses Hatcher's Run.  At this point we were six miles distant
+from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement to
+reach and hold.  But finding that we had not reached the end of the
+enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself for a successful
+assault by which he might be doubled up and shortened, I determined to
+withdraw to within our fortified line.  Orders were given accordingly.
+Immediately upon receiving a report that General Warren had connected
+with General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters.  Soon after I left
+the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap between Generals
+Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as reported, and made a
+desperate attack on General Hancock's right and rear.  General Hancock
+immediately faced his corps to meet it, and after a bloody combat drove
+the enemy within his works, and withdrew that night to his old position.
+
+In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration on the
+north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the Williamsburg
+Road, and also on the York River Railroad.  In the former he was
+unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in carrying a work which was
+afterwards abandoned, and his forces withdrawn to their former
+positions.
+
+From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and
+Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the
+defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements for
+crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent his
+detaching any considerable force to send south.  By the 7th of February,
+our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the Weldon Railroad had
+been destroyed to Hicksford.
+
+General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with the
+Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, respectively,
+by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon Johnston's army at
+Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at Buzzard's Roost, covering
+Dalton, too strong to be assaulted, General McPherson was sent through
+Snake Gap to turn it, while Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it
+in front and on the north.  This movement was successful.  Johnston,
+finding his retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified
+position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of May 15th.
+A heavy battle ensued.  During the night the enemy retreated south.
+Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken near Adairsville, and
+heavy skirmishing followed.  The next morning, however, he had again
+disappeared.  He was vigorously pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville
+on the 19th, but during the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah.
+While these operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's
+division of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts
+and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries.  General Sherman,
+having give his army a few days' rest at this point, again put it in
+motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of turning the difficult pass
+at Allatoona.  On the afternoon of the 25th, the advance, under General
+Hooker, had a severe battle with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope
+Church, near Dallas.  Several sharp encounters occurred at this point.
+The most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General
+McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.
+
+On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position at New
+Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of Kenesaw, Pine, and
+Lost mountains.  He was forced to yield the two last-named places, and
+concentrate his army on Kenesaw, where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and
+McPherson made a determined but unsuccessful assault.  On the night of
+the 2d of July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank,
+and on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence of
+this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men rest and
+get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed his operations,
+crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large portion of the railroad to
+Augusta, and drove the enemy back to Atlanta. At this place General Hood
+succeeded General Johnston in command of the rebel army, and assuming
+the offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon Sherman
+in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and determined of which
+was on the 22d of July.  About one P.M. of this day the brave,
+accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson was killed.  General Logan
+succeeded him, and commanded the Army of the Tennessee through this
+desperate battle, and until he was superseded by Major-General Howard,
+on the 26th, with the same success and ability that had characterized
+him in the command of a corps or division.
+
+In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. Finding it
+impossible to entirely invest the place, General Sherman, after securing
+his line of communications across the Chattahoochee, moved his main
+force round by the enemy's left flank upon the Montgomery and Macon
+roads, to draw the enemy from his fortifications.  In this he succeeded,
+and after defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and
+Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of September
+occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.
+
+About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, attempted
+to cut his communications in the rear, but was repulsed at Dalton, and
+driven into East Tennessee, whence it proceeded west to McMinnville,
+Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and was finally driven south of the
+Tennessee.  The damage done by this raid was repaired in a few days.
+
+During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau joined
+General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur, having made a
+successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery Railroad, and its
+branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also made by Generals McCook,
+Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the remaining Railroad communication with
+Atlanta.  The first two were successful the latter, disastrous.
+
+General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was prompt,
+skilful, and brilliant.  The history of his flank movements and battles
+during that memorable campaign will ever be read with an interest
+unsurpassed by anything in history.
+
+His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, accompanying
+it, give the details of that most successful campaign.
+
+He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a single-track
+railroad from Nashville to the point where he was operating.  This
+passed the entire distance through a hostile country, and every foot of
+it had to be protected by troops. The cavalry force of the enemy under
+Forrest, in Northern Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to
+advance far enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat
+disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the possibility
+of further use.  To guard against this danger, Sherman left what he
+supposed to be a sufficient force to operate against Forrest in West
+Tennessee.  He directed General Washburn, who commanded there, to send
+Brigadier-General S. D. Sturgis in command of this force to attack him.
+On the morning of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near
+Guntown, Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout
+and confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles, hotly
+pursued by the enemy.  By this, however, the enemy was defeated in his
+designs upon Sherman's line of communications. The persistency with
+which he followed up this success exhausted him, and made a season for
+rest and repairs necessary.  In the meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith,
+with the troops of the Army of the Tennessee that had been sent by
+General Sherman to General Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return
+from Red River, where they had done most excellent service.  He was
+directed by General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against
+Forrest.  This he did with the promptness and effect which has
+characterized his whole military career.  On the 14th of July, he met
+the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him badly.  The fighting
+continued through three days.  Our loss was small compared with that of
+the enemy.  Having accomplished the object of his expedition, General
+Smith returned to Memphis.
+
+During the months of March and April this same force under Forrest
+annoyed us considerably.  On the 24th of March it captured Union City,
+Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th attacked Paducah, commanded
+by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois Volunteers.  Colonel H., having
+but a small force, withdrew to the forts near the river, from where he
+repulsed the enemy and drove him from the place.
+
+On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel General
+Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to surrender, but
+received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th New Jersey Volunteers,
+that being placed there by his Government with adequate force to hold
+his post and repel all enemies from it, surrender was out of the
+question.
+
+On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow, Tennessee,
+garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and the 1st Regiment
+Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major Booth.  The garrison fought
+bravely until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the enemy
+carried the works by assault; and, after our men threw down their arms,
+proceeded to an inhuman and merciless massacre of the garrison.
+
+On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared before
+Paducah, but was again driven off.
+
+Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's operations,
+were also very active in Kentucky.  The most noted of these was Morgan.
+With a force of from two to three thousand cavalry, he entered the State
+through Pound Gap in the latter part of May.  On the 11th of June they
+attacked and captured Cynthiana, with its entire garrison.  On the 12th
+he was overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy
+loss, and was finally driven out of the State.  This notorious guerilla
+was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville, Tennessee, and his
+command captured and dispersed by General Gillem.
+
+In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the Red River
+expedition, except so far as relates to the movements of the troops sent
+by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith, I am unable to give the
+date of its starting.  The troops under General Smith, comprising two
+divisions of the 16th and a detachment of the 17th army corps, left
+Vicksburg on the 10th of March, and reached the designated point on Red
+River one day earlier than that appointed by General Banks.  The rebel
+forces at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the
+14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying the
+enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed forward to Fort
+de Russy, which had been left with a weak garrison, and captured it with
+its garrison about three hundred and fifty men, eleven pieces of
+artillery, and many small-arms.  Our loss was but slight.  On the 15th
+he pushed forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th.  On
+the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's Hill, in
+which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten prisoners and four
+pieces of artillery.
+
+On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the rebel
+General Taylor, at Cane River.  By the 26th, General Banks had assembled
+his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to Grand Ecore.  On the
+morning of April 6th he moved from Grand Ecore.  On the afternoon of the
+7th, he advanced and met the enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him
+from the field.  On the same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight
+miles beyond Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat.  On the
+8th, at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and
+defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and an
+immense amount of transportation and stores.  During the night, General
+Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another battle was fought on the
+9th, and the enemy repulsed with great loss.  During the night, General
+Banks continued his retrograde movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to
+Alexandria, which he reached on the 27th of April.  Here a serious
+difficulty arose in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the
+expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much since they
+passed up as to prevent their return.  At the suggestion of Colonel (now
+Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under his superintendence, wing-dams were
+constructed, by which the channel was contracted so that the fleet
+passed down the rapids in safety.
+
+The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after considerable
+skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached Morganzia and Point
+Coupee near the end of the month.  The disastrous termination of this
+expedition, and the lateness of the season, rendered impracticable the
+carrying out of my plans of a movement in force sufficient to insure the
+capture of Mobile.
+
+On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with the 7th
+army corps, to  cooperate with General Banks's expedition on the Red
+River, and reached Arkadelphia on the 28th.  On the 16th of April, after
+driving the enemy before him, he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in
+Washita County, by General Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith.
+After several severe skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated,
+General Steele reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of
+April.
+
+On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks on Red
+River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's Mill, in Dallas
+County, General Steele determined to fall back to the Arkansas River.
+He left Camden on the 26th of April, and reached Little Rock on the 2d
+of May.  On the 30th of April, the enemy attacked him while crossing
+Saline River at Jenkins's Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable
+loss.  Our loss was about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.
+
+Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the
+"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore directed to
+send the 19th army corps to join the armies operating against Richmond,
+and to limit the remainder of his command to such operations as might be
+necessary to hold the positions and lines of communications he then
+occupied.
+
+Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, General
+Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy that was
+collecting near the Mississippi River.  General Smith met and defeated
+this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of June.  Our loss was about
+forty killed and seventy wounded.
+
+In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General Gordon
+Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to co-operate with
+Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile Bay.  On the 8th of
+August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the combined naval and land forces.
+Fort Powell was blown up and abandoned.
+
+On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe bombardment,
+surrendered on the 23d.  The total captures amounted to one thousand
+four hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and one hundred and four pieces
+of artillery.
+
+About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel General
+Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had reached Jacksonport,
+on his way to invade Missouri, General A. J. Smith's command, then en
+route from Memphis to join Sherman, was ordered to Missouri.  A cavalry
+force was also, at the same time, sent from Memphis, under command of
+Colonel Winslow.  This made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those
+of Price, and no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price
+and drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in Arkansas,
+would cut off his retreat.  On the 26th day of September, Price attacked
+Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to retreat, and thence moved north to
+the Missouri River, and continued up that river towards Kansas.  General
+Curtis, commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such
+forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while General
+Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.
+
+The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, with the
+loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large number of
+prisoners.  He made a precipitate retreat to Northern Arkansas.  The
+impunity with which Price was enabled to roam over the State of Missouri
+for a long time, and the incalculable mischief done by him, show to how
+little purpose a superior force may be used.  There is no reason why
+General Rosecrans should not have concentrated his forces, and beaten
+and driven Price before the latter reached Pilot Knob.
+
+September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the
+Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the garrison
+at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which capitulated on the 24th.
+Soon after the surrender two regiments of reinforcements arrived, and
+after a severe fight were compelled to surrender.  Forrest destroyed the
+railroad westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle,
+skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the same day
+cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near Tullahoma and Dechard.
+On the morning of the 30th, one column of Forrest's command, under
+Buford, appeared before Huntsville, and summoned the surrender of the
+garrison.  Receiving an answer in the negative, he remained in the
+vicinity of the place until next morning, when he again summoned its
+surrender, and received the same reply as on the night before.  He
+withdrew in the direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned,
+and attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without
+success.  On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but was
+handsomely repulsed.
+
+Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the morning of
+the 1st, but did not make an attack.  On the morning of the 3d he moved
+towards Mount Pleasant.  While these operations were going on, every
+exertion was made by General Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest
+before he could recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his
+escape to Corinth, Mississippi.
+
+In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to destroy
+the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy on the 2d of
+October, about three miles and a half from Saltville, and drove him into
+his strongly intrenched position around the salt-works, from which he
+was unable to dislodge him.  During the night he withdrew his command
+and returned to Kentucky.
+
+General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his armies
+in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations for refitting
+and supplying them for future service.  The great length of road from
+Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, which had to be guarded,
+allowed the troops but little rest.
+
+During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which
+was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the
+whole country, disclosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General
+Sherman to fully meet them.  He exhibited the weakness of supposing that
+an army that had been beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt
+at the defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against the
+army that had so often defeated it.
+
+In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon reported to
+the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's right, he succeeded
+in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty, and moved north on it.
+
+General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the remainder of
+his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden, Alabama. Seeing the
+constant annoyance he would have with the roads to his rear if he
+attempted to hold Atlanta, General Sherman proposed the abandonment and
+destruction of that place, with all the railroads leading to it, and
+telegraphed me as follows:
+
+
+"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA", October 10--noon.
+
+"Dispatch about Wilson just received.  Hood is now crossing Coosa River,
+twelve miles below Rome, bound west.  If he passes over the Mobile and
+Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan of my letter sent by
+Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas with the troops now in
+Tennessee to defend the State?  He will have an ample force when the
+reinforcements ordered reach Nashville.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this dispatch, I
+quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:
+
+"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's should be
+reinforced to the maximum; that after you get Wilmington, you strike for
+Savannah and the river; that Canby be instructed to hold the Mississippi
+River, and send a force to get Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of
+the Alabama or the Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put
+my army in final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston,
+to be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the city
+of Savannah is in our possession."  This was in reply to a letter of
+mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch of his containing
+substantially the same proposition, and in which I informed him of a
+proposed movement against Wilmington, and of the situation in Virginia,
+etc.
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+
+"October 11, 1864--11 A.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of October 10th received.  Does it not look as if Hood
+was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using the Mobile
+and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply his base on the
+Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur?  If he does this, he ought
+to be met and prevented from getting north of the Tennessee River.  If
+you were to cut loose, I do not believe you would meet Hood's army, but
+would be bushwhacked by all the old men and little boys, and such
+railroad guards as are still left at home.  Hood would probably strike
+for Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater
+damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south.  If there
+is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that, but I must
+trust to your own judgment.  I find I shall not be able to send a force
+from here to act with you on Savannah. Your movements, therefore, will
+be independent of mine; at least until the fall of Richmond takes place.
+I am afraid Thomas, with such lines of road as he has to protect, could
+not prevent Hood from going north.  With Wilson turned loose, with all
+your cavalry, you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive
+than heretofore.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+"KINGSTON, GEORGIA, "October 11--11 A.M.
+
+"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and
+Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome.  He threw one
+corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to follow.  I hold Atlanta
+with the 20th corps, and have strong detachments along my line.  This
+reduces my active force to a comparatively small army.  We cannot remain
+here on the defensive.  With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold
+cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads.  I would infinitely
+prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the country from Chattanooga
+to Atlanta including the latter city send back all my wounded and
+worthless, and with my effective army, move through Georgia, smashing
+things, to the sea. Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I
+believe he will be forced to follow me.  Instead of my being on the
+defensive, I would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he
+means to do, he would have to guess at my plans.  The difference in war
+is full twenty-five per cent.  I can make Savannah, Charleston, or the
+mouth of the Chattahoochee.
+
+"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, "October 11,1864--11.30 P.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of to-day received.  If you are satisfied the trip to the
+sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the Tennessee River firmly,
+you may make it, destroying all the railroad south of Dalton or
+Chattanooga, as you think best.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting through to
+the coast, with a garrison left on the southern railroads, leading east
+and west, through Georgia, to effectually sever the east from the west.
+In other words, cut the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had
+been cut once by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River.
+General Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.
+
+General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his proposed
+movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime to watch Hood.
+Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward from Gadsden across Sand
+Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th corps,  Major-General Stanley
+commanding, and the 23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, back
+to Chattanooga to report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he
+had placed in command of all the troops of his military division, save
+the four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with
+through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal, there was
+little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line of the Tennessee,
+or, in the event Hood should force it, would be able to concentrate and
+beat him in battle.  It was therefore readily consented to that Sherman
+should start for the sea-coast.
+
+Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of November, he
+commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and Macon.  His coming-out
+point could not be definitely fixed. Having to gather his subsistence as
+he marched through the country, it was not impossible that a force
+inferior to his own might compel him to head for such point as he could
+reach, instead of such as he might prefer.  The blindness of the enemy,
+however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the only
+considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the Mississippi
+River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the whole country open,
+and Sherman's route to his own choice.
+
+How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met with, the
+condition of the country through which the armies passed, the capture of
+Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River, and the occupation of Savannah
+on the 21st of December, are all clearly set forth in General Sherman's
+admirable report.
+
+Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two
+expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from Vicksburg,
+Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the enemy's lines of
+communication with Mobile and detain troops in that field.  General
+Foster, commanding Department of the South, also sent an expedition, via
+Broad River, to destroy the railroad between Charleston and Savannah.
+The expedition from Vicksburg, under command of Brevet Brigadier-General
+E. D. Osband (colonel 3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on
+the 27th of November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad
+bridge and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles
+of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of stores.  The
+expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable results.  The
+expedition from the Department of the South, under the immediate command
+of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, consisting of about five thousand
+men of all arms, including a brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad
+River and debarked at Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it
+moved to strike the railroad at Grahamsville.  At Honey Hill, about
+three miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a
+strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe fighting, in
+our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and forty-six in killed,
+wounded, and missing.  During the night General Hatch withdrew.  On the
+6th of December General Foster obtained a position covering the
+Charleston and Savannah Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and
+Tulifinny rivers.
+
+Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move northward, which
+seemed to me to be leading to his certain doom.  At all events, had I
+had the power to command both armies, I should not have changed the
+orders under which he seemed to be acting.  On the 26th of October, the
+advance of Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but
+failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and succeeded,
+in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment on the north side of
+the Tennessee River, near Florence.  On the 28th, Forrest reached the
+Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured a gunboat and three transports.
+On the 2d of November he planted batteries above and below Johnsonville,
+on the opposite side of the river, isolating three gunboats and eight
+transports.  On the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place,
+and was replied to from the gunboats and the garrison.  The gunboats
+becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports, to
+prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.  About a million and
+a half dollars' worth of store and property on the levee and in
+storehouses was consumed by fire.  On the 5th the enemy disappeared and
+crossed to the north side of the Tennessee River, above Johnsonville,
+moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood.  On the night of
+the 5th, General Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached
+Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to Pulaski, and
+was put in command of all the troopers there, with instruction to watch
+the movements of Hood and retard his advance, but not to risk a general
+engagement until the arrival of General A. J. Smith's command from
+Missouri, and until General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.
+
+On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance.  General Thomas,
+retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards Nashville for the
+purpose of concentrating his command and gaining time for the arrival of
+reinforcements.  The enemy coming up with our main force, commanded by
+General Schofield, at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works
+repeatedly during the afternoon until late at night, but were in every
+instance repulsed.  His loss in this battle was one thousand seven
+hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and three
+thousand eight hundred wounded.  Among his losses were six general
+officers killed, six wounded, and one captured.  Our entire loss was two
+thousand three hundred.  This was the first serious opposition the enemy
+met with, and I am satisfied was the fatal blow to all his expectations.
+During the night, General Schofield fell back towards Nashville.  This
+left the field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily
+abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought
+together.  The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment of his
+line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.
+
+As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the Tennessee
+River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, General Rosecrans was
+ordered to send to General Thomas the troops of General A. J. Smith's
+command, and such other troops as he could spare.  The advance of this
+reinforcement reached Nashville on the 30th of November.
+
+On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked Hood in
+position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated and drove him from
+the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in our hand most of his
+artillery and many thousand prisoners, including four general officers.
+
+Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it
+appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.  This impatience was increased
+upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of cavalry across the
+Cumberland into Kentucky.  I feared Hood would cross his whole army and
+give us great trouble there. After urging upon General Thomas the
+necessity of immediately assuming the offensive, I started West to
+superintend matters there in person.  Reaching Washington City, I
+received General Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy,
+and the result as far as the battle had progressed.  I was delighted.
+All fears and apprehensions were dispelled.  I am not yet satisfied but
+that General Thomas, immediately upon the appearance of Hood before
+Nashville, and before he had time to fortify, should have moved out with
+his whole force and given him battle, instead of waiting to remount his
+cavalry, which delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it
+impracticable to attack earlier than he did.  But his final defeat of
+Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a vindication of that
+distinguished officer's judgment.
+
+After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued by
+cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to abandon
+many pieces of artillery and most of his transportation.  On the 28th of
+December our advanced forces ascertained that he had made good his
+escape to the south side of the river.
+
+About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee and North
+Alabama, making it difficult to move army transportation and artillery,
+General Thomas stopped the pursuit by his main force at the Tennessee
+River.  A small force of cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th
+Pennsylvania Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance,
+capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's
+pontoon-bridge.  The details of these operations will be found
+clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.
+
+A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, started from
+Memphis on the 21st of December.  On the 25th he surprised and captured
+Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio
+Railroad, destroyed the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and
+pontoons for Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large
+amounts of public stores.  On the morning of the 28th he attacked and
+captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and destroyed a train of
+fourteen cars; thence turning to the south-west, he struck the
+Mississippi Central Railroad at Winona, destroyed the factories and
+large amounts of stores at Bankston, and the machine-shops and public
+property at Grenada, arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.
+
+During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a force under
+General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee.  On the 13th of November
+he attacked General Gillem, near Morristown, capturing his artillery and
+several hundred prisoners.  Gillem, with what was left of his command,
+retreated to Knoxville.  Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to
+near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General Ammen.
+Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman concentrated
+the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near Bean's Station to
+operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or drive him into Virginia
+--destroy the salt-works at Saltville, and the railroad into Virginia
+as far as he could go without endangering his command.  On the 12th of
+December he commenced his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's
+forces wherever he met them.  On the 16th he struck the enemy, under
+Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to Wytheville,
+capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred and ninety-eight
+prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its stores and supplies, and
+the extensive lead-works near there. Returning to Marion, he met a force
+under Breckinridge, consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of
+Saltville, that had started in pursuit.  He at once made arrangements to
+attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge gone.  He
+then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the extensive salt-works
+at that place, a large amount of stores, and captured eight pieces of
+artillery.  Having thus successfully executed his instructions, he
+returned General Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.
+
+Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast port left
+to the enemy through which to get supplies from abroad, and send cotton
+and other products out by blockade-runners, besides being a place of
+great strategic value.  The navy had been making strenuous exertions to
+seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect.  The nature
+of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required watching for
+so great a distance that, without possession of the land north of New
+Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for the navy to entirely close
+the harbor against the entrance of blockade-runners.
+
+To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation of a
+land force, which I agreed to furnish.  Immediately commenced the
+assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of the most
+formidable armada ever collected for concentration upon one given point.
+This necessarily attracted the attention of the enemy, as well as that
+of the loyal North; and through the imprudence of the public press, and
+very likely of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of
+the expedition became a subject of common discussion in the newspapers
+both North and South.  The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it.
+This caused a postponement of the expedition until the later part of
+November, when, being again called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant
+Secretary of the Navy, I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and
+went myself, in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads,
+where we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required
+and the time of starting.  A force of six thousand five hundred men was
+regarded as sufficient.  The time of starting was not definitely
+arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th of December,
+if not before.  Learning, on the 30th of November, that Bragg had gone
+to Georgia, taking with him most of the forces about Wilmington, I
+deemed it of the utmost importance that the expedition should reach its
+destination before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to
+make all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who
+had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy might
+not be detained one moment.
+
+On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:  The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel is
+to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington.  If successful in this,
+the second will be to capture Wilmington itself.  There are reasonable
+grounds to hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence of
+the greater part of the enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in
+Georgia.  The directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of
+the expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of where
+they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be taken.  The object
+of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the main land
+between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic, north of the north entrance to
+the river.  Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds
+Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then
+the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the
+navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places.  These in our
+hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wilmington would
+be sealed.  Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is
+built fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it
+will be worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and
+surprise.  If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the
+expedition, the second will become a matter of after consideration.
+
+"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer
+immediately in command of the troops.
+
+"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a landing at or
+near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the armies operating against
+Richmond without delay.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were taken for
+this enterprise, and the territory within which they were to operate,
+military courtesy required that all orders and instructions should go
+through him.  They were so sent, but General Weitzel has since
+officially informed me that he never received the foregoing
+instructions, nor was he aware of their existence, until he read General
+Butler's published official report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my
+indorsement and papers accompanying it.  I had no idea of General
+Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off
+from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General Weitzel
+had received all the instructions, and would be in command.  I rather
+formed the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to witness
+the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat.  The expedition was
+detained several days at Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the
+powder-boat.
+
+The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without any
+delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon General
+Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.
+
+The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and arrived at
+the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening
+of the 15th.  Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of the 18th, having
+put in at Beaufort to get ammunition for the monitors.  The sea becoming
+rough, making it difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and
+coal being about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to
+replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to
+the place of rendezvous until the 24th.  The powder-boat was exploded on
+the morning of the 24th, before the return of General Butler from
+Beaufort; but it would seem, from the notice taken of it in the Southern
+newspapers, that the enemy were never enlightened as to the object of
+the explosion until they were informed by the Northern press.
+
+On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a
+reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up towards
+the fort.  But before receiving a full report of the result of this
+reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct violation of the instructions
+given, ordered the re-embarkation of the troops and the return of the
+expedition.  The re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the
+27th.
+
+On the return of the expedition officers and men among them Brevet
+Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M. Curtis,
+First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York Volunteers,
+First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and Second-Lieutenant George
+Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers voluntarily reported to me that when
+recalled they were nearly into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could
+have been taken without much loss.
+
+Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch from the
+Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me
+that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, and expressing the conviction
+that, under a proper leader, the place could be taken.  The natural
+supposition with me was, that when the troops abandoned the expedition,
+the navy would do so also.  Finding it had not, however, I answered on
+the 30th of December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I
+would send a force and make another attempt to take the place.  This
+time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. Terry to
+command the expedition.  The troops composing it consisted of the same
+that composed the former, with the addition of a small brigade,
+numbering about one thousand five hundred, and a small siege train.  The
+latter it was never found necessary to land.  I communicated direct to
+the commander of the expedition the following instructions:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  The expedition intrusted to your command has been fitted out
+to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C., and Wilmington
+ultimately, if the fort falls.  You will then proceed with as little
+delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and
+report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter,
+commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
+
+"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete understanding should
+exist between yourself and the naval commander.  I suggest, therefore,
+that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part
+to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may
+be unity of action.  It would be well to have the whole programme laid
+down in writing.  I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you
+can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes.  I
+would, therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own
+responsibilities.  The first object to be attained is to get a firm
+position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which
+you can operate against that fort.  You want to look to the
+practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself
+against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open
+to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort
+Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or
+another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.
+
+"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a
+portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it
+operates on the outside.  Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut
+it off from supplies or reinforcements, while the river is in possession
+of the enemy.
+
+"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, in
+readiness to be sent to you if required.  All other supplies can be
+drawn from Beaufort as you need them.
+
+"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is assured.
+When you find they can be spared, order them back, or such of them as
+you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders.
+
+"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to
+Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further instructions.
+You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.
+
+"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to
+Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels.  These troops will be
+brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard
+from.  Should you require them, they will be sent to you.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."
+
+
+Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet
+brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition,
+was assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.
+
+It will be seen that these instructions did not differ materially from
+those given for the first expedition, and that in neither instance was
+there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely
+to the discretion of the commanding officer.
+
+The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th,
+arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to
+the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th,
+when it got under way and reached its destination that evening.  Under
+cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced on the
+morning of the 13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without
+loss.  On the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred
+yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession of and
+turned into a defensive line against any attempt that might be made from
+the fort.  This reconnoissance disclosed the fact that the front of the
+work had been seriously injured by the navy fire.  In the afternoon of
+the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was
+captured, with its entire garrison and armament.  Thus was secured, by
+the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important
+successes of the war.  Our loss was:  killed, one hundred and ten;
+wounded, five hundred and thirty-six.  On the 16th and the 17th the
+enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith's
+Island, which were immediately occupied by us.  This gave us entire
+control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
+
+At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and
+Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of Virginia and
+North Carolina.
+
+The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force
+which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now threatening it,
+I determined to find other fields of operation for General Thomas's
+surplus troops--fields from which they would co-operate with other
+movements.  General Thomas was therefore directed to collect all troops,
+not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in readiness for
+orders.  On the 7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was
+assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General
+Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as possible.  This
+direction was promptly complied with, and the advance of the corps
+reached Washington on the 23d of the same month, whence it was sent to
+Fort Fisher and New Bern.  On the 26th he was directed to send General
+A. J. Smith's command and a division of cavalry to report to General
+Canby.  By the 7th of February the whole force was en route for its
+destination.
+
+The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military department,
+and General Schofield assigned to command, and placed under the orders
+of Major-General Sherman.  The following instructions were given him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:-- *    *    *    Your movements are intended as co-operative
+with Sherman's through the States of South and North Carolina.  The
+first point to be attained is to secure Wilmington.  Goldsboro' will
+then be your objective point, moving either from Wilmington or New Bern,
+or both, as you deem best.  Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro',
+you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place
+with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road behind
+you.  The enterprise under you has two objects:  the first is to give
+General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his march north; the second,
+to open a base of supplies for him on his line of march.  As soon,
+therefore, as you can determine which of the two points, Wilmington or
+New Bern, you can best use for throwing supplies from, to the interior,
+you will commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage
+for sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals.  You will get of
+these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the interior
+as you may be able to occupy.  I believe General Palmer has received
+some instructions direct from General Sherman on the subject of securing
+supplies for his army.  You will learn what steps he has taken, and be
+governed in your requisitions accordingly.  A supply of ordnance stores
+will also be necessary.
+
+"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective departments
+in the field with me at City Point.  Communicate with me by every
+opportunity, and should you deem it necessary at any time, send a
+special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you can communicate by
+telegraph.
+
+"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of those
+required for your own command.
+
+"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your imperative
+duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the interior to aid
+Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own judgment without waiting
+for instructions.  You will report, however, what you purpose doing.
+The details for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to
+you.  I would urge, however, if I did not know that you are already
+fully alive to the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be
+looked for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to
+the 28th of February; this limits your time very materially.
+
+"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it can be
+supplied from Washington.  A large force of railroad men have already
+been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher in a
+day or two.  On this point I have informed you by telegraph.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."
+
+
+Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher,
+accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for myself
+the condition of things, and personally conferring with General Terry
+and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.
+
+Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army
+entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee, the
+Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several months to
+re-establish a through line from west to east, and regarding the capture
+of Lee's army as the most important operation towards closing the
+rebellion--I sent orders to General Sherman on the 6th of December, that
+after establishing a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to
+include all his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point
+with the balance of his command.
+
+On the 18th of December, having received information of the defeat and
+utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and that, owing to the
+great difficulty of procuring ocean transportation, it would take over
+two months to transport Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might
+not contribute as much towards the desired result by operating from
+where he was, I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views
+as to what would be best to do.  A few days after this I received a
+communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December, acknowledging
+the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing me of his preparations
+to carry it into effect as soon as he could get transportation.  Also
+that he had expected, upon reducing Savannah, instantly to march to
+Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me;
+but that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of
+Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the middle of
+January.  The confidence he manifested in this letter of being able to
+march up and join me pleased me, and, without waiting for a reply to my
+letter of the 18th, I directed him, on the 28th of December, to make
+preparations to start as he proposed, without delay, to break up the
+railroads in North and South Carolina, and join the armies operating
+against Richmond as soon as he could.
+
+On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had ordered the
+23d corps,  Major-General Schofield commanding, east; that it numbered
+about twenty-one thousand men; that we had at Fort Fisher, about eight
+thousand men; at New Bern, about four thousand; that if Wilmington was
+captured, General Schofield would go there; if not, he would be sent to
+New Bern; that, in either event, all the surplus force at both points
+would move to the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his
+movement; that from either point railroad communication could be run
+out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders as he came
+into communication with them.
+
+In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to reduce
+Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy under Admiral
+Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the Cape Fear River.  Fort
+Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the west bank of the river, was
+occupied on the morning of the 19th, the enemy having evacuated it after
+our appearance before it.
+
+After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington on the
+morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards Goldsboro' during
+the night.  Preparations were at once made for a movement on Goldsboro'
+in two columns--one from Wilmington, and the other from New Bern--and to
+repair the railroad leading there from each place, as well as to supply
+General Sherman by Cape Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became
+necessary.  The column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March,
+at Wise's Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred
+prisoners.  On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our intrenched
+position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell back during the
+night.  On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed and Kinston occupied,
+and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered. The column from Wilmington
+reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on
+the 22d.
+
+By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in motion from
+Savannah.  He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th; thence
+moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via Fayetteville, reaching the
+latter place on the 12th of March, opening up communication with General
+Schofield by way of Cape Fear River.  On the 15th he resumed his march
+on Goldsboro'.  He met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a
+severe fight defeated and compelled it to retreat.  Our loss in this
+engagement was about six hundred.  The enemy's loss was much greater.
+On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under Joe Johnston,
+attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing three guns and driving it
+back upon the main body.  General Slocum, who was in the advance
+ascertaining that the whole of Johnston's army was in the front,
+arranged his troops on the defensive, intrenched himself and awaited
+reinforcements, which were pushed forward.  On the night of the 21st the
+enemy retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our
+hands.  From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place had been
+occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the Neuse River ten
+miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General Terry had got
+possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d), thus forming a
+junction with the columns from New Bern and Wilmington.
+
+Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of Charleston,
+South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the night of the 17th
+of February, and occupied by our forces on the 18th.
+
+On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was directed to
+send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, from East Tennessee,
+to penetrate South Carolina well down towards Columbia, to destroy the
+railroads and military resources of the country, and return, if he was
+able, to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing
+our prisoners there, if possible.  Of the feasibility of this latter,
+however, General Stoneman was to judge.  Sherman's movements, I had no
+doubt, would attract the attention of all the force the enemy could
+collect, and facilitate the execution of this.  General Stoneman was so
+late in making his start on this expedition (and Sherman having passed
+out of the State of South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed
+General Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of
+last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he could.
+This would keep him between our garrisons in East Tennessee and the
+enemy.  I regarded it not impossible that in the event of the enemy
+being driven from Richmond, he might fall back to Lynchburg and attempt
+a raid north through East Tennessee.  On the 14th of February the
+following communication was sent to General Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.
+
+"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile
+and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of about twenty
+thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command.  The cavalry you have sent
+to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg. It, with the available cavalry
+already in that section, will move from there eastward, in co-operation.
+Hood's army has been terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave
+it in Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by
+the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman.  (I take it a large
+portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn.  It is so asserted in the
+Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel Congress said a few days
+since in a speech, that one-half of it had been brought to South
+Carolina to oppose Sherman.)  This being true, or even if it is not
+true, Canby's movement will attract all the attention of the enemy, and
+leave the advance from your standpoint easy.  I think it advisable,
+therefore, that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare,
+and hold it in readiness to go south.  The object would be threefold:
+first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as possible, to insure
+success to Canby; second, to destroy the enemy's line of communications
+and military resources; third, to destroy or capture their forces
+brought into the field. Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the
+points to direct the expedition against.  This, however, would not be so
+important as the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama.  Discretion
+should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go where,
+according to the information he may receive, he will best secure the
+objects named above.
+
+"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know what
+number of men you can put into the field.  If not more than five
+thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be sufficient.  It
+is not desirable that you should start this expedition until the one
+leaving Vicksburg has been three or four days out, or even a week.  I do
+not know when it will start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as
+I learn.  If you should hear through other sources before hearing from
+me, you can act on the information received.
+
+"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as
+possible, relying upon the country for supplies.  I would also reduce
+the number of guns to a battery, or the number of batteries, and put the
+extra teams to the guns taken.  No guns or caissons should be taken with
+less than eight horses.
+
+"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force you think
+you will be able to send under these directions.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon after the
+20th as he could get it off.
+
+I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement of the
+armies operating against Richmond, that all communications with the
+city, north of James River, should be cut off.  The enemy having
+withdrawn the bulk of his force from the Shenandoah Valley and sent it
+south, or replaced troops sent from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce
+Sherman, if practicable, whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers
+to that of the enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah,
+which, if successful, would accomplish the first at least, and possibly
+the latter of the objects.  I therefore telegraphed General Sheridan as
+follows:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no
+difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone.  From
+there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as
+to be of no further use to the rebellion.  Sufficient cavalry should be
+left behind to look after Mosby's gang.  From Lynchburg, if information
+you might get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the
+streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and join
+General Sherman.  This additional raid, with one now about starting from
+East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or give thousand cavalry,
+one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or eight thousand cavalry, one from
+Eastport, Mississippi, then thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay,
+with about thirty-eight thousand mixed troops, these three latter
+pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large
+army eating out the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted
+to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise you to
+overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston was evacuated
+on Tuesday 1st.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, inquiring where
+Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him definite information as
+to the points he might be expected to move on, this side of Charlotte,
+North Carolina.  In answer, the following telegram was sent him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of opposition
+he meets with from the enemy.  If strongly opposed, he may possibly have
+to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit out for a new start.  I
+think, however, all danger for the necessity of going to that point has
+passed.  I believe he has passed Charlotte.  He may take Fayetteville on
+his way to Goldsboro'.  If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be
+guided in your after movements by the information you obtain.  Before
+you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him moving from
+Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy strongly posted at one
+or the other of these places, with railroad communications opened from
+his army to Wilmington or New Bern.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February, with two
+divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand each.  On the 1st of
+March he secured the bridge, which the enemy attempted to destroy,
+across the middle fork of the Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered
+Staunton on the 2d, the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'.  Thence
+he pushed on to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an
+intrenched position, under General Early.  Without stopping to make a
+reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the position was carried,
+and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery, with horses
+and caissons complete, two hundred wagons and teams loaded with
+subsistence, and seventeen battle-flags, were captured.  The prisoners,
+under an escort of fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester.
+Thence he marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the
+railroad and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d.  Here
+he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond and
+Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north and south
+forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of his trains.  This
+necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea of capturing Lynchburg.
+On the morning of the 6th, dividing his force into two columns, he sent
+one to Scottsville, whence it marched up the James River Canal to New
+Market, destroying every lock, and in many places the bank of the canal.
+From here a force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to
+obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that place,
+but failed.  The enemy burned it on our approach.  The enemy also burned
+the bridge across the river at Hardwicksville.  The other column moved
+down the railroad towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst
+Court House, sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country,
+uniting with the column at New Market.  The river being very high, his
+pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having destroyed the
+bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river and get on the South
+Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy it to Appomattox Court House,
+the only thing left for him was to return to Winchester or strike a base
+at the White House. Fortunately, he chose the latter.  From New Market
+he took up his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond,
+destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever
+practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, concentrating the
+whole force at Columbia on the 10th.  Here he rested one day, and sent
+through by scouts information of his whereabouts and purposes, and a
+request for supplies to meet him at White House, which reached me on the
+night of the 12th.  An infantry force was immediately sent to get
+possession of White House, and supplies were forwarded.  Moving from
+Columbia in a direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station,
+he crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges and
+many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of the
+Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.
+
+Previous to this the following communication was sent to General Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair the
+railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to Bull's Gap and
+fortify there.  Supplies at Knoxville could always be got forward as
+required.  With Bull's Gap fortified, you can occupy as outposts about
+all of East Tennessee, and be prepared, if it should be required of you
+in the spring, to make a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North
+Carolina.  I do not think Stoneman should break the road until he gets
+into Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may be
+caught west of that.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was moving an
+adequate force against Mobile and the army defending it under General
+Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large and well-appointed cavalry
+expeditions--one from Middle Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson
+against the enemy's vital points in Alabama, the other from East
+Tennessee, under Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and
+assembling the remainder of his available forces, preparatory to
+commence offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's
+cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James were
+confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of Richmond and
+Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies, reinforced by that of
+General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; General Pope was making
+preparations for a spring campaign against the enemy under Kirby Smith
+and Price, west of the Mississippi; and General Hancock was
+concentrating a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard
+against invasion or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.
+
+After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter roads, it
+was necessary to rest and refit at White House.  At this time the
+greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear that the enemy would
+leave his strong lines about Petersburg and Richmond for the purpose of
+uniting with Johnston, and before he was driven from them by battle, or
+I was prepared to make an effectual pursuit.  On the 24th of March,
+General Sheridan moved from White House, crossed the James River at
+Jones's Landing, and formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in
+front of Petersburg on the 27th.  During this move, General Ord sent
+forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.
+
+On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general movement
+of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 24, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  On the 29th instant the armies operating against Richmond
+will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of turning the enemy
+out of his present position around Petersburg, and to insure the success
+of the cavalry under General Sheridan, which will start at the same
+time, in its efforts to reach and destroy the South Side and Danville
+railroads.  Two corps of the Army of the Potomac will be moved at first
+in two columns, taking the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest
+where the present line held by us strikes that stream, both moving
+towards Dinwiddie Court House.
+
+"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under
+General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon Road and the
+Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter before crossing the
+Nottoway, and west with the whole column before reaching Stony Creek.
+General Sheridan will then move independently, under other instructions
+which will be given him.  All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army
+of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military
+Division not required for guarding property belonging to their arm of
+service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be added to the
+defences of City Point.  Major-General Parke will be left in command of
+all the army left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point,
+subject of course to orders from the commander of the Army of the
+Potomac.  The 9th army corps will be left intact, to hold the present
+line of works so long as the whole line now occupied by us is held.  If,
+however, the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the
+left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the position held
+by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon Road.  All troops to the
+left of the 9th corps will be held in readiness to move at the shortest
+notice by such route as may be designated when the order is given.
+
+"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one colored, or
+so much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, and march for the
+present left of the Army of the Potomac.  In the absence of further
+orders, or until further orders are given, the white divisions will
+follow the left column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored
+division the right column.  During the movement Major-General Weitzel
+will be left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army
+of the James.
+
+"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on the
+night of the 27th instant.  General Ord will leave behind the minimum
+number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main
+army.  A cavalry expedition, from General Ord's command, will also be
+started from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April,
+under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad about
+Hicksford.  This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and
+therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient.  They
+should, however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared
+from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses
+the Blackwater.  The crossing should probably be at Uniten.  Should
+Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon Road, he will be
+instructed to do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads
+between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston.  The railroad bridge at Weldon
+being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might be practicable to
+destroy any accumulation of supplies the enemy may have collected south
+of the Roanoke. All the troops will move with four days' rations in
+haversacks and eight days' in wagons.  To avoid as much hauling as
+possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of days'
+supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct his
+commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies delivered at
+the terminus of the road to fill up in passing.  Sixty rounds of
+ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the
+transportation on hand will carry, after taking the specified amount of
+other supplies.  The densely wooded country in which the army has to
+operate making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken
+with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, at
+the option of the army commanders.
+
+"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into operation
+may be commenced at once.  The reserves of the 9th corps should be
+massed as much as possible.  While I would not now order an
+unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them, they should be ready
+and should make the attack if the enemy weakens his line in their front,
+without waiting for orders.  In case they carry the line, then the whole
+of the 9th corps could follow up so as to join or co-operate with the
+balance of the army.  To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have
+rations issued to them, same as the balance of the army.  General
+Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at all
+practicable to break through at any point, he will do so.  A success
+north of the James should be followed up with great promptness.  An
+attack will not be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has
+detached largely.  In that case it may be regarded as evident that the
+enemy are relying upon their local reserves principally for the defence
+of Richmond.  Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north
+of the James, except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after
+a break is made in the lines of the enemy.
+
+"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating against
+Richmond is left behind.  The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only
+chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in the hope of
+advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl everything against the
+moving column, and return.  It cannot be impressed too strongly upon
+commanders of troops left in the trenches not to allow this to occur
+without taking advantage of it.  The very fact of the enemy coming out
+to attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost conclusive
+evidence of such a weakening of his lines.  I would have it particularly
+enjoined upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the
+enemy, those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding
+officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move
+promptly, and notify the commander of their action.  I would also enjoin
+the same action on the part of division commanders when other parts of
+their corps are engaged.  In like manner, I would urge the importance of
+following up a repulse of the enemy.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines in front
+of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River towards our
+left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the line to the right and
+left of it, established themselves and turned the guns of the fort
+against us, but our troops on either flank held their ground until the
+reserves were brought up, when the enemy was driven back with a heavy
+loss in killed and wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners.
+Our loss was sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded,
+and five hundred and six missing.  General Meade at once ordered the
+other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective fronts.
+Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's strongly intrenched
+picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th corps, and eight hundred and
+thirty-four prisoners.  The enemy made desperate attempts to retake this
+line, but without success.  Our loss in front of these was fifty-two
+killed, eight hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven
+missing.  The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.
+
+General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about
+Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them
+perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and stated
+that he would be ready to move, as he had previously written me, by the
+10th of April, fully equipped and rationed for twenty days, if it should
+become necessary to bring his command to bear against Lee's army, in
+co-operation with our forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg.
+General Sherman proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then,
+by turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or
+thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and Danville
+Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, or join the armies
+operating against Richmond, as might be deemed best.  This plan he was
+directed to carry into execution, if he received no further directions
+in the meantime.  I explained to him the movement I had ordered to
+commence on the 29th of March.  That if it should not prove as entirely
+successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy the
+Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the enemy of further
+supplies, and also to prevent the rapid concentration of Lee's and
+Johnston's armies.
+
+I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the report
+that the enemy had retreated the night before.  I was firmly convinced
+that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be the signal for Lee to
+leave.  With Johnston and him combined, a long, tedious, and expensive
+campaign, consuming most of the summer, might become necessary.  By
+moving out I would put the army in better condition for pursuit, and
+would at least, by the destruction of the Danville Road, retard the
+concentration of the two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy
+to abandon much material that he might otherwise save.  I therefore
+determined not to delay the movement ordered.
+
+On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions of the
+24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one division of the
+25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, and MacKenzie's
+cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance of the foregoing
+instructions, and reached the position assigned him near Hatcher's Run
+on the morning of the 29th.  On the 28th the following instructions were
+given to General Sheridan:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at three A.M.
+to-morrow morning.  The 2d moves at about nine A.M., having but about
+three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on the
+right of the 5th corps, after the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House.
+Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being
+confined to any particular road or roads.  You may go out by the nearest
+roads in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to or
+through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as soon as you
+can.  It is not the intention to attack the enemy in his intrenched
+position, but to force him out, if possible. Should he come out and
+attack us, or get himself where he can be attacked, move in with your
+entire force in your own way, and with the full reliance that the army
+will engage or follow, as circumstances will dictate.  I shall be on the
+field, and will probably be able to communicate with you.  Should I not
+do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched
+line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road.  If you find it
+practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side Road, between
+Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some extent.  I would not
+advise much detention, however, until you reach the Danville Road, which
+I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible.  Make
+your destruction on that road as complete as possible.  You can then
+pass on to the South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in
+like manner.
+
+"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which
+are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may return to this
+army, selecting your road further south, or you may go on into North
+Carolina and join General Sherman.  Should you select the latter course,
+get the information to me as early as possible, so that I may send
+orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced.  At night the cavalry
+was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our infantry line extended
+to the Quaker Road, near its intersection with the Boydton Plank Road.
+The position of the troops from left to right was as follows:  Sheridan,
+Warren, Humphreys, Ord, Wright, Parke.
+
+Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the capture
+of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was made.  I therefore
+addressed the following communication to General Sheridan, having
+previously informed him verbally not to cut loose for the raid
+contemplated in his orders until he received notice from me to do so:
+
+
+"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie.
+We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the Jerusalem Plank Road
+to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can be used advantageously.  After
+getting into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the
+enemy's position. General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker
+Road intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing
+about one hundred men.  Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was pushing
+on when last heard from.
+
+"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so, before
+going back.  I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose and go after the
+enemy's roads at present.  In the morning push around the enemy, if you
+can, and get on to his right rear.  The movements of the enemy's cavalry
+may, of course, modify your action.  We will act all together as one
+army here, until it is seen what can be done with the enemy.  The
+signal-officer at Cobb's Hill reported, at half-past eleven A.M., that a
+cavalry column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg,
+taking forty minutes to pass.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain fell in
+such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled vehicle, except
+as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. During the 30th, Sheridan
+advanced from Dinwiddie Court House towards Five Forks, where he found
+the enemy in full force. General Warren advanced and extended his line
+across the Boydton Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of
+getting across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front
+and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he was, and
+fortify.  General Humphreys drove the enemy from his front into his main
+line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills. Generals Ord, Wright, and
+Parke made examinations in their fronts to determine the feasibility of
+an assault on the enemy's lines.  The two latter reported favorably.
+The enemy confronting us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our
+extreme left, I conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be
+penetrated if my estimate of his forces was correct.  I determined,
+therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce General
+Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him to cut loose and
+turn the enemy's right flank, and with the other corps assault the
+enemy's lines.  The result of the offensive effort of the enemy the week
+before, when he assaulted Fort Stedman, particularly favored this.  The
+enemy's intrenched  picket-line captured by us at that time threw the
+lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some points that
+it was but a moment's run from one to the other. Preparations were at
+once made to relieve General Humphreys's corps, to report to General
+Sheridan; but the condition of the roads prevented immediate movement.
+On the morning of the 31st, General Warren reported favorably to getting
+possession of the White Oak Road, and was directed to do so.  To
+accomplish this, he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps,
+which was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on the
+2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn, forced back
+upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked.  A division of the 2d
+corps was immediately sent to his support, the enemy driven back with
+heavy loss, and possession of the White Oak Road gained.  Sheridan
+advanced, and with a portion of his cavalry got possession of the Five
+Forks; but the enemy, after the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced
+the rebel cavalry, defending that point with infantry, and forced him
+back towards Dinwiddie Court House.  Here General Sheridan displayed
+great generalship.  Instead of retreating with his whole command on the
+main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed
+his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough to take charge of
+the horses.  This compelled the enemy to deploy over a vast extent of
+wooded and broken country, and made his progress slow.  At this juncture
+he dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back
+slowly on Dinwiddie Court House.  General Mackenzie's cavalry and one
+division of the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance.
+Soon after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could
+hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two divisions
+of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so ordered at once.
+Thus the operations of the day necessitated the sending of Warren,
+because of his accessibility, instead of Humphreys, as was intended, and
+precipitated intended movements.  On the morning of the 1st of April,
+General Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on
+Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried his
+strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and between
+five and six thousand prisoners.
+
+About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles Griffin
+relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th corps.  The report
+of this reached me after nightfall.  Some apprehensions filled my mind
+lest the enemy might desert his lines during the night, and by falling
+upon General Sheridan before assistance could reach him, drive him from
+his position and open the way for retreat.  To guard against this,
+General Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him,
+and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in the
+morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's lines.
+General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps, sweeping
+everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's Run, capturing
+many guns and several thousand prisoners.  He was closely followed by
+two divisions of General Ord's command, until he met the other division
+of General Ord's that had succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near
+Hatcher's Run. Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right,
+and closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, while
+General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and joined General
+Wright on the left.  General Parke succeeded in carrying the enemy's
+main line, capturing guns and prisoners, but was unable to carry his
+inner line.  General Sheridan being advised of the condition of affairs,
+returned General Miles to his proper command.  On reaching the enemy's
+lines immediately surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's
+corps, by a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the
+most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially
+shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the city.  The
+enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to Sutherland's Station,
+where they were overtaken by Miles's division.  A severe engagement
+ensued, and lasted until both his right and left flanks were threatened
+by the approach of General Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station
+towards Petersburg, and a division sent by General Meade from the front
+of Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in our
+hands his guns and many prisoners.  This force retreated by the main
+road along the Appomattox River.  During the night of the 2d the enemy
+evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and retreated towards Danville.  On
+the morning of the 3d pursuit was commenced.  General Sheridan pushed
+for the Danville Road, keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General
+Meade with the 2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for
+Burkesville, along the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along
+that road behind him.  On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville
+Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia Court
+House.  He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the arrival of
+General Meade, who reached there the next day. General Ord reached
+Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.
+
+On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the
+following communication:
+
+
+"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach
+Danville with the remnant of his force.  Sheridan, who was up with him
+last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot, and dragoons, at
+twenty thousand, much demoralized.  We hope to reduce this number
+one-half.  I shall push on to Burkesville, and if a stand is made at
+Danville, will in a very few days go there.  If you can possibly do so,
+push on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish the job
+with Lee's and Johnston's armies.  Whether it will be better for you to
+strike for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able
+to judge when you receive this.  Rebel armies now are the only strategic
+points to strike at.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was moving west
+of Jetersville, towards Danville.  General Sheridan moved with his
+cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to General Meade on his
+reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank, followed by the 6th corps,
+while the 2d and 5th corps pressed hard after, forcing him to abandon
+several hundred wagons and several pieces of artillery.  General Ord
+advanced from Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of
+infantry and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General
+Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges.  This advance met the
+head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically attacked and
+detained until General Read was killed and his small force overpowered.
+This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, and enabled General Ord to
+get well up with the remainder of his force, on meeting which, the enemy
+immediately intrenched himself.  In the afternoon, General Sheridan
+struck the enemy south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of
+artillery and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th
+corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was made,
+which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand prisoners, among
+whom were many general officers.  The movements of the 2d corps and
+General Ord's command contributed greatly to the day's success.
+
+On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, except
+one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's Court House;
+the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one division of cavalry, on
+Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High Bridge Road.  It was soon found
+that the enemy had crossed to the north side of the Appomattox; but so
+close was the pursuit, that the 2d corps got possession of the common
+bridge at High Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately
+crossed over.  The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed at
+Farmville to its support.
+
+Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, I
+addressed him the following communication from Farmville:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern
+Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and regard it as my
+duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of
+blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate
+States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at Farmville
+the following:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your note of this date.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further
+resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate
+your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, before
+considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition
+of its surrender.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+To this I immediately replied:
+
+
+"April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date,
+asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of
+Northern Virginia, is just received.  In reply, I would say, that peace
+being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon
+--namely, That the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for
+taking up arms again against the Government of the United States until
+properly exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable
+to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the
+surrender of the Army of the Northern Virginia will be received.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General Meade
+followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, with all the
+cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox Station, followed by
+General Ord's command and the 5th corps. During the day General Meade's
+advance had considerable fighting with the enemy's rear-guard, but was
+unable to bring on a general engagement.  Late in the evening General
+Sheridan struck the railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from
+there, and captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train,
+and four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army.  During
+this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight
+received the following communication from General Lee:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day.  In mine of
+yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of
+Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition.  To be
+frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender
+of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object
+of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end.
+I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army
+of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the
+Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration
+of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten A.M. to-morrow on the
+old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as follows, and
+immediately started to join the column south of the Appomattox:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received.  I have no authority to
+treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day
+could lead to no good.  I will state, however, general, that I am
+equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains
+the same feeling.  The terms upon which peace can be had are well
+understood.  By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that
+most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of
+millions of property not yet destroyed.  Seriously hoping that all our
+difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I
+subscribe myself, etc.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th corps
+reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a desperate
+effort to break through our cavalry.  The infantry was at once thrown
+in.  Soon after a white flag was received, requesting a suspension of
+hostilities pending negotiations for a surrender.
+
+Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the
+following from General Lee:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the picket-line,
+whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were
+embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender
+of this army.  I now ask an interview, in accordance with the offer
+contained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of which is
+set forth in the following correspondence:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the
+8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern
+Virginia on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls of all the officers and
+men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be
+designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers
+as you may designate.  The officers to give their individual paroles not
+to take up arms against the Government of the United States until
+properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like
+parole for the men of their commands.  The arms, artillery, and public
+property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers
+appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace the side-arms of
+the officers, nor their private horses or baggage.  This done, each
+officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be
+disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their
+paroles and the laws in force where they may reside.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your letter of this date containing the terms
+of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you.  As
+they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the
+8th instant, they are accepted.  I will proceed to designate the proper
+officers to carry the stipulations into effect.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under Griffin,
+and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at Appomattox
+Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered army was completed,
+and to take charge of the public property. The remainder of the army
+immediately returned to the vicinity of Burkesville.
+
+General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused his
+example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the armies lately
+under his leadership are at their homes, desiring peace and quiet, and
+their arms are in the hands of our ordnance officers.
+
+On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved directly
+against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and through Raleigh,
+which place General Sherman occupied on the morning of the 13th.  The
+day preceding, news of the surrender of General Lee reached him at
+Smithfield.
+
+On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman and
+General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement for a
+suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for peace, subject
+to the approval of the President.  This agreement was disapproved by the
+President on the 21st, which disapproval, together with your
+instructions, was communicated to General Sherman by me in person on the
+morning of the 24th, at Raleigh, North Carolina, in obedience to your
+orders.  Notice was at once given by him to General Johnston for the
+termination of the truce that had been entered into.  On the 25th
+another meeting between them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th,
+which terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army
+upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.
+
+The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got off on the
+20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North Carolina, and struck the
+railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, and Big Lick.  The force striking
+it at Big Lick pushed on to within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying
+the important bridges, while with the main force he effectually
+destroyed it between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for
+Greensboro', on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and
+destroyed the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between
+Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies along
+it, and captured four hundred prisoners.  At Salisbury he attacked and
+defeated a force of the enemy under General Gardiner, capturing fourteen
+pieces of artillery and one thousand three hundred and sixty-four
+prisoners, and destroyed large amounts of army stores.  At this place he
+destroyed fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte.
+Thence he moved to Slatersville.
+
+General Canby, who had been directed in January to make preparations for
+a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and the interior of Alabama,
+commenced his movement on the 20th of March.  The 16th corps,
+Major-General A. J. Smith commanding, moved from Fort Gaines by water to
+Fish River; the 13th corps, under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved
+from Fort Morgan and joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving
+thence on Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General
+Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading from
+Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and partially
+invested Fort Blakely.  After a severe bombardment of Spanish Fort, a
+part of its line was carried on the 8th of April.  During the night the
+enemy evacuated the fort.  Fort Blakely was carried by assault on the
+9th, and many prisoners captured; our loss was considerable.  These
+successes practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to
+approach Mobile from the north.  On the night of the 11th the city was
+evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on the morning of
+the 12th.
+
+The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, consisting
+of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was delayed by rains until
+March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw, Alabama.  On the 1st of April,
+General Wilson encountered the enemy in force under Forrest near
+Ebenezer Church, drove him in confusion, captured three hundred
+prisoners and three guns, and destroyed the central bridge over the
+Cahawba River.  On the 2d he attacked and captured the fortified city of
+Selma, defended by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns,
+destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, vast
+quantities of stores, and captured three thousand prisoners.  On the 4th
+he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa.  On the 10th he crossed the
+Alabama River, and after sending information of his operations to
+General Canby, marched on Montgomery, which place he occupied on the
+14th, the enemy having abandoned it.  At this place many stores and five
+steamboats fell into our hands.  Thence a force marched direct on
+Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places were assaulted
+and captured on the 16th.  At the former place we got one thousand five
+hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns, destroyed two gunboats, the
+navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many factories, and much other public
+property.  At the latter place we got three hundred prisoners, four
+guns, and destroyed nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars.  On the
+20th he took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one
+thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by General
+Howell Cobb.  General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis was trying to
+make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and succeeded in capturing him
+on the morning of May 11th.
+
+On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to General Canby
+all the remaining rebel forces east of the Mississippi.
+
+A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy under Kirby
+Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put in motion for Texas,
+and Major-General Sheridan designated for its immediate command; but on
+the 26th day of May, and before they reached their destination, General
+Kirby Smith surrendered his entire command to Major-General Canby.  This
+surrender did not take place, however, until after the capture of the
+rebel President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of
+first disbanding most of his army and permitting an indiscriminate
+plunder of public property.
+
+Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against the
+government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico, carrying with them
+arms rightfully belonging to the United States, which had been
+surrendered to us by agreement among them some of the leaders who had
+surrendered in person and the disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio
+Grande, the orders for troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.
+
+There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and movements to
+defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most of them reflecting
+great credit on our arms, and which contributed greatly to our final
+triumph, that I have not mentioned.  Many of these will be found clearly
+set forth in the reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and
+brief dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have not
+as yet been officially reported.
+
+For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would respectfully
+refer to the reports of the commanders of departments in which they have
+occurred.
+
+It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and the East
+fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there is no difference
+in their fighting qualities.  All that it was possible for men to do in
+battle they have done.  The Western armies commenced their battles in
+the Mississippi Valley, and received the final surrender of the remnant
+of the principal army opposed to them in North Carolina.  The armies of
+the East commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the
+Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of their old
+antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  The splendid
+achievements of each have nationalized our victories removed all
+sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately experienced too
+much), and the cause of crimination and recrimination that might have
+followed had either section failed in its duty.  All have a proud
+record, and all sections can well congratulate themselves and each other
+for having done their full share in restoring the supremacy of law over
+every foot of territory belonging to the United States.  Let them hope
+for perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, however
+mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of valor.
+
+I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S.
+GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+
+THE END
+
+
+__________
+FOOTNOTES
+
+(*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A.
+
+
+(*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to
+General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to
+the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have
+more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced.  Deeming the
+return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it,
+so he called for a volunteer.  Lieutenant Grant offered his
+services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and
+General Worth.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a
+great many years before the Mexican war to have established in
+the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of
+the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France.  He
+recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his
+annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any
+hearing.  Now, as he had conquered the state, he made
+assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied
+by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and
+appointed officers to receive the money.  In addition to the sum
+thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo,
+sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled
+the fund to a total of about $220,000.  Portions of this fund
+were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded
+in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some
+$118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war.  After the
+war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to
+have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury
+of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he
+had previously recommended.  This fund was the foundation of the
+Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh,
+Kentucky.
+
+The latter went into disuse many years ago.  In fact it never
+had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold.
+
+
+(*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott,
+Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high
+office.  It made also governors of States, members of the
+cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both
+in state and nation.  The rebellion, which contained more war in
+a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican
+war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results
+to those engaged on the Union side.  On the other side, the side
+of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort
+whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a
+Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the
+fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few
+people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it.
+
+
+(*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me.
+
+
+(*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs.
+W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in
+the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from
+General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th.  At
+the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates
+had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's
+landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near
+Shiloh.  This letter shows that at that time General Lew.
+Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might
+happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his
+position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends
+it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg
+landing and Purdy road.  These two roads intersect nearly a mile
+west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our
+right rested.  In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises
+General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his
+letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter
+was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the
+4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and
+suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a
+company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at
+the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that
+they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and
+from the different camps."
+
+This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has
+been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at
+the battle of Shiloh.  It shows that he naturally, with no more
+experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms,
+would take the particular road that he did start upon in the
+absence of orders to move by a different road.
+
+The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent
+dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found
+that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front
+and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very
+much in rear of the position of his advance.  This falling back
+had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up
+to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the
+road nearest the river.  But my order was verbal, and to a staff
+officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am
+not competent to say just what order the General actually
+received.
+
+General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at
+Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and
+a half miles out.  Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace
+early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the
+Second.  If the position of our front had not changed, the road
+which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right
+than the River road.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885.
+
+
+(*8) NOTE:  In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote
+for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook,
+who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some
+unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because
+of the condition of his troops.  General Badeau, in his history,
+also makes the same statement, on my authority.  Out of justice
+to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a
+point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the
+6th.  From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the
+passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep
+in mud, which made marching slow.  The division had not only
+marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the
+rain all night without rest.  It was engaged in the battle of
+the second day and did as good service as its position
+allowed.  In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a
+conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest
+commendation from division commanders in the Army of the
+Tennessee.  General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes
+mention of this fact.  General McCook himself belongs to a family
+which furnished many volunteers to the army.  I refer to these
+circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook
+injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent
+one would suppose from the public press.  I am not willing to do
+any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I
+am always willing to make the fullest admission.
+
+
+(*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the
+time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my
+recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were
+promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th
+Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri,
+M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and
+John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers.
+
+
+(*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate
+battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats,
+the De Soto.  Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his
+vessel.  However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew
+her up.  Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy.
+With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the
+New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf
+and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg.
+
+
+(*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade
+on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River.
+
+
+(*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of
+Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied
+me to Carthage.  I furnished an ambulance for his use and that
+of some of the State officers who accompanied him.
+
+
+(*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I
+proposed to make, he called to see me about it.  I recollect
+that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river
+to a house a short distance back from the levee.  I was seated
+on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman
+came up.  After a few moments' conversation he said that he would
+like to see me alone.  We passed into the house together and shut
+the door after us.  Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move
+I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position
+voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or
+a long time--to get me in.  I was going into the enemy's country,
+with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points
+strongly fortified above and below.  He said that it was an
+axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an
+enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would
+guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc.  He pointed out
+all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign
+proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to
+make.  This was, in substance, to go back until high ground
+could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there
+and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being
+always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster.  I
+said this would take us back to Memphis.  Sherman then said that
+was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad
+from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced.  To
+this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the
+lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election
+went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary
+enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and
+conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far
+as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of
+supplies would be of no use:  neither men to hold them nor
+supplies to put in them would be furnished.  The problem for us
+was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was
+lost.  No progress was being made in any other field, and we had
+to go on.
+
+Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins,
+embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and
+asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals
+upon the subject.  Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I
+did not see any reason for changing my plans.  The letter was
+not answered and the subject was not subsequently mentioned
+between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I
+remember of.  I did not regard the letter as official, and
+consequently did not preserve it.  General Sherman furnished a
+copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of
+my campaigns.  I did not regard either the conversation between
+us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply
+friendly advice which the relations between us fully
+justified.  Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a
+success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered
+by himself.  I make this statement here to correct an impression
+which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's
+prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation.
+
+
+(*14) Meant Edward's Station.
+
+(*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN:
+
+Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to
+Major-General Thomas.  You having been over the ground in
+person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further
+instructions will not be necessary for you.  It is particularly
+desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from
+communication with the South, but being confronted by a large
+force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is
+to be effected until the result of our first effort is known.
+
+I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to
+Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which,
+if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above
+Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or
+thereabouts.
+
+U. S. GRANT
+Maj.-Gen'l.
+
+
+CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga:
+
+All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's
+position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight.  Not being
+provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the
+mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot
+be given as might be desirable.  However, the general plan, you
+understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him
+strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a
+crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of
+Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the
+heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your
+chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern
+extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can
+concentrate against him.  You will co-operate with Sherman.  The
+troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your
+left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend
+fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of
+one division in readiness to move wherever ordered.  This
+division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the
+most practicable line for making an attack up the valley.  Your
+effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your
+advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and
+moving as near simultaneously with him as possible.  The
+junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will
+be at once established between the two armies by roads on the
+south bank of the river.  Further movements will then depend on
+those of the enemy.  Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily
+held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have
+there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland.  Howard's
+corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at
+Chattanooga or with Sherman.  It should be marched on Friday
+night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower
+down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness
+for such orders as may become necessary.  All these troops will
+be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one
+hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry
+soldier.  Special care should be taken by all officers to see
+that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away.  You
+will call on the engineer department for such preparations as
+you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery
+over the creek.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform
+after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying
+the ridge.
+
+(*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga
+
+General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel
+with only slight skirmishing.  His right now rests at the tunnel
+and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek.  I have
+instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in
+the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will
+be in cooperation.  Your command will either carry the
+rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the
+left, as the presence of the enemy may require.  If Hooker's
+position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small
+force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where
+he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with
+all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable
+road.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*18) WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga
+is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command,
+my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill,
+courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great
+difficulties, have effected that important object.  God bless you
+all,
+
+A. LINCOLN,
+
+President U. S.
+
+
+(*19) General John G. Foster.
+
+
+(*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill.,
+subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General
+Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword.  The
+scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running
+nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the
+names of the battles in which General Grant had participated.
+
+Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at
+Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and
+Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the
+government at Washington.
+
+
+(*21) WASHINGTON, D. C.
+December 29, 1863.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on
+account of disability from old wounds.  Should his request be
+granted, who would you like as his successor?  It is possible
+that Schofield will be sent to your command.
+
+H. W. HALLECK
+General-in-Chief.
+(OFFICIAL.)
+
+
+(*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix.
+
+
+(*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+April 4, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me
+to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts
+of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre.  For
+your information I now write you my programme, as at present
+determined upon.
+
+I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up
+his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to
+turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the
+navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New
+Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to
+hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the
+number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number
+necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less
+than twenty-five thousand men.  To this I will add five thousand
+men from Missouri.  With this force he is to commence operations
+against Mobile as soon as he can.  It will be impossible for him
+to commence too early.
+
+Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate
+against Richmond from the south side of the James River.  This
+will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W.
+F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore
+the left wing.  I will stay with the Army of the Potomac,
+increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five
+thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army,
+wherever it may be found.
+
+Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one,
+under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the
+other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to
+move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
+
+Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about
+Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord.  His force will
+be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand
+men of all arms.
+
+You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up
+and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as
+you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war
+resources.
+
+I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but
+simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave
+you free to execute it in your own way.  Submit to me, however,
+as early as you can, your plan of operations.
+
+As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he
+can.  Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the
+18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Sigel is
+concentrating now.  None will move from their places of
+rendezvous until I direct, except Banks.  I want to be ready to
+move by the 25th inst., if possible.  But all I can now direct
+is that you get ready as soon as possible.  I know you will have
+difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to
+where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish
+it.
+
+From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do
+not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I
+can take troops from there.  With the long line of railroad
+Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move
+directly to his front.  In this way he must get through to
+inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from
+one of his armies a large force to prevent it.  In other words,
+if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one
+else skins.
+
+I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report,
+Appendix.
+
+
+(*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA.,
+April 9, 1864.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE
+Com'd'g Army of the Potomac.
+
+For information and as instruction to govern your preparations
+for the coming campaign, the following is communicated
+confidentially for your own perusal alone.
+
+So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and
+towards one common centre.  Banks has been instructed to turn
+over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the
+navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and
+to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to
+move on Mobile.  This he is to do without reference to other
+movements.  From the scattered condition of his command,
+however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans
+before the 1st of May, if so soon.  Sherman will move at the same
+time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army
+being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate
+aim.  If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to
+Mobile with the aid of Banks.
+
+Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of
+the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his
+front.  This he has been directed to do, and is now making
+preparations for it.  Two columns of his command will make south
+at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from
+ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the
+other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under
+Brig.-General Crook.  The former of these will endeavor to reach
+the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington,
+and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and
+return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join
+you.  The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward
+to join Ord.  The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries
+would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to
+within easy hauling distance of every position the army could
+occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee could, if
+he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather
+interior to the one I would have to take in following.  A
+movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all
+that was done would have to be done with the supplies and
+ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting this latter
+plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies
+possible to take with us was considered.  The country over which
+we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that
+we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison to force a passage
+southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and
+Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting
+Richmond with all the South and South-west.
+
+Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South
+Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000
+men into the field directly to his front.  The force will be
+commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith.  With Smith and Gillmore,
+Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from
+the south side of the river.  His movement will be simultaneous
+with yours.
+
+Lee's army will be your objective point.  Wherever Lee goes,
+there you will go also.  The only point upon which I am now in
+doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above
+or below him.  Each plan presents great advantages over the
+other with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee is
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on
+a raid.  But if we take this route, all we do must be done
+whilst the rations we start with hold out.  We separate from
+Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate.  By the
+other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies
+until another is secured on the York or James rivers.
+
+These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more
+fully than I can write them.
+
+Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce
+you.  Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after
+the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from
+Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it.  This will enable
+you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the
+front.
+
+There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and
+transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall
+back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and
+yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such.
+What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing
+baggage to the very lowest possible standard.  Two wagons to a
+regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should
+be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and
+ordnance stores.  One wagon to brigade and one to division
+headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters.
+
+Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make
+arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded
+to White House on the Pamunkey.  Your estimates for this
+contingency should be made at once.  If not wanted there, there
+is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or
+elsewhere.
+
+If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made
+for ordnance stores.  I would say not much short of five hundred
+rounds of infantry ammunition would do.  By the other, half the
+amount would be sufficient.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+(*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of
+the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave
+our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and
+estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000:  and
+General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman
+the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and
+was broken by his depleted command, remarks:  "The disparity of
+forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my
+two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners,
+representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and
+three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the
+enemy."
+
+
+(*27)
+UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864.
+
+[COMPILED.]
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow.
+          First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank.
+          Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll.
+
+     Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays.
+
+     Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott.
+          First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford.
+          First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler.
+          Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright.
+          First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin.
+          Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson.
+          First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter.
+          First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox.
+          First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero.
+          First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas.
+
+          Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall.
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery.
+
+     Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton.
+          First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching.
+          Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins.
+          First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson.
+          Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom.
+          Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh.
+
+
+GENERAL HEADQUARTERS.......
+          Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick.
+          Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham.
+
+
+
+CONFEDERATE ARMY.
+
+Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by
+GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834.
+
+    First Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a)
+     Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's      "
+          "     Eppa Hunton's      "
+          "     Wm. R. Terry's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b)
+     Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade
+           "    E. M. Law's (c)     "
+           "    John Bratton's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d)
+     Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade
+           "    B. G. Humphreys'   "
+           "    Goode Bryan's      "
+           "    Kershaw's (Old)    "
+
+
+    Second Army Corps:  MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e)
+         "      John Pegram 's   "   (f)
+         "      Gordon's         "   (g)
+     Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division.
+     Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h)
+     Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h)
+         "      Geo H. Stewart's "  (h)
+         "      L. A. Stafford's "  (e)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i)
+         "      Geo. Dole's      "   (k)
+         "      S. D. Ramseur's Brigade.
+         "      C. A. Battle's   "
+         "      R. D. Johnston's " (f)
+
+
+    Third Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade.
+                Mahone's             "
+     Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's       "  (m)
+        "       A. R. Wright's       "
+        "       Joseph Finegan's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n)
+        "       James H. Lane's   "
+        "       Sam'l McCowan's   "
+        "       Alfred M. Scale's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade.
+        "       John R. Cooke's  "
+        "       D. McRae's       "
+        "       J. J. Archer's   "
+        "       H. H. Walker's   "
+
+           _unattached_:  5th Alabama Battalion.
+
+
+  Cavalry Corps:  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division
+     Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade
+        "      L. L. Lomax's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade.
+        "       P. M. B. Young's   "
+        "       Thomas L. Rosser's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade.
+        "      J. R. Chambliss's    "
+
+
+  Artillery Reserve:  BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding.
+
+BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.*
+     Cabell's Battalion.
+          Manly's Battery.
+          1st Co. Richmond Howitzers.
+          Carleton's Battery.
+          Calloway's Battery.
+
+     Haskell's Battalion.
+          Branch's Battery.
+          Nelson's    "
+          Garden's    "
+          Rowan       "
+
+     Huger's Battalion.
+          Smith's Battery.
+          Moody      "
+          Woolfolk   "
+          Parker's   "
+          Taylor's   "
+          Fickling's "
+          Martin's   "
+
+     Gibb's Battalion.
+          Davidson's Battery.
+          Dickenson's   "
+          Otey's        "
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION.
+
+     Braxton's Battalion.
+          Lee Battery.
+          1st Md. Artillery.
+          Stafford    "
+          Alleghany   "
+
+     Cutshaw's Battalion.
+          Charlotteville Artillery.
+          Staunton           "
+          Courtney           "
+
+     Carter's Battalion.
+          Morris Artillery.
+          Orange      "
+          King William Artillery.
+          Jeff Davis        "
+
+    Nelson's Battalion.
+          Amherst Artillery.
+          Milledge     "
+          Fluvauna     "
+
+     Brown's Battalion.
+          Powhatan Artillery.
+          2d Richmond Howitzers.
+          3d    "         "
+          Rockbridge Artillery.
+          Salem Flying Artillery.
+
+
+COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION.
+
+     Cutt's Battalion.
+          Ross's Battery.
+          Patterson's Battery.
+          Irwin Artillery.
+
+     Richardson's Battalion.
+          Lewis Artillery.
+          Donaldsonville Artillery.
+          Norfolk Light       "
+          Huger               "
+
+     Mclntosh 's Battalion.
+          Johnson's Battery.
+          Hardaway Artillery.
+          Danville      "
+          2d Rockbridge Artillery.
+
+     Pegram's Battalion.
+          Peedee Artillery.
+          Fredericksburg Artillery.
+          Letcher             "
+          Purcell Battery.
+          Crenshaw's Battery.
+
+     Poague's Battalion.
+          Madison Artillery.
+          Albemarle    "
+          Brooke       "
+          Charlotte    "
+
+
+NOTE.
+(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at
+above date.
+(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also
+contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by
+Colonel P. D. Bowles.
+(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not
+indicated.
+
+Organization of the Army of the Valley District.
+(e) Constituting York's Brigade.
+(f) In Ramseur's Division.
+(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and
+containing 12th Georgia Battalion.
+(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's
+Division.
+(i) Grimes' Brigade.
+(k) Cook's    "
+
+(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty;
+name not indicated.
+(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding.
+(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four
+brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not
+indicated.
+(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's,
+Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade.
+
+*But one general officer reported present for duty in the
+artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original.
+
+
+(*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May II, 1864.--3 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and
+6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in
+a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow.
+will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with
+Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and
+vigorous attack.  Warren and Wright should hold their corps as
+close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any
+diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any
+opportunity presents itself.  There is but little doubt in my
+mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely
+successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been
+heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S.,
+May 11, 1864.-4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE,
+Commanding 9th Army Corps.
+
+Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under
+cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the
+enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow.  You will move against the
+enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible
+vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the 12th inst.  Let
+your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost
+secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy.
+
+I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock,
+in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the
+direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you
+and General Hancock with instructions to render you every
+assistance in their power.  Generals Warren and Wright will hold
+their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage
+of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will
+push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and
+four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work,
+including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of
+artillery.  The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the
+last ditch.  We have lost no organizations, not even that of a
+company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division
+(Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from
+the enemy.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864.
+
+HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for
+gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days'
+battles, to wit:  Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and
+Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S.
+S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York
+Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves,
+to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W.
+S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army.  His
+services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this
+recognition.  In making these recommendations I do not wish the
+claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but
+recommend his name to be sent in at the same time.  I would also
+ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth
+Army Corps.  I would further ask the confirmation of General
+Humphreys to the rank of Major-General.
+
+General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations.
+He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I
+have come in contact with.  If their services can be rewarded by
+promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the
+honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally
+gratified.  I would not like to see one of these promotions at
+this time without seeing both.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's
+right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg
+road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox
+Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little
+River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps
+and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford
+and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th
+corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges
+above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are
+held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army
+with equal facility.  The 5th and 6th corps with one division of
+the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short
+distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and
+near to the enemy.
+
+To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter
+of our men that even success would not justify.  To turn the
+enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on
+account of the swamp upon which his right rests.  To turn him by
+the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna
+River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to
+the movement of our army, to be crossed.  I have determined
+therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near
+Hanover Town.  This crosses all three streams at once, and
+leaves us still where we can draw supplies.
+
+During the last night the teams and artillery not in position,
+belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of
+that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river
+and moved down to the rear of the left.  As soon as it is dark
+this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced
+march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings.  The
+balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and
+follow as rapidly as possible.  The left wing will also withdraw
+from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of
+the right wing.  Lee's army is really whipped.  The prisoners we
+now take show it, and the action of his army shows it
+unmistakably.  A battle with them outside of intrenchments
+cannot be had.  Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE
+over the enemy, and attack him with confidence.  I may be
+mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already
+assured.  The promptness and rapidity with which you have
+forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling
+of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the
+enemy.
+
+We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and
+Fredericksburg roads.  I want to leave a gap on the roads north
+of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to
+import rail from elsewhere.  Even if a crossing is not effected
+at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on
+down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected.  I think it
+advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port
+Royal to the White House.  I wish you would direct this change
+at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there
+in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to
+hold it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed,
+suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it
+vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful
+point from wherever they can be taken.  I shall go to where you
+are in the course of an hour.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be
+impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would
+protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that
+road for supplying the army.  To do so would give us a long
+vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our
+strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of
+his lines of communication on the south side of the James.  My
+idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible
+north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of
+communication on the north side of the James River to transfer
+the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or
+follow him south if he should retreat.
+
+I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it
+of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now
+have.  They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or
+feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where
+in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them.
+Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to
+make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of
+the city.  I have therefore resolved upon the following plan:
+
+I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by
+the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable
+circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be
+sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about
+Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west.  When this
+is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James
+River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to
+City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on
+north side and crossing there.  To provide for this last and
+most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest
+class ought to be immediately provided.
+
+Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all
+sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the
+canal.  If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be
+lost to him also.  Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make
+the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south
+side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they
+can.
+
+The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels
+can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our
+army is not only confident of protecting itself without
+intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever
+and whenever he can be found without this protection.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER
+
+Commanding Dept. W. Va.
+
+General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with
+instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence
+there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way
+as much as possible.  The complete destruction of this road and
+of the canal on James River is of great importance to us.
+According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your
+guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It
+would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for
+a single day.  But that point is of so much importance to the
+enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met
+as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all.  I see,
+in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of
+your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route
+should be from Staunton via Charlottesville.  If you have so
+understood it, you will be doing just what I want.  The
+direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you
+in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately
+turn east by the most practicable road.  From thence move
+eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely
+and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan.  After the work
+laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done,
+proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in
+General Sheridan's instructions.
+
+If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed
+back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back.
+
+If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem
+it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal.
+Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE
+ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
+
+FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE.  | KILLED.  | WOUNDED.  | MISSING. |
+AGGREGATE.  |
+
+
+Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 |
+Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601|
+North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 |
+Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold
+Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 |
+Total ................  | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 |
+
+
+(*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864.  11 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned
+their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred.  They no doubt
+expected troops from north of the James River to take their
+place before we discovered it.  General Butler took advantage of
+this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road
+between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain
+possession of.
+
+Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their
+commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the
+last five days.  Day and night has been all the same, no delays
+being allowed on any account.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding, etc.
+
+The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from
+Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from
+an attack there.  The chances they think will be better on
+Burnside's front.  If this is attempted it will be necessary to
+concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's
+line we expect to penetrate.  All officers should be fully
+impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond
+the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating
+it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they
+should not succeed in breaking through.
+
+To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery
+possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front
+during the assault.  Their lines would be sufficient for the
+support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought
+on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault,
+ready to follow in if successful.  The field artillery and
+infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in
+readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or
+to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders.  One
+thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders.  If
+they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it
+to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they
+should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without
+waiting for orders from army commanders.  General Ord can
+co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five
+thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce
+you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox
+and James rivers, as may be deemed best.
+
+This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all.  If not
+attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy
+the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if
+possible.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at
+Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up....
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th.
+
+
+(*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville Tenn.
+
+If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will
+lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to
+abandon the line of the Tennessee.  Should he attack you it is
+all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he
+fortifies.  Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster
+employees, citizens, etc.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville
+with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon
+ground of your own choosing.  After the repulse of Hood at
+Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to
+Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy
+where he was.  At this distance, however, I may err as to the
+best method of dealing with the enemy.  You will now suffer
+incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily
+disposed of.  Put forth therefore every possible exertion to
+attain this end.  Should you get him to retreating give him no
+peace.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to
+where he can cross it?  It seems to me whilst you should be
+getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after
+Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is.  Time strengthens
+him in all possibility as much as it does you.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your
+cavalry.  There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign
+back to the Ohio River.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Your dispatch of yesterday received.  It looks to me evident the
+enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are
+scattered.  Why not attack at once?  By all means avoid the
+contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat
+to the Ohio.  If you think necessary call on the governors of
+States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he
+should cross the river.  You clearly never should cross except
+in rear of the enemy.  Now is one of the finest opportunities
+ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the
+enemy.  If destroyed he never can replace it.  Use the means at
+your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that
+will resound from one end of the land to the other.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be
+witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you
+will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find.  Let
+there be no further delay.  Hood cannot even stand a drawn
+battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores.  If he
+retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of
+his army.  I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day
+announcing that you have moved.  Delay no longer for weather or
+reinforcements.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from
+Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go
+no further.  Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is
+entirely destroyed.  Your army will cheerfully suffer many
+privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for
+future operations.  Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take
+them from the country as the enemy have done.  Much is now
+expected.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan,
+March 24th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*43) See Appendix.
+
+
+(*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender
+inserted at this place, was copied from the original document
+furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S.
+Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time
+of the surrender.
+
+Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold
+order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations
+and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of
+General Grant.  After such alteration it was handed to General
+Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to
+General Grant.  The original was then transcribed by General
+Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General
+Lee.
+
+The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the
+original document and all interlineations and erasures.
+
+There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and
+Lee each signed the articles of surrender.  The document in the
+form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor
+of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and
+General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and
+handed it to General Grant.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant,
+Volume Two, by Ulysses S. Grant
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant v2
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+Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant  [Volume Two]
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+by U. S. Grant
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+October, 1997  [Etext #1068]
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant v2
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+*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END*
+
+
+
+
+
+Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, Volume Two.
+This etext was prepared by Glen Bledsoe.
+
+
+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+
+PREFACE.  [To both volumes]
+
+"Man proposes and God disposes."  There are but few important
+events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.
+
+Although frequently urged by friends to write my memoirs I had
+determined never to do so, nor to write anything for
+publication.  At the age of nearly sixty-two I received an
+injury from a fall, which confined me closely to the house while
+it did not apparently affect my general health.  This made study
+a pleasant pastime.  Shortly after, the rascality of a business
+partner developed itself by the announcement of a failure.  This
+was followed soon after by universal depression of all
+securities, which seemed to threaten the extinction of a good
+part of the income still retained, and for which I am indebted
+to the kindly act of friends.  At this juncture the editor of
+the Century Magazine asked me to write a few articles for him. I
+consented for the money it gave me; for at that moment I was
+living upon borrowed money.  The work I found congenial, and I
+determined to continue it.  The event is an important one for
+me, for good or evil; I hope for the former.
+
+In preparing these volumes for the public, I have entered upon
+the task with the sincere desire to avoid doing injustice to any
+one, whether on the National or Confederate side, other than the
+unavoidable injustice of not making mention often where special
+mention is due.  There must be many errors of omission in this
+work, because the subject is too large to be treated of in two
+volumes in such way as to do justice to all the officers and men
+engaged.  There were thousands of instances, during the
+rebellion, of individual, company, regimental and brigade deeds
+of heroism which deserve special mention and are not here
+alluded to.  The troops engaged in them will have to look to the
+detailed reports of their individual commanders for the full
+history of those deeds.
+
+The first volume, as well as a portion of the second, was
+written before I had reason to suppose I was in a critical
+condition of health.  Later I was reduced almost to the point of
+death, and it became impossible for me to attend to anything for
+weeks.  I have, however, somewhat regained my strength, and am
+able, often, to devote as many hours a day as a person should
+devote to such work.  I would have more hope of satisfying the
+expectation of the public if I could have allowed myself more
+time.  I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest
+son, F. D. Grant, assisted by his brothers, to verify from the
+records every statement of fact given.  The comments are my own,
+and show how I saw the matters treated of whether others saw them
+in the same light or not.
+
+With these remarks I present these volumes to the public, asking
+no favor but hoping they will meet the approval of the reader.
+
+U.  S.  GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, July 1, 1885.
+
+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW
+JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO
+NASHVILLE--VISITING KNOXVILLE--CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST
+TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE
+ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
+LINCOLN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+SHERMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+CHAPTER L.
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT--LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK--REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG
+--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON
+RAILROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK
+ROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT
+TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT
+FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS
+THE ENEMY.
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION-- CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+APPENDIX
+
+
+
+Begin Volume Two
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI-- ANDREW
+JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+The reply (to my telegram of October 16, 1863, from Cairo,
+announcing my arrival at that point) came on the morning of the
+17th, directing me to proceed immediately to the Galt House,
+Louisville, where I would meet an officer of the War Department
+with my instructions.  I left Cairo within an hour or two after
+the receipt of this dispatch, going by rail via Indianapolis.
+Just as the train I was on was starting out of the depot at
+Indianapolis a messenger came running up to stop it, saying the
+Secretary of War was coming into the station and wanted to see
+me.
+
+I had never met Mr. Stanton up to that time, though we had held
+frequent conversations over the wires the year before, when I
+was in Tennessee.  Occasionally at night he would order the
+wires between the War Department and my headquarters to be
+connected, and we would hold a conversation for an hour or
+two.  On this occasion the Secretary was accompanied by Governor
+Brough of Ohio, whom I had never met, though he and my father had
+been old acquaintances.  Mr. Stanton dismissed the special train
+that had brought him to Indianapolis, and accompanied me to
+Louisville.
+
+Up to this time no hint had been given me of what was wanted
+after I left Vicksburg, except the suggestion in one of
+Halleck's dispatches that I had better go to Nashville and
+superintend the operation of troops sent to relieve Rosecrans.
+Soon after we started the Secretary handed me two orders, saying
+that I might take my choice of them.  The two were identical in
+all but one particular.  Both created the "Military Division of
+Mississippi," (giving me the command) composed of the
+Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, and
+all the territory from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi River
+north of Banks's command in the south-west.  One order left the
+department commanders as they were, while the other relieved
+Rosecrans and assigned Thomas to his place.  I accepted the
+latter.  We reached Louisville after night and, if I remember
+rightly, in a cold, drizzling rain.  The Secretary of War told
+me afterwards that he caught a cold on that occasion from which
+he never expected to recover.  He never did.
+
+A day was spent in Louisville, the Secretary giving me the
+military news at the capital and talking about the
+disappointment at the results of some of the campaigns.  By the
+evening of the day after our arrival all matters of discussion
+seemed exhausted, and I left the hotel to spend the evening
+away, both Mrs. Grant (who was with me) and myself having
+relatives living in Louisville.  In the course of the evening
+Mr. Stanton received a dispatch from Mr. C. A. Dana, then in
+Chattanooga, informing him that unless prevented Rosecrans would
+retreat, and advising peremptory orders against his doing so.
+
+As stated before, after the fall of Vicksburg I urged strongly
+upon the government the propriety of a movement against
+Mobile.  General Rosecrans had been at Murfreesboro', Tennessee,
+with a large and well-equipped army from early in the year 1863,
+with Bragg confronting him with a force quite equal to his own
+at first, considering it was on the defensive.  But after the
+investment of Vicksburg Bragg's army was largely depleted to
+strengthen Johnston, in Mississippi, who was being reinforced to
+raise the siege.  I frequently wrote General Halleck suggesting
+that Rosecrans should move against Bragg.  By so doing he would
+either detain the latter's troops where they were or lay
+Chattanooga open to capture.  General Halleck strongly approved
+the suggestion, and finally wrote me that he had repeatedly
+ordered Rosecrans to advance, but that the latter had constantly
+failed to comply with the order, and at last, after having held a
+council of war, had replied in effect that it was a military
+maxim "not to fight two decisive battles at the same time."  If
+true, the maxim was not applicable in this case.  It would be
+bad to be defeated in two decisive battles fought the same day,
+but it would not be bad to win them.  I, however, was fighting
+no battle, and the siege of Vicksburg had drawn from Rosecrans'
+front so many of the enemy that his chances of victory were much
+greater than they would be if he waited until the siege was over,
+when these troops could be returned.  Rosecrans was ordered to
+move against the army that was detaching troops to raise the
+siege.  Finally he did move, on the 24th of June, but ten days
+afterwards Vicksburg surrendered, and the troops sent from Bragg
+were free to return.
+
+It was at this time that I recommended to the general-in-chief
+the movement against Mobile.  I knew the peril the Army of the
+Cumberland was in, being depleted continually, not only by
+ordinary casualties, but also by having to detach troops to hold
+its constantly extending line over which to draw supplies, while
+the enemy in front was as constantly being strengthened.  Mobile
+was important to the enemy, and in the absence of a threatening
+force was guarded by little else than artillery.  If threatened
+by land and from the water at the same time the prize would fall
+easily, or troops would have to be sent to its defence.  Those
+troops would necessarily come from Bragg.  My judgment was
+overruled, and the troops under my command were dissipated over
+other parts of the country where it was thought they could
+render the most service.
+
+Soon it was discovered in Washington that Rosecrans was in
+trouble and required assistance.  The emergency was now too
+immediate to allow us to give this assistance by making an
+attack in rear of Bragg upon Mobile.  It was therefore necessary
+to reinforce directly, and troops were sent from every available
+point.
+
+Rosecrans had very skilfully manoeuvred Bragg south of the
+Tennessee River, and through and beyond Chattanooga. If he had
+stopped and intrenched, and made himself strong there, all would
+have been right and the mistake of not moving earlier partially
+compensated.  But he pushed on, with his forces very much
+scattered, until Bragg's troops from Mississippi began to join
+him.  Then Bragg took the initiative.  Rosecrans had to fall
+back in turn, and was able to get his army together at
+Chickamauga, some miles south-east of Chattanooga, before the
+main battle was brought on.  The battle was fought on the 19th
+and 20th of September, and Rosecrans was badly defeated, with a
+heavy loss in artillery and some sixteen thousand men killed,
+wounded and captured.  The corps under Major-General George H.
+Thomas stood its ground, while Rosecrans, with Crittenden and
+McCook, returned to Chattanooga. Thomas returned also, but
+later, and with his troops in good order.  Bragg followed and
+took possession of Missionary Ridge, overlooking Chattanooga. He
+also occupied Lookout Mountain, west of the town, which Rosecrans
+had abandoned, and with it his control of the river and the river
+road as far back as Bridgeport.  The National troops were now
+strongly intrenched in Chattanooga Valley, with the Tennessee
+River behind them and the enemy occupying commanding heights to
+the east and west, with a strong line across the valley from
+mountain to mountain, and with Chattanooga Creek, for a large
+part of the way, in front of their line.
+
+On the 29th Halleck telegraphed me the above results, and
+directed all the forces that could be spared from my department
+to be sent to Rosecrans.  Long before this dispatch was received
+Sherman was on his way, and McPherson was moving east with most
+of the garrison of Vicksburg.
+
+A retreat at that time would have been a terrible disaster.  It
+would not only have been the loss of a most important strategic
+position to us, but it would have been attended with the loss of
+all the artillery still left with the Army of the Cumberland and
+the annihilation of that army itself, either by capture or
+demoralization.
+
+All supplies for Rosecrans had to be brought from Nashville. The
+railroad between this base and the army was in possession of the
+government up to Bridgeport, the point at which the road crosses
+to the south side of the Tennessee River; but Bragg, holding
+Lookout and Raccoon mountains west of Chattanooga, commanded the
+railroad, the river and the shortest and best wagon-roads, both
+south and north of the Tennessee, between Chattanooga and
+Bridgeport.  The distance between these two places is but
+twenty-six miles by rail, but owing to the position of Bragg,
+all supplies for Rosecrans had to be hauled by a circuitous
+route north of the river and over a mountainous country,
+increasing the distance to over sixty miles.
+
+This country afforded but little food for his animals, nearly
+ten thousand of which had already starved, and not enough were
+left to draw a single piece of artillery or even the ambulances
+to convey the sick.  The men had been on half rations of hard
+bread for a considerable time, with but few other supplies
+except beef driven from Nashville across the country.  The
+region along the road became so exhausted of food for the cattle
+that by the time they reached Chattanooga they were much in the
+condition of the few animals left alive there--"on the lift."
+Indeed, the beef was so poor that the soldiers were in the habit
+of saying, with a faint facetiousness, that they were living on
+"half rations of hard bread and BEEF DRIED ON THE HOOF."
+
+Nothing could be transported but food, and the troops were
+without sufficient shoes or other clothing suitable for the
+advancing season.  What they had was well worn.  The fuel within
+the Federal lines was exhausted, even to the stumps of trees.
+There were no teams to draw it from the opposite bank, where it
+was abundant.  The only way of supplying fuel, for some time
+before my arrival, had been to cut trees on the north bank of
+the river at a considerable distance up the stream, form rafts
+of it and float it down with the current, effecting a landing on
+the south side within our lines by the use of paddles or poles.
+It would then be carried on the shoulders of the men to their
+camps.
+
+If a retreat had occurred at this time it is not probable that
+any of the army would have reached the railroad as an organized
+body, if followed by the enemy.
+
+On the receipt of Mr. Dana's dispatch Mr. Stanton sent for me.
+Finding that I was out he became nervous and excited, inquiring
+of every person he met, including guests of the house, whether
+they knew where I was, and bidding them find me and send me to
+him at once.  About eleven o'clock I returned to the hotel, and
+on my way, when near the house, every person met was a messenger
+from the Secretary, apparently partaking of his impatience to see
+me.  I hastened to the room of the Secretary and found him pacing
+the floor rapidly in his dressing-gown.  Saying that the retreat
+must be prevented, he showed me the dispatch.  I immediately
+wrote an order assuming command of the Military Division of the
+Mississippi, and telegraphed it to General Rosecrans.  I then
+telegraphed to him the order from Washington assigning Thomas to
+the command of the Army of the Cumberland; and to Thomas that he
+must hold Chattanooga at all hazards, informing him at the same
+time that I would be at the front as soon as possible.  A prompt
+reply was received from Thomas, saying, "We will hold the town
+till we starve."  I appreciated the force of this dispatch later
+when I witnessed the condition of affairs which prompted it.  It
+looked, indeed, as if but two courses were open:  one to starve,
+the other to surrender or be captured.
+
+On the morning of the 20th of October I started, with my staff,
+and proceeded as far as Nashville.  At that time it was not
+prudent to travel beyond that point by night, so I remained in
+Nashville until the next morning.  Here I met for the first time
+Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee.  He delivered a
+speech of welcome.  His composure showed that it was by no means
+his maiden effort.  It was long, and I was in torture while he
+was delivering it, fearing something would be expected from me
+in response.  I was relieved, however, the people assembled
+having apparently heard enough.  At all events they commenced a
+general hand-shaking, which, although trying where there is so
+much of it, was a great relief to me in this emergency.
+
+From Nashville I telegraphed to Burnside, who was then at
+Knoxville, that important points in his department ought to be
+fortified, so that they could be held with the least number of
+men; to Admiral Porter at Cairo, that Sherman's advance had
+passed Eastport, Mississippi, that rations were probably on
+their way from St. Louis by boat for supplying his army, and
+requesting him to send a gunboat to convoy them; and to Thomas,
+suggesting that large parties should be put at work on the
+wagon-road then in use back to Bridgeport.
+
+On the morning of the 21st we took the train for the front,
+reaching Stevenson Alabama, after dark.  Rosecrans was there on
+his way north.  He came into my car and we held a brief
+interview, in which he described very clearly the situation at
+Chattanooga, and made some excellent suggestions as to what
+should be done.  My only wonder was that he had not carried them
+out.  We then proceeded to Bridgeport, where we stopped for the
+night.  From here we took horses and made our way by Jasper and
+over Waldron's Ridge to Chattanooga. There had been much rain,
+and the roads were almost impassable from mud, knee-deep in
+places, and from wash-outs on the mountain sides.  I had been on
+crutches since the time of my fall in New Orleans, and had to be
+carried over places where it was not safe to cross on
+horseback.  The roads were strewn with the debris of broken
+wagons and the carcasses of thousands of starved mules and
+horses.  At Jasper, some ten or twelve miles from Bridgeport,
+there was a halt.  General O. O. Howard had his headquarters
+there.  From this point I telegraphed Burnside to make every
+effort to secure five hundred rounds of ammunition for his
+artillery and small-arms.  We stopped for the night at a little
+hamlet some ten or twelve miles farther on.  The next day we
+reached Chattanooga a little before dark.  I went directly to
+General Thomas's headquarters, and remaining there a few days,
+until I could establish my own.
+
+During the evening most of the general officers called in to pay
+their respects and to talk about the condition of affairs.  They
+pointed out on the map the line, marked with a red or blue
+pencil, which Rosecrans had contemplated falling back upon.  If
+any of them had approved the move they did not say so to me.  I
+found General W. F. Smith occupying the position of chief
+engineer of the Army of the Cumberland.  I had known Smith as a
+cadet at West Point, but had no recollection of having met him
+after my graduation, in 1843, up to this time.  He explained the
+situation of the two armies and the topography of the country so
+plainly that I could see it without an inspection.  I found that
+he had established a saw-mill on the banks of the river, by
+utilizing an old engine found in the neighborhood; and, by
+rafting logs from the north side of the river above, had got out
+the lumber and completed pontoons and roadway plank for a second
+bridge, one flying bridge being there already.  He was also
+rapidly getting out the materials and constructing the boats for
+a third bridge.  In addition to this he had far under way a
+steamer for plying between Chattanooga and Bridgeport whenever
+we might get possession of the river.  This boat consisted of a
+scow, made of the plank sawed out at the mill, housed in, and a
+stern wheel attached which was propelled by a second engine
+taken from some shop or factory.
+
+I telegraphed to Washington this night, notifying General
+Halleck of my arrival, and asking to have General Sherman
+assigned to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+headquarters in the field.  The request was at once complied
+with.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+The next day, the 24th, I started out to make a personal
+inspection, taking Thomas and Smith with me, besides most of the
+members of my personal staff.  We crossed to the north side of
+the river, and, moving to the north of detached spurs of hills,
+reached the Tennessee at Brown's Ferry, some three miles below
+Lookout Mountain, unobserved by the enemy.  Here we left our
+horses back from the river and approached the water on foot.
+There was a picket station of the enemy on the opposite side, of
+about twenty men, in full view, and we were within easy range.
+They did not fire upon us nor seem to be disturbed by our
+presence.  They must have seen that we were all commissioned
+officers.  But, I suppose, they looked upon the garrison of
+Chattanooga as prisoners of war, feeding or starving themselves,
+and thought it would be inhuman to kill any of them except in
+self-defence.
+
+That night I issued orders for opening the route to
+Bridgeport--a cracker line, as the soldiers appropriately termed
+it.  They had been so long on short rations that my first thought
+was the establishment of a line over which food might reach them.
+
+Chattanooga is on the south bank of the Tennessee, where that
+river runs nearly due west.  It is at the northern end of a
+valley five or six miles in width, through which Chattanooga
+Creek runs.  To the east of the valley is Missionary Ridge,
+rising from five to eight hundred feet above the creek and
+terminating somewhat abruptly a half mile or more before
+reaching the Tennessee.  On the west of the valley is Lookout
+Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet above-tide water.  Just below
+the town the Tennessee makes a turn to the south and runs to the
+base of Lookout Mountain, leaving no level ground between the
+mountain and river.  The Memphis and Charleston Railroad passes
+this point, where the mountain stands nearly perpendicular. East
+of Missionary Ridge flows the South Chickamauga River; west of
+Lookout Mountain is Lookout Creek; and west of that, Raccoon
+Mountains.  Lookout Mountain, at its northern end, rises almost
+perpendicularly for some distance, then breaks off in a gentle
+slope of cultivated fields to near the summit, where it ends in
+a palisade thirty or more feet in height.  On the gently sloping
+ground, between the upper and lower palisades, there is a single
+farmhouse, which is reached by a wagon-road from the valley east.
+
+The intrenched line of the enemy commenced on the north end of
+Missionary Ridge and extended along the crest for some distance
+south, thence across Chattanooga valley to Lookout Mountain.
+Lookout Mountain was also fortified and held by the enemy, who
+also kept troops in Lookout valley west, and on Raccoon
+Mountain, with pickets extending down the river so as to command
+the road on the north bank and render it useless to us.  In
+addition to this there was an intrenched line in Chattanooga
+valley extending from the river east of the town to Lookout
+Mountain, to make the investment complete.  Besides the
+fortifications on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of
+the hill, with occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the
+front.  The enemy's pickets extended out into the valley towards
+the town, so far that the pickets of the two armies could
+converse.  At one point they were separated only by the narrow
+creek which gives its name to the valley and town, and from
+which both sides drew water.  The Union lines were shorter than
+those of the enemy.
+
+Thus the enemy, with a vastly superior force, was strongly
+fortified to the east, south, and west, and commanded the river
+below.  Practically, the Army of the Cumberland was besieged.
+The enemy had stopped with his cavalry north of the river the
+passing of a train loaded with ammunition and medical
+supplies.  The Union army was short of both, not having
+ammunition enough for a day's fighting.
+
+General Halleck had, long before my coming into this new field,
+ordered parts of the 11th and 12th corps, commanded respectively
+by Generals Howard and Slocum, Hooker in command of the whole,
+from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce Rosecrans.  It would
+have been folly to send them to Chattanooga to help eat up the
+few rations left there.  They were consequently left on the
+railroad, where supplies could be brought to them.  Before my
+arrival, Thomas ordered their concentration at Bridgeport.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been so instrumental in preparing for
+the move which I was now about to make, and so clear in his
+judgment about the manner of making it, that I deemed it but
+just to him that he should have command of the troops detailed
+to execute the design, although he was then acting as a staff
+officer and was not in command of troops.
+
+On the 24th of October, after my return to Chattanooga, the
+following details were made:  General Hooker, who was now at
+Bridgeport, was ordered to cross to the south side of the
+Tennessee and march up by Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Brown's
+Ferry.  General Palmer, with a division of the 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland, was ordered to move down the river on the
+north side, by a back road, until opposite Whitesides, then
+cross and hold the road in Hooker's rear after he had passed.
+Four thousand men were at the same time detailed to act under
+General Smith directly from Chattanooga. Eighteen hundred of
+them, under General Hazen, were to take sixty pontoon boats, and
+under cover of night float by the pickets of the enemy at the
+north base of Lookout, down to Brown's Ferry, then land on the
+south side and capture or drive away the pickets at that
+point.  Smith was to march with the remainder of the detail,
+also under cover of night, by the north bank of the river to
+Brown's Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the
+bridge as soon as the crossing was secured.
+
+On the 26th, Hooker crossed the river at Bridgeport and
+commenced his eastward march.  At three o'clock on the morning
+of the 27th, Hazen moved into the stream with his sixty pontoons
+and eighteen hundred brave and well-equipped men.  Smith started
+enough in advance to be near the river when Hazen should
+arrive.  There are a number of detached spurs of hills north of
+the river at Chattanooga, back of which is a good road parallel
+to the stream, sheltered from the view from the top of
+Lookout.  It was over this road Smith marched.  At five o'clock
+Hazen landed at Brown's Ferry, surprised the picket guard, and
+captured most of it.  By seven o'clock the whole of Smith's
+force was ferried over and in possession of a height commanding
+the ferry.  This was speedily fortified, while a detail was
+laying the pontoon bridge.  By ten o'clock the bridge was laid,
+and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley, was fortified and
+connected with the rest of the army.  The two bridges over the
+Tennessee River--a flying one at Chattanooga and the new one at
+Brown's Ferry--with the road north of the river, covered from
+both the fire and the view of the enemy, made the connection
+complete.  Hooker found but slight obstacles in his way, and on
+the afternoon of the 28th emerged into Lookout valley at
+Wauhatchie.  Howard marched on to Brown's Ferry, while Geary,
+who commanded a division in the 12th corps, stopped three miles
+south.  The pickets of the enemy on the river below were now cut
+off, and soon came in and surrendered.
+
+The river was now opened to us from Lookout valley to
+Bridgeport.  Between Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry the
+Tennessee runs through a narrow gorge in the mountains, which
+contracts the stream so much as to increase the current beyond
+the capacity of an ordinary steamer to stem it.  To get up these
+rapids, steamers must be cordelled; that is, pulled up by ropes
+from the shore.  But there is no difficulty in navigating the
+stream from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry.  The latter point is
+only eight miles from Chattanooga and connected with it by a
+good wagon-road, which runs through a low pass in the Raccoon
+Mountains on the south side of the river to Brown's Ferry,
+thence on the north side to the river opposite Chattanooga.
+There were several steamers at Bridgeport, and abundance of
+forage, clothing and provisions.
+
+On the way to Chattanooga I had telegraphed back to Nashville
+for a good supply of vegetables and small rations, which the
+troops had been so long deprived of.  Hooker had brought with
+him from the east a full supply of land transportation.  His
+animals had not been subjected to hard work on bad roads without
+forage, but were in good condition.  In five days from my arrival
+in Chattanooga the way was open to Bridgeport and, with the aid
+of steamers and Hooker's teams, in a week the troops were
+receiving full rations.  It is hard for any one not an
+eye-witness to realize the relief this brought.  The men were
+soon reclothed and also well fed, an abundance of ammunition was
+brought up, and a cheerfulness prevailed not before enjoyed in
+many weeks.  Neither officers nor men looked upon themselves any
+longer as doomed.  The weak and languid appearance of the troops,
+so visible before, disappeared at once.  I do not know what the
+effect was on the other side, but assume it must have been
+correspondingly depressing.  Mr. Davis had visited Bragg but a
+short time before, and must have perceived our condition to be
+about as Bragg described it in his subsequent report.  "These
+dispositions," he said, "faithfully sustained, insured the
+enemy's speedy evacuation of Chattanooga for want of food and
+forage.  Possessed of the shortest route to his depot, and the
+one by which reinforcements must reach him, we held him at our
+mercy, and his destruction was only a question of time."  But
+the dispositions were not "faithfully sustained," and I doubt
+not but thousands of men engaged in trying to "sustain" them now
+rejoice that they were not.  There was no time during the
+rebellion when I did not think, and often say, that the South
+was more to be benefited by its defeat than the North.  The
+latter had the people, the institutions, and the territory to
+make a great and prosperous nation.  The former was burdened
+with an institution abhorrent to all civilized people not
+brought up under it, and one which degraded labor, kept it in
+ignorance, and enervated the governing class.  With the outside
+world at war with this institution, they could not have extended
+their territory.  The labor of the country was not skilled, nor
+allowed to become so.  The whites could not toil without
+becoming degraded, and those who did were denominated "poor
+white trash."  The system of labor would have soon exhausted the
+soil and left the people poor.  The non-slaveholders would have
+left the country, and the small slaveholder must have sold out
+to his more fortunate neighbor.  Soon the slaves would have
+outnumbered the masters, and, not being in sympathy with them,
+would have risen in their might and exterminated them.  The war
+was expensive to the South as well as to the North, both in
+blood and treasure, but it was worth all it cost.
+
+The enemy was surprised by the movements which secured to us a
+line of supplies.  He appreciated its importance, and hastened
+to try to recover the line from us.  His strength on Lookout
+Mountain was not equal to Hooker's command in the valley
+below.  From Missionary Ridge he had to march twice the distance
+we had from Chattanooga, in order to reach Lookout Valley; but on
+the night of the 28th and 29th an attack was made on Geary at
+Wauhatchie by Longstreet's corps.  When the battle commenced,
+Hooker ordered Howard up from Brown's Ferry.  He had three miles
+to march to reach Geary.  On his way he was fired upon by rebel
+troops from a foot-hill to the left of the road and from which
+the road was commanded.  Howard turned to the left, charged up
+the hill and captured it before the enemy had time to intrench,
+taking many prisoners.  Leaving sufficient men to hold this
+height, he pushed on to reinforce Geary.  Before he got up,
+Geary had been engaged for about three hours against a vastly
+superior force.  The night was so dark that the men could not
+distinguish one from another except by the light of the flashes
+of their muskets.  In the darkness and uproar Hooker's teamsters
+became frightened and deserted their teams.  The mules also
+became frightened, and breaking loose from their fastenings
+stampeded directly towards the enemy.  The latter, no doubt,
+took this for a charge, and stampeded in turn.  By four o'clock
+in the morning the battle had entirely ceased, and our "cracker
+line" was never afterward disturbed.
+
+In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man
+killed and four or five wounded.  The enemy lost most of his
+pickets at the ferry, captured.  In the night engagement of the
+28th-9th Hooker lost 416 killed and wounded.  I never knew the
+loss of the enemy, but our troops buried over one hundred and
+fifty of his dead and captured more than a hundred.
+
+After we had secured the opening of a line over which to bring
+our supplies to the army, I made a personal inspection to see
+the situation of the pickets of the two armies.  As I have
+stated, Chattanooga Creek comes down the centre of the valley to
+within a mile or such a matter of the town of Chattanooga, then
+bears off westerly, then north-westerly, and enters the
+Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain.  This creek,
+from its mouth up to where it bears off west, lay between the
+two lines of pickets, and the guards of both armies drew their
+water from the same stream.  As I would be under short-range
+fire and in an open country, I took nobody with me, except, I
+believe, a bugler, who stayed some distance to the rear.  I rode
+from our right around to our left.  When I came to the camp of
+the picket guard of our side, I heard the call, "Turn out the
+guard for the commanding general."  I replied, "Never mind the
+guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their tents.
+Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek,
+were the guards of the Confederate pickets.  The sentinel on
+their post called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for
+the commanding general," and, I believe, added, "General
+Grant."  Their line in a moment front-faced to the north, facing
+me, and gave a salute, which I returned.
+
+The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets
+of the two armies.  At one place there was a tree which had
+fallen across the stream, and which was used by the soldiers of
+both armies in drawing water for their camps.  General
+Longstreet's corps was stationed there at the time, and wore
+blue of a little different shade from our uniform.  Seeing a
+soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced
+conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to.  He
+was very polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged
+to General Longstreet's corps.  I asked him a few questions--but
+not with a view of gaining any particular information--all of
+which he answered, and I rode off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+Having got the Army of the Cumberland in a comfortable position,
+I now began to look after the remainder of my new command.
+Burnside was in about as desperate a condition as the Army of
+the Cumberland had been, only he was not yet besieged.  He was a
+hundred miles from the nearest possible base, Big South Fork of
+the Cumberland River, and much farther from any railroad we had
+possession of.  The roads back were over mountains, and all
+supplies along the line had long since been exhausted.  His
+animals, too, had been starved, and their carcasses lined the
+road from Cumberland Gap, and far back towards Lexington, Ky.
+East Tennessee still furnished supplies of beef, bread and
+forage, but it did not supply ammunition, clothing, medical
+supplies, or small rations, such as coffee, sugar, salt and rice.
+
+Sherman had started from Memphis for Corinth on the 11th of
+October.  His instructions required him to repair the road in
+his rear in order to bring up supplies.  The distance was about
+three hundred and thirty miles through a hostile country.  His
+entire command could not have maintained the road if it had been
+completed.  The bridges had all been destroyed by the enemy, and
+much other damage done.  A hostile community lived along the
+road; guerilla bands infested the country, and more or less of
+the cavalry of the enemy was still in the West.  Often Sherman's
+work was destroyed as soon as completed, and he only a short
+distance away.
+
+The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee River
+at Eastport, Mississippi.  Knowing the difficulty Sherman would
+have to supply himself from Memphis, I had previously ordered
+supplies sent from St. Louis on small steamers, to be convoyed
+by the navy, to meet him at Eastport.  These he got.  I now
+ordered him to discontinue his work of repairing roads and to
+move on with his whole force to Stevenson, Alabama, without
+delay.  This order was borne to Sherman by a messenger, who
+paddled down the Tennessee in a canoe and floated over Muscle
+Shoals; it was delivered at Iuka on the 27th.  In this Sherman
+was notified that the rebels were moving a force towards
+Cleveland, East Tennessee, and might be going to Nashville, in
+which event his troops were in the best position to beat them
+there.  Sherman, with his characteristic promptness, abandoned
+the work he was engaged upon and pushed on at once.  On the 1st
+of November he crossed the Tennessee at Eastport, and that day
+was in Florence, Alabama, with the head of column, while his
+troops were still crossing at Eastport, with Blair bringing up
+the rear.
+
+Sherman's force made an additional army, with cavalry,
+artillery, and trains, all to be supplied by the single track
+road from Nashville.  All indications pointed also to the
+probable necessity of supplying Burnside's command in East
+Tennessee, twenty-five thousand more, by the same route.  A
+single track could not do this.  I gave, therefore, an order to
+Sherman to halt General G. M. Dodge's command, of about eight
+thousand men, at Athens, and subsequently directed the latter to
+arrange his troops along the railroad from Decatur north towards
+Nashville, and to rebuild that road.  The road from Nashville to
+Decatur passes over a broken country, cut up with innumerable
+streams, many of them of considerable width, and with valleys
+far below the road-bed.  All the bridges over these had been
+destroyed, and the rails taken up and twisted by the enemy.  All
+the cars and locomotives not carried off had been destroyed as
+effectually as they knew how to destroy them.  All bridges and
+culverts had been destroyed between Nashville and Decatur, and
+thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Charleston and the
+Nashville and Chattanooga roads unite.  The rebuilding of this
+road would give us two roads as far as Stevenson over which to
+supply the army.  From Bridgeport, a short distance farther
+east, the river supplements the road.
+
+General Dodge, besides being a most capable soldier, was an
+experienced railroad builder.  He had no tools to work with
+except those of the pioneers--axes, picks, and spades.  With
+these he was able to intrench his men and protect them against
+surprises by small parties of the enemy.  As he had no base of
+supplies until the road could be completed back to Nashville,
+the first matter to consider after protecting his men was the
+getting in of food and forage from the surrounding country.  He
+had his men and teams bring in all the grain they could find, or
+all they needed, and all the cattle for beef, and such other food
+as could be found.  Millers were detailed from the ranks to run
+the mills along the line of the army.  When these were not near
+enough to the troops for protection they were taken down and
+moved up to the line of the road.  Blacksmith shops, with all
+the iron and steel found in them, were moved up in like
+manner.  Blacksmiths were detailed and set to work making the
+tools necessary in railroad and bridge building.  Axemen were
+put to work getting out timber for bridges and cutting fuel for
+locomotives when the road should be completed.  Car-builders
+were set to work repairing the locomotives and cars.  Thus every
+branch of railroad building, making tools to work with, and
+supplying the workmen with food, was all going on at once, and
+without the aid of a mechanic or laborer except what the command
+itself furnished.  But rails and cars the men could not make
+without material, and there was not enough rolling stock to keep
+the road we already had worked to its full capacity.  There were
+no rails except those in use.  To supply these deficiencies I
+ordered eight of the ten engines General McPherson had at
+Vicksburg to be sent to Nashville, and all the cars he had
+except ten.  I also ordered the troops in West Tennessee to
+points on the river and on the Memphis and Charleston road, and
+ordered the cars, locomotives and rails from all the railroads
+except the Memphis and Charleston to Nashville.  The military
+manager of railroads also was directed to furnish more rolling
+stock and, as far as he could, bridge material.  General Dodge
+had the work assigned him finished within forty days after
+receiving his orders.  The number of bridges to rebuild was one
+hundred and eighty-two, many of them over deep and wide chasms;
+the length of road repaired was one hundred and two miles.
+
+The enemy's troops, which it was thought were either moving
+against Burnside or were going to Nashville, went no farther
+than Cleveland.  Their presence there, however, alarmed the
+authorities at Washington, and, on account of our helpless
+condition at Chattanooga, caused me much uneasiness.  Dispatches
+were constantly coming, urging me to do something for Burnside's
+relief; calling attention to the importance of holding East
+Tennessee; saying the President was much concerned for the
+protection of the loyal people in that section, etc.  We had not
+at Chattanooga animals to pull a single piece of artillery, much
+less a supply train.  Reinforcements could not help Burnside,
+because he had neither supplies nor ammunition sufficient for
+them; hardly, indeed, bread and meat for the men he had.  There
+was no relief possible for him except by expelling the enemy
+from Missionary Ridge and about Chattanooga.
+
+On the 4th of November Longstreet left our front with about
+fifteen thousand troops, besides Wheeler's cavalry, five
+thousand more, to go against Burnside.  The situation seemed
+desperate, and was more aggravating because nothing could be
+done until Sherman should get up.  The authorities at Washington
+were now more than ever anxious for the safety of Burnside's
+army, and plied me with dispatches faster than ever, urging that
+something should be done for his relief.  On the 7th, before
+Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I ordered
+Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to force
+the return of the troops that had gone up the valley.  I
+directed him to take mules, officers' horses, or animals
+wherever he could get them to move the necessary artillery.  But
+he persisted in the declaration that he could not move a single
+piece of artillery, and could not see how he could possibly
+comply with the order.  Nothing was left to be done but to
+answer Washington dispatches as best I could; urge Sherman
+forward, although he was making every effort to get forward, and
+encourage Burnside to hold on, assuring him that in a short time
+he should be relieved.  All of Burnside's dispatches showed the
+greatest confidence in his ability to hold his position as long
+as his ammunition held out.  He even suggested the propriety of
+abandoning the territory he held south and west of Knoxville, so
+as to draw the enemy farther from his base and make it more
+difficult for him to get back to Chattanooga when the battle
+should begin.  Longstreet had a railroad as far as Loudon; but
+from there to Knoxville he had to rely on wagon trains.
+Burnside's suggestion, therefore, was a good one, and it was
+adopted.  On the 14th I telegraphed him:
+
+"Sherman's advance has reached Bridgeport.  His whole force will
+be ready to move from there by Tuesday at farthest.  If you can
+hold Longstreet in check until he gets up, or by skirmishing and
+falling back can avoid serious loss to yourself and gain time, I
+will be able to force the enemy back from here and place a force
+between Longstreet and Bragg that must inevitably make the former
+take to the mountain-passes by every available road, to get to
+his supplies.  Sherman would have been here before this but for
+high water in Elk River driving him some thirty miles up that
+river to cross."
+
+And again later in the day, indicating my plans for his relief,
+as follows:
+
+"Your dispatch and Dana's just received.  Being there, you can
+tell better how to resist Longstreet's attack than I can
+direct.  With your showing you had better give up Kingston at
+the last moment and save the most productive part of your
+possessions.  Every arrangement is now made to throw Sherman's
+force across the river, just at and below the mouth of
+Chickamauga Creek, as soon as it arrives.  Thomas will attack on
+his left at the same time, and together it is expected to carry
+Missionary Ridge, and from there push a force on to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton.  Hooker will at the same time
+attack, and, if he can, carry Lookout Mountain.  The enemy now
+seems to be looking for an attack on his left flank.  This
+favors us.  To further confirm this, Sherman's advance division
+will march direct from Whiteside to Trenton.  The remainder of
+his force will pass over a new road just made from Whiteside to
+Kelly's Ferry, thus being concealed from the enemy, and leave
+him to suppose the whole force is going up Lookout Valley.
+Sherman's advance has only just reached Bridgeport.  The rear
+will only reach there on the 16th.  This will bring it to the
+19th as the earliest day for making the combined movement as
+desired.  Inform me if you think you can sustain yourself until
+this time.  I can hardly conceive of the enemy breaking through
+at Kingston and pushing for Kentucky.  If they should, however,
+a new problem would be left for solution.  Thomas has ordered a
+division of cavalry to the vicinity of Sparta. I will ascertain
+if they have started, and inform you.  It will be entirely out
+of the question to send you ten thousand men, not because they
+cannot be spared, but how would they be fed after they got even
+one day east from here?"
+
+Longstreet, for some reason or other, stopped at Loudon until
+the 13th.  That being the terminus of his railroad
+communications, it is probable he was directed to remain there
+awaiting orders.  He was in a position threatening Knoxville,
+and at the same time where he could be brought back speedily to
+Chattanooga. The day after Longstreet left Loudon, Sherman
+reached Bridgeport in person and proceeded on to see me that
+evening, the 14th, and reached Chattanooga the next day.
+
+My orders for battle were all prepared in advance of Sherman's
+arrival (*15), except the dates, which could not be fixed while
+troops to be engaged were so far away.  The possession of
+Lookout Mountain was of no special advantage to us now.  Hooker
+was instructed to send Howard's corps to the north side of the
+Tennessee, thence up behind the hills on the north side, and to
+go into camp opposite Chattanooga; with the remainder of the
+command, Hooker was, at a time to be afterwards appointed, to
+ascend the western slope between the upper and lower palisades,
+and so get into Chattanooga valley.
+
+The plan of battle was for Sherman to attack the enemy's right
+flank, form a line across it, extend our left over South
+Chickamauga River so as to threaten or hold the railroad in
+Bragg's rear, and thus force him either to weaken his lines
+elsewhere or lose his connection with his base at Chickamauga
+Station.  Hooker was to perform like service on our right.  His
+problem was to get from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley in
+the most expeditious way possible; cross the latter valley
+rapidly to Rossville, south of Bragg's line on Missionary Ridge,
+form line there across the ridge facing north, with his right
+flank extended to Chickamauga Valley east of the ridge, thus
+threatening the enemy's rear on that flank and compelling him to
+reinforce this also.  Thomas, with the Army of the Cumberland,
+occupied the centre, and was to assault while the enemy was
+engaged with most of his forces on his two flanks.
+
+To carry out this plan, Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at
+Brown's Ferry and move east of Chattanooga to a point opposite
+the north end of Mission Ridge, and to place his command back of
+the foot-hills out of sight of the enemy on the ridge.  There are
+two streams called Chickamauga emptying into the Tennessee River
+east of Chattanooga--North Chickamauga, taking its rise in
+Tennessee, flowing south, and emptying into the river some seven
+or eight miles east; while the South Chickamauga, which takes its
+rise in Georgia, flows northward, and empties into the Tennessee
+some three or four miles above the town.  There were now one
+hundred and sixteen pontoons in the North Chickamauga River,
+their presence there being unknown to the enemy.
+
+At night a division was to be marched up to that point, and at
+two o'clock in the morning moved down with the current, thirty
+men in each boat.  A few were to land east of the mouth of the
+South Chickamauga, capture the pickets there, and then lay a
+bridge connecting the two banks of the river.  The rest were to
+land on the south side of the Tennessee, where Missionary Ridge
+would strike it if prolonged, and a sufficient number of men to
+man the boats were to push to the north side to ferry over the
+main body of Sherman's command while those left on the south
+side intrenched themselves.  Thomas was to move out from his
+lines facing the ridge, leaving enough of Palmer's corps to
+guard against an attack down the valley.  Lookout Valley being
+of no present value to us, and being untenable by the enemy if
+we should secure Missionary Ridge, Hooker's orders were
+changed.  His revised orders brought him to Chattanooga by the
+established route north of the Tennessee.  He was then to move
+out to the right to Rossville.
+
+Hooker's position in Lookout Valley was absolutely essential to
+us so long as Chattanooga was besieged.  It was the key to our
+line for supplying the army.  But it was not essential after the
+enemy was dispersed from our front, or even after the battle for
+this purpose was begun.  Hooker's orders, therefore, were
+designed to get his force past Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga
+Valley, and up to Missionary Ridge.  By crossing the north face
+of Lookout the troops would come into Chattanooga Valley in rear
+of the line held by the enemy across the valley, and would
+necessarily force its evacuation.  Orders were accordingly given
+to march by this route.  But days before the battle began the
+advantages as well as the disadvantages of this plan of action
+were all considered.  The passage over the mountain was a
+difficult one to make in the face of an enemy.  It might consume
+so much time as to lose us the use of the troops engaged in it at
+other points where they were more wanted.  After reaching
+Chattanooga Valley, the creek of the same name, quite a
+formidable stream to get an army over, had to be crossed.  I was
+perfectly willing that the enemy should keep Lookout Mountain
+until we got through with the troops on Missionary Ridge.  By
+marching Hooker to the north side of the river, thence up the
+stream, and recrossing at the town, he could be got in position
+at any named time; when in this new position, he would have
+Chattanooga Creek behind him, and the attack on Missionary Ridge
+would unquestionably cause the evacuation by the enemy of his
+line across the valley and on Lookout Mountain.  Hooker's order
+was changed accordingly.  As explained elsewhere, the original
+order had to be reverted to, because of a flood in the river
+rendering the bridge at Brown's Ferry unsafe for the passage of
+troops at the exact juncture when it was wanted to bring all the
+troops together against Missionary Ridge.
+
+The next day after Sherman's arrival I took him, with Generals
+Thomas and Smith and other officers, to the north side of the
+river, and showed them the ground over which Sherman had to
+march, and pointed out generally what he was expected to do.  I,
+as well as the authorities in Washington, was still in a great
+state of anxiety for Burnside's safety.  Burnside himself, I
+believe, was the only one who did not share in this anxiety.
+Nothing could be done for him, however, until Sherman's troops
+were up.  As soon, therefore, as the inspection was over,
+Sherman started for Bridgeport to hasten matters, rowing a boat
+himself, I believe, from Kelly's Ferry.  Sherman had left
+Bridgeport the night of the 14th, reached Chattanooga the
+evening of the 15th, made the above-described inspection on the
+morning of the 16th, and started back the same evening to hurry
+up his command, fully appreciating the importance of time.
+
+His march was conducted with as much expedition as the roads and
+season would admit of.  By the 20th he was himself at Brown's
+Ferry with the head of column, but many of his troops were far
+behind, and one division (Ewing's) was at Trenton, sent that way
+to create the impression that Lookout was to be taken from the
+south.  Sherman received his orders at the ferry, and was asked
+if he could not be ready for the assault the following
+morning.  News had been received that the battle had been
+commenced at Knoxville.  Burnside had been cut off from
+telegraphic communications.  The President, the Secretary of
+War, and General Halleck, were in an agony of suspense.  My
+suspense was also great, but more endurable, because I was where
+I could soon do something to relieve the situation.  It was
+impossible to get Sherman's troops up for the next day.  I then
+asked him if they could not be got up to make the assault on the
+morning of the 22d, and ordered Thomas to move on that date.  But
+the elements were against us.  It rained all the 20th and 21st.
+The river rose so rapidly that it was difficult to keep the
+pontoons in place.
+
+General Orlando B. Willcox, a division commander under Burnside,
+was at this time occupying a position farther up the valley than
+Knoxville--about Maynardville--and was still in telegraphic
+communication with the North.  A dispatch was received from him
+saying that he was threatened from the east.  The following was
+sent in reply:
+
+"If you can communicate with General Burnside, say to him that
+our attack on Bragg will commence in the morning.  If
+successful, such a move will be made as I think will relieve
+East Tennessee, if he can hold out.  Longstreet passing through
+our lines to Kentucky need not cause alarm.  He would find the
+country so bare that he would lose his transportation and
+artillery before reaching Kentucky, and would meet such a force
+before he got through, that he could not return."
+
+Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as
+fast as his troops could be got up.  The crossing had to be
+effected in full view of the enemy on the top of Lookout
+Mountain.  Once over, however, the troops soon disappeared
+behind the detached hill on the north side, and would not come
+to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain or
+Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike
+the bank of the river.  But when Sherman's advance reached a
+point opposite the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be
+remembered, had been concealed behind the hills on the north
+side, took up his line of march to join the troops on the south
+side.  His crossing was in full view both from Missionary Ridge
+and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of course supposed these
+troops to be Sherman's.  This enabled Sherman to get to his
+assigned position without discovery.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage--rains
+falling so heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the
+river at Brown's Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of
+the bridge; news coming of a battle raging at Knoxville; of
+Willcox being threatened by a force from the east--a letter was
+received from Bragg which contained these words:  "As there may
+still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I deem it proper to
+notify you that prudence would dictate their early withdrawal."
+Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to
+deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was.  On
+the 22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg
+was leaving our front, and on that day Buckner's division was
+sent to reinforce Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division
+started to follow but was recalled.  The object of Bragg's
+letter, no doubt, was in some way to detain me until Knoxville
+could be captured, and his troops there be returned to
+Chattanooga.
+
+During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats,
+completed, one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to
+and placed in North Chickamauga. The material for the roadway
+over these was deposited out of view of the enemy within a few
+hundred yards of the bank of the Tennessee, where the north end
+of the bridge was to rest.
+
+Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress
+in Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations
+for his relief.  I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with
+the Army of the Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on
+the 24th.
+
+The position occupied by the Army of the Cumberland had been
+made very strong for defence during the months it had been
+besieged.  The line was about a mile from the town, and extended
+from Citico Creek, a small stream running near the base of
+Missionary Ridge and emptying into the Tennessee about two miles
+below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on the left, to
+Chattanooga Creek on the right.  All commanding points on the
+line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery.  The
+important elevations within the line had all been carefully
+fortified and supplied with a proper armament.  Among the
+elevations so fortified was one to the east of the town, named
+Fort Wood.  It owed its importance chiefly to the fact that it
+lay between the town and Missionary Ridge, where most of the
+strength of the enemy was.  Fort Wood had in it twenty-two
+pieces of artillery, most of which would reach the nearer points
+of the enemy's line.  On the morning of the 23d Thomas, according
+to instructions, moved Granger's corps of two divisions, Sheridan
+and T. J. Wood commanding, to the foot of Fort Wood, and formed
+them into line as if going on parade, Sheridan on the right,
+Wood to the left, extending to or near Citico Creek.  Palmer,
+commanding the 14th corps, held that part of our line facing
+south and southwest..  He supported Sheridan with one division
+(Baird's), while his other division under Johnson remained in
+the trenches, under arms, ready to be moved to any point.
+Howard's corps was moved in rear of the centre.  The picket
+lines were within a few hundred yards of each other.  At two
+o'clock in the afternoon all were ready to advance.  By this
+time the clouds had lifted so that the enemy could see from his
+elevated position all that was going on.  The signal for advance
+was given by a booming of cannon from Fort Wood and other points
+on the line.  The rebel pickets were soon driven back upon the
+main guards, which occupied minor and detached heights between
+the main ridge and our lines.  These too were carried before
+halting, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their
+advance guards.  But it was not without loss on both sides. This
+movement secured to us a line fully a mile in advance of the one
+we occupied in the morning, and the one which the enemy had
+occupied up to this time.  The fortifications were rapidly
+turned to face the other way.  During the following night they
+were made strong.  We lost in this preliminary action about
+eleven hundred killed and wounded, while the enemy probably lost
+quite as heavily, including the prisoners that were captured.
+With the exception of the firing of artillery, kept up from
+Missionary Ridge and Fort Wood until night closed in, this ended
+the fighting for the first day.
+
+The advantage was greatly on our side now, and if I could only
+have been assured that Burnside could hold out ten days longer I
+should have rested more easily.  But we were doing the best we
+could for him and the cause.
+
+By the night of the 23d Sherman's command was in a position to
+move, though one division (Osterhaus's) had not yet crossed the
+river at Brown's Ferry.  The continuous rise in the Tennessee
+had rendered it impossible to keep the bridge at that point in
+condition for troops to cross; but I was determined to move that
+night even without this division.  Orders were sent to Osterhaus
+accordingly to report to Hooker, if he could not cross by eight
+o'clock on the morning of the 24th.  Because of the break in the
+bridge, Hooker's orders were again changed, but this time only
+back to those first given to him.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been assigned to duty as Chief Engineer
+of the Military Division.  To him were given the general
+direction of moving troops by the boats from North Chickamauga,
+laying the bridge after they reached their position, and
+generally all the duties pertaining to his office of chief
+engineer.  During the night General Morgan L. Smith's division
+was marched to the point where the pontoons were, and the
+brigade of Giles A. Smith was selected for the delicate duty of
+manning the boats and surprising the enemy's pickets on the
+south bank of the river.  During this night also General J. M.
+Brannan, chief of artillery, moved forty pieces of artillery,
+belonging to the Army of the Cumberland, and placed them on the
+north side of the river so as to command the ground opposite, to
+aid in protecting the approach to the point where the south end
+of the bridge was to rest.  He had to use Sherman's artillery
+horses for this purpose, Thomas having none.
+
+At two o'clock in the morning, November 24th, Giles A. Smith
+pushed out from the North Chickamauga with his one hundred and
+sixteen boats, each loaded with thirty brave and well-armed
+men.  The boats with their precious freight dropped down quietly
+with the current to avoid attracting the attention of any one who
+could convey information to the enemy, until arriving near the
+mouth of South Chickamauga. Here a few boats were landed, the
+troops debarked, and a rush was made upon the picket guard known
+to be at that point.  The guard were surprised, and twenty of
+their number captured.  The remainder of the troops effected a
+landing at the point where the bridge was to start, with equally
+good results.  The work of ferrying over Sherman's command from
+the north side of the Tennessee was at once commenced, using the
+pontoons for the purpose.  A steamer was also brought up from the
+town to assist.  The rest of M. L. Smith's division came first,
+then the division of John E. Smith.  The troops as they landed
+were put to work intrenching their position.  By daylight the
+two entire divisions were over, and well covered by the works
+they had built.
+
+The work of laying the bridge, on which to cross the artillery
+and cavalry, was now begun.  The ferrying over the infantry was
+continued with the steamer and the pontoons, taking the
+pontoons, however, as fast as they were wanted to put in their
+place in the bridge.  By a little past noon the bridge was
+completed, as well as one over the South Chickamauga connecting
+the troops left on that side with their comrades below, and all
+the infantry and artillery were on the south bank of the
+Tennessee.
+
+Sherman at once formed his troops for assault on Missionary
+Ridge.  By one o'clock he started with M. L. Smith on his left,
+keeping nearly the course of Chickamauga River; J. E. Smith next
+to the right and a little to the rear; and Ewing still farther to
+the right and also a little to the rear of J. E. Smith's command,
+in column, ready to deploy to the right if an enemy should come
+from that direction.  A good skirmish line preceded each of
+these columns.  Soon the foot of the hill was reached; the
+skirmishers pushed directly up, followed closely by their
+supports.  By half-past three Sherman was in possession of the
+height without having sustained much loss.  A brigade from each
+division was now brought up, and artillery was dragged to the
+top of the hill by hand.  The enemy did not seem to be aware of
+this movement until the top of the hill was gained.  There had
+been a drizzling rain during the day, and the clouds were so low
+that Lookout Mountain and the top of Missionary Ridge were
+obscured from the view of persons in the valley.  But now the
+enemy opened fire upon their assailants, and made several
+attempts with their skirmishers to drive them away, but without
+avail.  Later in the day a more determined attack was made, but
+this, too, failed, and Sherman was left to fortify what he had
+gained.
+
+Sherman's cavalry took up its line of march soon after the
+bridge was completed, and by half-past three the whole of it was
+over both bridges and on its way to strike the enemy's
+communications at Chickamauga Station.  All of Sherman's command
+was now south of the Tennessee.  During the afternoon General
+Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and carried from the field.
+
+Thomas having done on the 23d what was expected of him on the
+24th, there was nothing for him to do this day except to
+strengthen his position.  Howard, however, effected a crossing
+of Citico Creek and a junction with Sherman, and was directed to
+report to him.  With two or three regiments of his command he
+moved in the morning along the banks of the Tennessee, and
+reached the point where the bridge was being laid.  He went out
+on the bridge as far as it was completed from the south end, and
+saw Sherman superintending the work from the north side and
+moving himself south as fast as an additional boat was put in
+and the roadway put upon it.  Howard reported to his new chief
+across the chasm between them, which was now narrow and in a few
+minutes closed.
+
+While these operations were going on to the east of Chattanooga,
+Hooker was engaged on the west.  He had three divisions:
+Osterhaus's, of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee; Geary's,
+12th corps, Army of the Potomac; and Cruft's, 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland.  Geary was on the right at Wauhatchie, Cruft
+at the centre, and Osterhaus near Brown's Ferry.  These troops
+were all west of Lookout Creek.  The enemy had the east bank of
+the creek strongly picketed and intrenched, and three brigades
+of troops in the rear to reinforce them if attacked.  These
+brigades occupied the summit of the mountain.  General Carter L.
+Stevenson was in command of the whole.  Why any troops, except
+artillery with a small infantry guard, were kept on the
+mountain-top, I do not see.  A hundred men could have held the
+summit--which is a palisade for more than thirty feet
+down--against the assault of any number of men from the position
+Hooker occupied.
+
+The side of Lookout Mountain confronting Hooker's command was
+rugged, heavily timbered, and full of chasms, making it
+difficult to advance with troops, even in the absence of an
+opposing force.  Farther up, the ground becomes more even and
+level, and was in cultivation.  On the east side the slope is
+much more gradual, and a good wagon road, zigzagging up it,
+connects the town of Chattanooga with the summit.
+
+Early on the morning of the 24th Hooker moved Geary's division,
+supported by a brigade of Cruft's, up Lookout Creek, to effect a
+crossing.  The remainder of Cruft's division was to seize the
+bridge over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad.
+Osterhaus was to move up to the bridge and cross it.  The bridge
+was seized by Gross's brigade after a slight skirmish with the
+pickets guarding it.  This attracted the enemy so that Geary's
+movement farther up was not observed.  A heavy mist obscured him
+from the view of the troops on the top of the mountain.  He
+crossed the creek almost unobserved, and captured the picket of
+over forty men on guard near by.  He then commenced ascending
+the mountain directly in his front.  By this time the enemy was
+seen coming down from their camps on the mountain slope, and
+filing into their rifle-pits to contest the crossing of the
+bridge.  By eleven o'clock the bridge was complete.  Osterhaus
+was up, and after some sharp skirmishing the enemy was driven
+away with considerable loss in killed and captured.
+
+While the operations at the bridge were progressing, Geary was
+pushing up the hill over great obstacles, resisted by the enemy
+directly in his front, and in face of the guns on top of the
+mountain.  The enemy, seeing their left flank and rear menaced,
+gave way, and were followed by Cruft and Osterhaus.  Soon these
+were up abreast of Geary, and the whole command pushed up the
+hill, driving the enemy in advance.  By noon Geary had gained
+the open ground on the north slope of the mountain, with his
+right close up to the base of the upper palisade, but there were
+strong fortifications in his front.  The rest of the command
+coming up, a line was formed from the base of the upper palisade
+to the mouth of Chattanooga Creek.
+
+Thomas and I were on the top of Orchard Knob.  Hooker's advance
+now made our line a continuous one.  It was in full view,
+extending from the Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed,
+up Chickamauga River to the base of Mission Ridge, over the top
+of the north end of the ridge to Chattanooga Valley, then along
+parallel to the ridge a mile or more, across the valley to the
+mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the slope of Lookout
+Mountain to the foot of the upper palisade.  The day was hazy,
+so that Hooker's operations were not visible to us except at
+moments when the clouds would rise.  But the sound of his
+artillery and musketry was heard incessantly.  The enemy on his
+front was partially fortified, but was soon driven out of his
+works.  During the afternoon the clouds, which had so obscured
+the top of Lookout all day as to hide whatever was going on from
+the view of those below, settled down and made it so dark where
+Hooker was as to stop operations for the time.  At four o'clock
+Hooker reported his position as impregnable.  By a little after
+five direct communication was established, and a brigade of
+troops was sent from Chattanooga to reinforce him.  These troops
+had to cross Chattanooga Creek and met with some opposition, but
+soon overcame it, and by night the commander, General Carlin,
+reported to Hooker and was assigned to his left.  I now
+telegraphed to Washington:  "The fight to-day progressed
+favorably.  Sherman carried the end of Missionary Ridge, and his
+right is now at the tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga Creek.
+Troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the mountain,
+and now hold the eastern slope and a point high up.  Hooker
+reports two thousand prisoners taken, besides which a small
+number have fallen into our hands from Missionary Ridge."  The
+next day the President replied:  "Your dispatches as to fighting
+on Monday and Tuesday are here.  Well done.  Many thanks to
+all.  Remember Burnside."  And Halleck also telegraphed:  "I
+congratulate you on the success thus far of your plans.  I fear
+that Burnside is hard pushed, and that any further delay may
+prove fatal.  I know you will do all in your power to relieve
+him."
+
+The division of Jefferson C. Davis, Army of the Cumberland, had
+been sent to the North Chickamauga to guard the pontoons as they
+were deposited in the river, and to prevent all ingress or egress
+of citizens.  On the night of the 24th his division, having
+crossed with Sherman, occupied our extreme left from the upper
+bridge over the plain to the north base of Missionary Ridge.
+Firing continued to a late hour in the night, but it was not
+connected with an assault at any point.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+At twelve o'clock at night, when all was quiet, I began to give
+orders for the next day, and sent a dispatch to Willcox to
+encourage Burnside.  Sherman was directed to attack at
+daylight.  Hooker was ordered to move at the same hour, and
+endeavor to intercept the enemy's retreat if he still remained;
+if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville and operate
+against the left and rear of the force on Missionary Ridge.
+Thomas was not to move until Hooker had reached Missionary
+Ridge.  As I was with him on Orchard Knob, he would not move
+without further orders from me.
+
+The morning of the 25th opened clear and bright, and the whole
+field was in full view from the top of Orchard Knob.  It
+remained so all day.  Bragg's headquarters were in full view,
+and officers--presumably staff officers--could be seen coming
+and going constantly.
+
+The point of ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was
+almost disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the enemy. A
+low pass, over which there is a wagon road crossing the hill, and
+near which there is a railroad tunnel, intervenes between the two
+hills.  The problem now was to get to the main ridge. The enemy
+was fortified on the point; and back farther, where the ground
+was still higher, was a second fortification commanding the
+first.  Sherman was out as soon as it was light enough to see,
+and by sunrise his command was in motion.  Three brigades held
+the hill already gained.  Morgan L. Smith moved along the east
+base of Missionary Ridge; Loomis along the west base, supported
+by two brigades of John E. Smith's division; and Corse with his
+brigade was between the two, moving directly towards the hill to
+be captured.  The ridge is steep and heavily wooded on the east
+side, where M. L. Smith's troops were advancing, but cleared and
+with a more gentle slope on the west side.  The troops advanced
+rapidly and carried the extreme end of the rebel works.  Morgan
+L. Smith advanced to a point which cut the enemy off from the
+railroad bridge and the means of bringing up supplies by rail
+from Chickamauga Station, where the main depot was located.  The
+enemy made brave and strenuous efforts to drive our troops from
+the position we had gained, but without success.  The contest
+lasted for two hours.  Corse, a brave and efficient commander,
+was badly wounded in this assault.  Sherman now threatened both
+Bragg's flank and his stores, and made it necessary for him to
+weaken other points of his line to strengthen his right.  From
+the position I occupied I could see column after column of
+Bragg's forces moving against Sherman.  Every Confederate gun
+that could be brought to bear upon the Union forces was
+concentrated upon him.  J. E. Smith, with two brigades, charged
+up the west side of the ridge to the support of Corse's command,
+over open ground and in the face of a heavy fire of both
+artillery and musketry, and reached the very parapet of the
+enemy.  He lay here for a time, but the enemy coming with a
+heavy force upon his right flank, he was compelled to fall back,
+followed by the foe.  A few hundred yards brought Smith's troops
+into a wood, where they were speedily reformed, when they
+charged and drove the attacking party back to his intrenchments.
+
+Seeing the advance, repulse, and second advance of J. E. Smith
+from the position I occupied, I directed Thomas to send a
+division to reinforce him.  Baird's division was accordingly
+sent from the right of Orchard Knob.  It had to march a
+considerable distance directly under the eye of the enemy to
+reach its position.  Bragg at once commenced massing in the same
+direction.  This was what I wanted.  But it had now got to be
+late in the afternoon, and I had expected before this to see
+Hooker crossing the ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville and
+compelling Bragg to mass in that direction also.
+
+The enemy had evacuated Lookout Mountain during the night, as I
+expected he would.  In crossing the valley he burned the bridge
+over Chattanooga Creek, and did all he could to obstruct the
+roads behind him.  Hooker was off bright and early, with no
+obstructions in his front but distance and the destruction above
+named.  He was detained four hours crossing Chattanooga Creek,
+and thus was lost the immediate advantage I expected from his
+forces.  His reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it was
+to be the signal for Thomas's assault of the ridge.  But
+Sherman's condition was getting so critical that the assault for
+his relief could not be delayed any longer.
+
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions had been lying under arms from
+early morning, ready to move the instant the signal was given. I
+now directed Thomas to order the charge at once (*16). I watched
+eagerly to see the effect, and became impatient at last that
+there was no indication of any charge being made.  The centre of
+the line which was to make the charge was near where Thomas and I
+stood, but concealed from view by an intervening forest.  Turning
+to Thomas to inquire what caused the delay, I was surprised to
+see Thomas J. Wood, one of the division commanders who was to
+make the charge, standing talking to him.  I spoke to General
+Wood, asking him why he did not charge as ordered an hour
+before.  He replied very promptly that this was the first he had
+heard of it, but that he had been ready all day to move at a
+moment's notice.  I told him to make the charge at once.  He was
+off in a moment, and in an incredibly short time loud cheering
+was heard, and he and Sheridan were driving the enemy's advance
+before them towards Missionary Ridge.  The Confederates were
+strongly intrenched on the crest of the ridge in front of us,
+and had a second line half-way down and another at the base. 
+Our men drove the troops in front of the lower line of
+rifle-pits so rapidly, and followed them so closely, that rebel
+and Union troops went over the first line of works almost at the
+same time.  Many rebels were captured and sent to the rear under
+the fire of their own friends higher up the hill.  Those that
+were not captured retreated, and were pursued.  The retreating
+hordes being between friends and pursuers caused the enemy to
+fire high to avoid killing their own men.  In fact, on that
+occasion the Union soldier nearest the enemy was in the safest
+position.  Without awaiting further orders or stopping to
+reform, on our troops went to the second line of works; over
+that and on for the crest--thus effectually carrying out my
+orders of the 18th for the battle and of the 24th (*17) for this
+charge.
+
+I watched their progress with intense interest.  The fire along
+the rebel line was terrific.  Cannon and musket balls filled the
+air:  but the damage done was in small proportion to the
+ammunition expended.  The pursuit continued until the crest was
+reached, and soon our men were seen climbing over the
+Confederate barriers at different points in front of both
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions.  The retreat of the enemy along
+most of his line was precipitate and the panic so great that
+Bragg and his officers lost all control over their men.  Many
+were captured, and thousands threw away their arms in their
+flight.
+
+Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga River
+at a point above where the enemy crossed.  He met some
+resistance from troops occupying a second hill in rear of
+Missionary Ridge, probably to cover the retreat of the main body
+and of the artillery and trains.  It was now getting dark, but
+Sheridan, without halting on that account pushed his men forward
+up this second hill slowly and without attracting the attention
+of the men placed to defend it, while he detached to the right
+and left to surround the position.  The enemy discovered the
+movement before these dispositions were complete, and beat a
+hasty retreat, leaving artillery, wagon trains, and many
+prisoners in our hands.  To Sheridan's prompt movement the Army
+of the Cumberland, and the nation, are indebted for the bulk of
+the capture of prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day.
+Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way would not
+have been accomplished.
+
+While the advance up Mission Ridge was going forward, General
+Thomas with staff, General Gordon Granger, commander of the
+corps making the assault, and myself and staff occupied Orchard
+Knob, from which the entire field could be observed.  The moment
+the troops were seen going over the last line of rebel defences,
+I ordered Granger to join his command, and mounting my horse I
+rode to the front.  General Thomas left about the same time.
+Sheridan on the extreme right was already in pursuit of the
+enemy east of the ridge.  Wood, who commanded the division to
+the left of Sheridan, accompanied his men on horseback in the
+charge, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit.  To the left,
+in Baird's front where Bragg's troops had massed against
+Sherman, the resistance was more stubborn and the contest lasted
+longer.  I ordered Granger to follow the enemy with Wood's
+division, but he was so much excited, and kept up such a roar of
+musketry in the direction the enemy had taken, that by the time I
+could stop the firing the enemy had got well out of the way.  The
+enemy confronting Sherman, now seeing everything to their left
+giving way, fled also.  Sherman, however, was not aware of the
+extent of our success until after nightfall, when he received
+orders to pursue at daylight in the morning.
+
+As soon as Sherman discovered that the enemy had left his front
+he directed his reserves, Davis's division of the Army of the
+Cumberland, to push over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the
+Chickamauga, and to move forward to Chickamauga Station.  He
+ordered Howard to move up the stream some two miles to where
+there was an old bridge, repair it during the night, and follow
+Davis at four o'clock in the morning.  Morgan L. Smith was
+ordered to reconnoitre the tunnel to see if that was still
+held.  Nothing was found there but dead bodies of men of both
+armies.  The rest of Sherman's command was directed to follow
+Howard at daylight in the morning to get on to the railroad
+towards Graysville.
+
+Hooker, as stated, was detained at Chattanooga Creek by the
+destruction of the bridge at that point.  He got his troops
+over, with the exception of the artillery, by fording the stream
+at a little after three o'clock.  Leaving his artillery to follow
+when the bridge should be reconstructed, he pushed on with the
+remainder of his command.  At Rossville he came upon the flank
+of a division of the enemy, which soon commenced a retreat along
+the ridge.  This threw them on Palmer.  They could make but
+little resistance in the position they were caught in, and as
+many of them as could do so escaped.  Many, however, were
+captured.  Hooker's position during the night of the 25th was
+near Rossville, extending east of the ridge.  Palmer was on his
+left, on the road to Graysville.
+
+During the night I telegraphed to Willcox that Bragg had been
+defeated, and that immediate relief would be sent to Burnside if
+he could hold out; to Halleck I sent an announcement of our
+victory, and informed him that forces would be sent up the
+valley to relieve Burnside.
+
+Before the battle of Chattanooga opened I had taken measures for
+the relief of Burnside the moment the way should be clear. Thomas
+was directed to have the little steamer that had been built at
+Chattanooga loaded to its capacity with rations and
+ammunition.  Granger's corps was to move by the south bank of
+the Tennessee River to the mouth of the Holston, and up that to
+Knoxville accompanied by the boat.  In addition to the supplies
+transported by boat, the men were to carry forty rounds of
+ammunition in their cartridge-boxes, and four days' rations in
+haversacks.
+
+In the battle of Chattanooga, troops from the Army of the
+Potomac, from the Army of the Tennessee, and from the Army of
+the Cumberland participated.  In fact, the accidents growing out
+of the heavy rains and the sudden rise in the Tennessee River so
+mingled the troops that the organizations were not kept
+together, under their respective commanders, during the
+battle.  Hooker, on the right, had Geary's division of the 12th
+corps, Army of the Potomac; Osterhaus's division of the 15th
+corps, Army of the Tennessee; and Cruft's division of the Army
+of the Cumberland.  Sherman had three divisions of his own army,
+Howard's corps from the Army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C.
+Davis's division of the Army of the Cumberland.  There was no
+jealousy--hardly rivalry.  Indeed, I doubt whether officers or
+men took any note at the time of the fact of this intermingling
+of commands.  All saw a defiant foe surrounding them, and took
+it for granted that every move was intended to dislodge him, and
+it made no difference where the troops came from so that the end
+was accomplished.
+
+The victory at Chattanooga was won against great odds,
+considering the advantage the enemy had of position, and was
+accomplished more easily than was expected by reason of Bragg's
+making several grave mistakes:  first, in sending away his
+ablest corps commander with over twenty thousand troops; second,
+in sending away a division of troops on the eve of battle; third,
+in placing so much of a force on the plain in front of his
+impregnable position.
+
+It was known that Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Bragg on
+Missionary Ridge a short time before my reaching Chattanooga. It
+was reported and believed that he had come out to reconcile a
+serious difference between Bragg and Longstreet, and finding
+this difficult to do, planned the campaign against Knoxville, to
+be conducted by the latter general.  I had known both Bragg and
+Longstreet before the war, the latter very well.  We had been
+three years at West Point together, and, after my graduation,
+for a time in the same regiment.  Then we served together in the
+Mexican War.  I had known Bragg in Mexico, and met him
+occasionally subsequently.  I could well understand how there
+might be an irreconcilable difference between them.
+
+Bragg was a remarkably intelligent and well-informed man,
+professionally and otherwise.  He was also thoroughly upright.
+But he was possessed of an irascible temper, and was naturally
+disputatious.  A man of the highest moral character and the most
+correct habits, yet in the old army he was in frequent trouble.
+As a subordinate he was always on the lookout to catch his
+commanding officer infringing his prerogatives; as a post
+commander he was equally vigilant to detect the slightest
+neglect, even of the most trivial order.
+
+I have heard in the old army an anecdote very characteristic of
+Bragg.  On one occasion, when stationed at a post of several
+companies commanded by a field officer, he was himself
+commanding one of the companies and at the same time acting as
+post quartermaster and commissary.  He was first lieutenant at
+the time, but his captain was detached on other duty.  As
+commander of the company he made a requisition upon the
+quartermaster--himself--for something he wanted.  As
+quartermaster he declined to fill the requisition, and endorsed
+on the back of it his reasons for so doing.  As company
+commander he responded to this, urging that his requisition
+called for nothing but what he was entitled to, and that it was
+the duty of the quartermaster to fill it.  As quartermaster he
+still persisted that he was right.  In this condition of affairs
+Bragg referred the whole matter to the commanding officer of the
+post.  The latter, when he saw the nature of the matter
+referred, exclaimed:  "My God, Mr. Bragg, you have quarrelled
+with every officer in the army, and now you are quarrelling with
+yourself!"
+
+Longstreet was an entirely different man.  He was brave, honest,
+intelligent, a very capable soldier, subordinate to his
+superiors, just and kind to his subordinates, but jealous of his
+own rights, which he had the courage to maintain.  He was never
+on the lookout to detect a slight, but saw one as soon as
+anybody when intentionally given.
+
+It may be that Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for the
+reason stated, but because Mr. Davis had an exalted opinion of
+his own military genius, and thought he saw a chance of "killing
+two birds with one stone."  On several occasions during the war
+he came to the relief of the Union army by means of his SUPERIOR
+MILITARY GENIUS.
+
+I speak advisedly when I saw Mr. Davis prided himself on his
+military capacity.  He says so himself, virtually, in his answer
+to the notice of his nomination to the Confederate presidency.
+Some of his generals have said so in their writings since the
+downfall of the Confederacy.
+
+My recollection is that my first orders for the battle of
+Chattanooga were as fought.  Sherman was to get on Missionary
+Ridge, as he did; Hooker to cross the north end of Lookout
+Mountain, as he did, sweep across Chattanooga Valley and get
+across the south end of the ridge near Rossville.  When Hooker
+had secured that position the Army of the Cumberland was to
+assault in the centre.  Before Sherman arrived, however, the
+order was so changed as that Hooker was directed to come to
+Chattanooga by the north bank of the Tennessee River.  The
+waters in the river, owing to heavy rains, rose so fast that the
+bridge at Brown's Ferry could not be maintained in a condition to
+be used in crossing troops upon it.  For this reason Hooker's
+orders were changed by telegraph back to what they were
+originally.
+_____
+
+NOTE.--From this point on this volume was written (with the
+exception of the campaign in the Wilderness, which had been
+previously written) by General Grant, after his great illness in
+April, and the present arrangement of the subject-matter was made
+by him between the 10th and 18th of July, 1885.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE
+--VISITING KNOXVILLE-CIPHER CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+Chattanooga now being secure to the National troops beyond any
+doubt, I immediately turned my attention to relieving Knoxville,
+about the situation of which the President, in particular, was
+very anxious.  Prior to the battles, I had made preparations for
+sending troops to the relief of Burnside at the very earliest
+moment after securing Chattanooga. We had there two little
+steamers which had been built and fitted up from the remains of
+old boats and put in condition to run.  General Thomas was
+directed to have one of these boats loaded with rations and
+ammunition and move up the Tennessee River to the mouth of the
+Holston, keeping the boat all the time abreast of the troops.
+General Granger, with the 4th corps reinforced to make twenty
+thousand men, was to start the moment Missionary Ridge was
+carried, and under no circumstances were the troops to return to
+their old camps.  With the provisions carried, and the little
+that could be got in the country, it was supposed he could hold
+out until Longstreet was driven away, after which event East
+Tennessee would furnish abundance of food for Burnside's army
+and his own also.
+
+While following the enemy on the 26th, and again on the morning
+of the 27th, part of the time by the road to Ringgold, I
+directed Thomas, verbally, not to start Granger until he
+received further orders from me; advising him that I was going
+to the front to more fully see the situation.  I was not right
+sure but that Bragg's troops might be over their stampede by the
+time they reached Dalton.  In that case Bragg might think it well
+to take the road back to Cleveland, move thence towards
+Knoxville, and, uniting with Longstreet, make a sudden dash upon
+Burnside.
+
+When I arrived at Ringgold, however, on the 27th, I saw that the
+retreat was most earnest.  The enemy had been throwing away guns,
+caissons and small-arms, abandoning provisions, and, altogether,
+seemed to be moving like a disorganized mob, with the exception
+of Cleburne's division, which was acting as rear-guard to cover
+the retreat.
+
+When Hooker moved from Rossville toward Ringgold Palmer's
+division took the road to Graysville, and Sherman moved by the
+way of Chickamauga Station toward the same point.  As soon as I
+saw the situation at Ringgold I sent a staff officer back to
+Chattanooga to advise Thomas of the condition of affairs, and
+direct him by my orders to start Granger at once.  Feeling now
+that the troops were already on the march for the relief of
+Burnside I was in no hurry to get back, but stayed at Ringgold
+through the day to prepare for the return of our troops.
+
+Ringgold is in a valley in the mountains, situated between East
+Chickamauga Creek and Taylor's Ridge, and about twenty miles
+south-east from Chattanooga. I arrived just as the artillery
+that Hooker had left behind at Chattanooga Creek got up.  His
+men were attacking Cleburne's division, which had taken a strong
+position in the adjacent hills so as to cover the retreat of the
+Confederate army through a narrow gorge which presents itself at
+that point.  Just beyond the gorge the valley is narrow, and the
+creek so tortuous that it has to be crossed a great many times
+in the course of the first mile.  This attack was unfortunate,
+and cost us some men unnecessarily.  Hooker captured, however, 3
+pieces of artillery and 230 prisoners, and 130 rebel dead were
+left upon the field.
+
+I directed General Hooker to collect the flour and wheat in the
+neighboring mills for the use of the troops, and then to destroy
+the mills and all other property that could be of use to the
+enemy, but not to make any wanton destruction.
+
+At this point Sherman came up, having reached Graysville with
+his troops, where he found Palmer had preceded him.  Palmer had
+picked up many prisoners and much abandoned property on the
+route.  I went back in the evening to Graysville with Sherman,
+remained there over night and did not return to Chattanooga
+until the following night, the 29th.  I then found that Thomas
+had not yet started Granger, thus having lost a full day which I
+deemed of so much importance in determining the fate of
+Knoxville.  Thomas and Granger were aware that on the 23d of the
+month Burnside had telegraphed that his supplies would last for
+ten or twelve days and during that time he could hold out
+against Longstreet, but if not relieved within the time
+indicated he would be obliged to surrender or attempt to
+retreat.  To effect a retreat would have been an
+impossibility.  He was already very low in ammunition, and with
+an army pursuing he would not have been able to gather supplies.
+
+Finding that Granger had not only not started but was very
+reluctant to go, he having decided for himself that it was a
+very bad move to make, I sent word to General Sherman of the
+situation and directed him to march to the relief of
+Knoxville.  I also gave him the problem that we had to
+solve--that Burnside had now but four to six days supplies left,
+and that he must be relieved within that time.
+
+Sherman, fortunately, had not started on his return from
+Graysville, having sent out detachments on the railroad which
+runs from Dalton to Cleveland and Knoxville to thoroughly
+destroy that road, and these troops had not yet returned to
+camp.  I was very loath to send Sherman, because his men needed
+rest after their long march from Memphis and hard fighting at
+Chattanooga. But I had become satisfied that Burnside would not
+be rescued if his relief depended upon General Granger's
+movements.
+
+Sherman had left his camp on the north side of the Tennessee
+River, near Chattanooga, on the night of the 23d, the men having
+two days' cooked rations in their haversacks.  Expecting to be
+back in their tents by that time and to be engaged in battle
+while out, they took with them neither overcoats nor blankets.
+The weather was already cold, and at night they must have
+suffered more or less.  The two days' rations had already lasted
+them five days; and they were now to go through a country which
+had been run over so much by Confederate troops that there was
+but little probability of finding much food.  They did, however,
+succeed in capturing some flour.  They also found a good deal of
+bran in some of the mills, which the men made up into bread; and
+in this and other ways they eked out an existence until they
+could reach Knoxville.
+
+I was so very anxious that Burnside should get news of the steps
+being taken for his relief, and thus induce him to hold out a
+little longer if it became necessary, that I determined to send
+a message to him.  I therefore sent a member of my staff,
+Colonel J. H. Wilson, to get into Knoxville if he could report
+to Burnside the situation fully, and give him all the
+encouragement possible.  Mr. Charles A. Dana was at Chattanooga
+during the battle, and had been there even before I assumed
+command.  Mr. Dana volunteered to accompany Colonel Wilson, and
+did accompany him.  I put the information of what was being done
+for the relief of Knoxville into writing, and directed that in
+some way or other it must be secretly managed so as to have a
+copy of this fall into the hands of General Longstreet.  They
+made the trip safely; General Longstreet did learn of Sherman's
+coming in advance of his reaching there, and Burnside was
+prepared to hold out even for a longer time if it had been
+necessary.
+
+Burnside had stretched a boom across the Holston River to catch
+scows and flats as they floated down.  On these, by previous
+arrangements with the loyal people of East Tennessee, were
+placed flour and corn, with forage and provisions generally, and
+were thus secured for the use of the Union troops.  They also
+drove cattle into Knoxville by the east side, which was not
+covered by the enemy; so that when relief arrived Burnside had
+more provisions on hand than when he had last reported.
+
+Our total loss (not including Burnside's) in all these
+engagements amounted to 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330
+missing.  We captured 6,142 prisoners--about 50 per cent. more
+than the enemy reported for their total loss--40 pieces of
+artillery, 69 artillery carriages and caissons and over 7,000
+stands of small-arms.  The enemy's loss in arms was probably
+much greater than here reported, because we picked up a great
+many that were found abandoned.
+
+I had at Chattanooga, in round numbers, about 60,000 men.  Bragg
+had about half this number, but his position was supposed to be
+impregnable.  It was his own fault that he did not have more men
+present.  He had sent Longstreet away with his corps swelled by
+reinforcements up to over twenty thousand men, thus reducing his
+own force more than one-third and depriving himself of the
+presence of the ablest general of his command.  He did this,
+too, after our troops had opened a line of communication by way
+of Brown's and Kelly's ferries with Bridgeport, thus securing
+full rations and supplies of every kind; and also when he knew
+reinforcements were coming to me.  Knoxville was of no earthly
+use to him while Chattanooga was in our hands.  If he should
+capture Chattanooga, Knoxville with its garrison would have
+fallen into his hands without a struggle.  I have never been
+able to see the wisdom of this move.
+
+Then, too, after Sherman had arrived, and when Bragg knew that
+he was on the north side of the Tennessee River, he sent
+Buckner's division to reinforce Longstreet.  He also started
+another division a day later, but our attack having commenced
+before it reached Knoxville Bragg ordered it back.  It had got
+so far, however, that it could not return to Chattanooga in time
+to be of service there.  It is possible this latter blunder may
+have been made by Bragg having become confused as to what was
+going on on our side.  Sherman had, as already stated, crossed
+to the north side of the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, in
+full view of Bragg's troops from Lookout Mountain, a few days
+before the attack.  They then disappeared behind foot hills, and
+did not come to the view of the troops on Missionary Ridge until
+they met their assault.  Bragg knew it was Sherman's troops that
+had crossed, and, they being so long out of view, may have
+supposed that they had gone up the north bank of the Tennessee
+River to the relief of Knoxville and that Longstreet was
+therefore in danger.  But the first great blunder, detaching
+Longstreet, cannot be accounted for in any way I know of.  If he
+had captured Chattanooga, East Tennessee would have fallen
+without a struggle.  It would have been a victory for us to have
+got our army away from Chattanooga safely.  It was a manifold
+greater victory to drive away the besieging army; a still
+greater one to defeat that army in his chosen ground and nearly
+annihilate it.
+
+The probabilities are that our loss in killed was the heavier,
+as we were the attacking party.  The enemy reported his loss in
+killed at 361:  but as he reported his missing at 4,146, while
+we held over 6,000 of them as prisoners, and there must have
+been hundreds if not thousands who deserted, but little reliance
+can be placed on this report.  There was certainly great
+dissatisfaction with Bragg on the part of the soldiers for his
+harsh treatment of them, and a disposition to get away if they
+could.  Then, too, Chattanooga, following in the same half year
+with Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West, there was
+much the same feeling in the South at this time that there had
+been in the North the fall and winter before.  If the same
+license had been allowed the people and press in the South that
+was allowed in the North, Chattanooga would probably have been
+the last battle fought for the preservation of the Union.
+
+General William F. Smith's services in these battles had been
+such that I thought him eminently entitled to promotion.  I was
+aware that he had previously been named by the President for
+promotion to the grade of major-general, but that the Senate had
+rejected the nomination.  I was not aware of the reasons for this
+course, and therefore strongly recommended him for a
+major-generalcy.  My recommendation was heeded and the
+appointment made.
+
+Upon the raising of the siege of Knoxville I, of course,
+informed the authorities at Washington--the President and
+Secretary of War--of the fact, which caused great rejoicing
+there.  The President especially was rejoiced that Knoxville had
+been relieved (*18) without further bloodshed.  The safety of
+Burnside's army and the loyal people of East Tennessee had been
+the subject of much anxiety to the President for several months,
+during which time he was doing all he could to relieve the
+situation; sending a new commander (*19) with a few thousand
+troops by the way of Cumberland Gap, and telegraphing me daily,
+almost hourly, to "remember Burnside," "do something for
+Burnside," and other appeals of like tenor.  He saw no escape
+for East Tennessee until after our victory at Chattanooga. Even
+then he was afraid that Burnside might be out of ammunition, in
+a starving condition, or overpowered:  and his anxiety was still
+intense until he heard that Longstreet had been driven from the
+field.
+
+Burnside followed Longstreet only to Strawberry Plains, some
+twenty miles or more east, and then stopped, believing that
+Longstreet would leave the State.  The latter did not do so,
+however, but stopped only a short distance farther on and
+subsisted his army for the entire winter off East Tennessee.
+Foster now relieved Burnside.  Sherman made disposition of his
+troops along the Tennessee River in accordance with
+instructions.  I left Thomas in command at Chattanooga, and,
+about the 20th of December, moved my headquarters to Nashville,
+Tennessee.
+
+Nashville was the most central point from which to communicate
+with my entire military division, and also with the authorities
+at Washington.  While remaining at Chattanooga I was liable to
+have my telegraphic communications cut so as to throw me out of
+communication with both my command and Washington.
+
+Nothing occurred at Nashville worthy of mention during the
+winter, (*20) so I set myself to the task of having troops in
+positions from which they could move to advantage, and in
+collecting all necessary supplies so as to be ready to claim a
+due share of the enemy's attention upon the appearance of the
+first good weather in the spring.  I expected to retain the
+command I then had, and prepared myself for the campaign against
+Atlanta. I also had great hopes of having a campaign made against
+Mobile from the Gulf.  I expected after Atlanta fell to occupy
+that place permanently, and to cut off Lee's army from the West
+by way of the road running through Augusta to Atlanta and thence
+south-west.  I was preparing to hold Atlanta with a small
+garrison, and it was my expectation to push through to Mobile if
+that city was in our possession:  if not, to Savannah; and in
+this manner to get possession of the only east and west railroad
+that would then be left to the enemy.  But the spring campaign
+against Mobile was not made.
+
+The Army of the Ohio had been getting supplies over Cumberland
+Gap until their animals had nearly all starved.  I now
+determined to go myself to see if there was any possible chance
+of using that route in the spring, and if not to abandon it.
+Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter part of December by
+rail for Chattanooga. From Chattanooga I took one of the little
+steamers previously spoken of as having been built there, and,
+putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch
+with the Tennessee.  From that point the railroad had been
+repaired up to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains.  I
+went by rail therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for
+several days.  General John G. Foster was then commanding the
+Department of the Ohio.  It was an intensely cold winter, the
+thermometer being down as low as zero every morning for more
+than a week while I was at Knoxville and on my way from there on
+horseback to Lexington, Kentucky, the first point where I could
+reach rail to carry me back to my headquarters at Nashville.
+
+The road over Cumberland Gap, and back of it, was strewn with
+debris of broken wagons and dead animals, much as I had found it
+on my first trip to Chattanooga over Waldron's Ridge.  The road
+had been cut up to as great a depth as clay could be by mules
+and wagons, and in that condition frozen; so that the ride of
+six days from Strawberry Plains to Lexington over these holes
+and knobs in the road was a very cheerless one, and very
+disagreeable.
+
+I found a great many people at home along that route, both in
+Tennessee and Kentucky, and, almost universally, intensely
+loyal.  They would collect in little places where we would stop
+of evenings, to see me, generally hearing of my approach before
+we arrived.  The people naturally expected to see the commanding
+general the oldest person in the party.  I was then forty-one
+years of age, while my medical director was gray-haired and
+probably twelve or more years my senior.  The crowds would
+generally swarm around him, and thus give me an opportunity of
+quietly dismounting and getting into the house.  It also gave me
+an opportunity of hearing passing remarks from one spectator to
+another about their general.  Those remarks were apt to be more
+complimentary to the cause than to the appearance of the
+supposed general, owing to his being muffled up, and also owing
+to the travel-worn condition we were all in after a hard day's
+ride.  I was back in Nashville by the 13th of January, 1864.
+
+When I started on this trip it was necessary for me to have some
+person along who could turn dispatches into cipher, and who could
+also read the cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive
+daily and almost hourly.  Under the rules of the War Department
+at that time, Mr. Stanton had taken entire control of the matter
+of regulating the telegraph and determining how it should be
+used, and of saying who, and who alone, should have the
+ciphers.  The operators possessed of the ciphers, as well as the
+ciphers used, were practically independent of the commanders whom
+they were serving immediately under, and had to report to the War
+Department through General Stager all the dispatches which they
+received or forwarded.
+
+I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator back at
+Nashville, because that was the point at which all dispatches to
+me would come, to be forwarded from there.  As I have said, it
+was necessary for me also to have an operator during this
+inspection who had possession of this cipher to enable me to
+telegraph to my division and to the War Department without my
+dispatches being read by all the operators along the line of
+wires over which they were transmitted.  Accordingly I ordered
+the cipher operator to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B.
+Comstock, of the Corps of Engineers, whom I had selected as a
+wise and discreet man who certainly could be trusted with the
+cipher if the operator at my headquarters could.
+
+The operator refused point blank to turn over the key to Captain
+Comstock as directed by me, stating that his orders from the War
+Department were not to give it to anybody--the commanding
+general or any one else.  I told him I would see whether he
+would or not.  He said that if he did he would be punished.  I
+told him if he did not he most certainly would be punished.
+Finally, seeing that punishment was certain if he refused longer
+to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even if he was not
+protected altogether from the consequences of his disobedience
+to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.  When I
+returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion.  The operator
+had been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved.  I
+informed the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in
+charge of the telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be
+relieved, for he had only obeyed my orders.  It was absolutely
+necessary for me to have the cipher, and the man would most
+certainly have been punished if he had not delivered it; that
+they would have to punish me if they punished anybody, or words
+to that effect.
+
+This was about the only thing approaching a disagreeable
+difference between the Secretary of War and myself that occurred
+until the war was over, when we had another little spat.  Owing
+to his natural disposition to assume all power and control in
+all matters that he had anything whatever to do with, he boldly
+took command of the armies, and, while issuing no orders on the
+subject, prohibited any order from me going out of the
+adjutant-general's office until he had approved it.  This was
+done by directing the adjutant-general to hold any orders that
+came from me to be issued from the adjutant-general's office
+until he had examined them and given his approval.  He never
+disturbed himself, either, in examining my orders until it was
+entirely convenient for him; so that orders which I had prepared
+would often lie there three or four days before he would sanction
+them.  I remonstrated against this in writing, and the Secretary
+apologetically restored me to my rightful position of
+General-in-Chief of the Army.  But he soon lapsed again and took
+control much as before.
+
+After the relief of Knoxville Sherman had proposed to Burnside
+that he should go with him to drive Longstreet out of Tennessee;
+but Burnside assured him that with the troops which had been
+brought by Granger, and which were to be left, he would be amply
+prepared to dispose of Longstreet without availing himself of
+this offer.  As before stated Sherman's command had left their
+camps north of the Tennessee, near Chattanooga, with two days'
+rations in their haversacks, without coats or blankets, and
+without many wagons, expecting to return to their camps by the
+end of that time.  The weather was now cold and they were
+suffering, but still they were ready to make the further
+sacrifice, had it been required, for the good of the cause which
+had brought them into service.  Sherman, having accomplished the
+object for which he was sent, marched back leisurely to his old
+camp on the Tennessee River.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE
+--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE
+UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
+
+Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to
+distribute his forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north
+to Nashville; Sherman suggested that he be permitted to go back
+to Mississippi, to the limits of his own department and where
+most of his army still remained, for the purpose of clearing out
+what Confederates might still be left on the east bank of the
+Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our boats.  He
+expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the same
+thing on the west shore.  Of course I approved heartily.
+
+About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where
+Hurlbut commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered
+them collected and sent to Vicksburg.  He then went to Vicksburg
+and out to where McPherson was in command, and had him organize
+his surplus troops so as to give him about 20,000 men in all.
+
+Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian
+with his headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a
+considerable force of cavalry scattered west of him.  He
+determined, therefore, to move directly upon Meridian.
+
+I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to
+Sherman's department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman
+got to Memphis.  Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered
+him to reinforce Smith so as to give the latter a force of about
+7,000 with which to go against Forrest, who was then known to be
+south-east from Memphis.  Smith was ordered to move about the
+1st of February.
+
+While Sherman was waiting at Vicksburg for the arrival of
+Hurlbut with his surplus men, he sent out scouts to ascertain
+the position and strength of the enemy and to bring back all the
+information they could gather.  When these scouts returned it was
+through them that he got the information of General Polk's being
+at Meridian, and of the strength and disposition of his command.
+
+Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly
+well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very
+effective.  Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest,
+but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful
+experience such as Forrest's men had had.  The fact is, troops
+who have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their
+victories, improve upon what they were before to an extent that
+can hardly be counted by percentage.  The difference in result
+is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat.  This
+same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are
+officered, and for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest
+had carried on neither army could present a more effective
+officer than he was.
+
+Sherman got off on the 3d of February and moved out on his
+expedition, meeting with no opposition whatever until he crossed
+the Big Black, and with no great deal of opposition after that
+until he reached Jackson, Mississippi.  This latter place he
+reached on the 6th or 7th, Brandon on the 8th, and Morton on the
+9th.  Up to this time he moved in two columns to enable him to
+get a good supply of forage, etc., and expedite the march. Here,
+however, there were indications of the concentration of
+Confederate infantry, and he was obliged to keep his army close
+together.  He had no serious engagement; but he met some of the
+enemy who destroyed a few of his wagons about Decatur,
+Mississippi, where, by the way, Sherman himself came near being
+picked up.
+
+He entered Meridian on the 14th of the month, the enemy having
+retreated toward Demopolis, Alabama. He spent several days in
+Meridian in thoroughly destroying the railroad to the north and
+south, and also for the purpose of hearing from Sooy Smith, who
+he supposed had met Forrest before this time and he hoped had
+gained a decisive victory because of a superiority of numbers.
+Hearing nothing of him, however, he started on his return trip
+to Vicksburg.  There he learned that Smith, while waiting for a
+few of his men who had been ice-bound in the Ohio River, instead
+of getting off on the 1st as expected, had not left until the
+11th.  Smith did meet Forrest, but the result was decidedly in
+Forrest's favor.
+
+Sherman had written a letter to Banks, proposing a co-operative
+movement with him against Shreveport, subject to my approval.  I
+disapproved of Sherman's going himself, because I had other
+important work for him to do, but consented that he might send a
+few troops to the aid of Banks, though their time to remain
+absent must be limited.  We must have them for the spring
+campaign.  The trans-Mississippi movement proved abortive.
+
+My eldest son, who had accompanied me on the Vicksburg campaign
+and siege, had while there contracted disease, which grew worse,
+until he had grown so dangerously ill that on the 24th of January
+I obtained permission to go to St. Louis, where he was staying at
+the time, to see him, hardly expecting to find him alive on my
+arrival.  While I was permitted to go, I was not permitted to
+turn over my command to any one else, but was directed to keep
+the headquarters with me and to communicate regularly with all
+parts of my division and with Washington, just as though I had
+remained at Nashville.
+
+When I obtained this leave I was at Chattanooga, having gone
+there again to make preparations to have the troops of Thomas in
+the southern part of Tennessee co-operate with Sherman's movement
+in Mississippi.  I directed Thomas, and Logan who was at
+Scottsboro, Alabama, to keep up a threatening movement to the
+south against J. E. Johnston, who had again relieved Bragg, for
+the purpose of making him keep as many troops as possible there.
+
+I learned through Confederate sources that Johnston had already
+sent two divisions in the direction of Mobile, presumably to
+operate against Sherman, and two more divisions to Longstreet in
+East Tennessee.  Seeing that Johnston had depleted in this way, I
+directed Thomas to send at least ten thousand men, besides
+Stanley's division which was already to the east, into East
+Tennessee, and notified Schofield, who was now in command in
+East Tennessee, of this movement of troops into his department
+and also of the reinforcements Longstreet had received.  My
+object was to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee as a part
+of the preparations for my spring campaign.
+
+About this time General Foster, who had been in command of the
+Department of the Ohio after Burnside until Schofield relieved
+him (*21), advised me that he thought it would be a good thing
+to keep Longstreet just where he was; that he was perfectly
+quiet in East Tennessee, and if he was forced to leave there,
+his whole well-equipped army would be free to go to any place
+where it could effect the most for their cause.  I thought the
+advice was good, and, adopting that view, countermanded the
+orders for pursuit of Longstreet.
+
+On the 12th of February I ordered Thomas to take Dalton and hold
+it, if possible; and I directed him to move without delay.
+Finding that he had not moved, on the 17th I urged him again to
+start, telling him how important it was, that the object of the
+movement was to co-operate with Sherman, who was moving eastward
+and might be in danger.  Then again on the 21st, he not yet
+having started, I asked him if he could not start the next
+day.  He finally got off on the 22d or 23d.  The enemy fell back
+from his front without a battle, but took a new position quite as
+strong and farther to the rear.  Thomas reported that he could
+not go any farther, because it was impossible with his poor
+teams, nearly starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads
+were repaired.  He soon fell back.
+
+Schofield also had to return for the same reason.  He could not
+carry supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the
+supplies still left in the country.  Longstreet, in his retreat,
+would be moving towards his supplies, while our forces,
+following, would be receding from theirs.  On the 2d of March,
+however, I learned of Sherman's success, which eased my mind
+very much.  The next day, the 3d, I was ordered to Washington.
+
+The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army
+had passed through Congress and became a law on the 26th of
+February.  My nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st
+of March and confirmed the next day (the 2d).  I was ordered to
+Washington on the 3d to receive my commission, and started the
+day following that.  The commission was handed to me on the
+9th.  It was delivered to me at the Executive Mansion by
+President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest son,
+those of my staff who were with me and and a few other visitors.
+
+The President in presenting my commission read from a
+paper--stating, however, as a preliminary, and prior to the
+delivery of it, that he had drawn that up on paper, knowing my
+disinclination to speak in public, and handed me a copy in
+advance so that I might prepare a few lines of reply.  The
+President said:
+
+"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done,
+and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the
+existing great struggle, are now presented, with this commission
+constituting you lieutenant-general in the Army of the United
+States.  With this high honor, devolves upon you, also, a
+corresponding responsibility.  As the country herein trusts you,
+so, under God, it will sustain you.  I scarcely need to add,
+that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty
+personal concurrence."
+
+To this I replied:  "Mr. President, I accept the commission,
+with gratitude for the high honor conferred.  With the aid of
+the noble armies that have fought in so many fields for our
+common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint
+your expectations.  I feel the full weight of the
+responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know that if they
+are met, it will be due to those armies, and above all, to the
+favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."
+
+On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the
+Potomac at Brandy Station; then returned to Washington, and
+pushed west at once to make my arrangements for turning over the
+commands there and giving general directions for the preparations
+to be made for the spring campaign.
+
+It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even
+if I was made lieutenant-general; but when I got to Washington
+and saw the situation it was plain that here was the point for
+the commanding general to be.  No one else could, probably,
+resist the pressure that would be brought to bear upon him to
+desist from his own plans and pursue others.  I determined,
+therefore, before I started back to have Sherman advanced to my
+late position, McPherson to Sherman's in command of the
+department, and Logan to the command of McPherson's corps. These
+changes were all made on my recommendation and without
+hesitation.  My commission as lieutenant-general was given to me
+on the 9th of March, 1864.  On the following day, as already
+stated, I visited General Meade, commanding the Army of the
+Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy Station, north of the
+Rapidan.  I had known General Meade slightly in the Mexican war,
+but had not met him since until this visit.  I was a stranger to
+most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except the
+officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican
+war.  There had been some changes ordered in the organization of
+that army before my promotion.  One was the consolidation of five
+corps into three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of
+important commands.  Meade evidently thought that I might want
+to make still one more change not yet ordered.  He said to me
+that I might want an officer who had served with me in the West,
+mentioning Sherman specially, to take his place.  If so, he
+begged me not to hesitate about making the change.  He urged
+that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole
+nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand
+in the way of selecting the right men for all positions.  For
+himself, he would serve to the best of his ability wherever
+placed.  I assured him that I had no thought of substituting any
+one for him.  As to Sherman, he could not be spared from the
+West.
+
+This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade
+than did his great victory at Gettysburg the July before.  It is
+men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we
+may always expect the most efficient service.
+
+Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to
+him.  He was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous
+to my taking command of all the armies, was in supreme command
+of the Army of the Potomac--except from the authorities at
+Washington.  All other general officers occupying similar
+positions were independent in their commands so far as any one
+present with them was concerned.  I tried to make General
+Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been
+if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his
+command.  I therefore gave all orders for the movements of the
+Army of the Potomac to Meade to have them executed.  To avoid
+the necessity of having to give orders direct, I established my
+headquarters near his, unless there were reasons for locating
+them elsewhere.  This sometimes happened, and I had on occasions
+to give orders direct to the troops affected.  On the 11th I
+returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were
+published by the War Department placing me in command of all the
+armies.  I had left Washington the night before to return to my
+old command in the West and to meet Sherman whom I had
+telegraphed to join me in Nashville.
+
+Sherman assumed command of the military division of the
+Mississippi on the 18th of March, and we left Nashville together
+for Cincinnati.  I had Sherman accompany me that far on my way
+back to Washington so that we could talk over the matters about
+which I wanted to see him, without losing any more time from my
+new command than was necessary.  The first point which I wished
+to discuss was particularly about the co-operation of his
+command with mine when the spring campaign should commence.
+There were also other and minor points, minor as compared with
+the great importance of the question to be decided by sanguinary
+war--the restoration to duty of officers who had been relieved
+from important commands, namely McClellan, Burnside and Fremont
+in the East, and Buell, McCook, Negley and Crittenden in the
+West.
+
+Some time in the winter of 1863-64 I had been invited by the
+general-in-chief to give my views of the campaign I thought
+advisable for the command under me--now Sherman's.  General J.
+E. Johnston was defending Atlanta and the interior of Georgia
+with an army, the largest part of which was stationed at Dalton,
+about 38 miles south of Chattanooga. Dalton is at the junction of
+the railroad from Cleveland with the one from Chattanooga to
+Atlanta.
+
+There could have been no difference of opinion as to the first
+duty of the armies of the military division of the
+Mississippi.  Johnston's army was the first objective, and that
+important railroad centre, Atlanta, the second.  At the time I
+wrote General Halleck giving my views of the approaching
+campaign, and at the time I met General Sherman, it was expected
+that General Banks would be through with the campaign which he
+had been ordered upon before my appointment to the command of
+all the armies, and would be ready to co-operate with the armies
+east of the Mississippi, his part in the programme being to move
+upon Mobile by land while the navy would close the harbor and
+assist to the best of its ability. (*22) The plan therefore was
+for Sherman to attack Johnston and destroy his army if possible,
+to capture Atlanta and hold it, and with his troops and those of
+Banks to hold a line through to Mobile, or at least to hold
+Atlanta and command the railroad running east and west, and the
+troops from one or other of the armies to hold important points
+on the southern road, the only east and west road that would be
+left in the possession of the enemy.  This would cut the
+Confederacy in two again, as our gaining possession of the
+Mississippi River had done before.  Banks was not ready in time
+for the part assigned to him, and circumstances that could not
+be foreseen determined the campaign which was afterwards made,
+the success and grandeur of which has resounded throughout all
+lands.
+
+In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from
+important commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after
+those who had been removed in the West while I looked out for
+the rest.  I directed, however, that he should make no
+assignment until I could speak to the Secretary of War about the
+matter.  I shortly after recommended to the Secretary the
+assignment of General Buell to duty.  I received the assurance
+that duty would be offered to him; and afterwards the Secretary
+told me that he had offered Buell an assignment and that the
+latter had declined it, saying that it would be degradation to
+accept the assignment offered.  I understood afterwards that he
+refused to serve under either Sherman or Canby because he had
+ranked them both.  Both graduated before him and ranked him in
+the old army.  Sherman ranked him as a brigadier-general.  All
+of them ranked me in the old army, and Sherman and Buell did as
+brigadiers.  The worse excuse a soldier can make for declining
+service is that he once ranked the commander he is ordered to
+report to.
+
+On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th
+took up my headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles
+south of the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.
+
+Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the
+President, I never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital
+to receive my commission as lieutenant-general.  I knew him,
+however, very well and favorably from the accounts given by
+officers under me at the West who had known him all their
+lives.  I had also read the remarkable series of debates between
+Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were rival
+candidates for the United States Senate.  I was then a resident
+of Missouri, and by no means a "Lincoln man" in that contest;
+but I recognized then his great ability.
+
+In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me
+that he had never professed to be a military man or to know how
+campaigns should be conducted, and never wanted to interfere in
+them:  but that procrastination on the part of commanders, and
+the pressure from the people at the North and Congress, WHICH
+WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, forced him into issuing his series of
+"Military Orders"--one, two, three, etc.  He did not know but
+they were all wrong, and did know that some of them were.  All
+he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the
+responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance
+needed, pledging himself to use all the power of the government
+in rendering such assistance.  Assuring him that I would do the
+best I could with the means at hand, and avoid as far as
+possible annoying him or the War Department, our first interview
+ended.
+
+The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I
+knew him better.
+
+While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held
+conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being
+otherwise used.  He and General Halleck both cautioned me against
+giving the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so
+kind-hearted, so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that
+some friend would be sure to get from him all he knew.  I should
+have said that in our interview the President told me he did not
+want to know what I proposed to do.  But he submitted a plan of
+campaign of his own which he wanted me to hear and then do as I
+pleased about.  He brought out a map of Virginia on which he had
+evidently marked every position occupied by the Federal and
+Confederate armies up to that time.  He pointed out on the map
+two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the
+army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of
+these streams.  We would then have the Potomac to bring our
+supplies, and the tributaries would protect our flanks while we
+moved out.  I listened respectfully, but did not suggest that
+the same streams would protect Lee's flanks while he was
+shutting us up.
+
+I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to
+the Secretary of War or to General Halleck.
+
+March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated, at Culpeper, and
+the work of preparing for an early campaign commenced.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+When I assumed command of all the armies the situation was about
+this:  the Mississippi River was guarded from St. Louis to its
+mouth; the line of the Arkansas was held, thus giving us all the
+North-west north of that river.  A few points in Louisiana not
+remote from the river were held by the Federal troops, as was
+also the mouth of the Rio Grande.  East of the Mississippi we
+held substantially all north of the Memphis and Charleston
+Railroad as far east as Chattanooga, thence along the line of
+the Tennessee and Holston rivers, taking in nearly all of the
+State of Tennessee.  West Virginia was in our hands; and that
+part of old Virginia north of the Rapidan and east of the Blue
+Ridge we also held.  On the sea-coast we had Fortress Monroe and
+Norfolk in Virginia; Plymouth, Washington and New Berne in North
+Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris islands, Hilton Head, Port
+Royal and Fort Pulaski in South Carolina and Georgia;
+Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West and Pensacola in Florida.
+The balance of the Southern territory, an empire in extent, was
+still in the hands of the enemy.
+
+Sherman, who had succeeded me in the command of the military
+division of the Mississippi, commanded all the troops in the
+territory west of the Alleghanies and north of Natchez, with a
+large movable force about Chattanooga. His command was
+subdivided into four departments, but the commanders all
+reported to Sherman and were subject to his orders.  This
+arrangement, however, insured the better protection of all lines
+of communication through the acquired territory, for the reason
+that these different department commanders could act promptly in
+case of a sudden or unexpected raid within their respective
+jurisdictions without awaiting the orders of the division
+commander.
+
+In the East the opposing forces stood in substantially the same
+relations towards each other as three years before, or when the
+war began; they were both between the Federal and Confederate
+capitals.  It is true, footholds had been secured by us on the
+sea-coast, in Virginia and North Carolina, but, beyond that, no
+substantial advantage had been gained by either side.  Battles
+had been fought of as great severity as had ever been known in
+war, over ground from the James River and Chickahominy, near
+Richmond, to Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, with
+indecisive results, sometimes favorable to the National army,
+sometimes to the Confederate army; but in every instance, I
+believe, claimed as victories for the South by the Southern
+press if not by the Southern generals.  The Northern press, as a
+whole, did not discourage these claims; a portion of it always
+magnified rebel success and belittled ours, while another
+portion, most sincerely earnest in their desire for the
+preservation of the Union and the overwhelming success of the
+Federal armies, would nevertheless generally express
+dissatisfaction what whatever victories were gained because they
+were not more complete.
+
+That portion of the Army of the Potomac not engaged in guarding
+lines of communication was on the northern bank of the
+Rapidan.  The Army of Northern Virginia confronting it on the
+opposite bank of the same river, was strongly intrenched and
+commanded by the acknowledged ablest general in the Confederate
+army.  The country back to the James River is cut up with many
+streams, generally narrow, deep, and difficult to cross except
+where bridged.  The region is heavily timbered, and the roads
+narrow, and very bad after the least rain.  Such an enemy was
+not, of course, unprepared with adequate fortifications at
+convenient intervals all the way back to Richmond, so that when
+driven from one fortified position they would always have
+another farther to the rear to fall back into.
+
+To provision an army, campaigning against so formidable a foe
+through such a country, from wagons alone seemed almost
+impossible.  System and discipline were both essential to its
+accomplishment.
+
+The Union armies were now divided into nineteen departments,
+though four of them in the West had been concentrated into a
+single military division.  The Army of the Potomac was a
+separate command and had no territorial limits.  There were thus
+seventeen distinct commanders.  Before this time these various
+armies had acted separately and independently of each other,
+giving the enemy an opportunity often of depleting one command,
+not pressed, to reinforce another more actively engaged.  I
+determined to stop this.  To this end I regarded the Army of the
+Potomac as the centre, and all west to Memphis along the line
+described as our position at the time, and north of it, the
+right wing; the Army of the James, under General Butler, as the
+left wing, and all the troops south, as a force in rear of the
+enemy.  Some of these latter were occupying positions from which
+they could not render service proportionate to their numerical
+strength.  All such were depleted to the minimum necessary to
+hold their positions as a guard against blockade runners; where
+they could not do this their positions were abandoned
+altogether.  In this way ten thousand men were added to the Army
+of the James from South Carolina alone, with General Gillmore in
+command.  It was not contemplated that General Gillmore should
+leave his department; but as most of his troops were taken,
+presumably for active service, he asked to accompany them and
+was permitted to do so.  Officers and soldiers on furlough, of
+whom there were many thousands, were ordered to their proper
+commands; concentration was the order of the day, and to have it
+accomplished in time to advance at the earliest moment the roads
+would permit was the problem.
+
+As a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or to act in
+support of it, the 9th army corps, over twenty thousand strong,
+under General Burnside, had been rendezvoused at Annapolis,
+Maryland.  This was an admirable position for such a
+reinforcement.  The corps could be brought at the last moment as
+a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or it could be thrown
+on the sea-coast, south of Norfolk, in Virginia or North
+Carolina, to operate against Richmond from that direction.  In
+fact Burnside and the War Department both thought the 9th corps
+was intended for such an expedition up to the last moment.
+
+My general plan now was to concentrate all the force possible
+against the Confederate armies in the field.  There were but two
+such, as we have seen, east of the Mississippi River and facing
+north.  The Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee
+commanding, was on the south bank of the Rapidan, confronting
+the Army of the Potomac; the second, under General Joseph E.
+Johnston, was at Dalton, Georgia, opposed to Sherman who was
+still at Chattanooga. Beside these main armies the Confederates
+had to guard the Shenandoah Valley, a great storehouse to feed
+their armies from, and their line of communications from
+Richmond to Tennessee.  Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry
+general, was in the West with a large force; making a larger
+command necessary to hold what we had gained in Middle and West
+Tennessee.  We could not abandon any territory north of the line
+held by the enemy because it would lay the Northern States open
+to invasion.  But as the Army of the Potomac was the principal
+garrison for the protection of Washington even while it was
+moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of
+the James, guarded their special trusts when advancing them from
+as well as when remaining at them.  Better indeed, for they
+forced the enemy to guard his own lines and resources at a
+greater distance from ours, and with a greater force.  Little
+expeditions could not so well be sent out to destroy a bridge or
+tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a storehouse, or
+inflict other little annoyances.  Accordingly I arranged for a
+simultaneous movement all along the line.  Sherman was to move
+from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his
+objective points.(*23) Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was
+to move from the mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force
+and some artillery, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to be
+his objective.  Either the enemy would have to keep a large
+force to protect their communications, or see them destroyed and
+a large amount of forage and provision, which they so much
+needed, fall into our hands.  Sigel was in command in the Valley
+of Virginia. He was to advance up the valley, covering the North
+from an invasion through that channel as well while advancing as
+by remaining near Harper's Ferry.  Every mile he advanced also
+gave us possession of stores on which Lee relied.  Butler was to
+advance by the James River, having Richmond and Petersburg as his
+objective.
+
+Before the advance commenced I visited Butler at Fort Monroe.
+This was the first time I had ever met him.  Before giving him
+any order as to the part he was to play in the approaching
+campaign I invited his views.  They were very much such as I
+intended to direct, and as I did direct (*24), in writing,
+before leaving.
+
+General W. F. Smith, who had been promoted to the rank of
+major-general shortly after the battle of Chattanooga on my
+recommendation, had not yet been confirmed.  I found a decided
+prejudice against his confirmation by a majority of the Senate,
+but I insisted that his services had been such that he should be
+rewarded.  My wishes were now reluctantly complied with, and I
+assigned him to the command of one of the corps under General
+Butler.  I was not long in finding out that the objections to
+Smith's promotion were well founded.
+
+In one of my early interviews with the President I expressed my
+dissatisfaction with the little that had been accomplished by
+the cavalry so far in the war, and the belief that it was
+capable of accomplishing much more than it had done if under a
+thorough leader.  I said I wanted the very best man in the army
+for that command.  Halleck was present and spoke up, saying:
+"How would Sheridan do?"  I replied:  "The very man I want." 
+The President said I could have anybody I wanted.  Sheridan was
+telegraphed for that day, and on his arrival was assigned to the
+command of the cavalry corps with the Army of the Potomac.  This
+relieved General Alfred Pleasonton.  It was not a reflection on
+that officer, however, for I did not know but that he had been
+as efficient as any other cavalry commander.
+
+Banks in the Department of the Gulf was ordered to assemble all
+the troops he had at New Orleans in time to join in the general
+move, Mobile to be his objective.
+
+At this time I was not entirely decided as to whether I should
+move the Army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy, or
+by his left.  Each plan presented advantages. (*25)  If by his
+right--my left--the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries
+would furnish us an easy hauling distance of every position the
+army could occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee
+could, if he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a
+line rather interior to the one I would have to take in
+following.  A movement by his left--our right--would obviate
+this; but all that was done would have to be done with the
+supplies and ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting
+this latter plan was abandoned when he limited quantity of
+supplies possible to take with us was considered.  The country
+over which we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or
+forage that we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison consisted of a regiment of
+colored troops, infantry, and a detachment of Tennessee
+cavalry.  These troops fought bravely, but were overpowered.  I
+will leave Forrest in his dispatches to tell what he did with
+them.
+
+"The river was dyed," he says, "with the blood of the
+slaughtered for two hundred yards.  The approximate loss was
+upward of five hundred killed, but few of the officers
+escaping.  My loss was about twenty killed.  It is hoped that
+these facts will demonstrate to the Northern people that negro
+soldiers cannot cope with Southerners."  Subsequently Forrest
+made a report in which he left out the part which shocks
+humanity to read.
+
+At the East, also, the rebels were busy.  I had said to Halleck
+that Plymouth and Washington, North Carolina, were unnecessary
+to hold.  It would be better to have the garrisons engaged there
+added to Butler's command.  If success attended our arms both
+places, and others too, would fall into our hands naturally.
+These places had been occupied by Federal troops before I took
+command of the armies, and I knew that the Executive would be
+reluctant to abandon them, and therefore explained my views; but
+before my views were carried out the rebels captured the garrison
+at Plymouth.  I then ordered the abandonment of Washington, but
+directed the holding of New Berne at all hazards.  This was
+essential because New Berne was a port into which blockade
+runners could enter.
+
+General Banks had gone on an expedition up the Red River long
+before my promotion to general command.  I had opposed the
+movement strenuously, but acquiesced because it was the order of
+my superior at the time.  By direction of Halleck I had
+reinforced Banks with a corps of about ten thousand men from
+Sherman's command.  This reinforcement was wanted back badly
+before the forward movement commenced.  But Banks had got so far
+that it seemed best that he should take Shreveport on the Red
+River, and turn over the line of that river to Steele, who
+commanded in Arkansas, to hold instead of the line of the
+Arkansas.  Orders were given accordingly, and with the
+expectation that the campaign would be ended in time for Banks
+to return A. J. Smith's command to where it belonged and get
+back to New Orleans himself in time to execute his part in the
+general plan.  But the expedition was a failure.  Banks did not
+get back in time to take part in the programme as laid down. Nor
+was Smith returned until long after the movements of May, 1864,
+had been begun.  The services of forty thousand veteran troops,
+over and above the number required to hold all that was
+necessary in the Department of the Gulf, were thus paralyzed. It
+is but just to Banks, however, to say that his expedition was
+ordered from Washington and he was in no way responsible except
+for the conduct of it.  I make no criticism on this point.  He
+opposed the expedition.
+
+By the 27th of April spring had so far advanced as to justify me
+in fixing a day for the great move.  On that day Burnside left
+Annapolis to occupy Meade's position between Bull Run and the
+Rappahannock.  Meade was notified and directed to bring his
+troops forward to his advance.  On the following day Butler was
+notified of my intended advance on the 4th of May, and he was
+directed to move the night of the same day and get as far up the
+James River as possible by daylight, and push on from there to
+accomplish the task given him.  He was also notified that
+reinforcements were being collected in Washington City, which
+would be forwarded to him should the enemy fall back into the
+trenches at Richmond.  The same day Sherman was directed to get
+his forces up ready to advance on the 5th.  Sigel was in
+Winchester and was notified to move in conjunction with the
+others.
+
+The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the
+Rapidan to the James River that all the loss of life could have
+been obviated by moving the army there on transports.  Richmond
+was fortified and intrenched so perfectly that one man inside to
+defend was more than equal to five outside besieging or
+assaulting.  To get possession of Lee's army was the first great
+object.  With the capture of his army Richmond would necessarily
+follow.  It was better to fight him outside of his stronghold
+than in it.  If the Army of the Potomac had been moved bodily to
+the James River by water Lee could have moved a part of his
+forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to
+reinforce it, and with the balance moved on to Washington. Then,
+too, I ordered a move, simultaneous with that of the Army of the
+Potomac, up the James River by a formidable army already
+collected at the mouth of the river.
+
+While my headquarters were at Culpeper, from the 26th of March
+to the 4th of May, I generally visited Washington once a week to
+confer with the Secretary of War and President.  On the last
+occasion, a few days before moving, a circumstance occurred
+which came near postponing my part in the campaign altogether.
+Colonel John S. Mosby had for a long time been commanding a
+partisan corps, or regiment, which operated in the rear of the
+Army of the Potomac.  On my return to the field on this
+occasion, as the train approached Warrenton Junction, a heavy
+cloud of dust was seen to the east of the road as if made by a
+body of cavalry on a charge.  Arriving at the junction the train
+was stopped and inquiries made as to the cause of the dust. There
+was but one man at the station, and he informed us that Mosby had
+crossed a few minutes before at full speed in pursuit of Federal
+cavalry.  Had he seen our train coming, no doubt he would have
+let his prisoners escape to capture the train.  I was on a
+special train, if I remember correctly, without any guard.
+
+Since the close of the war I have come to know Colonel Mosby
+personally, and somewhat intimately.  He is a different man
+entirely from what I had supposed.  He is slender, not tall,
+wiry, and looks as if he could endure any amount of physical
+exercise.  He is able, and thoroughly honest and truthful. There
+were probably but few men in the South who could have commanded
+successfully a separate detachment in the rear of an opposing
+army, and so near the border of hostilities, as long as he did
+without losing his entire command.
+
+On this same visit to Washington I had my last interview with
+the President before reaching the James River.  He had of course
+become acquainted with the fact that a general movement had been
+ordered all along the line, and seemed to think it a new feature
+in war.  I explained to him that it was necessary to have a great
+number of troops to guard and hold the territory we had captured,
+and to prevent incursions into the Northern States.  These troops
+could perform this service just as well by advancing as by
+remaining still; and by advancing they would compel the enemy to
+keep detachments to hold them back, or else lay his own territory
+open to invasion.  His answer was:  "Oh, yes!  I see that.  As we
+say out West, if a man can't skin he must hold a leg while
+somebody else does."
+
+There was a certain incident connected with the Wilderness
+campaign of which it may not be out of place to speak; and to
+avoid a digression further on I will mention it here.
+
+A few days before my departure from Culpeper the Honorable E. B.
+Washburne visited me there, and remained with my headquarters for
+some distance south, through the battle in the Wilderness and, I
+think, to Spottsylvania. He was accompanied by a Mr. Swinton,
+whom he presented as a literary gentleman who wished to
+accompany the army with a view of writing a history of the war
+when it was over.  He assured me--and I have no doubt Swinton
+gave him the assurance--that he was not present as a
+correspondent of the press.  I expressed an entire willingness
+to have him (Swinton) accompany the army, and would have allowed
+him to do so as a correspondent, restricted, however, in the
+character of the information he could give.  We received
+Richmond papers with about as much regularity as if there had
+been no war, and knew that our papers were received with equal
+regularity by the Confederates.  It was desirable, therefore,
+that correspondents should not be privileged spies of the enemy
+within our lines.
+
+Probably Mr. Swinton expected to be an invited guest at my
+headquarters, and was disappointed that he was not asked to
+become so.  At all events he was not invited, and soon I found
+that he was corresponding with some paper (I have now forgotten
+which one), thus violating his word either expressed or
+implied.  He knew of the assurance Washburne had given as to the
+character of his mission.  I never saw the man from the day of
+our introduction to the present that I recollect.  He
+accompanied us, however, for a time at least.
+
+The second night after crossing the Rapidan (the night of the
+5th of May) Colonel W. R. Rowley, of my staff, was acting as
+night officer at my headquarters.  A short time before midnight
+I gave him verbal instructions for the night.  Three days later
+I read in a Richmond paper a verbatim report of these
+instructions.
+
+A few nights still later (after the first, and possibly after
+the second, day's fighting in the Wilderness) General Meade came
+to my tent for consultation, bringing with him some of his staff
+officers.  Both his staff and mine retired to the camp-fire some
+yards in front of the tent, thinking our conversation should be
+private.  There was a stump a little to one side, and between
+the front of the tent and camp-fire.  One of my staff, Colonel
+T. S. Bowers, saw what he took to be a man seated on the ground
+and leaning against the stump, listening to the conversation
+between Meade and myself.  He called the attention of Colonel
+Rowley to it.  The latter immediately took the man by the
+shoulder and asked him, in language more forcible than polite,
+what he was doing there.  The man proved to be Swinton, the
+"historian," and his replies to the question were evasive and
+unsatisfactory, and he was warned against further eaves-dropping.
+
+The next I heard of Mr. Swinton was at Cold Harbor.  General
+Meade came to my headquarters saying that General Burnside had
+arrested Swinton, who at some previous time had given great
+offence, and had ordered him to be shot that afternoon.  I
+promptly ordered the prisoner to be released, but that he must
+be expelled from the lines of the army not to return again on
+pain of punishment.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+The armies were now all ready to move for the accomplishment of
+a single object.  They were acting as a unit so far as such a
+thing was possible over such a vast field.  Lee, with the
+capital of the Confederacy, was the main end to which all were
+working.  Johnston, with Atlanta, was an important obstacle in
+the way of our accomplishing the result aimed at, and was
+therefore almost an independent objective.  It was of less
+importance only because the capture of Johnston and his army
+would not produce so immediate and decisive a result in closing
+the rebellion as would the possession of Richmond, Lee and his
+army.  All other troops were employed exclusively in support of
+these two movements.  This was the plan; and I will now endeavor
+to give, as concisely as I can, the method of its execution,
+outlining first the operations of minor detached but
+co-operative columns.
+
+As stated before, Banks failed to accomplish what he had been
+sent to do on the Red River, and eliminated the use of forty
+thousand veterans whose cooperation in the grand campaign had
+been expected--ten thousand with Sherman and thirty thousand
+against Mobile.
+
+Sigel's record is almost equally brief.  He moved out, it is
+true, according to programme; but just when I was hoping to hear
+of good work being done in the valley I received instead the
+following announcement from Halleck:  "Sigel is in full retreat
+on Strasburg.  He will do nothing but run; never did anything
+else."  The enemy had intercepted him about New Market and
+handled him roughly, leaving him short six guns, and some nine
+hundred men out of his six thousand.
+
+The plan had been for an advance of Sigel's forces in two
+columns.  Though the one under his immediate command failed
+ingloriously the other proved more fortunate.  Under Crook and
+Averell his western column advanced from the Gauley in West
+Virginia at the appointed time, and with more happy results.
+They reached the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin and
+destroyed a depot of supplies, besides tearing up several miles
+of road and burning the bridge over New River.  Having
+accomplished this they recrossed the Alleghanies to Meadow
+Bluffs and there awaited further orders.
+
+Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his command, except the
+cavalry and some artillery which moved up the south bank of the
+James River.  His steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and
+York River as if threatening the rear of Lee's army.  At
+midnight they turned back, and Butler by daylight was far up the
+James River.  He seized City Point and Bermuda Hundred early in
+the day, without loss and, no doubt, very much to the surprise
+of the enemy.
+
+This was the accomplishment of the first step contemplated in my
+instructions to Butler.  He was to act from here, looking to
+Richmond as his objective point.  I had given him to understand
+that I should aim to fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond
+if he would stand; but should Lee fall back into Richmond I
+would follow up and make a junction of the armies of the Potomac
+and the James on the James River.  He was directed to secure a
+footing as far up the south side of the river as he could at as
+early a date as possible.
+
+Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had begun
+intrenching, and on the 7th he sent out his cavalry from Suffolk
+to cut the Weldon Railroad.  He also sent out detachments to
+destroy the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, but no
+great success attended these latter efforts.  He made no great
+effort to establish himself on that road and neglected to attack
+Petersburg, which was almost defenceless.  About the 11th he
+advanced slowly until he reached the works at Drury's Bluff,
+about half way between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond.  In the
+mean time Beauregard had been gathering reinforcements.  On the
+16th he attacked Butler with great vigor, and with such success
+as to limit very materially the further usefulness of the Army
+of the James as a distinct factor in the campaign.  I afterward
+ordered a portion of it to join the Army of the Potomac, leaving
+a sufficient force with Butler to man his works, hold securely
+the footing he had already gained and maintain a threatening
+front toward the rear of the Confederate capital.
+
+The position which General Butler had chosen between the two
+rivers, the James and Appomattox, was one of great natural
+strength, one where a large area of ground might be thoroughly
+inclosed by means of a single intrenched line, and that a very
+short one in comparison with the extent of territory which it
+thoroughly protected.  His right was protected by the James
+River, his left by the Appomattox, and his rear by their
+junction--the two streams uniting near by.  The bends of the two
+streams shortened the line that had been chosen for
+intrenchments, while it increased the area which the line
+inclosed.
+
+Previous to ordering any troops from Butler I sent my chief
+engineer, General Barnard, from the Army of the Potomac to that
+of the James to inspect Butler's position and ascertain whether
+I could again safely make an order for General Butler's movement
+in co-operation with mine, now that I was getting so near
+Richmond; or, if I could not, whether his position was strong
+enough to justify me in withdrawing some of his troops and
+having them brought round by water to White House to join me and
+reinforce the Army of the Potomac.  General Barnard reported the
+position very strong for defensive purposes, and that I could do
+the latter with great security; but that General Butler could not
+move from where he was, in co-operation, to produce any effect.
+He said that the general occupied a place between the James and
+Appomattox rivers which was of great strength, and where with an
+inferior force he could hold it for an indefinite length of time
+against a superior; but that he could do nothing offensively.  I
+then asked him why Butler could not move out from his lines and
+push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to the rear and
+on the south side of Richmond.  He replied that it was
+impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line
+across the neck of land that General Butler had.  He then took
+out his pencil and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that
+the position was like a bottle and that Butler's line of
+intrenchments across the neck represented the cork; that the
+enemy had built an equally strong line immediately in front of
+him across the neck; and it was therefore as if Butler was in a
+bottle.  He was perfectly safe against an attack; but, as
+Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a
+small force could hold the cork in its place.  This struck me as
+being very expressive of his position, particularly when I saw
+the hasty sketch which General Barnard had drawn; and in making
+my subsequent report I used that expression without adding
+quotation marks, never thinking that anything had been said that
+would attract attention--as this did, very much to the annoyance,
+no doubt, of General Butler and, I know, very much to my own.  I
+found afterwards that this was mentioned in the notes of General
+Badeau's book, which, when they were shown to me, I asked to have
+stricken out; yet it was retained there, though against my
+wishes.
+
+I make this statement here because, although I have often made
+it before, it has never been in my power until now to place it
+where it will correct history; and I desire to rectify all
+injustice that I may have done to individuals, particularly to
+officers who were gallantly serving their country during the
+trying period of the war for the preservation of the Union.
+General Butler certainly gave his very earnest support to the
+war; and he gave his own best efforts personally to the
+suppression of the rebellion.
+
+The further operations of the Army of the James can best be
+treated of in connection with those of the Army of the Potomac,
+the two being so intimately associated and connected as to be
+substantially one body in which the individuality of the
+supporting wing is merged.
+
+Before giving the reader a summary of Sherman's great Atlanta
+campaign, which must conclude my description of the various
+co-operative movements preparatory to proceeding with that of
+the operations of the centre, I will briefly mention Sheridan's
+first raid upon Lee's communications which, though an incident
+of the operations on the main line and not specifically marked
+out in the original plan, attained in its brilliant execution
+and results all the proportions of an independent campaign.  By
+thus anticipating, in point of time, I will be able to more
+perfectly observe the continuity of events occurring in my
+immediate front when I shall have undertaken to describe our
+advance from the Rapidan.
+
+On the 8th of May, just after the battle of the Wilderness and
+when we were moving on Spottsylvania I directed Sheridan
+verbally to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac, pass around
+the left of Lee's army and attack his cavalry:  to cut the two
+roads--one running west through Gordonsville, Charlottesville
+and Lynchburg, the other to Richmond, and, when compelled to do
+so for want of forage and rations, to move on to the James River
+and draw these from Butler's supplies.  This move took him past
+the entire rear of Lee's army.  These orders were also given in
+writing through Meade.
+
+The object of this move was three-fold.  First, if successfully
+executed, and it was, he would annoy the enemy by cutting his
+line of supplies and telegraphic communications, and destroy or
+get for his own use supplies in store in the rear and coming
+up.  Second, he would draw the enemy's cavalry after him, and
+thus better protect our flanks, rear and trains than by
+remaining with the army.  Third, his absence would save the
+trains drawing his forage and other supplies from
+Fredericksburg, which had now become our base.  He started at
+daylight the next morning, and accomplished more than was
+expected.  It was sixteen days before he got back to the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+The course Sheridan took was directly to Richmond.  Before night
+Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, came on to the rear
+of his command.  But the advance kept on, crossed the North
+Anna, and at Beaver Dam, a station on the Virginia Central
+Railroad, recaptured four hundred Union prisoners on their way
+to Richmond, destroyed the road and used and destroyed a large
+amount of subsistence and medical stores.
+
+Stuart, seeing that our cavalry was pushing towards Richmond,
+abandoned the pursuit on the morning of the 10th and, by a
+detour and an exhausting march, interposed between Sheridan and
+Richmond at Yellow Tavern, only about six miles north of the
+city.  Sheridan destroyed the railroad and more supplies at
+Ashland, and on the 11th arrived in Stuart's front.  A severe
+engagement ensued in which the losses were heavy on both sides,
+but the rebels were beaten, their leader mortally wounded, and
+some guns and many prisoners were captured.
+
+Sheridan passed through the outer defences of Richmond, and
+could, no doubt, have passed through the inner ones.  But having
+no supports near he could not have remained.  After caring for
+his wounded he struck for the James River below the city, to
+communicate with Butler and to rest his men and horses as well
+as to get food and forage for them.
+
+He moved first between the Chickahominy and the James, but in
+the morning (the 12th) he was stopped by batteries at
+Mechanicsville.  He then turned to cross to the north side of
+the Chickahominy by Meadow Bridge.  He found this barred, and
+the defeated Confederate cavalry, reorganized, occupying the
+opposite side.  The panic created by his first entrance within
+the outer works of Richmond having subsided troops were sent out
+to attack his rear.
+
+He was now in a perilous position, one from which but few
+generals could have extricated themselves.  The defences of
+Richmond, manned, were to the right, the Chickahominy was to the
+left with no bridge remaining and the opposite bank guarded, to
+the rear was a force from Richmond.  This force was attacked and
+beaten by Wilson's and Gregg's divisions, while Sheridan turned
+to the left with the remaining division and hastily built a
+bridge over the Chickahominy under the fire of the enemy, forced
+a crossing and soon dispersed the Confederates he found there.
+The enemy was held back from the stream by the fire of the
+troops not engaged in bridge building.
+
+On the 13th Sheridan was at Bottom's Bridge, over the
+Chickahominy.  On the 14th he crossed this stream and on that
+day went into camp on the James River at Haxall's Landing.  He
+at once put himself into communication with General Butler, who
+directed all the supplies he wanted to be furnished.
+
+Sheridan had left the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, but
+did not know where either this or Lee's army was now.  Great
+caution therefore had to be exercised in getting back.  On the
+17th, after resting his command for three days, he started on
+his return.  He moved by the way of White House.  The bridge
+over the Pamunkey had been burned by the enemy, but a new one
+was speedily improvised and the cavalry crossed over it.  On the
+22d he was at Aylett's on the Matapony, where he learned the
+position of the two armies.  On the 24th he joined us on the
+march from North Anna to Cold Harbor, in the vicinity of
+Chesterfield.
+
+Sheridan in this memorable raid passed entirely around Lee's
+army:  encountered his cavalry in four engagements, and defeated
+them in all; recaptured four hundred Union prisoners and killed
+and captured many of the enemy; destroyed and used many supplies
+and munitions of war; destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph,
+and freed us from annoyance by the cavalry of the enemy for more
+than two weeks.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+After separating from Sherman in Cincinnati I went on to
+Washington, as already stated, while he returned to Nashville to
+assume the duties of his new command.  His military division was
+now composed of four departments and embraced all the territory
+west of the Alleghany Mountains and east of the Mississippi
+River, together with the State of Arkansas in the
+trans-Mississippi.  The most easterly of these was the
+Department of the Ohio, General Schofield commanding; the next
+was the Department of the Cumberland, General Thomas commanding;
+the third the Department of the Tennessee, General McPherson
+commanding; and General Steele still commanded the
+trans-Mississippi, or Department of Arkansas.  The last-named
+department was so far away that Sherman could not communicate
+with it very readily after starting on his spring campaign, and
+it was therefore soon transferred from his military division to
+that of the Gulf, where General Canby, who had relieved General
+Banks, was in command.
+
+The movements of the armies, as I have stated in a former
+chapter, were to be simultaneous, I fixing the day to start when
+the season should be far enough advanced, it was hoped, for the
+roads to be in a condition for the troops to march.
+
+General Sherman at once set himself to work preparing for the
+task which was assigned him to accomplish in the spring
+campaign.  McPherson lay at Huntsville with about twenty-four
+thousand men, guarding those points of Tennessee which were
+regarded as most worth holding; Thomas, with over sixty thousand
+men of the Army of the Cumberland, was at Chattanooga; and
+Schofield, with about fourteen thousand men, was at Knoxville.
+With these three armies, numbering about one hundred thousand
+men in all, Sherman was to move on the day fixed for the general
+advance, with a view of destroying Johnston's army and capturing
+Atlanta. He visited each of these commands to inform himself as
+to their condition, and it was found to be, speaking generally,
+good.
+
+One of the first matters to turn his attention to was that of
+getting, before the time arrived for starting, an accumulation
+of supplies forward to Chattanooga, sufficiently large to
+warrant a movement.  He found, when he got to that place, that
+the trains over the single-track railroad, which was frequently
+interrupted for a day or two at a time, were only sufficient to
+meet the daily wants of the troops without bringing forward any
+surplus of any kind.  He found, however, that trains were being
+used to transport all the beef cattle, horses for the cavalry,
+and even teams that were being brought to the front.  He at once
+changed all this, and required beef cattle, teams, cavalry
+horses, and everything that could travel, even the troops, to be
+marched, and used the road exclusively for transporting
+supplies.  In this way he was able to accumulate an abundance
+before the time finally fixed upon for the move, the 4th of May.
+
+As I have said already, Johnston was at Dalton, which was nearly
+one-fourth of the way between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The
+country is mountainous all the way to Atlanta, abounding in
+mountain streams, some of them of considerable volume.  Dalton
+is on ground where water drains towards Atlanta and into one of
+the main streams rising north-east from there and flowing
+south-west--this being the general direction which all the main
+streams of that section take, with smaller tributaries entering
+into them.  Johnston had been preparing himself for this
+campaign during the entire winter.  The best positions for
+defence had been selected all the way from Dalton back to
+Atlanta, and very strongly intrenched; so that, as he might be
+forced to fall back from one position, he would have another to
+fall into in his rear.  His position at Dalton was so very
+strongly intrenched that no doubt he expected, or at least
+hoped, to hold Sherman there and prevent him from getting any
+further.  With a less skilful general, and one disposed to take
+no risks, I have no doubt that he would have succeeded.
+
+Sherman's plan was to start Schofield, who was farthest back, a
+few days in advance from Knoxville, having him move on the
+direct road to Dalton.  Thomas was to move out to Ringgold.  It
+had been Sherman's intention to cross McPherson over the
+Tennessee River at Huntsville or Decatur, and move him south
+from there so as to have him come into the road running from
+Chattanooga to Atlanta a good distance to the rear of the point
+Johnston was occupying; but when that was contemplated it was
+hoped that McPherson alone would have troops enough to cope with
+Johnston, if the latter should move against him while unsupported
+by the balance of the army.  In this he was disappointed.  Two of
+McPherson's veteran divisions had re-enlisted on the express
+provision that they were to have a furlough.  This furlough had
+not yet expired, and they were not back.
+
+Then, again, Sherman had lent Banks two divisions under A. J.
+Smith, the winter before, to co-operate with the
+trans-Mississippi forces, and this with the express pledge that
+they should be back by a time specified, so as to be prepared
+for this very campaign.  It is hardly necessary to say they were
+not returned.  That department continued to absorb troops to no
+purpose to the end of the war.  This left McPherson so weak that
+the part of the plan above indicated had to be changed.  He was
+therefore brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a
+road to the right of Thomas--the two coming together about
+Dalton.  The three armies were abreast, all ready to start
+promptly on time.
+
+Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it
+was useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even
+to carry it by regular approaches was impracticable.  There was
+a narrowing up in the mountain, between the National and
+Confederate armies, through which a stream, a wagon road and a
+railroad ran.  Besides, the stream had been dammed so that the
+valley was a lake.  Through this gorge the troops would have to
+pass.  McPherson was therefore sent around by the right, to come
+out by the way of Snake Creek Gap into the rear of the enemy.
+This was a surprise to Johnston, and about the 13th he decided
+to abandon his position at Dalton.
+
+On the 15th there was very hard fighting about Resaca; but our
+cavalry having been sent around to the right got near the road
+in the enemy's rear.  Again Johnston fell back, our army
+pursuing.  The pursuit was continued to Kingston, which was
+reached on the 19th with very little fighting, except that
+Newton's division overtook the rear of Johnston's army and
+engaged it.  Sherman was now obliged to halt for the purpose of
+bringing up his railroad trains.  He was depending upon the
+railroad for all of his supplies, and as of course the railroad
+was wholly destroyed as Johnston fell back, it had to be
+rebuilt.  This work was pushed forward night and day, and caused
+much less delay than most persons would naturally expect in a
+mountainous country where there were so many bridges to be
+rebuilt.
+
+The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate
+skill, the enemy being flanked out of one position after another
+all the way there.  It is true this was not accomplished without
+a good deal of fighting--some of it very hard fighting, rising
+to the dignity of very important battles--neither were single
+positions gained in a day.  On the contrary, weeks were spent at
+some; and about Atlanta more than a month was consumed.
+
+It was the 23d of May before the road was finished up to the
+rear of Sherman's army and the pursuit renewed.  This pursuit
+brought him up to the vicinity of Allatoona. This place was very
+strongly intrenched, and naturally a very defensible position. An
+assault upon it was not thought of, but preparations were made to
+flank the enemy out of it.  This was done by sending a large
+force around our right, by the way of Dallas, to reach the rear
+of the enemy.  Before reaching there, however, they found the
+enemy fortified in their way, and there resulted hard fighting
+for about a week at a place called New Hope Church.  On the left
+our troops also were fortified, and as close up to the enemy as
+they could get.  They kept working still farther around to the
+left toward the railroad.  This was the case more particularly
+with the cavalry.  By the 4th of June Johnston found that he was
+being hemmed in so rapidly that he drew off and Allatoona was
+left in our possession.
+
+Allatoona, being an important place, was strongly intrenched for
+occupation by our troops before advancing farther, and made a
+secondary base of supplies.  The railroad was finished up to
+that point, the intrenchments completed, storehouses provided
+for food, and the army got in readiness for a further advance.
+The rains, however, were falling in such torrents that it was
+impossible to move the army by the side roads which they would
+have to move upon in order to turn Johnston out of his new
+position.
+
+While Sherman's army lay here, General F. P. Blair returned to
+it, bringing with him the two divisions of veterans who had been
+on furlough.
+
+Johnston had fallen back to Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain, where
+strong intrenchments awaited him.  At this latter place our
+troops made an assault upon the enemy's lines after having got
+their own lines up close to him, and failed, sustaining
+considerable loss.  But during the progress of the battle
+Schofield was gaining ground to the left; and the cavalry on his
+left were gaining still more toward the enemy's rear.  These
+operations were completed by the 3d of July, when it was found
+that Johnston had evacuated the place.  He was pursued at
+once.  Sherman had made every preparation to abandon the
+railroad, leaving a strong guard in his intrenchments.  He had
+intended, moving out with twenty days' rations and plenty of
+ammunition, to come in on the railroad again at the
+Chattahoochee River.  Johnston frustrated this plan by himself
+starting back as above stated.  This time he fell back to the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+About the 5th of July he was besieged again, Sherman getting
+easy possession of the Chattahoochee River both above and below
+him.  The enemy was again flanked out of his position, or so
+frightened by flanking movements that on the night of the 9th he
+fell back across the river.
+
+Here Johnston made a stand until the 17th, when Sherman's old
+tactics prevailed again and the final movement toward Atlanta
+began.  Johnston was now relieved of the command, and Hood
+superseded him.
+
+Johnston's tactics in this campaign do not seem to have met with
+much favor, either in the eyes of the administration at Richmond,
+or of the people of that section of the South in which he was
+commanding.  The very fact of a change of commanders being
+ordered under such circumstances was an indication of a change
+of policy, and that now they would become the aggressors--the
+very thing our troops wanted.
+
+For my own part, I think that Johnston's tactics were right.
+Anything that could have prolonged the war a year beyond the
+time that it did finally close, would probably have exhausted
+the North to such an extent that they might then have abandoned
+the contest and agreed to a separation.
+
+Atlanta was very strongly intrenched all the way around in a
+circle about a mile and a half outside of the city.  In addition
+to this, there were advanced intrenchments which had to be taken
+before a close siege could be commenced.
+
+Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy
+was about to assume the offensive.  On the 20th he came out and
+attacked the Army of the Cumberland most furiously.  Hooker's
+corps, and Newton's and Johnson's divisions were the principal
+ones engaged in this contest, which lasted more than an hour;
+but the Confederates were then forced to fall back inside their
+main lines.  The losses were quite heavy on both sides.  On this
+day General Gresham, since our Postmaster-General, was very badly
+wounded.  During the night Hood abandoned his outer lines, and
+our troops were advanced.  The investment had not been
+relinquished for a moment during the day.
+
+During the night of the 21st Hood moved out again, passing by
+our left flank, which was then in motion to get a position
+farther in rear of him, and a desperate battle ensued, which
+lasted most of the day of the 22d.  At first the battle went
+very much in favor of the Confederates, our troops being
+somewhat surprised.  While our troops were advancing they were
+struck in flank, and their flank was enveloped.  But they had
+become too thorough veterans to be thrown into irreparable
+confusion by an unexpected attack when off their guard, and soon
+they were in order and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now
+of knowing where their antagonist was.  The field of battle
+continued to expand until it embraced about seven miles of
+ground.  Finally, however, and before night, the enemy was
+driven back into the city (*26).
+
+It was during this battle that McPherson, while passing from one
+column to another, was instantly killed.  In his death the army
+lost one of its ablest, purest and best generals.
+
+Garrard had been sent out with his cavalry to get upon the
+railroad east of Atlanta and to cut it in the direction of
+Augusta. He was successful in this, and returned about the time
+of the battle.  Rousseau had also come up from Tennessee with a
+small division of cavalry, having crossed the Tennessee River
+about Decatur and made a raid into Alabama. Finally, when hard
+pressed, he had come in, striking the railroad in rear of
+Sherman, and reported to him about this time.
+
+The battle of the 22d is usually known as the Battle of Atlanta,
+although the city did not fall into our hands until the 2d of
+September.  Preparations went on, as before, to flank the enemy
+out of his position.  The work was tedious, and the lines that
+had to be maintained were very long.  Our troops were gradually
+worked around to the east until they struck the road between
+Decatur and Atlanta. These lines were strongly fortified, as
+were those to the north and west of the city--all as close up to
+the enemy's lines as practicable--in order to hold them with the
+smallest possible number of men, the design being to detach an
+army to move by our right and try to get upon the railroad down
+south of Atlanta.
+
+On the 27th the movement by the right flank commenced.  On the
+28th the enemy struck our right flank, General Logan commanding,
+with great vigor.  Logan intrenched himself hastily, and by that
+means was enabled to resist all assaults and inflict a great
+deal of damage upon the enemy.  These assaults were continued to
+the middle of the afternoon, and resumed once or twice still
+later in the day.  The enemy's losses in these unsuccessful
+assaults were fearful.
+
+During that evening the enemy in Logan's front withdrew into the
+town.  This now left Sherman's army close up to the Confederate
+lines, extending from a point directly east of the city around
+by the north and west of it for a distance of fully ten miles;
+the whole of this line being intrenched, and made stronger every
+day they remained there.
+
+In the latter part of July Sherman sent Stoneman to destroy the
+railroads to the south, about Macon.  He was then to go east
+and, if possible, release our prisoners about Andersonville.
+There were painful stories current at the time about the great
+hardships these prisoners had to endure in the way of general
+bad treatment, in the way in which they were housed, and in the
+way in which they were fed.  Great sympathy was felt for them;
+and it was thought that even if they could be turned loose upon
+the country it would be a great relief to them.  But the attempt
+proved a failure.  McCook, who commanded a small brigade, was
+first reported to have been captured; but he got back, having
+inflicted a good deal of damage upon the enemy.  He had also
+taken some prisoners; but encountering afterwards a largely
+superior force of the enemy he was obliged to drop his prisoners
+and get back as best he could with what men he had left.  He had
+lost several hundred men out of his small command.  On the 4th
+of August Colonel Adams, commanding a little brigade of about a
+thousand men, returned reporting Stoneman and all but himself as
+lost.  I myself had heard around Richmond of the capture of
+Stoneman, and had sent Sherman word, which he received.  The
+rumor was confirmed there, also, from other sources.  A few days
+after Colonel Adams's return Colonel Capron also got in with a
+small detachment and confirmed the report of the capture of
+Stoneman with something less than a thousand men.
+
+It seems that Stoneman, finding the escape of all his force was
+impossible, had made arrangements for the escape of two
+divisions.  He covered the movement of these divisions to the
+rear with a force of about seven hundred men, and at length
+surrendered himself and this detachment to the commanding
+Confederate.  In this raid, however, much damage was inflicted
+upon the enemy by the destruction of cars, locomotives, army
+wagons, manufactories of military supplies, etc.
+
+On the 4th and 5th Sherman endeavored to get upon the railroad
+to our right, where Schofield was in command, but these attempts
+failed utterly.  General Palmer was charged with being the cause
+of this failure, to a great extent, by both General Sherman and
+General Schofield; but I am not prepared to say this, although a
+question seems to have arisen with Palmer as to whether Schofield
+had any right to command him.  If he did raise this question
+while an action was going on, that act alone was exceedingly
+reprehensible.
+
+About the same time Wheeler got upon our railroad north of
+Resaca and destroyed it nearly up to Dalton.  This cut Sherman
+off from communication with the North for several days.  Sherman
+responded to this attack on his lines of communication by
+directing one upon theirs.
+
+Kilpatrick started on the night of the 18th of August to reach
+the Macon road about Jonesboro.  He succeeded in doing so,
+passed entirely around the Confederate lines of Atlanta, and was
+back again in his former position on our left by the 22d.  These
+little affairs, however, contributed but very little to the
+grand result.  They annoyed, it is true, but any damage thus
+done to a railroad by any cavalry expedition is soon repaired.
+
+Sherman made preparations for a repetition of his tactics; that
+is, for a flank movement with as large a force as could be got
+together to some point in the enemy's rear.  Sherman commenced
+this last movement on the 25th of August, and on the 1st of
+September was well up towards the railroad twenty miles south of
+Atlanta.  Here he found Hardee intrenched, ready to meet him.  A
+battle ensued, but he was unable to drive Hardee away before
+night set in.  Under cover of the night, however, Hardee left of
+his own accord.  That night Hood blew up his military works, such
+as he thought would be valuable in our hands, and decamped.
+
+The next morning at daylight General H. W. Slocum, who was
+commanding north of the city, moved in and took possession of
+Atlanta, and notified Sherman.  Sherman then moved deliberately
+back, taking three days to reach the city, and occupied a line
+extending from Decatur on the left to Atlanta in the centre,
+with his troops extending out of the city for some distance to
+the right.
+
+The campaign had lasted about four months, and was one of the
+most memorable in history.  There was but little if anything in
+the whole campaign, now that it is over, to criticise at all,
+and nothing to criticise severely.  It was creditable alike to
+the general who commanded and the army which had executed it.
+Sherman had on this campaign some bright, wide-awake division
+and brigade commanders whose alertness added a host to the
+efficiency of his command.
+
+The troops now went to work to make themselves comfortable, and
+to enjoy a little rest after their arduous campaign.  The city
+of Atlanta was turned into a military base.  The citizens were
+all compelled to leave.  Sherman also very wisely prohibited the
+assembling of the army of sutlers and traders who always follow
+in the wake of an army in the field, if permitted to do so, from
+trading with the citizens and getting the money of the soldiers
+for articles of but little use to them, and for which they are
+made to pay most exorbitant prices.  He limited the number of
+these traders to one for each of his three armies.
+
+The news of Sherman's success reached the North instantaneously,
+and set the country all aglow.  This was the first great
+political campaign for the Republicans in their canvass of
+1864.  It was followed later by Sheridan's campaign in the
+Shenandoah Valley; and these two campaigns probably had more
+effect in settling the election of the following November than
+all the speeches, all the bonfires, and all the parading with
+banners and bands of music in the North.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+Soon after midnight, May 3d-4th, the Army of the Potomac moved
+out from its position north Rapidan, to start upon that
+memorable campaign, destined to result in the capture of the
+Confederate capital and the army defending it.  This was not to
+be accomplished, however, without as desperate fighting as the
+world has ever witnessed; not to be consummated in a day, a
+week, a month, single season.  The losses inflicted, and
+endured, were destined to be severe; but the armies now
+confronting each other had already been in deadly conflict for a
+period of three years, with immense losses in killed, by death
+from sickness, captured and wounded; and neither had made any
+real progress accomplishing the final end.  It is true the
+Confederates had, so far, held their capital, and they claimed
+this to be their sole object.  But previously they had boldly
+proclaimed their intention to capture Philadelphia, New York,
+and the National Capital, and had made several attempts to do
+so, and once or twice had come fearfully near making their boast
+good--too near for complacent contemplation by the loyal North.
+They had also come near losing their own capital on at least one
+occasion.  So here was a stand-off.  The campaign now begun was
+destined to result in heavier losses, to both armies, in a given
+time, than any previously suffered; but the carnage was to be
+limited to a single year, and to accomplish all that had been
+anticipated or desired at the beginning in that time.  We had to
+have hard fighting to achieve this.  The two armies had been
+confronting each other so long, without any decisive result,
+that they hardly knew which could whip.
+
+Ten days' rations, with a supply of forage and ammunition were
+taken in wagons.  Beef cattle were driven with the trains, and
+butchered as wanted.  Three days rations in addition, in
+haversacks, and fifty rounds of cartridges, were carried on the
+person of each soldier.
+
+The country over which the army had to operate, from the Rapidan
+to the crossing of the James River, is rather flat, and is cut by
+numerous streams which make their way to the Chesapeake Bay.  The
+crossings of these streams by the army were generally made not
+far above tide-water, and where formed a considerable obstacle
+to the rapid advance of troops even when the enemy did not
+appear in opposition.  The country roads were narrow and poor. 
+Most of the country is covered with a dense forest, in places,
+like the Wilderness and along the Chickahominy, almost
+impenetrable even for infantry except along the roads.  All
+bridges were naturally destroyed before the National troops came
+to them.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was composed of three infantry and one
+cavalry corps, commanded respectively by Generals W. S. Hancock,
+G. K. Warren, (*27) John Sedgwick and P. H. Sheridan.  The
+artillery was commanded by General Henry J. Hunt.  This arm was
+in such abundance that the fourth of it could not be used to
+advantage in such a country as we were destined to pass
+through.  The surplus was much in the way, taking up as it did
+so much of the narrow and bad roads, and consuming so much of
+the forage and other stores brought up by the trains.
+
+The 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was in advance on the
+right, and marched directly for Germania Ford, preceded by one
+division of cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson.  General
+Sedgwick followed Warren with the 6th corps.  Germania Ford was
+nine or ten miles below the right of Lee's line.  Hancock, with
+the 2d corps, moved by another road, farther cast, directly upon
+Ely's Ford, six miles below Germania, preceded by Gregg's
+division of cavalry, and followed by the artillery.  Torbert's
+division of cavalry was left north of the Rapidan, for the time,
+to picket the river and prevent the enemy from crossing and
+getting into our rear.  The cavalry seized the two crossings
+before daylight, drove the enemy's pickets guarding them away,
+and by six o'clock A.M. had the pontoons laid ready for the
+crossing of the infantry and artillery.  This was undoubtedly a
+surprise to Lee.  The fact that the movement was unopposed
+proves this.
+
+Burnside, with the 9th corps, was left back at Warrenton,
+guarding the railroad from Bull Run forward to preserve control
+of it in case our crossing the Rapidan should be long delayed.
+He was instructed, however, to advance at once on receiving
+notice that the army had crossed; and a dispatch was sent to him
+a little after one P.M. giving the information that our crossing
+had been successful.
+
+The country was heavily wooded at all the points of crossing,
+particularly on the south side of the river.  The battle-field
+from the crossing of the Rapidan until the final movement from
+the Wilderness toward Spottsylvania was of the same character.
+There were some clearings and small farms within what might be
+termed the battle-field; but generally the country was covered
+with a dense forest.  The roads were narrow and bad.  All the
+conditions were favorable for defensive operations.
+
+There are two roads, good for that part of Virginia, running
+from Orange Court House to the battle-field.  The most southerly
+of these roads is known as the Orange Court House Plank Road, the
+northern one as the Orange Turnpike.  There are also roads from
+east of the battle-field running to Spottsylvania Court House,
+one from Chancellorsville, branching at Aldrich's; the western
+branch going by Piney Branch Church, Alsop's, thence by the
+Brock Road to Spottsylvania; the east branch goes by Gates's,
+thence to Spottsylvania.  The Brock Road runs from Germania Ford
+through the battle-field and on to the Court House.  As
+Spottsylvania is approached the country is cut up with numerous
+roads, some going to the town direct, and others crossing so as
+to connect the farms with roads going there.
+
+Lee's headquarters were at Orange Court House.  From there to
+Fredericksburg he had the use of the two roads above described
+running nearly parallel to the Wilderness.  This gave him
+unusual facilities, for that country, for concentrating his
+forces to his right.  These roads strike the road from Germania
+Ford in the Wilderness.
+
+As soon as the crossing of the infantry was assured, the cavalry
+pushed forward, Wilson's division by Wilderness Tavern to
+Parker's store, on the Orange Plank Road; Gregg to the left
+towards Chancellorsville.  Warren followed Wilson and reached
+the Wilderness Tavern by noon, took position there and
+intrenched.  Sedgwick followed Warren.  He was across the river
+and in camp on the south bank, on the right of Warren, by
+sundown.  Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved parallel with Warren
+and camped about six miles east of him.  Before night all the
+troops, and by the evening of the 5th the trains of more than
+four thousand wagons, were safely on the south side of the river.
+
+There never was a corps better organized than was the
+quartermaster's corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864. With
+a wagon-train that would have extended from the Rapidan to
+Richmond, stretched along in single file and separated as the
+teams necessarily would be when moving, we could still carry
+only three days' forage and about ten to twelve days' rations,
+besides a supply of ammunition.  To overcome all difficulties,
+the chief quartermaster, General Rufus Ingalls, had marked on
+each wagon the corps badge with the division color and the
+number of the brigade.  At a glance, the particular brigade to
+which any wagon belonged could be told.  The wagons were also
+marked to note the contents:  if ammunition, whether for
+artillery or infantry; if forage, whether grain or hay; if
+rations, whether, bread, pork, beans, rice, sugar, coffee or
+whatever it might be.  Empty wagons were never allowed to follow
+the army or stay in camp.  As soon as a wagon was empty it would
+return to the base of supply for a load of precisely the same
+article that had been taken from it.  Empty trains were obliged
+to leave the road free for loaded ones.  Arriving near the army
+they would be parked in fields nearest to the brigades they
+belonged to.  Issues, except of ammunition, were made at night
+in all cases.  By this system the hauling of forage for the
+supply train was almost wholly dispensed with.  They consumed
+theirs at the depots.
+
+I left Culpeper Court House after all the troops had been put in
+motion, and passing rapidly to the front, crossed the Rapidan in
+advance of Sedgwick's corps; and established headquarters for
+the afternoon and night in a deserted house near the river.
+
+Orders had been given, long before this movement began, to cut
+down the baggage of officers and men to the lowest point
+possible.  Notwithstanding this I saw scattered along the road
+from Culpeper to Germania Ford wagon-loads of new blankets and
+overcoats, thrown away by the troops to lighten their knapsacks;
+an improvidence I had never witnessed before.
+
+Lee, while his pickets and signal corps must have discovered at
+a very early hour on the morning of the 4th of May, that the
+Army of the Potomac was moving, evidently did not learn until
+about one o'clock in the afternoon by what route we would
+confront his army.  This I judge from the fact that at 1.15
+P.M., an hour and a quarter after Warren had reached Old
+Wilderness Tavern, our officers took off rebel signals which,
+when translated, were seen to be an order to his troops to
+occupy their intrenchments at Mine Run.
+
+Here at night dispatches were received announcing that Sherman,
+Butler and Crook had moved according to programme.
+
+On discovering the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Lee
+ordered Hill, Ewell and Longstreet, each commanding corps, to
+move to the right to attack us, Hill on the Orange Plank Road,
+Longstreet to follow on the same road.  Longstreet was at this
+time--middle of the afternoon--at Gordonsville, twenty or more
+miles away.  Ewell was ordered by the Orange Pike.  He was near
+by and arrived some four miles east of Mine Run before
+bivouacking for the night.
+
+My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance
+on the morning of the 5th.  Warren was to move to Parker's
+store, and Wilson's cavalry--then at Parker's store--to move on
+to Craig's meeting-house.  Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in
+on his right.  The Army of the Potomac was facing to the west,
+though our advance was made to the south, except when facing the
+enemy.  Hancock was to move south-westward to join on the left of
+Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church.
+
+At six o'clock, before reaching Parker's store, Warren
+discovered the enemy.  He sent word back to this effect, and was
+ordered to halt and prepare to meet and attack him.  Wright, with
+his division of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered, by any road he
+could find, to join on to Warren's right, and Getty with his
+division, also of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered to move rapidly
+by Warren's rear and get on his left.  This was the speediest
+way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on both
+the Orange plank and turnpike roads.
+
+Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that
+the Army of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan.  By
+making a night march,  although some of his troops had to march
+forty miles to reach the river, he was crossing with the head of
+his column early on the morning of the 5th.  Meade moved his
+headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four miles south of
+the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the road.  I
+remained to hasten Burnside's crossing and to put him in,
+position.  Burnside at this time was not under Meade's command,
+and was his senior in rank.  Getting information of the
+proximity of the enemy, I informed Meade, and without waiting to
+see Burnside, at once moved forward my headquarters to where
+Meade was.
+
+It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take
+the initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his
+intrenchments if we were not intrenched ourselves.  Warren had
+not yet reached the point where he was to halt, when he
+discovered the enemy near by.  Neither party had any advantage
+of position.  Warren was, therefore, ordered to attack as soon
+as he could prepare for it.  At nine o'clock Hancock was ordered
+to come up to the support of Getty.  He himself arrived at
+Getty's front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the
+rear.  Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards
+until relieved.  About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked
+with favorable though not decisive results.  Getty was somewhat
+isolated from Warren and was in a precarious condition for a
+time.  Wilson, with his division of cavalry, was farther south,
+and was cut off from the rest of the army.  At two o'clock
+Hancock's troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered
+to join Getty and attack the enemy.  But the heavy timber and
+narrow roads prevented him from getting into position for attack
+as promptly as he generally did when receiving such orders.  At
+four o'clock he again received his orders to attack, and General
+Getty received orders from Meade a few minutes later to attack
+whether Hancock was ready or not.  He met the enemy under Heth
+within a few hundred yards.
+
+Hancock immediately sent two divisions, commanded by Birney and
+Mott, and later two brigades, Carroll's and Owen's, to the
+support of Getty.  This was timely and saved Getty.  During the
+battle Getty and Carroll were wounded, but remained on the
+field.  One of Birney's most gallant brigade commanders
+--Alexander Hays--was killed.
+
+I had been at West Point with Hays for three years, and had
+served with him through the Mexican war, a portion of the time
+in the same regiment.  He was a most gallant officer, ready to
+lead his command wherever ordered.  With him it was "Come,
+boys," not "Go."
+
+Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the 2d division
+were sent to reinforce Hancock and Getty; but the density of the
+intervening forest was such that, there being no road to march
+upon, they did not get up with the head of column until night,
+and bivouacked where they were without getting into position.
+
+During the afternoon Sheridan sent Gregg's division of cavalry
+to Todd's Tavern in search of Wilson.  This was fortunate.  He
+found Wilson engaged with a superior force under General Rosser,
+supported by infantry, and falling back before it.  Together they
+were strong enough to turn the tables upon the enemy and
+themselves become aggressive.  They soon drove the rebel cavalry
+back beyond Corbin's Bridge.
+
+Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a
+close to it.  Neither side made any special progress.
+
+After the close of the battle of the 5th of May my orders were
+given for the following morning.  We knew Longstreet with 12,000
+men was on his way to join Hill's right, near the Brock Road, and
+might arrive during the night.  I was anxious that the rebels
+should not take the initiative in the morning, and therefore
+ordered Hancock to make an assault at 4.30 o'clock.  Meade asked
+to have the hour changed to six.  Deferring to his wishes as far
+as I was willing, the order was modified and five was fixed as
+the hour to move.
+
+Hancock had now fully one-half of the Army of the Potomac.
+Wadsworth with his division, which had arrived the night before,
+lay in a line perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the
+right of Hancock.  He was directed to move at the same time, and
+to attack Hill's left.
+
+Burnside, who was coming up with two divisions, was directed to
+get in between Warren and Wadsworth, and attack as soon as he
+could get in position to do so.  Sedgwick and Warren were to
+make attacks in their front, to detain as many of the enemy as
+they could and to take advantage of any attempt to reinforce
+Hill from that quarter.  Burnside was ordered if he should
+succeed in breaking the enemy's centre, to swing around to the
+left and envelop the right of Lee's army.  Hancock was informed
+of all the movements ordered.
+
+Burnside had three divisions, but one of them--a colored
+division--was sent to guard the wagon train, and he did not see
+it again until July.
+
+Lee was evidently very anxious that there should be no battle on
+his right until Longstreet got up.  This is evident from the fact
+that notwithstanding the early hour at which I had ordered the
+assault, both for the purpose of being the attacking party and
+to strike before Longstreet got up, Lee was ahead in his assault
+on our right.  His purpose was evident, but he failed.
+
+Hancock was ready to advance by the hour named, but learning in
+time that Longstreet was moving a part of his corps by the
+Catharpin Road, thus threatening his left flank, sent a division
+of infantry, commanded by General Barlow, with all his artillery,
+to cover the approaches by which Longstreet was expected.  This
+disposition was made in time to attack as ordered.  Hancock
+moved by the left of the Orange Plank Road, and Wadsworth by the
+right of it. The fighting was desperate for about an hour, when
+the enemy began to break up in great confusion.
+
+I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now,
+that if the country had been such that Hancock and his command
+could have seen the confusion and panic in the lines of the
+enemy, it would have been taken advantage of so effectually that
+Lee would not have made another stand outside of his Richmond
+defences.
+
+Gibbon commanded Hancock's left, and was ordered to attack, but
+was not able to accomplish much.
+
+On the morning of the 6th Sheridan was sent to connect with
+Hancock's left and attack the enemy's cavalry who were trying to
+get on our left and rear.  He met them at the intersection of the
+Furnace and Brock roads and at Todd's Tavern, and defeated them
+at both places.  Later he was attacked, and again the enemy was
+repulsed.
+
+Hancock heard the firing between Sheridan and Stuart, and
+thinking the enemy coming by that road, still further reinforced
+his position guarding the entrance to the Brock Road.  Another
+incident happened during the day to further induce Hancock to
+weaken his attacking column.  Word reached him that troops were
+seen moving towards him from the direction of Todd's Tavern, and
+Brooke's brigade was detached to meet this new enemy; but the
+troops approaching proved to be several hundred convalescents
+coming from Chancellorsville, by the road Hancock had advanced
+upon, to join their respective commands.  At 6.50 o'clock A.M.,
+Burnside, who had passed Wilderness Tavern at six o'clock, was
+ordered to send a division to the support of Hancock, but to
+continue with the remainder of his command in the execution of
+his previous order.  The difficulty of making a way through the
+dense forests prevented Burnside from getting up in time to be
+of any service on the forenoon of the sixth.
+
+Hancock followed Hill's retreating forces, in the morning, a
+mile or more.  He maintained this position until, along in the
+afternoon, Longstreet came upon him.  The retreating column of
+Hill meeting reinforcements that had not yet been engaged,
+became encouraged and returned with them.  They were enabled,
+from the density of the forest, to approach within a few hundred
+yards of our advance before being discovered.  Falling upon a
+brigade of Hancock's corps thrown to the advance, they swept it
+away almost instantly.  The enemy followed up his advantage and
+soon came upon Mott's division, which fell back in great
+confusion.  Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced
+position, but after holding it for a time, fell back into the
+position that he had held in the morning, which was strongly
+intrenched.  In this engagement the intrepid Wadsworth while
+trying to rally his men was mortally wounded and fell into the
+hands of the enemy.  The enemy followed up, but made no
+immediate attack.
+
+The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet
+seriously wounded in this engagement.  Longstreet had to leave
+the field, not to resume command for many weeks.  His loss was a
+severe one to Lee, and compensated in a great measure for the
+mishap, or misapprehensions, which had fallen to our lot during
+the day.
+
+After Longstreet's removal from the field Lee took command of
+his right in person.  He was not able, however, to rally his men
+to attack Hancock's position, and withdrew from our front for the
+purpose of reforming.  Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front
+of all remnants that might be left of Longstreet's or Hill's
+commands.  This brigade having been formed at right angles to
+the intrenchments held by Hancock's command, swept down the
+whole length of them from left to right.  A brigade of the enemy
+was encountered in this move; but it broke and disappeared
+without a contest.
+
+Firing was continued after this, but with less fury.  Burnside
+had not yet been able to get up to render any assistance.  But
+it was now only about nine in the morning, and he was getting
+into position on Hancock's right.
+
+At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left.  His line moved
+up to within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire.
+This status was maintained for about half an hour.  Then a part
+of Mott's division and Ward's brigade of Birney's division gave
+way and retired in disorder.  The enemy under R. H. Anderson
+took advantage of this and pushed through our line, planting
+their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on fire.  But
+owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but
+temporary.  Carroll, of Gibbon's division, moved at a double
+quick with his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting
+great loss.  Fighting had continued from five in the morning
+sometimes along the whole line, at other times only in places.
+The ground fought over had varied in width, but averaged
+three-quarters of a mile.  The killed, and many of the severely
+wounded, of both armies, lay within this belt where it was
+impossible to reach them.  The woods were set on fire by the
+bursting shells, and the conflagration raged.  The wounded who
+had not strength to move themselves were either suffocated or
+burned to death.  Finally the fire communicated with our
+breastworks, in places.  Being constructed of wood, they burned
+with great fury.  But the battle still raged, our men firing
+through the flames until it became too hot to remain longer.
+
+Lee was now in distress.  His men were in confusion, and his
+personal efforts failed to restore order.  These facts, however,
+were learned subsequently, or we would have taken advantage of
+his condition and no doubt gained a decisive success.  His
+troops were withdrawn now, but I revoked the order, which I had
+given previously to this assault, for Hancock to attack, because
+his troops had exhausted their ammunition and did not have time
+to replenish from the train, which was at some distance.
+
+Burnside, Sedgwick, and Warren had all kept up an assault during
+all this time; but their efforts had no other effect than to
+prevent the enemy from reinforcing his right from the troops in
+their front.
+
+I had, on the 5th, ordered all the bridges over the Rapidan to
+be taken up except one at Germania Ford.
+
+The troops on Sedgwick's right had been sent to inforce our
+left.  This left our right in danger of being turned, and us of
+being cut off from all present base of supplies.  Sedgwick had
+refused his right and intrenched it for protection against
+attack.  But late in the afternoon of the 6th Early came out
+from his lines in considerable force and got in upon Sedgwick's
+right, notwithstanding the precautions taken, and created
+considerable confusion.  Early captured several hundred
+prisoners, among them two general officers.  The defence,
+however, was vigorous; and night coming on, the enemy was thrown
+into as much confusion as our troops, engaged, were.  Early says
+in his Memoirs that if we had discovered the confusion in his
+lines we might have brought fresh troops to his great
+discomfort.  Many officers, who had not been attacked by Early,
+continued coming to my headquarters even after Sedgwick had
+rectified his lines a little farther to the rear, with news of
+the disaster, fully impressed with the idea that the enemy was
+pushing on and would soon be upon me.
+
+During the night all of Lee's army withdrew within their
+intrenchments.  On the morning of the 7th General Custer drove
+the enemy's cavalry from Catharpin Furnace to Todd's Tavern.
+Pickets and skirmishers were sent along our entire front to find
+the position of the enemy.  Some went as far as a mile and a half
+before finding him. But Lee showed no disposition to come out of
+his Works.  There was no battle during the day, and but little
+firing except in Warren's front; he being directed about noon to
+make a reconnoissance in force.  This drew some sharp firing, but
+there was no attempt on the part of Lee to drive him back.  This
+ended the Battle of the Wilderness.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent
+than that of the 5th and 6th of May.  Our victory consisted in
+having successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the
+face of an enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit. 
+We gained an advantage on the morning of the 6th, which, if it
+had been followed up, must have proven very decisive.  In the
+evening the enemy gained an advantage; but was speedily
+repulsed.  As we stood at the close, the two armies were
+relatively in about the same condition to meet each other as
+when the river divided them.  But the fact of having safely
+crossed was a victory.
+
+Our losses in the Wilderness were very severe.  Those of the
+Confederates must have been even more so; but I have no means of
+speaking with accuracy upon this point.  The Germania Ford bridge
+was transferred to Ely's Ford to facilitate the transportation of
+the wounded to Washington.
+
+It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things
+connected with all movements of the Army of the Potomac:  first,
+in every change of position or halt for the night, whether
+confronting the enemy or not, the moment arms were stacked the
+men intrenched themselves.  For this purpose they would build up
+piles of logs or rails if they could be found in their front, and
+dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on the timber.  Thus the
+digging they did counted in making a depression to stand in, and
+increased the elevation in front of them.  It was wonderful how
+quickly they could in this way construct defences of
+considerable strength.  When a halt was made with the view of
+assaulting the enemy, or in his presence, these would be
+strengthened or their positions changed under the direction of
+engineer officers.  The second was, the use made of the
+telegraph and signal corps.  Nothing could be more complete than
+the organization and discipline of this body of brave and
+intelligent men.  Insulated wires--insulated so that they would
+transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water--were
+wound upon reels, making about two hundred pounds weight of wire
+to each reel.  Two men and one mule were detailed to each
+reel.  The pack-saddle on which this was carried was provided
+with a rack like a sawbuck placed crosswise of the saddle, and
+raised above it so that the reel, with its wire, would revolve
+freely.  There was a wagon, supplied with a telegraph operator,
+battery and telegraph instruments for each division, each corps,
+each army, and one for my headquarters.  There were wagons also
+loaded with light poles, about the size and length of a wall
+tent pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold
+the wires up when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not
+run over them.  The mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades,
+and always kept with the command they were assigned to.  The
+operators were also assigned to particular headquarters, and
+never changed except by special orders.
+
+The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all
+the men connected with this branch of service would proceed to
+put up their wires.  A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be
+led to the rear of the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged
+to, and would be led in a line parallel thereto, while one man
+would hold an end of the wire and uncoil it as the mule was led
+off.  When he had walked the length of the wire the whole of it
+would be on the ground.  This would be done in rear of every
+brigade at the same time.  The ends of all the wires would then
+be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole
+army.  The men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all
+commence at once raising the wires with their telegraph poles.
+This was done by making a loop in the wire and putting it over
+the spike and raising the pole to a perpendicular position.  At
+intervals the wire would be attached to trees, or some other
+permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient at a place. In
+the absence of such a support two poles would have to be used, at
+intervals, placed at an angle so as to hold the wire firm in its
+place.  While this was being done the telegraph wagons would
+take their positions near where the headquarters they belonged
+to were to be established, and would connect with the wire. 
+Thus, in a few minutes longer time than it took a mule to walk
+the length of its coil, telegraphic communication would be
+effected between all the headquarters of the army.  No orders
+ever had to be given to establish the telegraph.
+
+The signal service was used on the march.  The men composing
+this corps were assigned to specified commands.  When movements
+were made, they would go in advance, or on the flanks, and seize
+upon high points of ground giving a commanding view of the
+country, if cleared, or would climb tall trees on the highest
+points if not cleared, and would denote, by signals, the
+positions of different parts of our own army, and often the
+movements of the enemy.  They would also take off the signals of
+the enemy and transmit them.  It would sometimes take too long a
+time to make translations of intercepted dispatches for us to
+receive any benefit from them.  But sometimes they gave useful
+information.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th I received news from Washington
+announcing that Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day,
+and that Butler had reached City Point safely and taken it by
+surprise on the 5th.  I had given orders for a movement by the
+left flank, fearing that Lee might move rapidly to Richmond to
+crush Butler before I could get there.
+
+My order for this movement was as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Make all preparations during the day for a night march to take
+position at Spottsylvania C. H. with one army corps, at Todd's
+Tavern with one, and another near the intersection of the Piney
+Branch and Spottsylvania road with the road from Alsop's to Old
+Court House.  If this move is made the trains should be thrown
+forward early in the morning to the Ny River.
+
+I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave
+Hancock where he is until Warren passes him.  He could then
+follow and become the right of the new line.  Burnside will move
+to Piney Branch Church.  Sedgwick can move along the pike to
+Chancellorsville and on to his destination.  Burnside will move
+on the plank road to the intersection of it with the Orange and
+Fredericksburg plank road, then follow Sedgwick to his place of
+destination.
+
+All vehicles should be got out of hearing of the enemy before
+the troops move, and then move off quietly.
+
+It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy
+attack on Hancock this afternoon.  In case they do we must be
+prepared to resist them, and follow up any success we may gain,
+with our whole force.  Such a result would necessarily modify
+these instructions.
+
+All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+During the 7th Sheridan had a fight with the rebel cavalry at
+Todd's Tavern, but routed them, thus opening the way for the
+troops that were to go by that route at night.  Soon after dark
+Warren withdrew from the front of the enemy, and was soon
+followed by Sedgwick.  Warren's march carried him immediately
+behind the works where Hancock's command lay on the Brock
+Road.  With my staff and a small escort of cavalry I preceded
+the troops.  Meade with his staff accompanied me.  The greatest
+enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's men as we passed by.  No
+doubt it was inspired by the fact that the movement was south.
+It indicated to them that they had passed through the "beginning
+of the end" in the battle just fought.  The cheering was so lusty
+that the enemy must have taken it for a night attack.  At all
+events it drew from him a furious fusillade of artillery and
+musketry, plainly heard but not felt by us.
+
+Meade and I rode in advance.  We had passed but a little way
+beyond our left when the road forked.  We looked to see, if we
+could, which road Sheridan had taken with his cavalry during the
+day.  It seemed to be the right-hand one, and accordingly we took
+it.  We had not gone far, however, when Colonel C. B. Comstock,
+of my staff, with the instinct of the engineer, suspecting that
+we were on a road that would lead us into the lines of the
+enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a rapid gallop
+and all alone.  In a few minutes he returned and reported that
+Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into
+his lines in a short distance.  We returned to the forks of the
+road, left a man to indicate the right road to the head of
+Warren's column when it should come up, and continued our
+journey to Todd's Tavern, where we arrived after midnight.
+
+My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold:  first, I did
+not want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush
+Butler before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between
+his army and Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into
+the open field.  But Lee, by accident, beat us to
+Spottsylvania.  Our wagon trains had been ordered easterly of
+the roads the troops were to march upon before the movement
+commenced.  Lee interpreted this as a semi-retreat of the Army
+of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his
+government.  Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps--now
+commanded by Anderson--to move in the morning (the 8th) to
+Spottsylvania.  But the woods being still on fire, Anderson
+could not go into bivouac, and marched directly on to his
+destination that night.  By this accident Lee got possession of
+Spottsylvania.  It is impossible to say now what would have been
+the result if Lee's orders had been obeyed as given; but it is
+certain that we would have been in Spottsylvania, and between
+him and his capital.  My belief is that there would have been a
+race between the two armies to see which could reach Richmond
+first, and the Army of the Potomac would have had the shorter
+line.  Thus, twice since crossing the Rapidan we came near
+closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned, from the
+Rapidan to the James River or Richmond.  The first failure was
+caused by our not following up the success gained over Hill's
+corps on the morning of the 6th, as before described:  the
+second, when fires caused by that battle drove Anderson to make
+a march during the night of the 7th-8th which he was ordered to
+commence on the morning of the 8th.  But accident often decides
+the fate of battle.
+
+Sheridan's cavalry had had considerable fighting during the
+afternoon of the 7th, lasting at Todd's Tavern until after
+night, with the field his at the close.  He issued the necessary
+orders for seizing Spottsylvania and holding the bridge over the
+Po River, which Lee's troops would have to cross to get to
+Spottsylvania.  But Meade changed Sheridan's orders to
+Merritt--who was holding the bridge--on his arrival at Todd's
+Tavern, and thereby left the road free for Anderson when he came
+up.  Wilson, who was ordered to seize the town, did so, with his
+division of cavalry; but he could not hold it against the
+Confederate corps which had not been detained at the crossing of
+the Po, as it would have been but for the unfortunate change in
+Merritt's orders.  Had he been permitted to execute the orders
+Sheridan gave him, he would have been guarding with two brigades
+of cavalry the bridge over the Po River which Anderson had to
+cross, and must have detained him long enough to enable Warren
+to reinforce Wilson and hold the town.
+
+Anderson soon intrenched himself--if indeed the intrenchments
+were not already made--immediately across Warren's front. Warren
+was not aware of his presence, but probably supposed it was the
+cavalry which Merritt had engaged earlier in the day. He
+assaulted at once, but was repulsed.  He soon organized his men,
+as they were not pursued by the enemy, and made a second attack,
+this time with his whole corps.  This time he succeeded in
+gaining a position immediately in the enemy's front, where he
+intrenched.  His right and left divisions--the former
+Crawford's, the latter Wadsworth's, now commanded by
+Cutler--drove the enemy back some distance.
+
+At this time my headquarters had been advanced to Piney Branch
+Church.  I was anxious to crush Anderson before Lee could get a
+force to his support.  To this end Sedgwick who was at Piney
+Branch Church, was ordered to Warren's support.  Hancock, who
+was at Todd's Tavern, was notified of Warren's engagement, and
+was directed to be in readiness to come up.  Burnside, who was
+with the wagon trains at Aldrich's on our extreme left, received
+the same instructions.  Sedgwick was slow in getting up for some
+reason--probably unavoidable, because he was never at fault when
+serious work was to be done--so that it was near night before the
+combined forces were ready to attack.  Even then all of
+Sedgwick's command did not get into the engagement.  Warren led
+the last assault, one division at a time, and of course it
+failed.
+
+Warren's difficulty was twofold:  when he received an order to
+do anything, it would at once occur to his mind how all the
+balance of the army should be engaged so as properly to
+co-operate with him.  His ideas were generally good, but he
+would forget that the person giving him orders had thought of
+others at the time he had of him.  In like manner, when he did
+get ready to execute an order, after giving most intelligent
+instructions to division commanders, he would go in with one
+division, holding the others in reserve until he could
+superintend their movements in person also, forgetting that
+division commanders could execute an order without his
+presence.  His difficulty was constitutional and beyond his
+control.  He was an officer of superior ability, quick
+perceptions, and personal courage to accomplish anything that
+could be done with a small command.
+
+Lee had ordered Hill's corps--now commanded by Early--to move by
+the very road we had marched upon.  This shows that even early in
+the morning of the 8th Lee had not yet become acquainted with my
+move, but still thought that the Army of the Potomac had gone to
+Fredericksburg.  Indeed, he informed the authorities at Richmond
+he had possession of Spottsylvania and was on my flank. Anderson
+was in possession of Spottsylvania, through no foresight of Lee,
+however.  Early only found that he had been following us when he
+ran against Hancock at Todd's Tavern.  His coming detained
+Hancock from the battle-field of Spottsylvania for that day; but
+he, in like manner, kept Early back and forced him to move by
+another route.
+
+Had I ordered the movement for the night of the 7th by my left
+flank, it would have put Hancock in the lead.  It would also
+have given us an hour or earlier start.  It took all that time
+for Warren to get the head of his column to the left of Hancock
+after he had got his troops out of their line confronting the
+enemy.  This hour, and Hancock's capacity to use his whole force
+when necessary, would, no doubt, have enabled him to crush
+Anderson before he could be reinforced.  But the movement made
+was tactical.  It kept the troops in mass against a possible
+assault by the enemy.  Our left occupied its intrenchments while
+the two corps to the right passed.  If an attack had been made by
+the enemy he would have found the 2d corps in position,
+fortified, and, practically, the 5th and 6th corps in position
+as reserves, until his entire front was passed.  By a left flank
+movement the army would have been scattered while still passing
+the front of the enemy, and before the extreme right had got by
+it would have been very much exposed.  Then, too, I had not yet
+learned the special qualifications of the different corps
+commanders.  At that time my judgment was that Warren was the
+man I would suggest to succeed Meade should anything happen to
+that gallant soldier to take him from the field.  As I have
+before said, Warren was a gallant soldier, an able man; and he
+was beside thoroughly imbued with the solemnity and importance
+of the duty he had to perform.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+The Mattapony River is formed by the junction of the Mat, the
+Ta, the Po and the Ny rivers, the last being the northernmost of
+the four.  It takes its rise about a mile south and a little east
+of the Wilderness Tavern.  The Po rises south-west of the place,
+but farther away.  Spottsylvania is on the ridge dividing these
+two streams, and where they are but a few miles apart.  The
+Brock Road reaches Spottsylvania without crossing either of
+these streams. Lee's army coming up by the Catharpin Road, had
+to cross the Po at Wooden Bridge.  Warren and Hancock came by
+the Brock Road.  Sedgwick crossed the Ny at Catharpin Furnace.
+Burnside coming by Aldrich's to Gates's house, had to cross the
+Ny near the enemy.  He found pickets at the bridge, but they
+were soon driven off by a brigade of Willcox's division, and the
+stream was crossed.  This brigade was furiously attacked; but the
+remainder of the division coming up, they were enabled to hold
+their position, and soon fortified it.
+
+About the time I received the news of this attack, word came
+from Hancock that Early had left his front.  He had been forced
+over to the Catharpin Road, crossing the Po at Corbin's and
+again at Wooden Bridge.  These are the bridges Sheridan had
+given orders to his cavalry to occupy on the 8th, while one
+division should occupy Spottsylvania.  These movements of the
+enemy gave me the idea that Lee was about to make the attempt to
+get to, or towards, Fredericksburg to cut off my supplies.  I
+made arrangements to attack his right and get between him and
+Richmond if he should try to execute this design.  If he had any
+such intention it was abandoned as soon as Burnside was
+established south of the Ny.
+
+The Po and the Ny are narrow little streams, but deep, with
+abrupt banks, and bordered by heavily wooded and marshy
+bottoms--at the time we were there--and difficult to cross
+except where bridged.  The country about was generally heavily
+timbered, but with occasional clearings.  It was a much better
+country to conduct a defensive campaign in than an offensive one.
+
+By noon of the 9th the position of the two armies was as
+follows:  Lee occupied a semicircle facing north, north-west and
+north-east, inclosing the town.  Anderson was on his left
+extending to the Po, Ewell came next, then Early.  Warren
+occupied our right, covering the Brock and other roads
+converging at Spottsylvania; Sedgwick was to his left and
+Burnside on our extreme left.  Hancock was yet back at Todd's
+Tavern, but as soon as it was known that Early had left
+Hancock's front the latter was ordered up to Warren's right.  He
+formed a line with three divisions on the hill overlooking the Po
+early in the afternoon, and was ordered to cross the Po and get
+on the enemy's flank.  The fourth division of Hancock's corps,
+Mott commanding, was left at Todd's when the corps first came
+up; but in the afternoon it was brought up and placed to the
+left of Sedgwick's--now Wright's--6th corps.  In the morning
+General Sedgwick had been killed near the right of his
+intrenchments by rebel sharpshooters.  His loss was a severe one
+to the Army of the Potomac and to the Nation.  General H. G.
+Wright succeeded him in the command of his corps.
+
+Hancock was now, nine P.M. of the 9th of May, across the left
+flank of Lee's army, but separated from it, and also from the
+remainder of Meade's army, by the Po River.  But for the
+lateness of the, hour and the darkness of the night he would
+have attempted to cross the river again at Wooden Bridge, thus
+bringing himself on the same side with both friend and foe.
+
+The Po at the points where Hancock's corps crossed runs nearly
+due east. just below his lower crossing--the troops crossed at
+three points--it turns due south. and after passing under Wooden
+Bridge soon resumes a more easterly direction.  During the night
+this corps built three bridges over the Po; but these were in
+rear.
+
+The position assumed by Hancock's corps forced Lee to reinforce
+his left during the night.  Accordingly on the morning of the
+10th, when Hancock renewed his effort to get over the Po to his
+front, he found himself confronted by some of Early's command,
+which had been brought from the extreme right of the enemy
+during the night.  He succeeded in effecting a crossing with one
+brigade, however, but finding the enemy intrenched in his front,
+no more were crossed.
+
+Hancock reconnoitred his front on the morning of the 10th, with
+the view of forcing a crossing, if it was found that an
+advantage could be gained.  The enemy was found strongly
+intrenched on the high ground overlooking the river, and
+commanding the Wooden Bridge with artillery.  Anderson's left
+rested on the Po, where it turns south; therefore, for Hancock
+to cross over--although it would bring him to the same side of
+the stream with the rest of the army--would still farther
+isolate him from it.  The stream would have to be crossed twice
+in the face of the enemy to unite with the main body.  The idea
+of crossing was therefore abandoned.
+
+Lee had weakened the other parts of his line to meet this
+movement of Hancock's, and I determined to take advantage of
+it.  Accordingly in the morning, orders were issued for an
+attack in the afternoon on the centre by Warren's and Wright's
+corps, Hancock to command all the attacking force.  Two of his
+divisions were brought to the north side of the Po.  Gibbon was
+placed to the right of Warren, and Birney in his rear as a
+reserve.  Barlow's division was left south of the stream, and
+Mott of the same corps was still to the left of Wright's
+corps.  Burnside was ordered to reconnoitre his front in force,
+and, if an opportunity presented, to attack with vigor.  The
+enemy seeing Barlow's division isolated from the rest of the
+army, came out and attacked with fury.  Barlow repulsed the
+assault with great slaughter, and with considerable loss to
+himself.  But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault.
+Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river
+crossings built by our troops, and covered the crossings.  The
+second assault was repulsed, again with severe loss to the
+enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn without further molestation.
+General T. G. Stevenson was killed in this move.
+
+Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place,
+there was a ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush,
+making it almost impenetrable by man.  The slopes on both sides
+were also covered with a heavy growth of timber.  Warren, before
+noon, reconnoitred his front twice, the first time with one and
+the second with two divisions.  He was repulsed on both
+occasions, but gained such information of the ground as to
+induce him to report recommending the assault.
+
+Wright also reconnoitred his front and gained a considerably
+advanced position from the one he started from.  He then
+organized a storming party, consisting of twelve regiments, and
+assigned Colonel Emory Upton, of the 121st New York Volunteers,
+to the command of it.  About four o'clock in the afternoon the
+assault was ordered, Warren's and Wright's corps, with Mott's
+division of Hancock's corps, to move simultaneously.  The
+movement was prompt, and in a few minutes the fiercest of
+struggles began.  The battle-field was so densely covered with
+forest that but little could be seen, by any one person, as to
+the progress made.  Meade and I occupied the best position we
+could get, in rear of Warren.
+
+Warren was repulsed with heavy loss, General J. C. Rice being
+among the killed.  He was not followed, however, by the enemy,
+and was thereby enabled to reorganize his command as soon as
+covered from the guns of the enemy.  To the left our success was
+decided, but the advantage was lost by the feeble action of
+Mott.  Upton with his assaulting party pushed forward and
+crossed the enemy's intrenchments.  Turning to the right and
+left he captured several guns and some hundreds of prisoners.
+Mott was ordered to his assistance but failed utterly.  So much
+time was lost in trying to get up the troops which were in the
+right position to reinforce, that I ordered Upton to withdraw;
+but the officers and men of his command were so averse to giving
+up the advantage they had gained that I withdrew the order.  To
+relieve them, I ordered a renewal of the assault.  By this time
+Hancock, who had gone with Birney's division to relieve Barlow,
+had returned, bringing the division with him.  His corps was now
+joined with Warren's and Wright's in this last assault.  It was
+gallantly made, many men getting up to, and over, the works of
+the enemy; but they were not able to hold them.  At night they
+were withdrawn.  Upton brought his prisoners with him, but the
+guns he had captured he was obliged to abandon.  Upton had
+gained an important advantage, but a lack in others of the
+spirit and dash possessed by him lost it to us.  Before leaving
+Washington I had been authorized to promote officers on the
+field for special acts of gallantry.  By this authority I
+conferred the rank of brigadier-general upon Upton on the spot,
+and this act was confirmed by the President.  Upton had been
+badly wounded in this fight.
+
+Burnside on the left had got up to within a few hundred yards of
+Spottsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right.  He
+was not aware of the importance of the advantage he had gained,
+and I, being with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did
+not know of it at the time.  He had gained his position with but
+little fighting, and almost without loss.  Burnside's position
+now separated him widely from Wright's corps, the corps nearest
+to him.  At night he was ordered to join on to this.  This
+brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an important
+advantage.  I attach no blame to Burnside for this, but I do to
+myself for not having had a staff officer with him to report to
+me his position.
+
+The enemy had not dared to come out of his line at any point to
+follow up his advantage, except in the single instance of his
+attack on Barlow.  Then he was twice repulsed with heavy loss,
+though he had an entire corps against two brigades.  Barlow took
+up his bridges in the presence of this force.
+
+On the 11th there was no battle and but little firing; none
+except by Mott who made a reconnoissance to ascertain if there
+was a weak point in the enemy's line.
+
+I wrote the following letter to General Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 11, 1864--8.3O A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+We have now ended the 6th day of very hard fighting.  The result
+up to this time is much in our favor.  But our losses have been
+heavy as well as those of the enemy.  We have lost to this time
+eleven general officers killed, wounded and missing, and
+probably twenty thousand men.  I think the loss of the enemy
+must be greater--we having taken over four thousand prisoners in
+battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except a few
+stragglers.  I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons
+for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and purpose to
+fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
+
+The arrival of reinforcements here will be very encouraging to
+the men, and I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and
+in as great numbers.  My object in having them sent to Belle
+Plain was to use them as an escort to our supply trains.  If it
+is more convenient to send them out by train to march from the
+railroad to Belle Plain or Fredericksburg, send them so.
+
+I am satisfied the enemy are very shaky, and are only kept up to
+the mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers,
+and by keeping them intrenched in every position they take.
+
+Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's
+army being detached for the defence of Richmond.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+And also, I received information, through the War Department,
+from General Butler that his cavalry under Kautz had cut the
+railroad south of Petersburg, separating Beauregard from
+Richmond, and had whipped Hill, killing, wounding and capturing
+many.  Also that he was intrenched, and could maintain
+himself.  On this same day came news from Sheridan to the effect
+that he had destroyed ten miles of the railroad and telegraph
+between Lee and Richmond, one and a half million rations, and
+most of the medical stores for his army.
+
+On the 8th I had directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose from
+the Army of the Potomac and pass around the left of Lee's army
+and attack his cavalry and communications, which was
+successfully executed in the manner I have already described.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT-LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK-REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+In the reconnoissance made by Mott on the 11th, a salient was
+discovered at the right centre. I determined that an assault
+should be made at that point. (*28) Accordingly in the afternoon
+Hancock was ordered to move his command by the rear of Warren and
+Wright, under cover of night, to Wright's left, and there form it
+for an assault at four o'clock the next morning.  The night was
+dark, it rained heavily, and the road was difficult, so that it
+was midnight when he reached the point where he was to halt.  It
+took most of the night to get the men in position for their
+advance in the morning.  The men got but little rest.  Burnside
+was ordered to attack (*29) on the left of the salient at the
+same hour.  I sent two of my staff officers to impress upon him
+the importance of pushing forward vigorously.  Hancock was
+notified of this.  Warren and Wright were ordered to hold
+themselves in readiness to join in the assault if circumstances
+made it advisable.  I occupied a central position most
+convenient for receiving information from all points.  Hancock
+put Barlow on his left, in double column, and Birney to his
+right.  Mott followed Birney, and Gibbon was held in reserve.
+
+The morning of the 12th opened foggy, delaying the start more
+than half an hour.
+
+The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy,
+was ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred
+yards of the enemy's intrenchments.  In front of Birney there
+was also a marsh to cross.  But, notwithstanding all these
+difficulties, the troops pushed on in quick time without firing
+a gun, and when within four or five hundred yards of the enemy's
+line broke out in loud cheers, and with a rush went up to and
+over the breastworks.  Barlow and Birney entered almost
+simultaneously.  Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took
+place.  The men of the two sides were too close together to
+fire, but used their guns as clubs.  The hand conflict was soon
+over.  Hancock's corps captured some four thousand prisoners
+among them a division and a brigade commander twenty or more
+guns with their horses, caissons, and ammunition, several
+thousand stand of arms, and many colors.  Hancock, as soon as
+the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the enemy
+against him and advanced inside the rebel lines.  About six
+o'clock I ordered Warren's corps to the support of Hancock's.
+Burnside, on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to
+the very parapet of the enemy.  Potter, commanding one of his
+divisions, got over but was not able to remain there.  However,
+he inflicted a heavy loss upon the enemy; but not without loss
+in return.
+
+This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to
+leave us in full possession of.  He made the most strenuous
+efforts to regain the position he had lost.  Troops were brought
+up from his left and attacked Hancock furiously.  Hancock was
+forced to fall back:  but he did so slowly, with his face to the
+enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss, until behind the breastworks
+he had captured.  These he turned, facing them the other way, and
+continued to hold.  Wright was ordered up to reinforce Hancock,
+and arrived by six o'clock.  He was wounded soon after coming up
+but did not relinquish the command of his corps, although the
+fighting lasted until one o'clock the next morning.  At eight
+o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making
+his dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and
+with emphasis.  At eleven o'clock I gave Meade written orders to
+relieve Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly. 
+Hancock placed batteries on high ground in his rear, which he
+used against the enemy, firing over the heads of his own troops.
+
+Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive
+nature, but negatively a great deal.  He kept Lee from
+reinforcing his centre from that quarter.  If the 5th corps, or
+rather if Warren, had been as prompt as Wright was with the 6th
+corps, better results might have been obtained.
+
+Lee massed heavily from his left flank on the broken point of
+his line.  Five times during the day he assaulted furiously, but
+without dislodging our troops from their new position.  His
+losses must have been fearful.  Sometimes the belligerents would
+be separated by but a few feet.  In one place a tree, eighteen
+inches in diameter, was cut entirely down by musket balls.  All
+the trees between the lines were very much cut to pieces by
+artillery and musketry.  It was three o'clock next morning
+before the fighting ceased.  Some of our troops had then been
+twenty hours under fire.  In this engagement we did not lose a
+single organization, not even a company.  The enemy lost one
+division with its commander, one brigade and one regiment, with
+heavy losses elsewhere.(*30)  Our losses were heavy, but, as
+stated, no whole company was captured.  At night Lee took a
+position in rear of his former one, and by the following morning
+he was strongly intrenched in it.
+
+Warren's corps was now temporarily broken up, Cutler's division
+sent to Wright, and Griffin's to Hancock.  Meade ordered his
+chief of staff, General Humphreys, to remain with Warren and the
+remaining division, and authorized him to give it orders in his
+name.
+
+During the day I was passing along the line from wing to wing
+continuously.  About the centre stood a house which proved to be
+occupied by an old lady and her daughter.  She showed such
+unmistakable signs of being strongly Union that I stopped.  She
+said she had not seen a Union flag for so long a time that it
+did her heart good to look upon it again.  She said her husband
+and son, being, Union men, had had to leave early in the war,
+and were now somewhere in the Union army, if alive.  She was
+without food or nearly so, so I ordered rations issued to her,
+and promised to find out if I could where the husband and son
+were.
+
+There was no fighting on the 13th, further than a little
+skirmishing between Mott's division and the enemy.  I was afraid
+that Lee might be moving out, and I did not want him to go
+without my knowing it. The indications were that he was moving,
+but it was found that he was only taking his new position back
+from the salient that had been captured.  Our dead were buried
+this day.  Mott's division was reduced to a brigade, and
+assigned to Birney's division.
+
+During this day I wrote to Washington recommending Sherman and
+Meade (*31) for promotion to the grade of Major-General in the
+regular army; Hancock for Brigadier-General; Wright, Gibbon and
+Humphreys to be Major-Generals of Volunteers; and Upton and
+Carroll to be Brigadiers.  Upton had already been named as such,
+but the appointment had to be confirmed by the Senate on the
+nomination of the President.
+
+The night of the 13th Warren and Wright were moved by the rear
+to the left of Burnside.  The night was very dark and it rained
+heavily, the roads were so bad that the troops had to cut trees
+and corduroy the road a part of the way, to get through.  It was
+midnight before they got to the point where they were to halt,
+and daylight before the troops could be organized to advance to
+their position in line.  They gained their position in line,
+however, without any fighting, except a little in Wright's
+front.  Here Upton had to contend for an elevation which we
+wanted and which the enemy was not disposed to yield.  Upton
+first drove the enemy, and was then repulsed in turn.  Ayres
+coming to his support with his brigade (of Griffin's division,
+Warren's corps), the position was secured and fortified.  There
+was no more battle during the 14th.  This brought our line cast
+of the Court House and running north and south and facing west.
+
+During the night of the 14th-15th Lee moved to cover this new
+front.  This left Hancock without an enemy confronting him.  He
+was brought to the rear of our new centre, ready to be moved in
+any direction he might be wanted.
+
+On the 15th news came from Butler and Averill.  The former
+reported the capture of the outer works at Drury's Bluff, on the
+James River, and that his cavalry had cut the railroad and
+telegraph south of Richmond on the Danville road:  and the
+latter, the destruction of a depot of supplies at Dublin, West
+Virginia, and the breaking of New River Bridge on the Virginia
+and Tennessee Railroad.  The next day news came from Sherman and
+Sheridan.  Sherman had forced Johnston out of Dalton, Georgia,
+and was following him south.  The report from Sheridan embraced
+his operations up to his passing the outer defences of
+Richmond.  The prospect must now have been dismal in Richmond.
+The road and telegraph were cut between the capital and Lee. The
+roads and wires were cut in every direction from the rebel
+capital.  Temporarily that city was cut off from all
+communication with the outside except by courier.  This
+condition of affairs, however, was of but short duration.
+
+I wrote Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 16, 1864, 8 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.:
+
+We have had five days almost constant rain without any prospect
+yet of it clearing up.  The roads have now become so impassable
+that ambulances with wounded men can no longer run between here
+and Fredericksburg.  All offensive operations necessarily cease
+until we can have twenty-four hours of dry weather.  The army is
+in the best of spirits, and feel the greatest confidence of
+ultimate success.
+        *        *        *        *        *        * You can
+assure the President and Secretary of War that the elements
+alone have suspended hostilities, and that it is in no manner
+due to weakness or exhaustion on our part.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the
+17th.  But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night
+march back to their old positions, and to make an assault at
+four o'clock in the morning.  Lee got troops back in time to
+protect his old line, so the assault was unsuccessful.  On this
+day (18th) the news was almost as discouraging to us as it had
+been two days before in the rebel capital.  As stated above,
+Hancock's and Wright's corps had made an unsuccessful assault.
+News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly, and
+was retreating down the valley.  Not two hours before, I had sent
+the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to
+stop supplies coming from there to Lee.  I asked at once that
+Sigel might be relieved, and some one else put in his place.
+Hunter's name was suggested, and I heartily approved.  Further
+news from Butler reported him driven from Drury's Bluff, but
+still in possession of the Petersburg road.  Banks had been
+defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in his place.
+This change of commander was not on my suggestion.  All this
+news was very discouraging.  All of it must have been known by
+the enemy before it was by me.  In fact, the good news (for the
+enemy) must have been known to him at the moment I thought he
+was in despair, and his anguish had been already relieved when
+we were enjoying his supposed discomfiture, But this was no time
+for repining.  I immediately gave orders for a movement by the
+left flank, on towards Richmond, to commence on the night of the
+19th.  I also asked Halleck to secure the cooperation of the navy
+in changing our base of supplies from Fredericksburg to Port
+Royal, on the Rappahannock.
+
+Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six
+thousand raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler,
+just arrived.  They had not yet joined their command, Hancock's
+corps, but were on our right.  This corps had been brought to
+the rear of the centre, ready to move in any direction.  Lee,
+probably suspecting some move on my part, and seeing our right
+entirely abandoned, moved Ewell's corps about five o'clock in
+the afternoon, with Early's as a reserve, to attack us in that
+quarter.  Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been
+halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching's
+brigade of Warren's corps.  Tyler received the attack with his
+raw troops, and they maintained their position, until
+reinforced, in a manner worthy of veterans.
+
+Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the
+soldier to do it without waiting to make dispositions.  Birney
+was thrown to Tyler's right and Crawford to his left, with
+Gibbon as a reserve; and Ewell was whirled back speedily and
+with heavy loss.
+
+Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell's flank and in his rear,
+to cut him off from his intrenchments.  But his efforts were so
+feeble that under the cover of night Ewell got back with only
+the loss of a few hundred prisoners, besides his killed and
+wounded.  The army being engaged until after dark, I rescinded
+the order for the march by our left flank that night.
+
+As soon as it was discovered that the enemy were coming out to
+attack, I naturally supposed they would detach a force to
+destroy our trains.  The withdrawal of Hancock from the right
+uncovered one road from Spottsylvania to Fredericksburg over
+which trains drew our supplies.  This was guarded by a division
+of colored troops, commanded by General Ferrero, belonging to
+Burnside's corps.  Ferrero was therefore promptly notified, and
+ordered to throw his cavalry pickets out to the south and be
+prepared to meet the enemy if he should come; if he had to
+retreat to do so towards Fredericksburg.  The enemy did detach
+as expected, and captured twenty-five or thirty wagons which,
+however, were soon retaken.
+
+In consequence of the disasters that had befallen us in the past
+few days, Lee could be reinforced largely, and I had no doubt he
+would be.  Beauregard had come up from the south with troops to
+guard the Confederate capital when it was in danger.  Butler
+being driven back, most of the troops could be sent to Lee. Hoke
+was no longer needed in North Carolina; and Sigel's troops having
+gone back to Cedar Creek, whipped, many troops could be spared
+from the valley.
+
+The Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles convinced me that we
+had more artillery than could ever be brought into action at any
+one time.  It occupied much of the road in marching, and taxed
+the trains in bringing up forage.  Artillery is very useful when
+it can be brought into action, but it is a very burdensome luxury
+where it cannot be used.  Before leaving Spottsylvania,
+therefore, I sent back to the defences of Washington over one
+hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and caissons.  This
+relieved the roads over which we were to march of more than two
+hundred six-horse teams, and still left us more artillery than
+could be advantageously used.  In fact, before reaching the
+James River I again reduced the artillery with the army largely.
+
+I believed that, if one corps of the army was exposed on the
+road to Richmond, and at a distance from the main army, Lee
+would endeavor to attack the exposed corps before reinforcements
+could come up; in which case the main army could follow Lee up
+and attack him before he had time to intrench.  So I issued the
+following orders:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., VA.,
+May 18, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Before daylight to-morrow morning I propose to draw Hancock and
+Burnside from the position they now hold, and put Burnside to
+the left of Wright.  Wright and Burnside should then force their
+way up as close to the enemy as they can get without a general
+engagement, or with a general engagement if the enemy will come
+out of their works to fight, and intrench.  Hancock should march
+and take up a position as if in support of the two left corps.
+To-morrow night, at twelve or one o'clock, he will be moved
+south-east with all his force and as much cavalry as can be
+given to him, to get as far towards Richmond on the line of the
+Fredericksburg Railroad as he can make, fighting the enemy in
+whatever force he can find him.  If the enemy make a general
+move to meet this, they will be followed by the other three
+corps of the army, and attacked, if possible, before time is
+given to intrench.
+
+Suitable directions will at once be given for all trains and
+surplus artillery to conform to this movement.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+On the 20th, Lee showing no signs of coming out of his lines,
+orders were renewed for a left-flank movement, to commence after
+night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+We were now to operate in a different country from any we had
+before seen in Virginia.  The roads were wide and good, and the
+country well cultivated.  No men were seen except those bearing
+arms, even the black man having been sent away.  The country,
+however, was new to us, and we had neither guides nor maps to
+tell us where the roads were, or where they led to.  Engineer
+and staff officers were put to the dangerous duty of supplying
+the place of both maps and guides.  By reconnoitring they were
+enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army
+corps.  Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in
+that direction which would not separate the army too widely.
+
+Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's
+Station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to
+Bowling Green and Milford.  He was at Milford by the night of
+the 21st.  Here he met a detachment of Pickett's division coming
+from Richmond to reinforce Lee.  They were speedily driven away,
+and several hundred captured.  Warren followed on the morning of
+the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that night without
+molestation.  Burnside and Wright were retained at Spottsylvania
+to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to hold
+Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start
+enough to interpose between him and Richmond.
+
+Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either
+by attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the
+Telegraph Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or
+even Hancock's alone, before reinforcements could come up.  But
+he did not avail himself of either opportunity.  He seemed
+really to be misled as to my designs; but moved by his interior
+line--the Telegraph Road--to make sure of keeping between his
+capital and the Army of the Potomac.  He never again had such an
+opportunity of dealing a heavy blow.
+
+The evening of the 21st Burnside, 9th corps, moved out followed
+by Wright, 6th corps.  Burnside was to take the Telegraph Road;
+but finding Stanard's Ford, over the Po, fortified and guarded,
+he turned east to the road taken by Hancock and Warren without
+an attempt to dislodge the enemy.  The night of the 21st I had
+my headquarters near the 6th corps, at Guiney's Station, and the
+enemy's cavalry was between us and Hancock.  There was a slight
+attack on Burnside's and Wright's corps as they moved out of
+their lines; but it was easily repulsed.  The object probably
+was only to make sure that we were not leaving a force to follow
+upon the rear of the Confederates.
+
+By the morning of the 22d Burnside and Wright were at Guiney's
+Station.  Hancock's corps had now been marching and fighting
+continuously for several days, not having had rest even at night
+much of the time.  They were, therefore, permitted to rest during
+the 22d.  But Warren was pushed to Harris's Store, directly west
+of Milford, and connected with it by a good road, and Burnside
+was sent to New Bethel Church.  Wright's corps was still back at
+Guiney's Station.
+
+I issued the following order for the movement of the troops the
+next day:
+
+
+NEW BETHEL, VA., May 22, 1864
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Direct corps commanders to hold their troops in readiness to
+march at five A.M. to-morrow.  At that hour each command will
+send out cavalry and infantry on all roads to their front
+leading south, and ascertain, if possible, where the enemy is.
+If beyond the South Anna, the 5th and 6th corps will march to
+the forks of the road, where one branch leads to Beaver Dam
+Station, the other to Jericho Bridge, then south by roads
+reaching the Anna, as near to and east of Hawkins Creek as they
+can be found.
+
+The 2d corps will move to Chesterfield Ford.  The 9th corps will
+be directed to move at the same time to Jericho Bridge.  The map
+only shows two roads or the four corps to march upon, but, no
+doubt, by the use of plantation roads, and pressing in guides,
+others can be found, to give one for each corps.
+
+The troops will follow their respective reconnoitring parties.
+The trains will be moved at the same time to Milford Station.
+
+Headquarters will follow the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Warren's corps was moved from Harris's Store to Jericho Ford,
+Wright's following.  Warren arrived at the ford early in the
+afternoon, and by five o'clock effected a crossing under the
+protection of sharpshooters.  The men had to wade in water up to
+their waists.  As soon as enough troops were over to guard the
+ford, pontoons were laid and the artillery and the rest of the
+troops crossed.  The line formed was almost perpendicular to the
+course of the river--Crawford on the left, next to the river,
+Griffin in the centre, and Cutler on the right.  Lee was found
+intrenched along the front of their line.  The whole of Hill's
+corps was sent against Warren's right before it had got in
+position.  A brigade of Cutler's division was driven back, the
+enemy following, but assistance coming up the enemy was in turn
+driven back into his trenches with heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, with about five hundred prisoners left in our hands. By
+night Wright's corps was up ready to reinforce Warren.
+
+On the 23d Hancock's corps was moved to the wooden bridge which
+spans the North Anna River just west of where the Fredericksburg
+Railroad crosses.  It was near night when the troops arrived.
+They found the bridge guarded, with troops intrenched, on the
+north side.  Hancock sent two brigades, Egan's and Pierce's, to
+the right and left, and when properly disposed they charged
+simultaneously.  The bridge was carried quickly, the enemy
+retreating over it so hastily that many were shoved into the
+river, and some of them were drowned.  Several hundred prisoners
+were captured.  The hour was so late that Hancock did not cross
+until next morning.
+
+Burnside's corps was moved by a middle road running between
+those described above, and which strikes the North Anna at Ox
+Ford, midway between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford.  The hour
+of its arrival was too late to cross that night.
+
+On the 24th Hancock's corps crossed to the south side of the
+river without opposition, and formed line facing nearly west.
+The railroad in rear was taken possession of and destroyed as
+far as possible.  Wright's corps crossed at Jericho early the
+same day, and took position to the right of Warren's corps,
+extending south of the Virginia Central Railroad.  This road was
+torn up for a considerable distance to the rear (west), the ties
+burned, and the rails bent and twisted by heating them over the
+burning ties.  It was found, however, that Burnside's corps
+could not cross at Ox Ford.  Lee had taken a position with his
+centre on the river at this point, with the two wings thrown
+back, his line making an acute angle where it overlooked the
+river.
+
+Before the exact position of the whole of Lee's line was
+accurately known, I directed Hancock and Warren each to send a
+brigade to Ox Ford by the south side of the river.  They found
+the enemy too strong to justify a serious attack.  A third ford
+was found between Ox Ford and Jericho.  Burnside was directed to
+cross a division over this ford, and to send one division to
+Hancock.  Crittenden was crossed by this newly-discovered ford,
+and formed up the river to connect with Crawford's left.  Potter
+joined Hancock by way of the wooden bridge.  Crittenden had a
+severe engagement with some of Hill's corps on his crossing the
+river, and lost heavily.  When joined to Warren's corps he was
+no further molested.  Burnside still guarded Ox Ford from the
+north side.
+
+Lee now had his entire army south of the North Anna.  Our lines
+covered his front, with the six miles separating the two wings
+guarded by but a single division.  To get from one wing to the
+other the river would have to be crossed twice.  Lee could
+reinforce any part of his line from all points of it in a very
+short march; or could concentrate the whole of it wherever he
+might choose to assault.  We were, for the time, practically two
+armies besieging.
+
+Lee had been reinforced, and was being reinforced, largely.
+About this time the very troops whose coming I had predicted,
+had arrived or were coming in.  Pickett with a full division
+from Richmond was up; Hoke from North Carolina had come with a
+brigade; and Breckinridge was there:  in all probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men.  But he did not attempt to drive us
+from the field.
+
+On the 22d or 23d I received dispatches from Washington saying
+that Sherman had taken Kingston, crossed the Etowah River and
+was advancing into Georgia.
+
+I was seated at the time on the porch of a fine plantation house
+waiting for Burnside's corps to pass.  Meade and his staff,
+besides my own staff, were with me.  The lady of the house, a
+Mrs. Tyler, and an elderly lady, were present.  Burnside seeing
+us, came up on the porch, his big spurs and saber rattling as he
+walked.  He touched his hat politely to the ladies, and remarked
+that he supposed they had never seen so many "live Yankees"
+before in their lives.  The elderly lady spoke up promptly
+saying, "Oh yes, I have; many more."  "Where?" said Burnside.
+"In Richmond."  Prisoners, of course, was understood.
+
+I read my dispatch aloud, when it was received.  This threw the
+younger lady into tears. I found the information she had
+received (and I suppose it was the information generally in
+circulation through the South) was that Lee was driving us from
+the State in the most demoralized condition and that in the
+South-west our troops were but little better than prisoners of
+war.  Seeing our troops moving south was ocular proof that a
+part of her information was incorrect, and she asked me if my
+news from Sherman was true.  I assured her that there was no
+doubt about it.  I left a guard to protect the house from
+intrusion until the troops should have all passed, and assured
+her that if her husband was in hiding she could bring him in and
+he should be protected also.  But I presume he was in the
+Confederate army.
+
+On the 25th I gave orders, through Halleck, to Hunter, who had
+relieved Sigel, to move up the Valley of Virginia, cross over
+the Blue Ridge to Charlottesville and go as far as Lynchburg if
+possible, living upon the country and cutting the railroads and
+canal as he went.  After doing this he could find his way back
+to his base, or join me.
+
+On the same day news was received that Lee was falling back,on
+Richmond.  This proved not to be true.  But we could do nothing
+where we were unless Lee would assume the offensive. I
+determined, therefore, to draw out of our present position and
+make one more effort to get between him and Richmond.  I had no
+expectation now, however, of succeeding in this; but I did
+expect to hold him far enough west to enable me to reach the
+James River high up.  Sheridan was now again with the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+On the 26th I informed the government at Washington of the
+position of the two armies; of the reinforcements the enemy had
+received; of the move I proposed to make (*32); and directed
+that our base of supplies should be shifted to White House, on
+the Pamunkey.  The wagon train and guards moved directly from
+Port Royal to White House.  Supplies moved around by water,
+guarded by the navy.  Orders had previously been sent, through
+Halleck, for Butler to send Smith's corps to White House.  This
+order was repeated on the 25th, with directions that they should
+be landed on the north side of the Pamunkey, and marched until
+they joined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+It was a delicate move to get the right wing of the Army of the
+Potomac from its position south of the North Anna in the
+presence of the enemy.  To accomplish it, I issued the following
+order:
+
+
+QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+MAJOR GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Direct Generals Warren and Wright to withdraw all their teams
+and artillery, not in position, to the north side of the river
+to-morrow.  Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far
+on the road to Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting
+attention to the fact.  Send with it Wright's best division or
+division under his ablest commander.  Have their places filled
+up in the line so if possible the enemy will not notice their
+withdrawal.  Send the cavalry to-morrow afternoon, or as much of
+it as you may deem necessary, to watch and seize, if they can,
+Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's Ford, and to remain on one or
+other side of the river at these points until the infantry and
+artillery all pass.  As soon as it is dark to-morrow night start
+the division which you withdraw first from Wright's corps to make
+a forced march to Hanover Town, taking with them no teams to
+impede their march.  At the same time this division starts
+commence withdrawing all of the 5th and 6th corps from the south
+side of the river, and march them for the same place.  The two
+divisions of the 9th corps not now with Hancock, may be moved
+down the north bank of the river where they will be handy to
+support Hancock if necessary, or will be that much on their road
+to follow the 5th and 6th corps.  Hancock should hold his command
+in readiness to follow as soon as the way is clear for him.
+To-morrow it will leave nothing for him to do, but as soon as he
+can he should get all his teams and spare artillery on the road
+or roads which he will have to take.  As soon as the troops
+reach Hanover Town they should get possession of all the
+crossings they can in that neighborhood.  I think it would be
+well to make a heavy cavalry demonstration on the enemy's left,
+to-morrow afternoon, also.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Wilson's division of cavalry was brought up from the left and
+moved by our right south to Little River.  Here he manoeuvred to
+give the impression that we were going to attack the left flank
+of Lee's army.
+
+Under cover of night our right wing was withdrawn to the north
+side of the river, Lee being completely deceived by Wilson's
+feint.  On the afternoon of the 26th Sheridan moved, sending
+Gregg's and Torbert's cavalry to Taylor's and Littlepage's fords
+towards Hanover.  As soon as it was dark both divisions moved
+quietly to Hanover Ferry, leaving small guards behind to keep up
+the impression that crossings were to be attempted in the
+morning.  Sheridan was followed by a division of infantry under
+General Russell.  On the morning of the 27th the crossing was
+effected with but little loss, the enemy losing thirty or forty,
+taken prisoners.  Thus a position was secured south of the
+Pamunkey.
+
+Russell stopped at the crossing while the cavalry pushed on to
+Hanover Town.  Here Barringer's, formerly Gordon's, brigade of
+rebel cavalry was encountered, but it was speedily driven away.
+
+Warren's and Wright's corps were moved by the rear of Burnside's
+and Hancock's corps.  When out of the way these latter corps
+followed, leaving pickets confronting the enemy.  Wilson's
+cavalry followed last, watching all the fords until everything
+had recrossed; then taking up the pontoons and destroying other
+bridges, became the rear-guard.
+
+Two roads were traversed by the troops in this move.  The one
+nearest to and north of the North Anna and Pamunkey was taken by
+Wright, followed by Hancock.  Warren, followed by Burnside, moved
+by a road farther north, and longer.  The trains moved by a road
+still farther north, and had to travel a still greater
+distance.  All the troops that had crossed the Pamunkey on the
+morning of the 27th remained quiet during the rest of the day,
+while the troops north of that stream marched to reach the
+crossing that had been secured for them.
+
+Lee had evidently been deceived by our movement from North Anna;
+for on the morning of the 27th he telegraphed to Richmond: 
+"Enemy crossed to north side, and cavalry and infantry crossed
+at Hanover Town."  The troops that had then crossed left his
+front the night of the 25th.
+
+The country we were now in was a difficult one to move troops
+over.  The streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes
+spreading out into swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of
+trees and underbrush.  The banks were generally low and marshy,
+making the streams difficult to approach except where there were
+roads and bridges.
+
+Hanover Town is about twenty miles from Richmond.  There are two
+roads leading there; the most direct and shortest one crossing
+the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, near the Virginia Central
+Railroad, the second going by New and Old Cold Harbor.  A few
+miles out from Hanover Town there is a third road by way of
+Mechanicsville to Richmond.  New Cold Harbor was important to us
+because while there we both covered the roads back to White House
+(where our supplies came from), and the roads south-east over
+which we would have to pass to get to the James River below the
+Richmond defences.
+
+On the morning of the 28th the army made an early start, and by
+noon all had crossed except Burnside's corps.  This was left on
+the north side temporarily to guard the large wagon train.  A
+line was at once formed extending south from the river, Wright's
+corps on the right, Hancock's in the centre, and Warren's on the
+left, ready to meet the enemy if he should come.
+
+At the same time Sheridan was directed to reconnoitre towards
+Mechanicsville to find Lee's position.  At Hawes' Shop, just
+where the middle road leaves the direct road to Richmond, he
+encountered the Confederate cavalry dismounted and partially
+intrenched.  Gregg attacked with his division, but was unable to
+move the enemy.  In the evening Custer came up with a brigade.
+The attack was now renewed, the cavalry dismounting and charging
+as infantry.  This time the assault was successful, both sides
+losing a considerable number of men.  But our troops had to bury
+the dead, and found that more Confederate than Union soldiers had
+been killed.  The position was easily held, because our infantry
+was near.
+
+On the 29th a reconnoissance was made in force, to find the
+position of Lee.  Wright's corps pushed to Hanover Court
+House.  Hancock's corps pushed toward Totopotomoy Creek;
+Warren's corps to the left on the Shady Grove Church Road, while
+Burnside was held in reserve. Our advance was pushed forward
+three miles on the left with but little fighting.  There was now
+an appearance of a movement past our left flank, and Sheridan was
+sent to meet it.
+
+On the 30th Hancock moved to the Totopotomoy, where he found the
+enemy strongly fortified.  Wright was moved to the right of
+Hancock's corps, and Burnside was brought forward and crossed,
+taking position to the left of Hancock.  Warren moved up near
+Huntley Corners on the Shady Grove Church Road.  There was some
+skirmishing along the centre, and in the evening Early attacked
+Warren with some vigor, driving him back at first, and
+threatening to turn our left flank.  As the best means of
+reinforcing the left, Hancock was ordered to attack in his
+front.  He carried and held the rifle-pits.  While this was
+going on Warren got his men up, repulsed Early, and drove him
+more than a mile.
+
+On this day I wrote to Halleck ordering all the pontoons in
+Washington to be sent to City Point.
+
+In the evening news was received of the arrival of Smith with
+his corps at White House.  I notified Meade, in writing, as
+follows:
+
+
+NEAR HAWES' SHOP, VA.,
+6.40 P.M., May 30, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+General Smith will debark his force at the White House tonight
+and start up the south bank of the Pamunkey at an early hour,
+probably at 3 A.M. in the morning.  It is not improbable that
+the enemy, being aware of Smith's movement, will be feeling to
+get on our left flank for the purpose of cutting him off, or by
+a dash to crush him and get back before we are aware of it.
+Sheridan ought to be notified to watch the enemy's movements
+well out towards Cold Harbor, and also on the Mechanicsville
+road.  Wright should be got well massed on Hancock's right, so
+that, if it becomes necessary, he can take the place of the
+latter readily whilst troops are being thrown east of the
+Totopotomoy if necessary.
+
+I want Sheridan to send a cavalry force of at least half a
+brigade, if not a whole brigade, at 5 A.M. in the morning, to
+communicate with Smith and to return with him.  I will send
+orders for Smith by the messenger you send to Sheridan with his
+orders.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+I also notified Smith of his danger, and the precautions that
+would be taken to protect him.
+
+The night of the 30th Lee's position was substantially from
+Atlee's Station on the Virginia Central Railroad south and cast
+to the vicinity of Cold Harbor.  Ours was:  The left of Warren's
+corps was on the Shady Grove Road, extending to the
+Mechanicsville Road and about three miles south of the
+Totopotomoy.  Burnside to his right, then Hancock, and Wright on
+the extreme right, extending towards Hanover Court House, six
+miles south-east of it.  Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry
+was watching our left front towards Cold Harbor.  Wilson with
+his division on our right was sent to get on the Virginia
+Central Railroad and destroy it as far back as possible.  He got
+possession of Hanover Court House the next day after a skirmish
+with Young's cavalry brigade.  The enemy attacked Sheridan's
+pickets, but reinforcements were sent up and the attack was
+speedily repulsed and the enemy followed some distance towards
+Cold Harbor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE--RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+On the 31st Sheridan advanced to near Old Cold Harbor.  He found
+it intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry.  A hard fight
+ensued but the place was carried.  The enemy well knew the
+importance of Cold Harbor to us, and seemed determined that we
+should not hold it.  He returned with such a large force that
+Sheridan was about withdrawing without making any effort to hold
+it against such odds; but about the time he commenced the
+evacuation he received orders to hold the place at all hazards,
+until reinforcements could be sent to him.  He speedily turned
+the rebel works to face against them and placed his men in
+position for defence.  Night came on before the enemy was ready
+for assault.
+
+Wright's corps was ordered early in the evening to march
+directly to Cold Harbor passing by the rear of the army.  It was
+expected to arrive by daylight or before; but the night was dark
+and the distance great, so that it was nine o'clock the 1st of
+June before it reached its destination.  Before the arrival of
+Wright the enemy had made two assaults on Sheridan, both of
+which were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy.  Wright's
+corps coming up, there was no further assault on Cold Harbor.
+
+Smith, who was coming up from White House, was also directed to
+march directly to Cold Harbor, and was expected early on the
+morning of the 1st of June; but by some blunder the order which
+reached Smith directed him to Newcastle instead of Cold
+Harbor.  Through this blunder Smith did not reach his
+destination until three o'clock in the afternoon, and then with
+tired and worn-out men from their long and dusty march.  He
+landed twelve thousand five hundred men from Butler's command,
+but a division was left at White House temporarily and many men
+had fallen out of ranks in their long march.
+
+Before the removal of Wright's corps from our right, after dark
+on the 31st, the two lines, Federal and Confederate, were so
+close together at that point that either side could detect
+directly any movement made by the other.  Finding at daylight
+that Wright had left his front, Lee evidently divined that he
+had gone to our left.  At all events, soon after light on the
+1st of June Anderson, who commanded the corps on Lee's left, was
+seen moving along Warren's front.  Warren was ordered to attack
+him vigorously in flank, while Wright was directed to move out
+and get on his front.  Warren fired his artillery at the enemy;
+but lost so much time in making ready that the enemy got by, and
+at three o'clock he reported the enemy was strongly intrenched in
+his front, and besides his lines were so long that he had no mass
+of troops to move with.  He seemed to have forgotten that lines
+in rear of an army hold themselves while their defenders are
+fighting in their front.  Wright reconnoitred some distance to
+his front:  but the enemy finding Old Cold Harbor already taken
+had halted and fortified some distance west.
+
+By six o'clock in the afternoon Wright and Smith were ready to
+make an assault.  In front of both the ground was clear for
+several hundred yards and then became wooded.  Both charged
+across this open space and into the wood, capturing and holding
+the first line of rifle-pits of the enemy, and also capturing
+seven or eight hundred prisoners.
+
+While this was going on, the enemy charged Warren three separate
+times with vigor, but were repulsed each time with loss.  There
+was no officer more capable, nor one more prompt in acting, than
+Warren when the enemy forced him to it.  There was also an attack
+upon Hancock's and Burnside's corps at the same time; but it was
+feeble and probably only intended to relieve Anderson who was
+being pressed by Wright and Smith.
+
+During the night the enemy made frequent attacks with the view
+of dispossessing us of the important position we had gained, but
+without effecting their object.
+
+Hancock was moved from his place in line during the night and
+ordered to the left of Wright.  I expected to take the offensive
+on the morning of the 2d, but the night was so dark, the heat and
+dust so excessive and the roads so intricate and hard to keep,
+that the head of column only reached Old Cold Harbor at six
+o'clock, but was in position at 7.30 A.M.  Preparations were
+made for an attack in the afternoon, but did not take place
+until the next morning.  Warren's corps was moved to the left to
+connect with Smith:  Hancock's corps was got into position to the
+left of Wright's, and Burnside was moved to Bethesda Church in
+reserve. While Warren and Burnside were making these changes the
+enemy came out several times and attacked them, capturing several
+hundred prisoners.  The attacks were repulsed, but not followed
+up as they should have been.  I was so annoyed at this that I
+directed Meade to instruct his corps commanders that they should
+seize all such opportunities when they occurred, and not wait for
+orders, all of our manoeuvres being made for the very purpose of
+getting the enemy out of his cover.
+
+On this day Wilson returned from his raid upon the Virginia
+Central Railroad, having damaged it considerably.  But, like
+ourselves, the rebels had become experts in repairing such
+damage.  Sherman, in his memoirs, relates an anecdote of his
+campaign to Atlanta that well illustrates this point.  The rebel
+cavalry lurking in his rear to burn bridges and obstruct his
+communications had become so disgusted at hearing trains go
+whistling by within a few hours after a bridge had been burned,
+that they proposed to try blowing up some of the tunnels.  One
+of them said, "No use, boys, Old Sherman carries duplicate
+tunnels with him, and will replace them as fast as you can blow
+them up; better save your powder."
+
+Sheridan was engaged reconnoitring the banks of the
+Chickahominy, to find crossings and the condition of the
+roads.  He reported favorably.
+
+During the night Lee moved his left up to make his line
+correspond to ours.  His lines extended now from the Totopotomoy
+to New Cold Harbor.  Mine from Bethesda Church by Old Cold Harbor
+to the Chickahominy, with a division of cavalry guarding our
+right.  An assault was ordered for the 3d, to be made mainly by
+the corps of Hancock, Wright and Smith; but Warren and Burnside
+were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to attack with
+great earnestness if he should either reinforce more threatened
+points by drawing from that quarter or if a favorable
+opportunity should present itself.
+
+The corps commanders were to select the points in their
+respective fronts where they would make their assaults.  The
+move was to commence at half-past four in the morning.  Hancock
+sent Barlow and Gibbon forward at the appointed hour, with
+Birney as a reserve.  Barlow pushed forward with great vigor,
+under a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, through
+thickets and swamps.  Notwithstanding all the resistance of the
+enemy and the natural obstructions to overcome, he carried a
+position occupied by the enemy outside their main line where the
+road makes a deep cut through a bank affording as good a shelter
+for troops as if it had been made for that purpose.  Three
+pieces of artillery had been captured here, and several hundred
+prisoners.  The guns were immediately turned against the men who
+had just been using them.  No (*33) assistance coming to him, he
+(Barlow) intrenched under fire and continued to hold his
+place.  Gibbon was not so fortunate in his front.  He found the
+ground over which he had to pass cut up with deep ravines, and a
+morass difficult to cross.  But his men struggled on until some
+of them got up to the very parapet covering the enemy.  Gibbon
+gained ground much nearer the enemy than that which he left, and
+here he intrenched and held fast.
+
+Wright's corps moving in two lines captured the outer rifle-pits
+in their front, but accomplished nothing more.  Smith's corps
+also gained the outer rifle-pits in its front.  The ground over
+which this corps (18th) had to move was the most exposed of any
+over which charges were made.  An open plain intervened between
+the contending forces at this point, which was exposed both to a
+direct and a cross fire.  Smith, however, finding a ravine
+running towards his front, sufficiently deep to protect men in
+it from cross fire, and somewhat from a direct fire, put
+Martindale's division in it, and with Brooks supporting him on
+the left and Devens on the right succeeded in gaining the
+outer--probably picket--rifle-pits.  Warren and Burnside also
+advanced and gained ground--which brought the whole army on one
+line.
+
+This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to
+compensate:   but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence
+sufficiently to induce him to take the offensive.  In fact,
+nowhere after the battle of the Wilderness did Lee show any
+disposition to leave his defences far behind him.
+
+Fighting was substantially over by half-past seven in the
+morning.  At eleven o'clock I started to visit all the corps
+commanders to see for myself the different positions gained and
+to get their opinion of the practicability of doing anything
+more in their respective fronts.
+
+Hancock gave the opinion that in his front the enemy was too
+strong to make any further assault promise success.  Wright
+thought he could gain the lines of the enemy, but it would
+require the cooperation of Hancock's and Smith's corps.  Smith
+thought a lodgment possible, but was not sanguine:  Burnside
+thought something could be done in his front, but Warren
+differed.  I concluded, therefore to make no more assaults, and
+a little after twelve directed in the following letter that all
+offensive action should cease.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864.-12.30 P.M.
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in
+case an assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of
+farther advance for the present.  Hold our most advanced
+positions and strengthen them.  Whilst on the defensive our line
+may be contracted from the right if practicable.
+
+Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and
+advances made to advantageous positions by regular approaches.
+To aid the expedition under General Hunter it is necessary that
+we should detain all the army now with Lee until the former gets
+well on his way to Lynchburg.  To do this effectually it will be
+better to keep the enemy out of the intrenchments of Richmond
+than to have them go back there.
+
+Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy
+should break through General Smith's lines, and all should be
+ready to resist an assault.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The remainder of the day was spent in strengthening the line we
+now held.  By night we were as strong against Lee as he was
+against us.
+
+During the night the enemy quitted our right front, abandoning
+some of their wounded, and without burying their dead.  These we
+were able to care for.  But there were many dead and wounded men
+between the lines of the contending forces, which were now close
+together, who could not be cared for without a cessation of
+hostilities.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 5, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R.  E. LEE,
+Commanding Confederate Army.
+
+It is reported to me that there are wounded men, probably of
+both armies, now lying exposed and suffering between the lines
+occupied respectively by the two armies.  Humanity would dictate
+that some provision should be made to provide against such
+hardships.  I would propose, therefore, that hereafter, when no
+battle is raging, either party be authorized to send to any
+point between the pickets or skirmish lines, unarmed men bearing
+litters to pick up their dead or wounded, without being fired
+upon by the other party.  Any other method, equally fair to both
+parties, you may propose for meeting the end desired will be
+accepted by me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied that he feared such an arrangement would lead to
+misunderstanding, and proposed that in future, when either party
+wished to remove their dead and wounded, a flag of truce be
+sent.  I answered this immediately by saying:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+"Your communication of yesterday's date is received.  I will
+send immediately, as you propose, to collect the dead and
+wounded between the lines of the two armies, and will also
+instruct that you be allowed to do the same.  I propose that the
+time for doing this be between the hours of 12 M. and 3 P.M.
+to-day.  I will direct all parties going out to bear a white
+flag, and not to attempt to go beyond where we have dead or
+wounded, and not beyond or on ground occupied by your troops.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's response was that he could not consent to the burial of
+the dead and removal of the wounded in the way I proposed, but
+when either party desired such permission it should be asked for
+by flag of truce and he had directed that any parties I may have
+sent out, as mentioned in my letter, to be turned back.  I
+answered:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA, June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE.
+Commanding Army, N. Va.
+
+The knowledge that wounded men are now suffering from want of
+attention, between the two armies, compels me to ask a
+suspension of hostilities for sufficient time to collect them
+in, say two hours.  Permit me to say that the hours you may fix
+upon for this will be agreeable to me, and the same privilege
+will be extended to such parties as you may wish to send out on
+the same duty without further application.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee acceded to this; but delays in transmitting the
+correspondence brought it to the 7th of June--forty-eight hours
+after it commenced--before parties were got out to collect the
+men left upon the field.  In the meantime all but two of the
+wounded had died.  And I wrote to Lee:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864.
+10.30 A.M.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+I regret that your note of seven P.M. yesterday should have been
+received at the nearest corps headquarters, to where it was
+delivered, after the hour which had been given for the removal
+of the dead and wounded had expired; 10.45 P.M. was the hour at
+which it was received at corps headquarters, and between eleven
+and twelve it reached my headquarters.  As a consequence, it was
+not understood by.the troops of this army that there was a
+cessation of hostilities for the purpose of collecting the dead
+and wounded, and none were collected.  Two officers and six men
+of the 8th and 25th North Carolina Regts., who were out in
+search of the bodies of officers of their respective regiments,
+were captured and brought into our lines, owing to this want of
+understanding.  I regret this, but will state that as soon as I
+learned the fact, I directed that they should not be held as
+prisoners, but must be returned to their commands.  These
+officers and men having been carelessly brought through our
+lines to the rear have not determined whether they will be sent
+back the way they came, or whether they will be sent by some
+other route.
+
+Regretting that all my efforts for alleviating the sufferings of
+wounded men left upon the battle-field have been rendered
+nugatory, I remain, &c.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was
+ever made.  I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d
+of May, 1863, at Vicksburg.  At Cold Harbor no advantage
+whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we
+sustained.  Indeed, the advantages other than those of relative
+losses, were on the Confederate side.  Before that, the Army of
+Northern Virginia seemed to have acquired a wholesome regard for
+the courage, endurance, and soldierly qualities generally of the
+Army of the Potomac.  They no longer wanted to fight them "one
+Confederate to five Yanks."  Indeed, they seemed to have given
+up any idea of gaining any advantage of their antagonist in the
+open field.  They had come to much prefer breastworks in their
+front to the Army of the Potomac.  This charge seemed to revive
+their hopes temporarily; but it was of short duration.  The
+effect upon the Army of the Potomac was the reverse.  When we
+reached the James River, however, all effects of the battle of
+Cold Harbor seemed to have disappeared.
+
+There was more justification for the assault at Vicksburg.  We
+were in a Southern climate, at the beginning of the hot
+season.  The Army of the Tennessee had won five successive
+victories over the garrison of Vicksburg in the three preceding
+weeks.  They had driven a portion of that army from Port Gibson
+with considerable loss, after having flanked them out of their
+stronghold at Grand Gulf.  They had attacked another portion of
+the same army at Raymond, more than fifty miles farther in the
+interior of the State, and driven them back into Jackson with
+great loss in killed, wounded, captured and missing, besides
+loss of large and small arms:  they had captured the capital of
+the State of Mississippi, with a large amount of materials of
+war and manufactures.  Only a few days before, they had beaten
+the enemy then penned up in the town first at Champion's Hill,
+next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him a loss of
+fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from
+returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition.  The
+Army of the Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat
+their antagonist under any circumstances.  There was no telling
+how long a regular siege might last.  As I have stated, it was
+the beginning of the hot season in a Southern climate.  There
+was no telling what the casualties might be among Northern
+troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface water
+filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun.  If
+Vicksburg could have been carried in May, it would not only have
+saved the army the risk it ran of a greater danger than from the
+bullets of the enemy, but it would have given us a splendid
+army, well equipped and officered, to operate elsewhere with.
+These are reasons justifying the assault.  The only benefit we
+gained--and it was a slight one for so great a sacrifice--was
+that the men worked cheerfully in the trenches after that, being
+satisfied with digging the enemy out.  Had the assault not been
+made, I have no doubt that the majority of those engaged in the
+siege of Vicksburg would have believed that had we assaulted it
+would have proven successful, and would have saved life, health
+and comfort.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+Lee's position was now so near Richmond, and the intervening
+swamps of the Chickahominy so great an obstacle to the movement
+of troops in the face of an enemy, that I determined to make my
+next left flank move carry the Army of the Potomac south of the
+James River. (*34)  Preparations for this were promptly
+commenced. The move was a hazardous one to make:  the
+Chickahominy River, with its marshy and heavily timbered
+approaches, had to be crossed; all the bridges over it east of
+Lee were destroyed; the enemy had a shorter line and better
+roads to travel on to confront me in crossing; more than fifty
+miles intervened between me and Butler, by the roads I should
+have to travel, with both the James and the Chickahominy
+unbridged to cross; and last, the Army of the Potomac had to be
+got out of a position but a few hundred yards from the enemy at
+the widest place.  Lee, if he did not choose to follow me,
+might, with his shorter distance to travel and his bridges over
+the Chickahominy and the James, move rapidly on Butler and crush
+him before the army with me could come to his relief.  Then too
+he might spare troops enough to send against Hunter who was
+approaching Lynchburg, living upon the country he passed
+through, and without ammunition further than what he carried
+with him.
+
+But the move had to be made, and I relied upon Lee's not seeing
+my danger as I saw it.  Besides we had armies on both sides of
+the James River and not far from the Confederate capital.  I
+knew that its safety would be a matter of the first
+consideration with the executive, legislative and judicial
+branches of the so-called Confederate government, if it was not
+with the military commanders.  But I took all the precaution I
+knew of to guard against all dangers.
+
+Sheridan was sent with two divisions, to communicate with Hunter
+and to break up the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River
+Canal, on the 7th of June, taking instructions to Hunter to come
+back with him (*35).  Hunter was also informed by way of
+Washington and the Valley that Sheridan was on the way to meet
+him.  The canal and Central Road, and the regions penetrated by
+them, were of vast importance to the enemy, furnishing and
+carrying a large per cent. of all the supplies for the Army of
+Northern Virginia and the people of Richmond.  Before Sheridan
+got off on the 7th news was received from Hunter reporting his
+advance to Staunton and successful engagement with the enemy
+near that place on the 5th, in which the Confederate commander,
+W. S. Jones, was killed.  On the 4th of June the enemy having
+withdrawn his left corps, Burnside on our right was moved up
+between Warren and Smith.  On the 5th Birney returned to
+Hancock, which extended his left now to the Chickahominy, and
+Warren was withdrawn to Cold Harbor.  Wright was directed to
+send two divisions to the left to extend down the banks of that
+stream to Bottom's Bridge.  The cavalry extended still farther
+east to Jones's Bridge.
+
+On the 7th Abercrombie--who was in command at White House, and
+who had been in command at our base of supplies in all the
+changes made from the start--was ordered to take up the iron
+from the York River Railroad and put it on boats, and to be in
+readiness to move by water to City Point.
+
+On the 8th Meade was directed to fortify a line down the bank
+overlooking the Chickahominy, under cover of which the army
+could move.
+
+On the 9th Abercrombie was directed to send all organized troops
+arriving at White House, without debarking from their transports,
+to report to Butler.  Halleck was at this time instructed to send
+all reinforcements to City Point.
+
+On the 11th I wrote:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. B. F. BUTLER,
+Commanding Department of Va. and N. C.
+
+The movement to transfer this army to the south side of the
+James River will commence after dark to-morrow night.  Col.
+Comstock, of my staff, was sent specially to ascertain what was
+necessary to make your position secure in the interval during
+which the enemy might use most of his force against you, and
+also, to ascertain what point on the river we should reach to
+effect a crossing if it should not be practicable to reach this
+side of the river at Bermuda Hundred.  Colonel Comstock has not
+yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as definite as
+I would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being
+so short in which to get word to you, I must do the best I
+can.  Colonel Dent goes to the Chickahominy to take to you the
+18th corps.  The corps will leave its position in the trenches
+as early in the evening, tomorrow, as possible, and make a
+forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it should reach
+by ten A.M. the following morning.  This corps numbers now
+15,300 men.  They take with them neither wagons nor artillery;
+these latter marching with the balance of the army to the James
+River.  The remainder of the army will cross the Chickahominy at
+Long Bridge and at Jones's, and strike the river at the most
+practicable crossing below City Point.
+
+I directed several days ago that all reinforcements for the army
+should be sent to you.  I am not advised of the number that may
+have gone, but suppose you have received from six to ten
+thousand.  General Smith will also reach you as soon as the
+enemy could, going by the way of Richmond.
+
+The balance of the force will not be more than one day behind,
+unless detained by the whole of Lee's army, in which case you
+will be strong enough.
+
+I wish you would direct the proper staff officers, your
+chief-engineer and your chief-quartermaster, to commence at once
+the collection of all the means in their reach for crossing the
+army on its arrival.  If there is a point below City Point where
+a pontoon bridge can be thrown, have it laid.
+
+Expecting the arrival of the 18th corps by Monday night, if you
+deem it practicable from the force you have to seize and hold
+Petersburg, you may prepare to start, on the arrival of troops
+to hold your present lines.  I do not want Petersburg visited,
+however, unless it is held, nor an attempt to take it, unless
+you feel a reasonable degree of confidence of success.  If you
+should go there, I think troops should take nothing with them
+except what they can carry, depending upon supplies being sent
+after the place is secured.  If Colonel Dent should not succeed
+in securing the requisite amount of transportation for the 18th
+corps before reaching you, please have the balance supplied.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--On reflection I will send the 18th corps by way of White
+House.  The distance which they will have to march will be
+enough shorter to enable them to reach you about the same time,
+and the uncertainty of navigation on the Chickahominy will be
+avoided.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL G. G. MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Colonel Comstock, who visited the James River for the purpose of
+ascertaining the best point below Bermuda Hundred to which to
+march the army has not yet returned.  It is now getting so late,
+however, that all preparations may be made for the move to-morrow
+night without waiting longer.
+
+The movement will be made as heretofore agreed upon, that is,
+the 18th corps make a rapid march with the infantry alone, their
+wagons and artillery accompanying the balance of the army to
+Cole's Landing or Ferry, and there embark for City Point, losing
+no time for rest until they reach the latter point.
+
+The 5th corps will seize Long Bridge and move out on the Long
+Bridge Road to its junction with Quaker Road, or until stopped
+by the enemy.
+
+The other three corps will follow in such order as you may
+direct, one of them crossing at Long Bridge, and two at Jones's
+Bridge.  After the crossing is effected, the most practicable
+roads will be taken to reach about Fort Powhattan.  Of course,
+this is supposing the enemy makes no opposition to our
+advance.  The 5th corps, after securing the passage of the
+balance of the army, will join or follow in rear of the corps
+which crosses the same bridge with themselves.  The wagon trains
+should be kept well east of the troops, and if a crossing can be
+found, or made lower down than Jones's they should take it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--In view of the long march to reach Cole's Landing, and
+the uncertainty of being able to embark a large number of men
+there, the direction of the 18th corps may be changed to White
+House.  They should be directed to load up transports, and start
+them as fast as loaded without waiting for the whole corps or
+even whole divisions to go together.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers
+of the 11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving
+east.  This, with the news of Hunter's successful engagement
+near Staunton, was no doubt known to Lee before it was to me.
+Then Sheridan leaving with two divisions of cavalry, looked
+indeed threatening, both to Lee's communications and supplies.
+Much of his cavalry was sent after Sheridan, and Early with
+Ewell's entire corps was sent to the Valley.  Supplies were
+growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to draw
+them were in our hands.  People from outside began to pour into
+Richmond to help eat up the little on hand.  Consternation
+reigned there.
+
+On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House,
+not to stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once
+for City Point, leaving his trains and artillery to move by land.
+
+Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a
+crossing by wading and floundering through the water and mud,
+leaving their horses behind, and drove away the cavalry
+pickets.  A pontoon bridge was speedily thrown across, over
+which the remainder of the army soon passed and pushed out for a
+mile or two to watch and detain any advance that might be made
+from the other side.  Warren followed the cavalry, and by the
+morning of the 13th had his whole corps over.  Hancock followed
+Warren.  Burnside took the road to Jones's Bridge, followed by
+Wright.  Ferrero's division, with the wagon train, moved farther
+east, by Window Shades and Cole's Ferry, our rear being covered
+by cavalry.
+
+It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond. These
+might run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before
+they could be sunk or captured by our navy.  General Butler had,
+in advance, loaded some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as
+to obstruct the channel in an emergency.  On the 13th I sent
+orders to have these sunk as high up the river as we could guard
+them, and prevent their removal by the enemy.
+
+As soon as Warren's corps was over the Chickahominy it marched
+out and joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond
+while the army passed.  No attempt was made by the enemy to
+impede our march, however, but Warren and Wilson reported the
+enemy strongly fortified in their front.  By the evening of the
+13th Hancock's corps was at Charles City Court House on the
+James River.  Burnside's and Wright's corps were on the
+Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren's corps and
+the cavalry still covering the army.  The material for a pontoon
+bridge was already at hand and the work of laying it was
+commenced immediately, under the superintendence of
+Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the engineer brigade.  On
+the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced, Hancock in
+advance, using both the bridge and boats.
+
+When the Wilderness campaign commenced the Army of the Potomac,
+including Burnside's --which was a separate command until the
+24th of May when it was incorporated with the main
+army--numbered about 116,000 men.  During the progress of the
+campaign about 40,000 reinforcements were received.  At the
+crossing of the James River June 14th-l5th the army numbered
+about 115,000.  Besides the ordinary losses incident to a
+campaign of six weeks' nearly constant fighting or skirmishing,
+about one-half of the artillery was sent back to Washington, and
+many men were discharged by reason of the expiration of their
+term of service.* In estimating our strength every enlisted man
+and every commissioned officer present is included, no matter
+how employed; in bands, sick in field hospitals, hospital
+attendants, company cooks and all.  Operating in an enemy's
+country, and being supplied always from a distant base, large
+detachments had at all times to be sent from the front, not only
+to guard the base of supplies and the roads to it, but all the
+roads leading to our flanks and rear.  We were also operating in
+a country unknown to us, and without competent guides or maps
+showing the roads accurately.
+
+The manner of estimating numbers in the two armies differs
+materially.  In the Confederate army often only bayonets are
+taken into account, never, I believe, do they estimate more than
+are handling the guns of the artillery and armed with muskets
+(*36) or carbines.  Generally the latter are far enough away to
+be excluded from the count in any one field.  Officers and
+details of enlisted men are not included.  In the Northern
+armies the estimate is most liberal, taking in all connected
+with the army and drawing pay.
+
+Estimated in the same manner as ours, Lee had not less than
+80,000 men at the start.  His reinforcements were about equal to
+ours during the campaign, deducting the discharged men and those
+sent back.  He was on the defensive, and in a country in which
+every stream, every road, every obstacle to the movement of
+troops and every natural defence was familiar to him and his
+army.  The citizens were all friendly to him and his cause, and
+could and did furnish him with accurate reports of our every
+move.  Rear guards were not necessary for him, and having always
+a railroad at his back, large wagon trains were not required. All
+circumstances considered we did not have any advantage in
+numbers.
+
+General Lee, who had led the Army of Northern Virginia in all
+these contests, was a very highly estimated man in the
+Confederate army and States, and filled also a very high place
+in the estimation of the people and press of the Northern
+States.  His praise was sounded throughout the entire North
+after every action he was engaged in:  the number of his forces
+was always lowered and that of the National forces
+exaggerated.  He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult
+of approach to his subordinates.  To be extolled by the entire
+press of the South after every engagement, and by a portion of
+the press North with equal vehemence, was calculated to give him
+the entire confidence of his troops and to make him feared by his
+antagonists.  It was not an uncommon thing for my staff-officers
+to hear from Eastern officers, "Well, Grant has never met Bobby
+Lee yet."  There were good and true officers who believe now
+that the Army of Northern Virginia was superior to the Army of
+the Potomac man to man.  I do not believe so, except as the
+advantages spoken of above made them so.  Before the end I
+believe the difference was the other way.  The Army of Northern
+Virginia became despondent and saw the end.  It did not please
+them.  The National army saw the same thing, and were encouraged
+by it.
+
+The advance of the Army of the Potomac reached the James on the
+14th of June.  Preparations were at once commenced for laying
+the pontoon bridges and crossing the river.  As already stated,
+I had previously ordered General Butler to have two vessels
+loaded with stone and carried up the river to a point above that
+occupied by our gunboats, where the channel was narrow, and sunk
+there so as to obstruct the passage and prevent Confederate
+gunboats from coming down the river.  Butler had had these boats
+filled and put in position, but had not had them sunk before my
+arrival.  I ordered this done, and also directed that he should
+turn over all material and boats not then in use in the river to
+be used in ferrying the troops across.
+
+I then, on the 14th, took a steamer and ran up to Bermuda
+Hundred to see General Butler for the purpose of directing a
+movement against Petersburg, while our troops of the Army of the
+Potomac were crossing.
+
+I had sent General W. F. Smith back from Cold Harbor by the way
+of White House, thence on steamers to City Point for the purpose
+of giving General Butler more troops with which to accomplish
+this result.  General Butler was ordered to send Smith with his
+troops reinforced, as far as that could be conveniently done,
+from other parts of the Army of the James.  He gave Smith about
+six thousand reinforcements, including some twenty-five hundred
+cavalry under Kautz, and about thirty-five hundred colored
+infantry under Hinks.
+
+The distance which Smith had to move to reach the enemy's lines
+was about six miles, and the Confederate advance line of works
+was but two miles outside of Petersburg.  Smith was to move
+under cover of night, up close to the enemy's works, and assault
+as soon as he could after daylight.  I believed then, and still
+believe, that Petersburg could have been easily captured at that
+time.  It only had about 2,500 men in the defences besides some
+irregular troops, consisting of citizens and employees in the
+city who took up arms in case of emergency.  Smith started as
+proposed, but his advance encountered a rebel force intrenched
+between City Point and their lines outside of Petersburg.  This
+position he carried, with some loss to the enemy; but there was
+so much delay that it was daylight before his troops really got
+off from there.  While there I informed General Butler that
+Hancock's corps would cross the river and move to Petersburg to
+support Smith in case the latter was successful, and that I
+could reinforce there more rapidly than Lee could reinforce from
+his position.
+
+I returned down the river to where the troops of the Army of the
+Potomac now were, communicated to General Meade, in writing, the
+directions I had given to General Butler and directed him
+(Meade) to cross Hancock's corps over under cover of night, and
+push them forward in the morning to Petersburg; halting them,
+however, at a designated point until they could hear from
+Smith.  I also informed General Meade that I had ordered rations
+from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to
+issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was
+absolutely necessary.  The rations did not reach him, however,
+and Hancock, while he got all his corps over during the night,
+remained until half-past ten in the hope of receiving them.  He
+then moved without them, and on the road received a note from
+General W. F. Smith, asking him to come on.  This seems to be
+the first information that General Hancock had received of the
+fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything
+particular was expected of him.  Otherwise he would have been
+there by four o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the
+forenoon of the 15th, and spent the day until after seven
+o'clock in the evening in reconnoitering what appeared to be
+empty works.  The enemy's line consisted of redans occupying
+commanding positions, with rifle-pits connecting them.  To the
+east side of Petersburg, from the Appomattox back, there were
+thirteen of these redans extending a distance of several miles,
+probably three.  If they had been properly manned they could
+have held out against any force that could have attacked them,
+at least until reinforcements could have got up from the north
+of Richmond.
+
+Smith assaulted with the colored troops, and with success.  By
+nine o'clock at night he was in possession of five of these
+redans and, of course, of the connecting lines of rifle-pits.
+All of them contained artillery, which fell into our hands.
+Hancock came up and proposed to take any part assigned to him;
+and Smith asked him to relieve his men who were in the trenches.
+
+Next morning, the 16th, Hancock himself was in command, and
+captured another redan.  Meade came up in the afternoon and
+succeeded Hancock, who had to be relieved, temporarily, from the
+command of his corps on account of the breaking out afresh of the
+wound he had received at Gettysburg.  During the day Meade
+assaulted and carried one more redan to his right and two to his
+left.  In all this we lost very heavily.  The works were not
+strongly manned, but they all had guns in them which fell into
+our hands, together with the men who were handling them in the
+effort to repel these assaults.
+
+Up to this time Beauregard, who had commanded south of Richmond,
+had received no reinforcements, except Hoke's division from
+Drury's Bluff,(*37) which had arrived on the morning of the
+16th; though he had urged the authorities very strongly to send
+them, believing, as he did, that Petersburg would be a valuable
+prize which we might seek.
+
+During the 17th the fighting was very severe and the losses
+heavy; and at night our troops occupied about the same position
+they had occupied in the morning, except that they held a redan
+which had been captured by Potter during the day.  During the
+night, however, Beauregard fell back to the line which had been
+already selected, and commenced fortifying it.  Our troops
+advanced on the 18th to the line which he had abandoned, and
+found that the Confederate loss had been very severe, many of
+the enemy's dead still remaining in the ditches and in front of
+them.
+
+Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the
+18th.  He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he
+had been in the habit of doing in all the engagements in which
+he had previously been engaged.  He had several times been
+recommended for a brigadier-generalcy for gallant and
+meritorious conduct.  On this occasion, however, I promoted him
+on the spot, and forwarded a copy of my order to the War
+Department, asking that my act might be confirmed and
+Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without
+any delay.  This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious
+officer received partial justice at the hands of his government,
+which he had served so faithfully and so well.
+
+If General Hancock's orders of the 15th had been communicated to
+him, that officer, with his usual promptness, would undoubtedly
+have been upon the ground around Petersburg as early as four
+o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th.  The days were long and it
+would have given him considerable time before night.  I do not
+think there is any doubt that Petersburg itself could have been
+carried without much loss; or, at least, if protected by inner
+detached works, that a line could have been established very
+much in rear of the one then occupied by the enemy.  This would
+have given us control of both the Weldon and South Side
+railroads.  This would also have saved an immense amount of hard
+fighting which had to be done from the 15th to the 18th, and
+would have given us greatly the advantage in the long siege
+which ensued.
+
+I now ordered the troops to be put under cover and allowed some
+of the rest which they had so long needed.  They remained quiet,
+except that there was more or less firing every day, until the
+22d, when General Meade ordered an advance towards the Weldon
+Railroad.  We were very anxious to get to that road, and even
+round to the South Side Railroad if possible.
+
+Meade moved Hancock's corps, now commanded by Birney, to the
+left, with a view to at least force the enemy to stay within the
+limits of his own line.  General Wright, with the 6th corps, was
+ordered by a road farther south, to march directly for the
+Weldon road.  The enemy passed in between these two corps and
+attacked vigorously, and with very serious results to the
+National troops, who were then withdrawn from their advanced
+position.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was given the investment of Petersburg,
+while the Army of the James held Bermuda Hundred and all the
+ground we possessed north of the James River.  The 9th corps,
+Burnside's, was placed upon the right at Petersburg; the 5th,
+Warren's, next; the 2d, Birney's, next; then the 6th, Wright's,
+broken off to the left and south.  Thus began the siege of
+Petersburg.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY 'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE
+WELDON RAILROAD.
+
+On the 7th of June, while at Cold Harbor, I had as already
+indicated sent Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry to destroy
+as much as he could of the Virginia Central Railroad.  General
+Hunter had been operating up the Shenandoah Valley with some
+success, having fought a battle near Staunton where he captured
+a great many prisoners, besides killing and wounding a good many
+men.  After the battle he formed a junction at Staunton with
+Averell and Crook, who had come up from the Kanawha, or Gauley
+River.  It was supposed, therefore, that General Hunter would be
+about Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time Sheridan could get
+there, doing on the way the damage that he was sent to do.
+
+I gave Sheridan instructions to have Hunter, in case he should
+meet him about Charlottesville, join and return with him to the
+Army of the Potomac.  Lee, hearing of Hunter's success in the
+valley, started Breckinridge out for its defence at once.
+Learning later of Sheridan's going with two divisions, he also
+sent Hampton with two divisions of cavalry, his own and
+Fitz-Hugh Lee's.
+
+Sheridan moved to the north side of the North Anna to get out
+west, and learned of the movement of these troops to the south
+side of the same stream almost as soon as they had started. He
+pushed on to get to Trevilian Station to commence his
+destruction at that point.  On the night of the 10th he
+bivouacked some six or seven miles east of Trevilian, while
+Fitz-Hugh Lee was the same night at Trevilian Station and
+Hampton but a few miles away.
+
+During the night Hampton ordered an advance on Sheridan, hoping,
+no doubt, to surprise and very badly cripple him.  Sheridan,
+however, by a counter move sent Custer on a rapid march to get
+between the two divisions of the enemy and into their rear. This
+he did successfully, so that at daylight, when the assault was
+made, the enemy found himself at the same time resisted in front
+and attacked in rear, and broke in some confusion.  The losses
+were probably very light on both sides in killed and wounded,
+but Sheridan got away with some five hundred prisoners and sent
+them to City Point.
+
+During that day, the 11th, Sheridan moved into Trevilian
+Station, and the following day proceeded to tear up the road
+east and west.  There was considerable fighting during the whole
+of the day, but the work of destruction went on.  In the
+meantime, at night, the enemy had taken possession of the
+crossing which Sheridan had proposed to take to go north when he
+left Trevilian.  Sheridan learned, however, from some of the
+prisoners he had captured here, that General Hunter was about
+Lynchburg, and therefore that there was no use of his going on
+to Charlottesville with a view to meet him.
+
+Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his
+way north and farther east, coming around by the north side of
+White House, and arriving there on the 21st.  Here he found an
+abundance of forage for his animals, food for his men, and
+security while resting.  He had been obliged to leave about
+ninety of his own men in the field-hospital which he had
+established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our
+troops were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a
+store of supplies.  Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it
+up; which he did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an
+immense wagon train with him.  All these were over the James
+River by the 26th of the month, and Sheridan ready to follow.
+
+In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson's division on a raid to
+destroy the Weldon and South Side roads.  Now that Sheridan was
+safe and Hampton free to return to Richmond with his cavalry,
+Wilson's position became precarious.  Meade therefore, on the
+27th, ordered Sheridan over the river to make a demonstration in
+favor of Wilson.  Wilson got back, though not without severe
+loss, having struck both roads, but the damage done was soon
+repaired.
+
+After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg
+until late in July.  The time, however, was spent in
+strengthening the intrenchments and making our position
+generally more secure against a sudden attack.  In the meantime
+I had to look after other portions of my command, where things
+had not been going on so favorably, always, as I could have
+wished.
+
+General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the
+Shenandoah Valley immediately took up the offensive.  He met the
+enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and defeated him.  On the
+8th he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton,
+from which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington,
+which he reached and invested on the 16th.  Up to this time he
+was very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with
+him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a
+hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg.
+The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories had
+been very great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter,
+General Lee sent Early with his corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on the 17th and
+18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give
+battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately, this want
+of ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by
+the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up the Ohio
+River, returning to Harper's Ferry by way of the Baltimore and
+Ohio Railroad.  A long time was consumed in making this
+movement.  Meantime the valley was left open to Early's troops,
+and others in that quarter; and Washington also was uncovered.
+Early took advantage of this condition of affairs and moved on
+Washington.
+
+In the absence of Hunter, General Lew Wallace, with headquarters
+at Baltimore, commanded the department in which the Shenandoah
+lay.  His surplus of troops with which to move against the enemy
+was small in number.  Most of these were raw and, consequently,
+very much inferior to our veterans and to the veterans which
+Early had with him; but the situation of Washington was
+precarious, and Wallace moved with commendable promptitude to
+meet the enemy at the Monocacy.  He could hardly have expected
+to defeat him badly, but he hoped to cripple and delay him until
+Washington could be put into a state of preparation for his
+reception.  I had previously ordered General Meade to send a
+division to Baltimore for the purpose of adding to the defences
+of Washington, and he had sent Ricketts's division of the 6th
+corps (Wright's), which arrived in Baltimore on the 8th of
+July.  Finding that Wallace had gone to the front with his
+command, Ricketts immediately took the cars and followed him to
+the Monocacy with his entire division.  They met the enemy and,
+as might have been expected, were defeated; but they succeeded
+in stopping him for the day on which the battle took place.  The
+next morning Early started on his march to the capital of the
+Nation, arriving before it on the 11th.
+
+Learning of the gravity of the situation I had directed General
+Meade to also order Wright with the rest of his corps directly
+to Washington for the relief of that place, and the latter
+reached there the very day that Early arrived before it.  The
+19th corps, which had been stationed in Louisiana, having been
+ordered up to reinforce the armies about Richmond, had about
+this time arrived at Fortress Monroe, on their way to join us. I
+diverted them from that point to Washington, which place they
+reached, almost simultaneously with Wright, on the 11th.  The
+19th corps was commanded by Major-General Emory.
+
+Early made his reconnoissance with a view of attacking on the
+following morning, the 12th; but the next morning he found our
+intrenchments, which were very strong, fully manned.  He at once
+commenced to retreat, Wright following.  There is no telling how
+much this result was contributed to by General Lew Wallace's
+leading what might well be considered almost a forlorn hope.  If
+Early had been but one day earlier he might have entered the
+capital before the arrival of the reinforcements I had sent.
+Whether the delay caused by the battle amounted to a day or not,
+General Wallace contributed on this occasion, by the defeat of
+the troops under him a greater benefit to the cause than often
+falls to the lot of a commander of an equal force to render by
+means of a victory.
+
+Farther west also the troubles were threatening.  Some time
+before, Forrest had met Sturgis in command of some of our
+cavalry in Mississippi and handled him very roughly, gaining a
+very great victory over him.  This left Forrest free to go
+almost where he pleased, and to cut the roads in rear of Sherman
+who was then advancing.  Sherman was abundantly able to look
+after the army that he was immediately with, and all of his
+military division so long as he could communicate with it; but
+it was my place to see that he had the means with which to hold
+his rear.  Two divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to
+Banks in Louisiana some months before.  Sherman ordered these
+back, with directions to attack Forrest.  Smith met and defeated
+him very badly.  I then directed that Smith should hang to
+Forrest and not let him go; and to prevent by all means his
+getting upon the Memphis and Nashville Railroad.  Sherman had
+anticipated me in this matter, and given the same orders in
+substance; but receiving my directions for this order to Smith,
+he repeated it.
+
+On the 25th of June General Burnside had commenced running a
+mine from about the centre of his front under the Confederate
+works confronting him.  He was induced to do this by Colonel
+Pleasants, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was
+mostly composed of miners, and who was himself a practical
+miner.  Burnside had submitted the scheme to Meade and myself,
+and we both approved of it, as a means of keeping the men
+occupied.  His position was very favorable for carrying on this
+work, but not so favorable for the operations to follow its
+completion.  The position of the two lines at that point were
+only about a hundred yards apart with a comparatively deep
+ravine intervening.  In the bottom of this ravine the work
+commenced.  The position was unfavorable in this particular:
+that the enemy's line at that point was re-entering, so that its
+front was commanded by their own lines both to the right and
+left.  Then, too, the ground was sloping upward back of the
+Confederate line for a considerable distance, and it was
+presumable that the enemy had, at least, a detached work on this
+highest point.  The work progressed, and on the 23d of July the
+mine was finished ready for charging; but I had this work of
+charging deferred until we were ready for it.
+
+On the 17th of July several deserters came in and said that
+there was great consternation in Richmond, and that Lee was
+coming out to make an attack upon us the object being to put us
+on the defensive so that he might detach troops to go to Georgia
+where the army Sherman was operating against was said to be in
+great trouble.  I put the army commanders, Meade and Butler, on
+the lookout, but the attack was not made.
+
+I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way
+of offensive movement myself, having in view something of the
+same object that Lee had had.  Wright's and Emory's corps were
+in Washington, and with this reduction of my force Lee might
+very readily have spared some troops from the defences to send
+West.  I had other objects in view, however, besides keeping Lee
+where he was.  The mine was constructed and ready to be exploded,
+and I wanted to take that occasion to carry Petersburg if I
+could.  It was the object, therefore, to get as many of Lee's
+troops away from the south side of the James River as
+possible.  Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement
+with Hancock's corps and Sheridan's cavalry to the north side by
+the way of Deep Bottom, where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid.
+The plan, in the main, was to let the cavalry cut loose and,
+joining with Kautz's cavalry of the Army of the James, get by
+Lee's lines and destroy as much as they could of the Virginia
+Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was to
+move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat
+back when they should have got through with their work.  We were
+successful in drawing the enemy's troops to the north side of the
+James as I expected.  The mine was ordered to be charged, and the
+morning of the 30th of July was the time fixed for its
+explosion.  I gave Meade minute orders (*38) on the 24th
+directing how I wanted the assault conducted, which orders he
+amplified into general instructions for the guidance of the
+troops that were to be engaged.
+
+Meade's instructions, which I, of course, approved most
+heartily, were all that I can see now was necessary.  The only
+further precaution which he could have taken, and which he could
+not foresee, would have been to have different men to execute
+them.
+
+The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from
+where it entered the ground to the point where it was under the
+enemy's works, and with a cross gallery of something over eighty
+feet running under their lines.  Eight chambers had been left,
+requiring a ton of powder each to charge them.  All was ready by
+the time I had prescribed; and on the 29th Hancock and Sheridan
+were brought back near the James River with their troops.  Under
+cover of night they started to recross the bridge at Deep Bottom,
+and to march directly for that part of our lines in front of the
+mine.
+
+Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient
+number of men and concentrate the balance on the right next to
+Burnside's corps, while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps,
+temporarily under Meade, was to form in the rear of Burnside to
+support him when he went in.  All were to clear off the parapets
+and the _abatis_ in their front so as to leave the space as open
+as possible, and be able to charge the moment the mine had been
+sprung and Burnside had taken possession.  Burnside's corps was
+not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the
+hill, supported on the right and left by Ord's and Warren's
+corps.
+
+Warren and Ord fulfilled their instructions perfectly so far as
+making ready was concerned.  Burnside seemed to have paid no
+attention whatever to the instructions, and left all the
+obstruction in his own front for his troops to get over in the
+best way they could.  The four divisions of his corps were
+commanded by Generals Potter, Willcox, Ledlie and Ferrero.  The
+last was a colored division; and Burnside selected it to make
+the assault.  Meade interfered with this.  Burnside then took
+Ledlie's division--a worse selection than the first could have
+been.  In fact, Potter and Willcox were the only division
+commanders Burnside had who were equal to the occasion.  Ledlie
+besides being otherwise inefficient, proved also to possess
+disqualification less common among soldiers.
+
+There was some delay about the explosion of the mine so that it
+did not go off until about five o'clock in the morning.  When it
+did explode it was very successful, making a crater twenty feet
+deep and something like a hundred feet in length.  Instantly one
+hundred and ten cannon and fifty mortars, which had been placed
+in the most commanding positions covering the ground to the
+right and left of where the troops were to enter the enemy's
+lines, commenced playing.  Ledlie's division marched into the
+crater immediately on the explosion, but most of the men stopped
+there in the absence of any one to give directions; their
+commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they
+started.  There was some delay on the left and right in
+advancing, but some of the troops did get in and turn to the
+right and left, carrying the rifle-pits as I expected they would
+do.
+
+There had been great consternation in Petersburg, as we were
+well aware, about a rumored mine that we were going to
+explode.  They knew we were mining, and they had failed to cut
+our mine off by countermining, though Beauregard had taken the
+precaution to run up a line of intrenchments to the rear of that
+part of their line fronting where they could see that our men
+were at work.  We had learned through deserters who had come in
+that the people had very wild rumors about what was going on on
+our side.  They said that we had undermined the whole of
+Petersburg; that they were resting upon a slumbering volcano and
+did not know at what moment they might expect an eruption.  I
+somewhat based my calculations upon this state of feeling, and
+expected that when the mine was exploded the troops to the right
+and left would flee in all directions, and that our troops, if
+they moved promptly, could get in and strengthen themselves
+before the enemy had come to a realization of the true
+situation.  It was just as I expected it would be.  We could see
+the men running without any apparent object except to get away.
+It was half an hour before musketry firing, to amount to
+anything, was opened upon our men in the crater.  It was an hour
+before the enemy got artillery up to play upon them; and it was
+nine o'clock before Lee got up reinforcements from his right to
+join in expelling our troops.
+
+The effort was a stupendous failure.  It cost us about four
+thousand men, mostly, however, captured; and all due to
+inefficiency on the part of the corps commander and the
+incompetency of the division commander who was sent to lead the
+assault.
+
+After being fully assured of the failure of the mine, and
+finding that most of that part of Lee's army which had been
+drawn north of the James River were still there, I gave Meade
+directions to send a corps of infantry and the cavalry next
+morning, before Lee could get his forces back, to destroy
+fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon Railroad.  But misfortunes
+never come singly.  I learned during that same afternoon that
+Wright's pursuit of Early was feeble because of the constant and
+contrary orders he had been receiving from Washington, while I
+was cut off from immediate communication by reason of our cable
+across Chesapeake Bay being broken.  Early, however, was not
+aware of the fact that Wright was not pursuing until he had
+reached Strasburg.  Finding that he was not pursued he turned
+back to Winchester, where Crook was stationed with a small
+force, and drove him out.  He then pushed north until he had
+reached the Potomac, then he sent McCausland across to
+Chambersburg, Pa., to destroy that town.  Chambersburg was a
+purely defenceless town with no garrison whatever, and no
+fortifications; yet McCausland, under Early's orders, burned the
+place and left about three hundred families houseless.  This
+occurred on the 30th of July.  I rescinded my orders for the
+troops to go out to destroy the Weldon Railroad, and directed
+them to embark for Washington City.  After burning Chambersburg
+McCausland retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley and
+driven into Virginia.
+
+The Shenandoah Valley was very important to the Confederates,
+because it was the principal storehouse they now had for feeding
+their armies about Richmond.  It was well known that they would
+make a desperate struggle to maintain it.  It had been the
+source of a great deal of trouble to us heretofore to guard that
+outlet to the north, partly because of the incompetency of some
+of the commanders, but chiefly because of interference from
+Washington.
+
+It seemed to be the policy of General Halleck and Secretary
+Stanton to keep any force sent there, in pursuit of the invading
+army, moving right and left so as to keep between the enemy and
+our capital; and, generally speaking, they pursued this policy
+until all knowledge of the whereabouts of the enemy was lost.
+They were left, therefore, free to supply themselves with
+horses, beef cattle, and such provisions as they could carry
+away from Western Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I determined to
+put a stop to this.  I started Sheridan at once for that field
+of operation, and on the following day sent another division of
+his cavalry.
+
+I had previously asked to have Sheridan assigned to that
+command, but Mr. Stanton objected, on the ground that he was too
+young for so important a command.  On the 1st of August when I
+sent reinforcements for the protection of Washington, I sent the
+following orders:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+
+August 1, 1864, 11.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington D. C.
+
+I am sending General Sheridan for temporary duty whilst the
+enemy is being expelled from the border.  Unless General Hunter
+is in the field in person, I want Sheridan put in command of all
+the troops in the field, with instructions to put himself south
+of the enemy and follow him to the death.  Wherever the enemy
+goes let our troops go also.  Once started up the valley they
+ought to be followed until we get possession of the Virginia
+Central Railroad.  If General Hunter is in the field, give
+Sheridan direct command of the 6th corps and cavalry division.
+All the cavalry, I presume, will reach Washington in the course
+of to-morrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The President in some way or other got to see this dispatch of
+mine directing certain instructions to be given to the
+commanders in the field, operating against Early, and sent me
+the following very characteristic dispatch:
+
+
+OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
+WAR DEPARTMENT,
+WASHINGTON, D. C., August 3, 1864.
+
+Cypher. 6 P.M.,
+
+LT. GENERAL GRANT,
+City Point, Va.
+
+I have seen your despatch in which you say, "I want Sheridan put
+in command of all the troops in the field, with instructions to
+put himself south of the enemy, and follow him to the death.
+Wherever the enemy goes, let our troops go also."  This, I
+think, is exactly right, as to how our forces should move.  But
+please look over the despatches you may have received from here,
+even since you made that order, and discover, if you can, that
+there is any idea in the head of any one here, of "putting our
+army south of the enemy," or of "following him to the death" in
+any direction.  I repeat to you it will neither be done nor
+attempted unless you watch it every day, and hour, and force it.
+
+A. LINCOLN.
+
+
+I replied to this that "I would start in two hours for
+Washington," and soon got off, going directly to the Monocacy
+without stopping at Washington on my way.  I found General
+Hunter's army encamped there, scattered over the fields along
+the banks of the Monocacy, with many hundreds of cars and
+locomotives, belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which
+he had taken the precaution to bring back and collect at that
+point.  I asked the general where the enemy was.  He replied
+that he did not know.  He said the fact was, that he was so
+embarrassed with orders from Washington moving him first to the
+right and then to the left that he had lost all trace of the
+enemy.
+
+I then told the general that I would find out where the enemy
+was, and at once ordered steam got up and trains made up, giving
+directions to push for Halltown, some four miles above Harper's
+Ferry, in the Shenandoah Valley.  The cavalry and the wagon
+trains were to march, but all the troops that could be
+transported by the cars were to go in that way.  I knew that the
+valley was of such importance to the enemy that, no matter how
+much he was scattered at that time, he would in a very short
+time be found in front of our troops moving south.
+
+I then wrote out General Hunter's instructions. (*39)  I told
+him that Sheridan was in Washington, and still another division
+was on its way; and suggested that he establish the headquarters
+of the department at any point that would suit him best,
+Cumberland, Baltimore, or elsewhere, and give Sheridan command
+of the troops in the field.  The general replied to this, that
+he thought he had better be relieved entirely.  He said that
+General Halleck seemed so much to distrust his fitness for the
+position he was in that he thought somebody else ought to be
+there.  He did not want, in any way, to embarrass the cause;
+thus showing a patriotism that was none too common in the
+army.  There were not many major-generals who would voluntarily
+have asked to have the command of a department taken from them
+on the supposition that for some particular reason, or for any
+reason, the service would be better performed.  I told him,
+"very well then," and telegraphed at once for Sheridan to come
+to the Monocacy, and suggested that I would wait and meet him
+there.
+
+Sheridan came at once by special train, but reached there after
+the troops were all off.  I went to the station and remained
+there until he arrived.  Myself and one or two of my staff were
+about all the Union people, except General Hunter and his staff,
+who were left at the Monocacy when Sheridan arrived.  I hastily
+told Sheridan what had been done and what I wanted him to do,
+giving him, at the same time, the written instructions which had
+been prepared for General Hunter and directed to that officer.
+
+Sheridan now had about 30,000 men to move with, 8,000 of them
+being cavalry.  Early had about the same number, but the
+superior ability of the National commander over the Confederate
+commander was so great that all the latter's advantage of being
+on the defensive was more than counterbalanced by this
+circumstance.  As I had predicted, Early was soon found in front
+of Sheridan in the valley, and Pennsylvania and Maryland were
+speedily freed from the invaders.  The importance of the valley
+was so great to the Confederates that Lee reinforced Early, but
+not to the extent that we thought and feared he would.
+
+To prevent as much as possible these reinforcements from being
+sent out from Richmond, I had to do something to compel Lee to
+retain his forces about his capital.  I therefore gave orders
+for another move to the north side of the James River, to
+threaten Richmond.  Hancock's corps, part of the 10th corps
+under Birney, and Gregg's division of cavalry were crossed to
+the north side of the James during the night of the 13th-14th of
+August.  A threatening position was maintained for a number of
+days, with more or less skirmishing, and some tolerably hard
+fighting; although it was my object and my instructions that
+anything like a battle should be avoided, unless opportunities
+should present themselves which would insure great success.
+General Meade was left in command of the few troops around
+Petersburg, strongly intrenched; and was instructed to keep a
+close watch upon the enemy in that quarter, and himself to take
+advantage of any weakening that might occur through an effort on
+the part of the enemy to reinforce the north side.  There was no
+particular victory gained on either side; but during that time
+no more reinforcements were sent to the valley.
+
+I informed Sheridan of what had been done to prevent
+reinforcements being sent from Richmond against him, and also
+that the efforts we had made had proven that one of the
+divisions which we supposed had gone to the valley was still at
+Richmond, because we had captured six or seven hundred prisoners
+from that division, each of its four brigades having contributed
+to our list of captures.  I also informed him that but one
+division had gone, and it was possible that I should be able to
+prevent the going of any more.
+
+To add to my embarrassment at this time Sherman, who was now
+near Atlanta, wanted reinforcements.  He was perfectly willing
+to take the raw troops then being raised in the North-west,
+saying that he could teach them more soldiering in one day among
+his troops than they would learn in a week in a camp of
+instruction.  I therefore asked that all troops in camps of
+instruction in the North-west be sent to him.  Sherman also
+wanted to be assured that no Eastern troops were moving out
+against him.  I informed him of what I had done and assured him
+that I would hold all the troops there that it was possible for
+me to hold, and that up to that time none had gone.  I also
+informed him that his real danger was from Kirby Smith, who
+commanded the trans-Mississippi Department.  If Smith should
+escape Steele, and get across the Mississippi River, he might
+move against him.  I had, therefore, asked to have an expedition
+ready to move from New Orleans against Mobile in case Kirby Smith
+should get across.  This would have a tendency to draw him to the
+defence of that place, instead of going against Sherman.
+
+Right in the midst of all these embarrassments Halleck informed
+me that there was an organized scheme on foot in the North to
+resist the draft, and suggested that it might become necessary
+to draw troops from the field to put it down.  He also advised
+taking in sail, and not going too fast.
+
+The troops were withdrawn from the north side of the James River
+on the night of the 20th.  Before they were withdrawn, however,
+and while most of Lee's force was on that side of the river,
+Warren had been sent with most of the 5th corps to capture the
+Weldon Railroad.  He took up his line of march well back to the
+rear, south of the enemy, while the troops remaining in the
+trenches extended so as to cover that part of the line which he
+had vacated by moving out.  From our left, near the old line, it
+was about three miles to the Weldon Railroad.  A division was
+ordered from the right of the Petersburg line to reinforce
+Warren, while a division was brought back from the north side of
+the James River to take its place.
+
+This road was very important to the enemy.  The limits from
+which his supplies had been drawn were already very much
+contracted, and I knew that he must fight desperately to protect
+it.  Warren carried the road, though with heavy loss on both
+sides.  He fortified his new position, and our trenches were
+then extended from the left of our main line to connect with his
+new one.  Lee made repeated attempts to dislodge Warren's corps,
+but without success, and with heavy loss.
+
+As soon as Warren was fortified and reinforcements reached him,
+troops were sent south to destroy the bridges on the Weldon
+Railroad; and with such success that the enemy had to draw in
+wagons, for a distance of about thirty miles, all the supplies
+they got thereafter from that source.  It was on the 21st that
+Lee seemed to have given up the Weldon Railroad as having been
+lost to him; but along about the 24th or 25th he made renewed
+attempts to recapture it; again he failed and with very heavy
+losses to him as compared with ours.
+
+On the night of the 20th our troops on the north side of the
+James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg were sent south to
+destroy the Weldon Railroad.  They were attacked on the 25th at
+Reams's Station, and after desperate fighting a part of our line
+gave way, losing five pieces of artillery.  But the Weldon
+Railroad never went out of our possession from the 18th of
+August to the close of the war.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a
+large force that regarded this road of so much importance that
+they could afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman
+just getting through to Atlanta with great losses of men from
+casualties, discharges and detachments left along as guards to
+occupy and hold the road in rear of him; Washington threatened
+but a short time before, and now Early being strengthened in the
+valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt.  It kept me pretty
+active in looking after all these points.
+
+On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the
+Shenandoah Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg.  On the 12th
+I learned that Lee had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two
+divisions of infantry and a considerable cavalry force to
+strengthen Early.  It was important that Sheridan should be
+informed of this, so I sent the information to Washington by
+telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to get
+the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the
+information.  The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed
+through with great energy and reached Sheridan just in time. The
+officer went through by way of Snicker's Gap, escorted by some
+cavalry.  He found Sheridan just making his preparations to
+attack Early in his chosen position.  Now, however, he was
+thrown back on the defensive.
+
+On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in
+the Shenandoah Valley.  My purpose was to have him attack Early,
+or drive him out of the valley and destroy that source of
+supplies for Lee's army.  I knew it was impossible for me to get
+orders through Washington to Sheridan to make a move, because
+they would be stopped there and such orders as Halleck's caution
+(and that of the Secretary of War) would suggest would be given
+instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to mine.  I
+therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly through
+to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper's Ferry, and waited
+there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance
+to inform him where to meet me.
+
+When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the
+positions of his army and that of the enemy.  He at once drew
+one out of his side pocket, showing all roads and streams, and
+the camps of the two armies.  He said that if he had permission
+he would move so and so (pointing out how) against the
+Confederates, and that he could "whip them."  Before starting I
+had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had
+brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so
+positive in his views and so confident of success, I said
+nothing about this and did not take it out of my pocket.
+
+Sheridan's wagon trains were kept at Harper's Ferry, where all
+of his stores were.  By keeping the teams at that place, their
+forage did not have to be hauled to them.  As supplies of
+ammunition, provisions and rations for the men were wanted,
+trains would be made up to deliver the stores to the
+commissaries and quartermasters encamped at Winchester.  Know
+that he, in making preparations to move at a given day, would
+have to bring up wagons trains from Harper's Ferry, I asked him
+if he could be ready to get off by the following Tuesday.  This
+was on Friday.  "O Yes," he said, he "could be off before
+daylight on Monday."  I told him then to make the attack at that
+time and according to his own plan; and I immediately started to
+return to the army about Richmond.  After visiting Baltimore and
+Burlington, New Jersey, I arrived at City Point on the 19th.
+
+On the way out to Harper's Ferry I had met Mr. Robert Garrett,
+President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  He seemed very
+anxious to know when workmen might be put upon the road again so
+as to make repairs and put it in shape for running.  It was a
+large piece of property to have standing idle.  I told him I
+could not answer then positively but would try and inform him
+before a great while.  On Mr. Garrett met me again with the same
+and I told him I thought that by the Wednesday he might send his
+workmen out on his road.  I gave him no further information
+however, and he had no suspicion of how expected to have the
+road cleared for his workmen.
+
+Sheridan moved at the time he had fixed upon.  Early at the
+crossing of Opequon Creek, a most decisive victory--one which
+the country.  Early had invited this attack himself by his bad
+generalship and made the victory easy.  He had sent G. T.
+Anderson's division east Blue Ridge before I went to Harper's
+Ferry; and about the time I arrived there he started other
+divisions (leaving but two in their camps) to march to
+Martinsburg for the purpose destroying the Baltimore and Ohio
+Railroad at that point.  Early here learned that I had been with
+Sheridan and, supposing there was some movement on foot, started
+back as soon as he got the information.  But his forces were
+separated and, as I have said, he was very badly defeated.  He
+fell back to Fisher's Hill, Sheridan following.
+
+The valley is narrow at that point, and Early made another stand
+there, behind works which extended across.  But Sheridan turned
+both his flanks and again sent him speeding up the valley,
+following in hot pursuit.  The pursuit was continued up the
+valley to Mount Jackson and New Market.  Sheridan captured about
+eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen guns.  The houses which he
+passed all along the route were found to be filled with Early's
+wounded, and the country swarmed with his deserters.  Finally,
+on the 25th, Early turned from the valley eastward, leaving
+Sheridan at Harrisonburg in undisputed possession.
+
+Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be
+accomplished.  Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering
+in the crops, cattle, and everything in the upper part of the
+valley required by our troops; and especially taking what might
+be of use to the enemy.  What he could not take away he
+destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to come back
+there.  I congratulated Sheridan upon his recent great victory
+and had a salute of a hundred guns fired in honor of it, the
+guns being aimed at the enemy around Petersburg.  I also
+notified the other commanders throughout the country, who also
+fired salutes in honor of his victory.
+
+I had reason to believe that the administration was a little
+afraid to have a decisive battle at that time, for fear it might
+go against us and have a bad effect on the November elections.
+The convention which had met and made its nomination of the
+Democratic candidate for the presidency had declared the war a
+failure.  Treason was talked as boldly in Chicago at that
+convention as ever been in Charleston.  It was a question
+whether the government would then have had the power to make
+arrests and punish those who talked treason.  But this decisive
+victory was effective campaign argument made in the most
+effective campaign argument made in the canvass.
+
+Sheridan, in his pursuit, got beyond where could hear from him
+in Washington, and the President became very much frightened
+about him.  He was afraid that the hot pursuit had been a little
+like that of General Cass was said to have been, in one of our
+Indian wars, when he was an officer of army.  Cass was pursuing
+the Indians so closely that the first thing he knew he found
+himself in front, and the Indians pursuing him.  The President
+was afraid that Sheridan had got on the other side of Early and
+that Early was in behind him.  He was afraid that Sheridan was
+getting so far away that reinforcements would be sent out from
+Richmond to enable Early to beat him.  I replied to the
+President that I had taken steps to prevent Lee from sending
+reinforcements to Early, by attacking the former where he was.
+
+On the 28th of September, to retain Lee in his position, I sent
+Ord with the 18th corps and Birney with the 10th corps to make
+an advance on Richmond, to threaten it.  Ord moved with the left
+wing up to Chaffin's Bluff; Birney with the 10th corps took a
+road farther north; while Kautz with the cavalry took the Darby
+road, still farther to the north.  They got across the river by
+the next morning, and made an effort to surprise the enemy.  In
+that, however, they were unsuccessful.
+
+The enemy's lines were very strong and very intricate.
+Stannard's division of the 18th corps with General Burnham's
+brigade leading, tried an assault against Fort Harrison and
+captured it with sixteen guns and a good many prisoners. Burnham
+was killed in the assault.  Colonel Stevens who succeeded him was
+badly wounded; and his successor also fell in the same way.  Some
+works to the right and left were also carried with the guns in
+them--six in number--and a few more prisoners.  Birney's troops
+to the right captured the enemy's intrenched picket-lines, but
+were unsuccessful in their efforts upon the main line.
+
+Our troops fortified their new position, bringing Fort Harrison
+into the new line and extending it to the river.  This brought
+us pretty close to the enemy on the north side of the James, and
+the two opposing lines maintained their relative positions to the
+close of the siege.
+
+In the afternoon a further attempt was made to advance, but it
+failed.  Ord fell badly wounded, and had to be relieved ; the
+command devolved upon General Heckman, and later General Weitzel
+was assigned to the command of the 18th corps.  During the night
+Lee reinforced his troops about Fort Gilmer, which was at the
+right of Fort Harrison, by eight additional brigades from
+Petersburg, and attempted to retake the works which we had
+captured by concentrating ten brigades against them.  All their
+efforts failed, their attacks being all repulsed with very heavy
+loss.  In one of these assaults upon us General Stannard, a
+gallant officer who was defending Fort Harrison, lost an arm.
+Our casualties during these operations amounted to 394 killed,
+I,554 wounded and 324 missing.
+
+Whilst this was going on General Meade was instructed to keep up
+an appearance of moving troops to our extreme left.  Parke and
+Warren were kept with two divisions, each under arms, ready to
+move leaving their enclosed batteries manned, with a scattering
+line on the other intrenchments.  The object of this was to
+prevent reinforcements from going to the north side of the
+river.  Meade was instructed to watch the enemy closely and, if
+Lee weakened his lines, to make an attack.
+
+On the 30th these troops moved out, under Warren, and captured
+an advanced intrenched camp at Peeble's farm, driving the enemy
+back to the main line.  Our troops followed and made an attack
+in the hope of carrying the enemy's main line; but in this they
+were unsuccessful and lost a large number of men, mostly
+captured.  The number of killed and wounded was not large.  The
+next day our troops advanced again and established themselves,
+intrenching a new line about a mile in front of the enemy.  This
+advanced Warren's position on the Weldon Railroad very
+considerably.
+
+Sheridan having driven the enemy out of the valley, and taken
+the productions of the valley so that instead of going there for
+supplies the enemy would have to bring his provisions with him if
+he again entered it, recommended a reduction of his own force,
+the surplus to be sent where it could be of more use.  I
+approved of his suggestion, and ordered him to send Wright's
+corps back to the James River.  I further directed him to repair
+the railroad up the Shenandoah Valley towards the advanced
+position which we would hold with a small force.  The troops
+were to be sent to Washington by the way of Culpeper, in order
+to watch the east side of the Blue Ridge, and prevent the enemy
+from getting into the rear of Sheridan while he was still doing
+his work of destruction.
+
+The valley was so very important, however, to the Confederate
+army that, contrary to our expectations, they determined to make
+one more strike, and save it if possible before the supplies
+should be all destroyed.  Reinforcements were sent therefore to
+Early, and this before any of our troops had been withdrawn.
+Early prepared to strike Sheridan at Harrisonburg; but the
+latter had not remained there.
+
+On the 6th of October Sheridan commenced retiring down the
+valley, taking or destroying all the food and forage and driving
+the cattle before him, Early following.  At Fisher's Hill
+Sheridan turned his cavalry back on that of Early, which, under
+the lead of Rosser, was pursuing closely, and routed it most
+completely, capturing eleven guns and a large number of
+prisoners.  Sheridan lost only about sixty men.  His cavalry
+pursued the enemy back some twenty-five miles.  On the 10th of
+October the march down the valley was again resumed, Early again
+following.
+
+I now ordered Sheridan to halt, and to improve the opportunity
+if afforded by the enemy's having been sufficiently weakened, to
+move back again and cut the James River Canal and Virginia
+Central Railroad.  But this order had to go through Washington
+where it was intercepted; and when Sheridan received what
+purported to be a statement of what I wanted him to do it was
+something entirely different.  Halleck informed Sheridan that it
+was my wish for him to hold a forward position as a base from
+which to act against Charlottesville and Gordonsville; that he
+should fortify this position and provision it.
+
+Sheridan objected to this most decidedly; and I was impelled to
+telegraph him, on the 14th, as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+October 14, 1864.--12.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,
+Cedar Creek, Va.
+
+What I want is for you to threaten the Virginia Central Railroad
+and canal in the manner your judgment tells you is best, holding
+yourself ready to advance, if the enemy draw off their forces.
+If you make the enemy hold a force equal to your own for the
+protection of those thoroughfares, it will accomplish nearly as
+much as their destruction.  If you cannot do this, then the next
+best thing to do is to send here all the force you can.  I deem a
+good cavalry force necessary for your offensive, as well as
+defensive operations.  You need not therefore send here more
+than one division of cavalry.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sheridan having been summoned to Washington City, started on the
+15th leaving Wright in command.  His army was then at Cedar
+Creek, some twenty miles south of Winchester.  The next morning
+while at Front Royal, Sheridan received a dispatch from Wright,
+saying that a dispatch from Longstreet to Early had been
+intercepted.  It directed the latter to be ready to move and to
+crush Sheridan as soon as he, Longstreet, arrived.  On the
+receipt of this news Sheridan ordered the cavalry up the valley
+to join Wright.
+
+On the 18th of October Early was ready to move, and during the
+night succeeded in getting his troops in the rear of our left
+flank, which fled precipitately and in great confusion down the
+valley, losing eighteen pieces of artillery and a thousand or
+more prisoners.  The right under General Getty maintained a firm
+and steady front, falling back to Middletown where it took a
+position and made a stand.  The cavalry went to the rear, seized
+the roads leading to Winchester and held them for the use of our
+troops in falling back, General Wright having ordered a retreat
+back to that place.
+
+Sheridan having left Washington on the 18th, reached Winchester
+that night.  The following morning he started to join his
+command.  He had scarcely got out of town, when he met his men
+returning in panic from the front and also heard heavy firing to
+the south.  He immediately ordered the cavalry at Winchester to
+be deployed across the valley to stop the stragglers.  Leaving
+members of his staff to take care of Winchester and the public
+property there, he set out with a small escort directly for the
+scene of battle.  As he met the fugitives he ordered them to
+turn back, reminding them that they were going the wrong way.
+His presence soon restored confidence.  Finding themselves worse
+frightened than hurt the men did halt and turn back.  Many of
+those who had run ten miles got back in time to redeem their
+reputation as gallant soldiers before night.
+
+When Sheridan got to the front he found Getty and Custer still
+holding their ground firmly between the Confederates and our
+retreating troops.  Everything in the rear was now ordered up.
+Sheridan at once proceeded to intrench his position; and he
+awaited an assault from the enemy.  This was made with vigor,
+and was directed principally against Emory's corps, which had
+sustained the principal loss in the first attack.  By one
+o'clock the attack was repulsed.  Early was so badly damaged
+that he seemed disinclined to make another attack, but went to
+work to intrench himself with a view to holding the position he
+had already gained.  He thought, no doubt, that Sheridan would
+be glad enough to leave him unmolested; but in this he was
+mistaken.
+
+About the middle of the afternoon Sheridan advanced.  He sent
+his cavalry by both flanks, and they penetrated to the enemy's
+rear.  The contest was close for a time, but at length the left
+of the enemy broke, and disintegration along the whole line soon
+followed.  Early tried to rally his men, but they were followed
+so closely that they had to give way very quickly every time
+they attempted to make a stand.  Our cavalry, having pushed on
+and got in the rear of the Confederates, captured twenty-four
+pieces of artillery, besides retaking what had been lost in the
+morning.  This victory pretty much closed the campaigning in the
+Valley of Virginia.  All the Confederate troops were sent back to
+Richmond with the exception of one division of infantry and a
+little cavalry.  Wright's corps was ordered back to the Army of
+the Potomac, and two other divisions were withdrawn from the
+valley.  Early had lost more men in killed, wounded and captured
+in the valley than Sheridan had commanded from first to last.
+
+On more than one occasion in these engagements General R. B.
+Hayes, who succeeded me as President of the United States, bore
+a very honorable part.  His conduct on the field was marked by
+conspicuous gallantry as well as the display of qualities of a
+higher order than that of mere personal daring.  This might well
+have been expected of one who could write at the time he is said
+to have done so:  "Any officer fit for duty who at this crisis
+would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress,
+ought to be scalped."  Having entered the army as a Major of
+Volunteers at the beginning of the war, General Hayes attained
+by meritorious service the rank of Brevet Major-General before
+its close.
+
+On the north side of the James River the enemy attacked Kautz's
+cavalry on the 7th of October, and drove it back with heavy loss
+in killed, wounded and prisoners, and the loss of all the
+artillery.  This was followed up by an attack on our intrenched
+infantry line, but was repulsed with severe slaughter.  On the
+13th a reconnoissance was sent out by General Butler, with a
+view to drive the enemy from some new works he was constructing,
+which resulted in heavy loss to us.
+
+On the 24th I ordered General Meade to attempt to get possession
+of the South Side Railroad, and for that purpose to advance on
+the 27th.  The attempt proved a failure, however, the most
+advanced of our troops not getting nearer than within six miles
+of the point aimed for.  Seeing the impossibility of its
+accomplishment I ordered the troops to withdraw, and they were
+all back in their former positions the next day.
+
+Butler, by my directions, also made a demonstration on the north
+side of the James River in order to support this move, by
+detaining there the Confederate troops who were on that side. He
+succeeded in this, but failed of further results by not marching
+past the enemy's left before turning in on the Darby road and by
+reason of simply coming up against their lines in place.
+
+This closed active operations around Richmond for the winter. Of
+course there was frequent skirmishing between pickets, but no
+serious battle was fought near either Petersburg or Richmond. 
+It would prolong this work to give a detailed account of all
+that took place from day to day around Petersburg and at other
+parts of my command, and it would not interest the general
+reader if given.  All these details can be found by the military
+student in a series of books published by the Scribners, Badeau's
+history of my campaigns, and also in the publications of the War
+Department, including both the National and Confederate reports.
+
+In the latter part of November General Hancock was relieved from
+the command of the 2d corps by the Secretary of War and ordered
+to Washington, to organize and command a corps of veteran troops
+to be designated the 1st corps.  It was expected that this would
+give him a large command to co-operate with in the spring.  It
+was my expectation, at the time, that in the final operations
+Hancock should move either up the valley, or else east of the
+Blue Ridge to Lynchburg; the idea being to make the spring
+campaign the close of the war.  I expected, with Sherman coming
+up from the South, Meade south of Petersburg and around
+Richmond, and Thomas's command in Tennessee with depots of
+supplies established in the eastern part of that State, to move
+from the direction of Washington or the valley towards
+Lynchburg.  We would then have Lee so surrounded that his
+supplies would be cut off entirely, making it impossible for him
+to support his army.
+
+General Humphreys, chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac,
+was assigned to the command of the 2d corps, to succeed Hancock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+Let us now return to the operations in the military division of
+the Mississippi, and accompany Sherman in his march to the sea.
+
+The possession of Atlanta by us narrowed the territory of the
+enemy very materially and cut off one of his two remaining lines
+of roads from east to west.
+
+A short time after the fall of Atlanta Mr. Davis visited
+Palmetto and Macon and made speeches at each place.  He spoke at
+Palmetto on the 20th of September, and at Macon on the 22d. 
+Inasmuch as he had relieved Johnston and appointed Hood, and
+Hood had immediately taken the initiative, it is natural to
+suppose that Mr. Davis was disappointed with General Johnston's
+policy.  My own judgment is that Johnston acted very wisely:  he
+husbanded his men and saved as much of his territory as he could,
+without fighting decisive battles in which all might be lost.  As
+Sherman advanced, as I have show, his army became spread out,
+until, if this had been continued, it would have been easy to
+destroy it in detail.  I know that both Sherman and I were
+rejoiced when we heard of the change.  Hood was unquestionably a
+brave, gallant soldier and not destitute of ability; but
+unfortunately his policy was to fight the enemy wherever he saw
+him, without thinking much of the consequences of defeat.
+
+In his speeches Mr. Davis denounced Governor Brown, of Georgia,
+and General Johnston in unmeasured terms, even insinuating that
+their loyalty to the Southern cause was doubtful.  So far as
+General Johnston is concerned, I think Davis did him a great
+injustice in this particular.  I had know the general before the
+war and strongly believed it would be impossible for him to
+accept a high commission for the purpose of betraying the cause
+he had espoused.  There, as I have said, I think that his policy
+was the best one that could have been pursued by the whole
+South-- protract the war, which was all that was necessary to
+enable them to gain recognition in the end.  The North was
+already growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with
+this difference.  In the North the people governed, and could
+stop hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies.  The
+South was a military camp, controlled absolutely by the
+government with soldiers to back it, and the war could have been
+protracted, no matter to what extent the discontent reached, up
+to the point of open mutiny of the soldiers themselves.  Mr.
+Davis's speeches were frank appeals to the people of Georgia and
+that portion of the South to come to their relief.  He tried to
+assure his frightened hearers that the Yankees were rapidly
+digging their own graves; that measures were already being taken
+to cut them off from supplies from the North; and that with a
+force in front, and cut off from the rear, they must soon starve
+in the midst of a hostile people.  Papers containing reports of
+these speeches immediately reached the Northern States, and they
+were republished.  Of course, that caused no alarm so long as
+telegraphic communication was kept up with Sherman.
+
+When Hood was forced to retreat from Atlanta he moved to the
+south-west and was followed by a portion of Sherman's army.  He
+soon appeared upon the railroad in Sherman's rear, and with his
+whole army began destroying the road.  At the same time also the
+work was begun in Tennessee and Kentucky which Mr. Davis had
+assured his hearers at Palmetto and Macon would take place.  He
+ordered Forrest (about the ablest cavalry general in the South)
+north for this purpose; and Forrest and Wheeler carried out
+their orders with more or less destruction, occasionally picking
+up a garrison.  Forrest indeed performed the very remarkable feat
+of capturing, with cavalry, two gunboats and a number of
+transports, something the accomplishment of which is very hard
+to account for.  Hood's army had been weakened by Governor
+Brown's withdrawing the Georgia State troops for the purpose of
+gathering in the season's crops for the use of the people and
+for the use of the army.  This not only depleted Hood's forces
+but it served a most excellent purpose in gathering in supplies
+of food and forage for the use of our army in its subsequent
+march.  Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go
+himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was
+clearly demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it
+would be impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave
+him any force whatever with which to take the offensive.  Had
+that plan been adhered to, very large reinforcements would have
+been necessary; and Mr. Davis's prediction of the destruction of
+the army would have been realized, or else Sherman would have
+been obliged to make a successful retreat, which Mr. Davis said
+in his speeches would prove more disastrous than Napoleon's
+retreat from Moscow.
+
+These speeches of Mr. Davis were not long in reaching Sherman. 
+He took advantage of the information they gave, and made all the
+preparation possible for him to make to meet what now became
+expected, attempts to break his communications.  Something else
+had to be done:  and to Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind
+the idea was not long in dawning upon him, not only that
+something else had to be done, but what that something else
+should be.
+
+On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 10, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN,
+Atlanta, Georgia.
+
+So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations
+can be made, it is desirable that another campaign should be
+commenced.  We want to keep the enemy constantly pressed to the
+end of the war.  If we give him no peace whilst the war lasts,
+the end cannot be distant.  Now that we have all of Mobile Bay
+that is valuable, I do not know but it will be the best move to
+transfer Canby's troops to act upon Savannah, whilst you move on
+Augusta. I should like to hear from you, however, in this matter.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sherman replied promptly:
+
+"If I could be sure of finding provisions and ammunition at
+Augusta, or Columbus, Georgia, I can march to Milledgeville, and
+compel Hood to give up Augusta or Macon, and then turn on the
+other.  * * * If you can manage to take the Savannah River as
+high up as Augusta, or the Chattahoochee as far up as Columbus,
+I can sweep the whole State of Georgia."
+
+On the 12th I sent a special messenger, one of my own staff,
+with a letter inviting Sherman's views about the next campaign.
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 12, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Division of the Mississippi.
+
+I send Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, of my staff, with this. 
+Colonel Porter will explain to you the exact condition of
+affairs here better than I can do in the limits of a letter. 
+Although I feel myself strong enough for offensive operations, I
+am holding on quietly to get advantage of recruits and
+convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly.  My lines
+are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom north of
+the James across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the
+James, and south of the Appomattox to the Weldon Road.  This
+line is very strongly fortified, and can be held with
+comparatively few men, but from its great length takes many in
+the aggregate.  I propose, when I do move, to extend my left so
+as to control what is known as the South Side, or Lynchburg and
+Petersburg Road, then if possible to keep the Danville Road
+cut.  At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force
+of from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington.
+
+The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort
+Fisher, and hold that point.  At the same time a large naval
+fleet will be assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the
+batteries as they did at Mobile.  This will give us the same
+control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now have of the
+harbor of Mobile. What you are to do with the forces at your
+command, I do not see. The difficulties of supplying your army,
+except when you are constantly moving, beyond where you are, I
+plainly see.  If it had not been for Price's movements Canby
+would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile.  From your
+command on the Mississippi an equal number could have been
+taken.  With these forces my idea would have been to divide
+them, sending one half to Mobile and the other half to
+Savannah.  You could then move as proposed in your telegram, so
+as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally.  Whichever was
+abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new base of
+supplies.  My object now in sending a staff officer is not so
+much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and
+have plans matured by the time everything can be got ready.  It
+will probably be the 5th of October before any of the plans
+herein indicated will be executed.
+
+If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward
+and I will approve them. * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+This reached Sherman on September 20th.
+
+On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that
+Hood's troops were in his rear.  He had provided against this by
+sending a division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome,
+Georgia, which was in the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood
+would fall back in the direction from which he had come to reach
+the railroad.  At the same time Sherman and Hood kept up a
+correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners, the
+treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged
+between hostile commanders in the field.  On the 27th of
+September I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+September 27, 1864--10.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN:
+
+I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western
+States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders
+from you.  * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and
+afterwards to Nashville, with another division (Morgan's) of the
+advanced army.  Sherman then suggested that, when he was
+prepared, his movements should take place against Milledgeville
+and then to Savannah.  His expectation at that time was, to make
+this movement as soon as he could get up his supplies.  Hood was
+moving in his own country, and was moving light so that he could
+make two miles to Sherman's one.  He depended upon the country to
+gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays.
+
+As I have said, until this unexpected state of affairs happened,
+Mobile had been looked upon as the objective point of Sherman's
+army.  It had been a favorite move of mine from 1862, when I
+first suggested to the then commander-in-chief that the troops
+in Louisiana, instead of frittering away their time in the
+trans- Mississippi, should move against Mobile.  I recommended
+this from time to time until I came into command of the army,
+the last of March 1864.  Having the power in my own hands, I now
+ordered the concentration of supplies, stores and troops, in the
+department of the Gulf about New Orleans, with a view to a move
+against Mobile, in support of, and in conjunction with, the
+other armies operating in the field.  Before I came into
+command, these troops had been scattered over the
+trans-Mississippi department in such a way that they could not
+be, or were not, gotten back in time to take any part in the
+original movement; hence the consideration, which had caused
+Mobile to be selected as the objective point for Sherman's army
+to find his next base of supplies after having cut loose from
+Atlanta, no longer existed.
+
+General G. M. Dodge, an exceedingly efficient officer, having
+been badly wounded, had to leave the army about the first of
+October. He was in command of two divisions of the 16th corps,
+consolidated into one.  Sherman then divided his army into the
+right and left wings the right commanded by General O. O. Howard
+and the left by General Slocum.  General Dodge's two divisions
+were assigned, one to each of these wings.  Howard's command
+embraced the 15th and 17th corps, and Slocum's the 14th and 20th
+corps, commanded by Generals Jeff. C. Davis and A. S. Williams.
+Generals Logan and Blair commanded the two corps composing the
+right wing.  About this time they left to take part in the
+presidential election, which took place that year, leaving their
+corps to Osterhaus and Ransom.  I have no doubt that their
+leaving was at the earnest solicitation of the War Department. 
+General Blair got back in time to resume his command and to
+proceed with it throughout the march to the sea and back to the
+grand review at Washington.  General Logan did not return to his
+command until after it reached Savannah.
+
+Logan felt very much aggrieved at the transfer of General Howard
+from that portion of the Army of the Potomac which was then with
+the Western Army, to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+with which army General Logan had served from the battle of
+Belmont to the fall of Atlanta--having passed successively
+through all grades from colonel commanding a regiment to general
+commanding a brigade, division and army corps, until upon the
+death of McPherson the command of the entire Army of the
+Tennessee devolved upon him in the midst of a hotly contested
+battle.  He conceived that he had done his full duty as
+commander in that engagement; and I can bear testimony, from
+personal observation, that he had proved himself fully equal to
+all the lower positions which he had occupied as a soldier.  I
+will not pretend to question the motive which actuated Sherman
+in taking an officer from another army to supersede General
+Logan.  I have no doubt, whatever, that he did this for what he
+considered would be to the good of the service, which was more
+important than that the personal feelings of any individual
+should not be aggrieved; though I doubt whether he had an
+officer with him who could have filled the place as Logan would
+have done.  Differences of opinion must exist between the best
+of friends as to policies in war, and of judgment as to men's
+fitness.  The officer who has the command, however, should be
+allowed to judge of the fitness of the officers under him,
+unless he is very manifestly wrong.
+
+Sherman's army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty
+thousand effective men.  All weak men had been left to hold the
+rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and
+hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever
+trod the earth; better than any European soldiers, because they
+not only worked like a machine but the machine thought. 
+European armies know very little what they are fighting for, and
+care less. Included in these sixty thousand troops, there were
+two small divisions of cavalry, numbering altogether about four
+thousand men.  Hood had about thirty-five to forty thousand men,
+independent of Forrest, whose forces were operating in Tennessee
+and Kentucky, as Mr. Davis had promised they should.  This part
+of Mr. Davis's military plan was admirable, and promised the
+best results of anything he could have done, according to my
+judgment. I say this because I have criticised his military
+judgment in the removal of Johnston, and also in the appointment
+of Hood.  I am aware, however, that there was high feeling
+existing at that time between Davis and his subordinate, whom I
+regarded as one of his ablest lieutenants.
+
+On the 5th of October the railroad back from Atlanta was again
+very badly broken, Hood having got on the track with his army.
+Sherman saw after night, from a high point, the road burning for
+miles.  The defence of the railroad by our troops was very
+gallant, but they could not hold points between their intrenched
+positions against Hood's whole army; in fact they made no attempt
+to do so; but generally the intrenched positions were held, as
+well as important bridges, and store located at them. 
+Allatoona, for instance, was defended by a small force of men
+under the command of General Corse, one of the very able and
+efficient volunteer officers produced by the war.  He, with a
+small force, was cut off from the remainder of the National army
+and was attacked with great vigor by many times his own number.
+Sherman from his high position could see the battle raging, with
+the Confederate troops between him and his subordinate.  He sent
+men, of course, to raise the temporary siege, but the time that
+would be necessarily consumed in reaching Corse, would be so
+great that all occupying the intrenchments might be dead.  Corse
+was a man who would never surrender.  From a high position some
+of Sherman's signal corps discovered a signal flag waving from a
+hole in the block house at Allatoona.  It was from Corse.  He had
+been shot through the face, but he signalled to his chief a
+message which left no doubt of his determination to hold his
+post at all hazards.  It was at this point probably, that
+Sherman first realized that with the forces at his disposal, the
+keeping open of his line of communication with the North would be
+impossible if he expected to retain any force with which to
+operate offensively beyond Atlanta.  He proposed, therefore, to
+destroy the roads back to Chattanooga, when all ready to move,
+and leave the latter place garrisoned.  Yet, before abandoning
+the railroad, it was necessary that he should repair damages
+already done, and hold the road until he could get forward such
+supplies, ordnance stores and small rations, as he wanted to
+carry with him on his proposed march, and to return to the north
+his surplus artillery; his object being to move light and to have
+no more artillery than could be used to advantage on the field.
+
+Sherman thought Hood would follow him, though he proposed to
+prepare for the contingency of the latter moving the other way
+while he was moving south, by making Thomas strong enough to
+hold Tennessee and Kentucky.  I, myself, was thoroughly
+satisfied that Hood would go north, as he did.  On the 2d of
+November I telegraphed Sherman authorizing him definitely to
+move according to the plan he had proposed:  that is, cutting
+loose from his base, giving up Atlanta and the railroad back to
+Chattanooga.  To strengthen Thomas he sent Stanley (4th corps)
+back, and also ordered Schofield, commanding the Army of the
+Ohio, twelve thousand strong, to report to him.  In addition to
+this, A. J. Smith, who, with two divisions of Sherman's army,
+was in Missouri aiding Rosecrans in driving the enemy from that
+State, was under orders to return to Thomas and, under the most
+unfavorable circumstances, might be expected to arrive there
+long before Hood could reach Nashville.
+
+In addition to this, the new levies of troops that were being
+raised in the  North-west went to Thomas as rapidly as enrolled
+and equipped.  Thomas, without any of these additions spoken of,
+had a garrison at Chattanooga which had been strengthened by one
+division and garrisons at Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur,
+Murfreesboro, and Florence.  There were already with him in
+Nashville ten thousand soldiers in round numbers, and many
+thousands of employees in the quartermaster's and other
+departments who could be put in the intrench meets in front of
+Nashville, for its defence.  Also, Wilson was there with ten
+thousand dismounted cavalrymen, who were being equipped for the
+field.  Thomas had at this time about forty-five thousand men
+without any of the reinforcements here above enumerated.  These
+reinforcements gave him  altogether about seventy thousand men,
+without counting what might be added by the new levies already
+spoken of.
+
+About this time Beauregard arrived upon the field, not to
+supersede Hood in command, but to take general charge over the
+entire district in which Hood and Sherman were, or might be,
+operating.  He made the most frantic appeals to the citizens for
+assistance to be rendered in every way:  by sending
+reinforcements, by destroying supplies on the line of march of
+the invaders, by destroying the bridges over which they would
+have to cross, and by, in every way, obstructing the roads to
+their front. But it was hard to convince the people of the
+propriety of destroying supplies which were so much needed by
+themselves, and each one hoped that his own possessions might
+escape.
+
+Hood soon started north, and went into camp near Decatur,
+Alabama, where he remained until the 29th of October, but
+without making an attack on the garrison of that place.
+
+The Tennessee River was patrolled by gunboats, from Muscle
+Shoals east; and, also, below the second shoals out to the Ohio
+River.  These, with the troops that might be concentrated from
+the garrisons along the river at any point where Hood might
+choose to attempt to cross, made it impossible for him to cross
+the Tennessee at any place where it was navigable.  But Muscle
+Shoals is not navigable, and below them again is another shoal
+which also obstructs navigation.  Hood therefore moved down to a
+point nearly opposite Florence, Alabama, crossed over and
+remained there for some time, collecting supplies of food,
+forage and ammunition. All of these had to come from a
+considerable distance south, because the region in which he was
+then situated was mountainous, with small valleys which produced
+but little, and what they had produced had long since been
+exhausted.  On the 1st of November I suggested to Sherman, and
+also asked his views thereon, the propriety of destroying Hood
+before he started on his campaign.
+
+On the 2d of November, as stated, I approved definitely his
+making his proposed campaign through Georgia, leaving Hood
+behind to the tender mercy of Thomas and the troops in his
+command.  Sherman fixed the 10th of November as the day of
+starting.
+
+Sherman started on that day to get back to Atlanta, and on the
+15th the real march to the sea commenced.  The right wing, under
+Howard, and the cavalry went to Jonesboro, Milledgeville, then
+the capital of Georgia, being Sherman's objective or stopping
+place on the way to Savannah.  The left wing moved to Stone
+Mountain, along roads much farther east than those taken by the
+right wing. Slocum was in command, and threatened Augusta as the
+point to which he was moving, but he was to turn off and meet the
+right wing at Milledgeville.
+
+Atlanta was destroyed so far as to render it worthless for
+military purposes before starting, Sherman himself remaining
+over a day to superintend the work, and see that it was well
+done. Sherman's orders for this campaign were perfect.  Before
+starting, he had sent back all sick, disabled and weak men,
+retaining nothing but the hardy, well-inured soldiers to
+accompany him on his long march in prospect.  His artillery was
+reduced to sixty-five guns. The ammunition carried with them was
+two hundred rounds for musket and gun.  Small rations were taken
+in a small wagon train, which was loaded to its capacity for
+rapid movement.  The army was expected to live on the country,
+and to always keep the wagons full of forage and provisions
+against a possible delay of a few days.
+
+The troops, both of the right and left wings, made most of their
+advance along the line of railroads, which they destroyed.  The
+method adopted to perform this work, was to burn and destroy all
+the bridges and culverts, and for a long distance, at places, to
+tear up the track and bend the rails.  Soldiers to do this
+rapidly would form a line along one side of the road with
+crowbars and poles, place these under the rails and, hoisting
+all at once, turn over many rods of road at one time.  The ties
+would then be placed in piles, and the rails, as they were
+loosened, would be carried and put across these log heaps.  When
+a sufficient number of rails were placed upon a pile of ties it
+would be set on fire.  This would heat the rails very much more
+in the middle, that being over the main part of the fire, than
+at the ends, so that they would naturally bend of their own
+weight; but the soldiers, to increase the damage, would take
+tongs and, one or two men at each end of the rail, carry it with
+force against the nearest tree and twist it around, thus leaving
+rails forming bands to ornament the forest trees of Georgia. 
+All this work was going on at the same time, there being a
+sufficient number of men detailed for that purpose. Some piled
+the logs and built the fire; some put the rails upon the fire;
+while others would bend those that were sufficiently heated: so
+that, by the time the last bit of road was torn up, that it was
+designed to destroy at a certain place, the rails previously
+taken up were already destroyed.
+
+The organization for supplying the army was very complete.  Each
+brigade furnished a company to gather supplies of forage and
+provisions for the command to which they belonged.  Strict
+injunctions were issued against pillaging, or otherwise
+unnecessarily annoying the people; but everything in shape of
+food for man and forage for beast was taken.  The supplies were
+turned over to the brigade commissary and quartermaster, and
+were issued by them to their respective commands precisely the
+same as if they had been purchased.  The captures consisted
+largely of cattle, sheep, poultry, some bacon, cornmeal, often
+molasses, and occasionally coffee or other small rations.
+
+The skill of these men, called by themselves and the army
+"bummers," in collecting their loads and getting back to their
+respective commands, was marvellous.  When they started out in
+the morning, they were always on foot; but scarcely one of them
+returned in the evening without being mounted on a horse or
+mule. These would be turned in for the general use of the army,
+and the next day these men would start out afoot and return
+again in the evening mounted.
+
+Many of the exploits of these men would fall under the head of
+romance; indeed, I am afraid that in telling some of their
+experiences, the romance got the better of the truth upon which
+the story was founded, and that, in the way many of these
+anecdotes are told, very little of the foundation is left.  I
+suspect that most of them consist chiefly of the fiction added
+to make the stories better.  In one instance it was reported
+that a few men of Sherman's army passed a house where they
+discovered some chickens under the dwelling.  They immediately
+proceeded to capture them, to add to the army's supplies.  The
+lady of the house, who happened to be at home, made piteous
+appeals to have these spared, saying they were a few she had put
+away to save by permission of other parties who had preceded and
+who had taken all the others that she had.  The soldiers seemed
+moved at her appeal; but looking at the chickens again they were
+tempted and one of them replied:  "The rebellion must be
+suppressed if it takes the last chicken in the Confederacy," and
+proceeded to appropriate the last one.
+
+Another anecdote characteristic of these times has been told. 
+The South, prior to the rebellion, kept bloodhounds to pursue
+runaway slaves who took refuge in the neighboring swamps, and
+also to hunt convicts.  Orders were issued to kill all these
+animals as they were met with.  On one occasion a soldier picked
+up a poodle, the favorite pet of its mistress, and was carrying
+it off to execution when the lady made a strong appeal to him to
+spare it. The soldier replied, "Madam, our orders are to kill
+every bloodhound."  "But this is not a bloodhound," said the
+lady.  "Well, madam, we cannot tell what it will grow into if we
+leave it behind," said the soldier as he went off with it.
+
+Notwithstanding these anecdotes, and the necessary hardship they
+would seem to imply, I do not believe there was much
+unwarrantable pillaging considering that we were in the enemy's
+territory and without any supplies except such as the country
+afforded.
+
+On the 23d Sherman, with the left wing, reached Milledgeville.
+The right wing was not far off:  but proceeded on its way
+towards Savannah destroying the road as it went.  The troops at
+Milledgeville remained over a day to destroy factories,
+buildings used for military purposes, etc., before resuming its
+march.
+
+The governor, who had been almost defying Mr. Davis before this,
+now fled precipitately, as did the legislature of the State and
+all the State officers.  The governor, Sherman says, was careful
+to carry away even his garden vegetables, while he left the
+archives of the State to fall into our hands.  The only military
+force that was opposed to Sherman's forward march was the Georgia
+militia, a division under the command of General G. W. Smith, and
+a battalion under Harry Wayne.  Neither the quality of the forces
+nor their numbers was sufficient to even retard the progress of
+Sherman's army.
+
+The people at the South became so frantic at this time at the
+successful invasion of Georgia that they took the cadets from
+the military college and added them to the ranks of the
+militia.  They even liberated the State convicts under promise
+from them that they would serve in the army.  I have but little
+doubt that the worst acts that were attributed to Sherman's army
+were committed by these convicts, and by other Southern people
+who ought to have been under sentence such people as could be
+found in every community, North and South who took advantage of
+their country being invaded to commit crime.  They were in but
+little danger of detection, or of arrest even if detected.
+
+The Southern papers in commenting upon Sherman's movements
+pictured him as in the most deplorable condition:  stating that
+his men were starving, that they were demoralized and wandering
+about almost without object, aiming only to reach the sea coast
+and get under the protection of our navy.  These papers got to
+the North and had more or less effect upon the minds of the
+people, causing much distress to all loyal persons particularly
+to those who had husbands, sons or brothers with Sherman.  Mr.
+Lincoln seeing these accounts, had a letter written asking me if
+I could give him anything that he could say to the loyal people
+that would comfort them.  I told him there was not the slightest
+occasion for alarm; that with 60,000 such men as Sherman had with
+him, such a commanding officer as he was could not be cut off in
+the open country.  He might possibly be prevented from reaching
+the point he had started out to reach, but he would get through
+somewhere and would finally get to his chosen destination:  and
+even if worst came to worst he could return North.  I heard
+afterwards of Mr. Lincoln's saying, to those who would inquire
+of him as to what he thought about the safety of Sherman's army,
+that Sherman was all right:  "Grant says they are safe with such
+a general, and that if they cannot get out where they want to,
+they can crawl back by the hole they went in at."
+
+While at Milledgeville the soldiers met at the State House,
+organized a legislature, and proceeded to business precisely as
+if they were the legislative body belonging to the State of
+Georgia. The debates were exciting, and were upon the subject of
+the situation the South was in at that time, particularly the
+State of Georgia.  They went so far as to repeal, after a
+spirited and acrimonious debate, the ordinance of secession.
+
+The next day (24th) Sherman continued his march, going by the
+way of Waynesboro and Louisville, Millen being the next
+objective and where the two columns (the right and left wings)
+were to meet.  The left wing moved to the left of the direct
+road, and the cavalry still farther off so as to make it look as
+though Augusta was the point they were aiming for.  They moved on
+all the roads they could find leading in that direction.  The
+cavalry was sent to make a rapid march in hope of surprising
+Millen before the Union prisoners could be carried away; but
+they failed in this.
+
+The distance from Milledgeville to Millen was about one hundred
+miles.  At this point Wheeler, who had been ordered from
+Tennessee, arrived and swelled the numbers and efficiency of the
+troops confronting Sherman.  Hardee, a native of Georgia, also
+came, but brought no troops with him.  It was intended that he
+should raise as large an army as possible with which to
+intercept Sherman's march.  He did succeed in raising some
+troops, and with these and those under the command of Wheeler
+and Wayne, had an army sufficient to cause some annoyance but no
+great detention. Our cavalry and Wheeler's had a pretty severe
+engagement, in which Wheeler was driven towards Augusta, thus
+giving the idea that Sherman was probably making for that point.
+
+Millen was reached on the 3d of December, and the march was
+resumed the following day for Savannah, the final objective.
+Bragg had now been sent to Augusta with some troops.  Wade
+Hampton was there also trying to raise cavalry sufficient to
+destroy Sherman's army.  If he ever raised a force it was too
+late to do the work expected of it.  Hardee's whole force
+probably numbered less than ten thousand men.
+
+From Millen to Savannah the country is sandy and poor, and
+affords but very little forage other than rice straw, which was
+then growing.  This answered a very good purpose as forage, and
+the rice grain was an addition to the soldier's rations.  No
+further resistance worthy of note was met with, until within a
+few miles of Savannah.  This place was found to be intrenched
+and garrisoned.  Sherman proceeded at once on his arrival to
+invest the place, and found that the enemy had placed torpedoes
+in the ground, which were to explode when stepped on by man or
+beast. One of these exploded under an officer's horse, blowing
+the animal to pieces and tearing one of the legs of the officer
+so badly that it had to be amputated.  Sherman at once ordered
+his prisoners to the front, moving them in a compact body in
+advance, to either explode the torpedoes or dig them up.  No
+further explosion took place.
+
+On the 10th of December the siege of Savannah commenced. Sherman
+then, before proceeding any further with operations for the
+capture of the place, started with some troops to open
+communication with our fleet, which he expected to find in the
+lower harbor or as near by as the forts of the enemy would
+permit. In marching to the coast he encountered Fort McAllister,
+which it was necessary to reduce before the supplies he might
+find on shipboard could be made available.  Fort McAllister was
+soon captured by an assault made by General Hazen's division.
+Communication was then established with the fleet.  The capture
+of Savannah then only occupied a few days, and involved no great
+loss of life.  The garrison, however, as we shall see, was
+enabled to escape by crossing the river and moving eastward.
+
+When Sherman had opened communication with the fleet he found
+there a steamer, which I had forwarded to him, carrying the
+accumulated mails for his army, also supplies which I supposed
+he would be in need of.  General J. G. Foster, who commanded all
+the troops south of North Carolina on the Atlantic sea-board,
+visited General Sherman before he had opened communication with
+the fleet, with the view of ascertaining what assistance he
+could be to him.  Foster returned immediately to his own
+headquarters at Hilton Head, for the purpose of sending Sherman
+siege guns, and also if he should find he had them to spare,
+supplies of clothing, hard bread, etc., thinking that these
+articles might not be found outside.  The mail on the steamer
+which I sent down, had been collected by Colonel A. H. Markland
+of the Post Office Department, who went in charge of it.  On
+this same vessel I sent an officer of my staff (Lieutenant Dunn)
+with the following letter to General Sherman:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 3, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Armies near Savannah, Ga.
+
+The little information gleaned from the Southern press,
+indicating no great obstacle to your progress, I have directed
+your mails (which had been previously collected at Baltimore by
+Colonel Markland, Special Agent of the Post Office Department)
+to be sent as far as the blockading squadron off Savannah, to be
+forwarded to you as soon as heard from on the coast.
+
+Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain
+from congratulating you and those under your command, until
+bottom has been struck.  I have never had a fear, however, for
+the result.
+
+Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made
+here. The enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented
+from detaching against you.  I think not one man has gone from
+here, except some twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted
+cavalry.  Bragg has gone from Wilmington.  I am trying to take
+advantage of his absence to get possession of that place.  Owing
+to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are making
+to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do
+not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this
+expedition off.  I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th,
+and that Bragg will not have started back by that time.
+
+In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like
+directions for future action, but will state a general idea I
+have, and will get your views after you have established
+yourself on the sea-coast. With your veteran army I hope to get
+control of the only two through routes from east to west
+possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta.  The
+condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by
+holding any other port to the east of Savannah and
+Branchville.  If Wilmington falls, a force from there can
+co-operate with you.
+
+Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood
+close upon him.  Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the
+roads except the main one leading to Chattanooga.  Part of this
+falling back was undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have
+been.  It did not look so, however, to me.  In my opinion,
+Thomas far outnumbers Hood in infantry.  In cavalry, Hood has
+the advantage in morale and numbers.  I hope yet that Hood will
+be badly crippled if not destroyed.  The general news you will
+learn from the papers better than I could give it.
+
+After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that
+there is likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I
+will run down the coast to see you.  If you desire it, I will
+ask Mrs. Sherman to go with me.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General
+
+
+I quote this letter because it gives the reader a full knowledge
+of the events of that period.
+
+Sherman now (the 15th) returned to Savannah to complete its
+investment and insure the surrender of the garrison.  The
+country about Savannah is low and marshy, and the city was well
+intrenched from the river above to the river below; and assaults
+could not be made except along a comparatively narrow causeway.
+For this reason assaults must have resulted in serious
+destruction of life to the Union troops, with the chance of
+failing altogether. Sherman therefore decided upon a complete
+investment of the place.  When he believed this investment
+completed, he summoned the garrison to surrender.  General
+Hardee, who was in command, replied in substance that the
+condition of affairs was not such as Sherman had described.  He
+said he was in full communication with his department and was
+receiving supplies constantly.
+
+Hardee, however, was cut off entirely from all communication
+with the west side of the river, and by the river itself to the
+north and south.  On the South Carolina side the country was all
+rice fields, through which it would have been impossible to bring
+supplies so that Hardee had no possible communication with the
+outside world except by a dilapidated plank road starting from
+the west bank of the river.  Sherman, receiving this reply,
+proceeded in person to a point on the coast, where General
+Foster had troops stationed under General Hatch, for the purpose
+of making arrangements with the latter officer to go through by
+one of the numerous channels running inland along that part of
+the coast of South Carolina, to the plank road which General
+Hardee still possessed, and thus to cut him off from the last
+means he had of getting supplies, if not of communication.
+
+While arranging for this movement, and before the attempt to
+execute the plan had been commenced, Sherman received
+information through one of his staff officers that the enemy had
+evacuated Savannah the night before.  This was the night of the
+21st of December.  Before evacuating the place Hardee had blown
+up the navy yard.  Some iron-clads had been destroyed, as well
+as other property that might have been valuable to us; but he
+left an immense amount of stores untouched, consisting of
+cotton, railroad cars, workshops, numerous pieces of artillery,
+and several thousand stands of small arms.
+
+A little incident occurred, soon after the fall of Savannah,
+which Sherman relates in his Memoirs, and which is worthy of
+repetition. Savannah was one of the points where blockade
+runners entered. Shortly after the city fell into our
+possession, a blockade runner came sailing up serenely, not
+doubting but the Confederates were still in possession.  It was
+not molested, and the captain did not find out his mistake until
+he had tied up and gone to the Custom House, where he found a new
+occupant of the building, and made a less profitable disposition
+of his vessel and cargo than he had expected.
+
+As there was some discussion as to the authorship of Sherman's
+march to the sea, by critics of his book when it appeared before
+the public, I want to state here that no question upon that
+subject was ever raised between General Sherman and myself.
+Circumstances made the plan on which Sherman expected to act
+impracticable, as as commander of the forces he necessarily had
+to devise a new on which would give more promise of success"
+consequently he recommended the destruction of the railroad back
+to Chattanooga, and that he should be authorized then to move, as
+he did, from Atlanta forward.  His suggestions were finally
+approved, although they did not immediately find favor in
+Washington.  Even when it came to the time of starting, the
+greatest apprehension, as to the propriety of the campaign he
+was about commence, filled the mind of the President, induced no
+doubt by his advisers.  This went so far as to  move the
+President to ask me to suspend Sherman's march for a day or two
+until I could think the matter over.  My recollection is, though
+I find no record to show it, that out of deference to the
+President's wish I did send a dispatch to Sherman asking him to
+wait a day or two, or else the connections between us were
+already cut so that I could not do so.  However this may be, the
+question of who devised the plan of march from Atlanta to
+Savannah is easily answered:  it was clearly Sherman, and to him
+also belongs the credit of its brilliant execution.  It was
+hardly possible that any one else than those on the spot could
+have devised a new plan of campaign to supersede one that did
+not promise success. (*40)
+
+I was in favor of Sherman's plan from the time it was first
+submitted to me.  My chief of staff, however, was very bitterly
+opposed to it and, as I learned subsequently, finding that he
+could not move me, he appealed to the authorities at Washington
+to stop it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE.
+
+As we have seen, Hood succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River
+between Muscle Shoals and the lower shoals at the end of
+October, 1864.  Thomas sent Schofield with the 4th and 23d
+corps, together with three brigades of Wilson's cavalry to
+Pulaski to watch him.  On the 17th of November Hood started and
+moved in such a manner as to avoid Schofield, thereby turning
+his position.  Hood had with him three infantry corps, commanded
+respectively by Stephen D. Lee, Stewart and Cheatham.  These,
+with his cavalry, numbered about forty-five thousand men.
+Schofield had, of all arms, about thirty thousand.  Thomas's
+orders were, therefore, for Schofield to watch the movements of
+the enemy, but not to fight a battle if he could avoid it; but
+to fall back in case of an advance on Nashville, and to fight
+the enemy, as he fell back, so as to retard the enemy's
+movements until he could be reinforced by Thomas himself.  As
+soon as Schofield saw this movement of Hood's, he sent his
+trains to the rear, but did not fall back himself until the
+21st, and then only to Columbia.  At Columbia there was a slight
+skirmish but no battle.  From this place Schofield then retreated
+to Franklin.  He had sent his wagons in advance, and Stanley had
+gone with them with two divisions to protect them.  Cheatham's
+corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went into camp
+at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th.
+
+Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring
+Hill, where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without
+molestation, though within half a mile of where the Confederates
+were encamped.  On the morning of the 30th he had arrived at
+Franklin.
+
+Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an
+attack the same day.  The fight was very desperate and
+sanguinary.  The Confederate generals led their men in the
+repeated charges, and the loss among them was of unusual
+proportions.  This fighting continued with great severity until
+long after the night closed in, when the Confederates drew
+off.  General Stanley, who commanded two divisions of the Union
+troops, and whose troops bore the brunt of the battle, was
+wounded in the fight, but maintained his position.
+
+The enemy's loss at Franklin, according to Thomas's report, was
+1,750 buried upon the field by our troops, 3,800 in the
+hospital, and 702 prisoners besides.  Schofield's loss, as
+officially reported, was 189 killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104
+captured and missing.
+
+Thomas made no effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, as it
+seemed to me at the time he should have done, and fight out the
+battle there.  He simply ordered Schofield to continue his
+retreat to Nashville, which the latter did during that night and
+the next day.
+
+Thomas, in the meantime, was making his preparations to receive
+Hood.  The road to Chattanooga was still well guarded with
+strong garrisons at Murfreesboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport and
+Chattanooga.  Thomas had previously given up Decatur and had
+been reinforced by A. J. Smith's two divisions just returned
+from Missouri.  He also had Steedman's division and R. S.
+Granger's, which he had drawn from the front.  His
+quartermaster's men, about ten thousand in number, had been
+organized and armed under the command of the chief
+quartermaster, General J. L. Donaldson, and placed in the
+fortifications under the general supervision of General Z. B.
+Tower, of the United States Engineers.
+
+Hood was allowed to move upon Nashville, and to invest that
+place almost without interference.  Thomas was strongly
+fortified in his position, so that he would have been safe
+against the attack of Hood.  He had troops enough even to
+annihilate him in the open field.  To me his delay was
+unaccountable--sitting there and permitting himself to be
+invested, so that, in the end, to raise the siege he would have
+to fight the enemy strongly posted behind fortifications.  It is
+true the weather was very bad.  The rain was falling and freezing
+as it fell, so that the ground was covered with a sheet of ice,
+that made it very difficult to move.  But I was afraid that the
+enemy would find means of moving, elude Thomas and manage to get
+north of the Cumberland River.  If he did this, I apprehended
+most serious results from the campaign in the North, and was
+afraid we might even have to send troops from the East to head
+him off if he got there, General Thomas's movements being always
+so deliberate and so slow, though effective in defence.
+
+I consequently urged Thomas in frequent dispatches sent from
+City Point(*41) to make the attack at once.  The country was
+alarmed, the administration was alarmed, and I was alarmed lest
+the very thing would take place which I have just described that
+is, Hood would get north.  It was all without avail further than
+to elicit dispatches from Thomas saying that he was getting
+ready to move as soon as he could, that he was making
+preparations, etc.  At last I had to say to General Thomas that
+I should be obliged to remove him unless he acted promptly.  He
+replied that he was very sorry, but he would move as soon as he
+could.
+
+General Logan happening to visit City Point about that time, and
+knowing him as a prompt, gallant and efficient officer, I gave
+him an order to proceed to Nashville to relieve Thomas.  I
+directed him, however, not to deliver the order or publish it
+until he reached there, and if Thomas had moved, then not to
+deliver it at all, but communicate with me by telegraph.  After
+Logan started, in thinking over the situation, I became
+restless, and concluded to go myself.  I went as far as
+Washington City, when a dispatch was received from General
+Thomas announcing his readiness at last to move, and designating
+the time of his movement.  I concluded to wait until that time.
+He did move, and was successful from the start.  This was on the
+15th of December.  General Logan was at Louisville at the time
+this movement was made, and telegraphed the fact to Washington,
+and proceeded no farther himself.
+
+The battle during the 15th was severe, but favorable to the
+Union troops, and continued until night closed in upon the
+combat.  The next day the battle was renewed.  After a
+successful assault upon Hood's men in their intrenchments the
+enemy fled in disorder, routed and broken, leaving their dead,
+their artillery and small arms in great numbers on the field,
+besides the wounded that were captured.  Our cavalry had fought
+on foot as infantry, and had not their horses with them; so that
+they were not ready to join in the pursuit the moment the enemy
+retreated.  They sent back, however, for their horses, and
+endeavored to get to Franklin ahead of Hood's broken army by the
+Granny White Road, but too much time was consumed in getting
+started.  They had got but a few miles beyond the scene of the
+battle when they found the enemy's cavalry dismounted and behind
+intrenchments covering the road on which they were advancing.
+Here another battle ensued, our men dismounting and fighting on
+foot, in which the Confederates were again routed and driven in
+great disorder.  Our cavalry then went into bivouac, and renewed
+the pursuit on the following morning.  They were too late.  The
+enemy already had possession of Franklin, and was beyond them.
+It now became a chase in which the Confederates had the lead.
+
+Our troops continued the pursuit to within a few miles of
+Columbia, where they found the rebels had destroyed the railroad
+bridge as well as all other bridges over Duck River.  The heavy
+rains of a few days before had swelled the stream into a mad
+torrent, impassable except on bridges.  Unfortunately, either
+through a mistake in the wording of the order or otherwise, the
+pontoon bridge which was to have been sent by rail out to
+Franklin, to be taken thence with the pursuing column, had gone
+toward Chattanooga.  There was, consequently, a delay of some
+four days in building bridges out of the remains of the old
+railroad bridge.  Of course Hood got such a start in this time
+that farther pursuit was useless, although it was continued for
+some distance, but without coming upon him again.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT-- CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+Up to January, 1865, the enemy occupied Fort Fisher, at the
+mouth of Cape Fear River and below the City of Wilmington.  This
+port was of immense importance to the Confederates, because it
+formed their principal inlet for blockade runners by means of
+which they brought in from abroad such supplies and munitions of
+war as they could not produce at home.  It was equally important
+to us to get possession of it, not only because it was desirable
+to cut off their supplies so as to insure a speedy termination of
+the war, but also because foreign governments, particularly the
+British Government, were constantly threatening that unless ours
+could maintain the blockade of that coast they should cease to
+recognize any blockade.  For these reasons I determined, with
+the concurrence of the Navy Department, in December, to send an
+expedition against Fort Fisher for the purpose of capturing it.
+
+To show the difficulty experienced in maintaining the blockade,
+I will mention a circumstance that took place at Fort Fisher
+after its fall.  Two English blockade runners came in at
+night.  Their commanders, not supposing the fort had fallen,
+worked their way through all our fleet and got into the river
+unobserved.  They then signalled the fort, announcing their
+arrival.  There was a colored man in the fort who had been there
+before and who understood these signals.  He informed General
+Terry what reply he should make to have them come in, and Terry
+did as he advised.  The vessels came in, their officers entirely
+unconscious that they were falling into the hands of the Union
+forces.  Even after they were brought in to the fort they were
+entertained in conversation for some little time before
+suspecting that the Union troops were occupying the fort.  They
+were finally informed that their vessels and cargoes were prizes.
+
+I selected General Weitzel, of the Army of the James, to go with
+the expedition, but gave instructions through General Butler.  He
+commanded the department within whose geographical limits Fort
+Fisher was situated, as well as Beaufort and other points on
+that coast held by our troops; he was, therefore, entitled to
+the right of fitting out the expedition against Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler conceived the idea that if a steamer loaded
+heavily with powder could be run up to near the shore under the
+fort and exploded, it would create great havoc and make the
+capture an easy matter.  Admiral Porter, who was to command the
+naval squadron, seemed to fall in with the idea, and it was not
+disapproved of in Washington; the navy was therefore given the
+task of preparing the steamer for this purpose.  I had no
+confidence in the success of the scheme, and so expressed
+myself; but as no serious harm could come of the experiment, and
+the authorities at Washington seemed desirous to have it tried, I
+permitted it.  The steamer was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina,
+and was there loaded with powder and prepared for the part she
+was to play in the reduction of Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler chose to go in command of the expedition himself,
+and was all ready to sail by the 9th of December (1864).  Very
+heavy storms prevailed, however, at that time along that part of
+the sea-coast, and prevented him from getting off until the 13th
+or 14th.  His advance arrived off Fort Fisher on the 15th.  The
+naval force had been already assembled, or was assembling, but
+they were obliged to run into Beaufort for munitions, coal,
+etc.; then, too, the powder-boat was not yet fully prepared. The
+fleet was ready to proceed on the 18th; but Butler, who had
+remained outside from the 15th up to that time, now found
+himself out of coal, fresh water, etc., and had to put into
+Beaufort to replenish.  Another storm overtook him, and several
+days more were lost before the army and navy were both ready at
+the same time to co-operate.
+
+On the night of the 23d the powder-boat was towed in by a
+gunboat as near to the fort as it was safe to run.  She was then
+propelled by her own machinery to within about five hundred yards
+of the shore.  There the clockwork, which was to explode her
+within a certain length of time, was set and she was
+abandoned.  Everybody left, and even the vessels put out to sea
+to prevent the effect of the explosion upon them.  At two
+o'clock in the morning the explosion took place--and produced no
+more effect on the fort, or anything else on land, than the
+bursting of a boiler anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean would have
+done.  Indeed when the troops in Fort Fisher heard the explosion
+they supposed it was the bursting of a boiler in one of the
+Yankee gunboats.
+
+Fort Fisher was situated upon a low, flat peninsula north of
+Cape Fear River.  The soil is sandy.  Back a little the
+peninsula is very heavily wooded, and covered with fresh-water
+swamps.  The fort ran across this peninsula, about five hundred
+yards in width, and extended along the sea coast about thirteen
+hundred yards.  The fort had an armament of 21 guns and 3
+mortars on the land side, and 24 guns on the sea front.  At that
+time it was only garrisoned by four companies of infantry, one
+light battery and the gunners at the heavy guns less than seven
+hundred men with a reserve of less than a thousand men five
+miles up the peninsula.  General Whiting of the Confederate army
+was in command, and General Bragg was in command of the force at
+Wilmington.  Both commenced calling for reinforcements the
+moment they saw our troops landing.  The Governor of North
+Carolina called for everybody who could stand behind a parapet
+and shoot a gun, to join them.  In this way they got two or
+three hundred additional men into Fort Fisher; and Hoke's
+division, five or six thousand strong, was sent down from
+Richmond.  A few of these troops arrived the very day that
+Butler was ready to advance.
+
+On the 24th the fleet formed for an attack in arcs of concentric
+circles, their heavy iron-clads going in very close range, being
+nearest the shore, and leaving intervals or spaces so that the
+outer vessels could fire between them.  Porter was thus enabled
+to throw one hundred and fifteen shells per minute.  The damage
+done to the fort by these shells was very slight, only two or
+three cannon being disabled in the fort.  But the firing
+silenced all the guns by making it too hot for the men to
+maintain their positions about them and compelling them to seek
+shelter in the bomb-proofs.
+
+On the next day part of Butler's troops under General Adelbert
+Ames effected a landing out of range of the fort without
+difficulty.  This was accomplished under the protection of
+gunboats sent for the purpose, and under cover of a renewed
+attack upon the fort by the fleet.  They formed a line across
+the peninsula and advanced, part going north and part toward the
+fort, covering themselves as they did so.  Curtis pushed forward
+and came near to Fort Fisher, capturing the small garrison at
+what was called the Flag Pond Battery.  Weitzel accompanied him
+to within a half a mile of the works.  Here he saw that the fort
+had not been injured, and so reported to Butler, advising against
+an assault.  Ames, who had gone north in his advance, captured
+228 of the reserves.  These prisoners reported to Butler that
+sixteen hundred of Hoke's division of six thousand from Richmond
+had already arrived and the rest would soon be in his rear.
+
+Upon these reports Butler determined to withdraw his troops from
+the peninsula and return to the fleet.  At that time there had
+not been a man on our side injured except by one of the shells
+from the fleet.  Curtis had got within a few yards of the
+works.  Some of his men had snatched a flag from the parapet of
+the fort, and others had taken a horse from the inside of the
+stockade.  At night Butler informed Porter of his withdrawal,
+giving the reasons above stated, and announced his purpose as
+soon as his men could embark to start for Hampton Roads.  Porter
+represented to him that he had sent to Beaufort for more
+ammunition.  He could fire much faster than he had been doing,
+and would keep the enemy from showing himself until our men were
+within twenty yards of the fort, and he begged that Butler would
+leave some brave fellows like those who had snatched the flag
+from the parapet and taken the horse from the fort.
+
+Butler was unchangeable.  He got all his troops aboard, except
+Curtis's brigade, and started back.  In doing this, Butler made
+a fearful mistake.  My instructions to him, or to the officer
+who went in command of the expedition, were explicit in the
+statement that to effect a landing would be of itself a great
+victory, and if one should be effected, the foothold must not be
+relinquished; on the contrary, a regular siege of the fort must
+be commenced and, to guard against interference by reason of
+storms, supplies of provisions must be laid in as soon as they
+could be got on shore.  But General Butler seems to have lost
+sight of this part of his instructions, and was back at Fort
+Monroe on the 28th.
+
+I telegraphed to the President as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable
+failure.  Many of the troops are back here.  Delays and free
+talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move
+troops to Wilmington to defeat it.  After the expedition sailed
+from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather were squandered,
+during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself.
+Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Porter sent dispatches to the Navy Department in which he
+complained bitterly of having been abandoned by the army just
+when the fort was nearly in our possession, and begged that our
+troops might be sent back again to cooperate, but with a
+different commander.  As soon as I heard this I sent a messenger
+to Porter with a letter asking him to hold on.  I assured him
+that I fully sympathized with him in his disappointment, and
+that I would send the same troops back with a different
+commander, with some reinforcements to offset those which the
+enemy had received.  I told him it would take some little time
+to get transportation for the additional troops; but as soon as
+it could be had the men should be on their way to him, and there
+would be no delay on my part.  I selected A. H. Terry to command.
+
+It was the 6th of January before the transports could be got
+ready and the troops aboard.  They sailed from Fortress Monroe
+on that day.  The object and destination of the second
+expedition were at the time kept a secret to all except a few in
+the Navy Department and in the army to whom it was necessary to
+impart the information.  General Terry had not the slightest
+idea of where he was going or what he was to do.  He simply knew
+that he was going to sea and that he had his orders with him,
+which were to be opened when out at sea.
+
+He was instructed to communicate freely with Porter and have
+entire harmony between army and navy, because the work before
+them would require the best efforts of both arms of service.
+They arrived off Beaufort on the 8th. A heavy storm, however,
+prevented a landing at Forth Fisher until the 13th.  The navy
+prepared itself for attack about as before, and the same time
+assisted the army in landing, this time five miles away.  Only
+iron-clads fired at first; the object being to draw the fire of
+the enemyÕs guns so as to ascertain their positions. This object
+being accomplished, they then let in their shots thick and
+fast.  Very soon the guns were all silenced, and the fort showed
+evident signs of being much injured.
+
+Terry deployed his men across the peninsula as had been done
+before, and at two oÕclock on the following morning was up
+within two miles of the fort with a respectable abatis in front
+of his line. His artillery was all landed on that day, the
+14th.  Again CurtisÕs brigade of Ame's division had the lead. By
+noon they had carried an unfinished work less than a half mile
+from the fort, and turned it so as to face the other way.
+
+Terry now saw Porter and arranged for an assault on the
+following day.  The two commanders arranged their signals so
+that they could communicate with each other from time to time as
+they might have occasion.  At day light the fleet commenced its
+firing.  The time agreed upon for the assault was the middle of
+the afternoon, and Ames who commanded the assaulting column
+moved at 3.30.  Porter landed a force of sailors and marines to
+move against the sea-front in co-operation with Ames's
+assault.  They were under Commander Breese of the nay.  These
+sailors and marines had worked their way up to within a couple
+of hundred yards of the fort before the assault.  The signal was
+given and the assault was made; but the poor sailors and marines
+were repulsed and very badly handled by the enemy, losing 280
+killed and wounded out of their number.
+
+Curtis's brigade charged successfully though met by a heavy
+fire, some of the men having to wade through the swamp up to
+their waists to reach the fort.  Many were wounded, of course,
+and some killed; but they soon reached the palisades.  These
+they cut away, and pushed on through.  The other troops then
+came up, Pennypacker's following Curtis, and Bell, who commanded
+the 3d brigade of Ames's division, following Pennypacker.  But
+the fort was not yet captured though the parapet was gained.
+
+The works were very extensive.  The large parapet around the
+work would have been but very little protection to those inside
+except when they were close up under it.  Traverses had,
+therefore, been run until really the work was a succession of
+small forts enclosed by a large one.  The rebels made a
+desperate effort to hold the fort, and had to be driven from
+these traverses one by one.  The fight continued till long after
+night.  Our troops gained first one traverse and then another,
+and by 10 o'clock at night the place was carried.  During this
+engagement the sailors, who had been repulsed in their assault
+on the bastion, rendered the best service they could by
+reinforcing Terry's northern line--thus enabling him to send a
+detachment to the assistance of Ames.  The fleet kept up a
+continuous fire upon that part of the fort which was still
+occupied by the enemy.  By means of signals they could be
+informed where to direct their shots.
+
+During the succeeding nights the enemy blew up Fort Caswell on
+the opposite side of Cape Fear River, and abandoned two
+extensive works on Smith's Island in the river.
+
+Our captures in all amounted to 169 guns, besides small-arms,
+with full supplies of ammunition, and 2,083 prisoners.  In
+addition to these, there were about 700 dead and wounded left
+there.  We had lost 110 killed and 536 wounded.
+
+In this assault on Fort Fisher, Bell, one of the brigade
+commanders, was killed, and two, Curtis and Pennypacker, were
+badly wounded.
+
+Secretary Stanton, who was on his way back from Savannah,
+arrived off Fort Fisher soon after it fell.  When he heard the
+good news he promoted all the officers of any considerable rank
+for their conspicuous gallantry.  Terry had been nominated for
+major-general, but had not been confirmed.  This confirmed him;
+and soon after I recommended him for a brigadier-generalcy in
+the regular army, and it was given to him for this victory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the
+North, distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to
+see him.  Among others who went was the Secretary of War, who
+seemed much pleased at the result of his campaign.  Mr. Draper,
+the collector of customs of New York, who was with Mr. Stanton's
+party, was put in charge of the public property that had been
+abandoned and captured.  Savannah was then turned over to
+General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his
+own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the
+future.  I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac
+(General Barnard) with letters to General Sherman.  He remained
+some time with the general, and when he returned brought back
+letters, one of which contained suggestions from Sherman as to
+what ought to be done in co-operation with him, when he should
+have started upon his march northward.
+
+I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea
+originally of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or
+even to North Carolina.  The season was bad, the roads impassable
+for anything except such an army as he had, and I should not have
+thought of ordering such a move.  I had, therefore, made
+preparations to collect transports to carry Sherman and his army
+around to the James River by water, and so informed him.  On
+receiving this letter he went to work immediately to prepare for
+the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to collect
+the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north
+through the Carolinas.  I was only too happy to approve this;
+for if successful, it promised every advantage.  His march
+through Georgia had thoroughly destroyed all lines of
+transportation in that State, and had completely cut the enemy
+off from all sources of supply to the west of it.  If North and
+South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as capacity for
+feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison at
+Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw
+supplies, to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and,
+although that section of the country was fertile, it was already
+well exhausted of both forage and food.  I approved Sherman's
+suggestion therefore at once.
+
+The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load
+the wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long
+distance.  Sherman would now have to march through a country
+furnishing fewer provisions than that he had previously been
+operating in during his march to the sea.  Besides, he was
+confronting, or marching toward, a force of the enemy vastly
+superior to any his troops had encountered on their previous
+march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now
+become of such vast importance to the very existence of the
+Confederate army, that the most desperate efforts were to be
+expected in order to save it.
+
+Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to
+start with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who
+commanded that part of the navy on the South Carolina and
+Georgia coast, and General Foster, commanding the troops, to
+take positions, and hold a few points on the sea coast, which he
+(Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of Charleston.
+
+This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea
+coast, in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop
+his onward progress.  He also wrote me a letter, making
+suggestions as to what he would like to have done in support of
+his movement farther north.  This letter was brought to City
+Point by General Barnard at a time when I happened to be going
+to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of January.  I
+cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate with
+Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than
+by giving my reply to this letter.
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+Jan. 21, 1865.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received
+at City Point, and read with interest.  Not having them with me,
+however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you
+on all points of recommendation.  As I arrived here at one P.M.,
+and must leave at six P.M., having in the meantime spent over
+three hours with the Secretary and General Halleck, I must be
+brief.  Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign
+into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis,
+Md., with his corps.  The advance (six thousand) will reach the
+seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as
+railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati.  The
+corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men.  I was induced to do
+this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off
+before spring.  His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness
+that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your
+campaigns.  The command of the advance of the pursuit was left
+to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far behind.  When Hood
+had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it,
+Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from
+whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He
+is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty,
+but he is not good on a pursuit.  He also reported his troops
+fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up.  This report and
+a determination to give the enemy no rest determined me to use
+his surplus troops elsewhere.
+
+Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to
+Selma under an energetic leader.  He has been telegraphed to, to
+know whether he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes
+he would select.  No reply is yet received.  Canby has been
+ordered to act offensively from the sea-coast to the interior,
+towards Montgomery and Selma.  Thomas's forces will move from
+the north at an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to
+Canby.  Without further reinforcements Canby will have a moving
+column of twenty thousand men.
+
+Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured.  We have a force
+there of eight thousand effective.  At New Bern about half the
+number.  It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also
+has fallen.  I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the
+17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort
+Caswell, and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington.
+
+If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there.  If not, he
+will be sent to New Bern.  In either event, all the surplus
+forces at the two points will move to the interior toward
+Goldsboro' in co-operation with your movements.  From either
+point, railroad communications can be run out, there being here
+abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads.
+
+There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army
+south.  Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you,
+if Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort
+Fisher having overtaken about two thousand.
+
+All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in
+communication with them.  They will be so instructed.  From
+about Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much
+more, or attempts to evacuate, will pitch in.  In the meantime,
+should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps
+of thirty thousand effective men to your support, from the
+troops about Richmond.
+
+To resume:  Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the
+Gulf.  A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it
+doubtful.  A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will
+co-operate with you from New Bern or Wilmington, or both.  You
+can call for reinforcements.
+
+This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will
+return with any message you may have for me.  If there is
+anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on
+ship-board, at any point on the sea-coast, ready for you, let me
+know it.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving
+him the news of the battle of Nashville.  He was much pleased at
+the result, although, like myself, he had been very much
+disappointed at Thomas for permitting Hood to cross the
+Tennessee River and nearly the whole State of Tennessee, and
+come to Nashville to be attacked there.  He, however, as I had
+done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.
+
+On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to
+Sherman and his army passed by Congress were approved.
+
+Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up,
+commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from
+the river, and taking up all obstructions.  He had then
+intrenched the city, so that it could be held by a small
+garrison.  By the middle of January all his work was done,
+except the accumulation of supplies to commence his movement
+with.
+
+He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going
+along by the river of the same name, and the other by roads
+farther east, threatening Charleston.  He commenced the advance
+by moving his right wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to
+Pocotaligo by water.  This column, in moving north, threatened
+Charleston, and, indeed, it was not determined at first what
+they would have a force visit Charleston.  South Carolina had
+done so much to prepare the public mind of the South for
+secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision
+of the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it,
+that there was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and
+also largely entertained by people of the South, that the State
+of South Carolina, and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in
+particular, ought to have a heavy hand laid upon them.  In fact,
+nothing but the decisive results that followed, deterred the
+radical portion of the people from condemning the movement,
+because Charleston had been left out.  To pass into the interior
+would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the city, and its
+possession by the navy and Foster's troops.  It is so situated
+between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have
+held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold
+out.  Sherman therefore passed it by.
+
+By the first of February all preparations were completed for the
+final march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective;
+Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or
+neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be
+determined upon.  The right wind went from Pocotaligo, and the
+left from about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns
+taking a pretty direct route for Columbia.  The cavalry,
+however, were to threaten Charleston on the right, and Augusta
+on the left.
+
+On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which
+Sherman had received before starting out on his march.  We
+already had New Bern and had soon Wilmington, whose fall
+followed that of Fort Fisher; as did other points on the sea
+coast, where the National troops were now in readiness to
+co-operated with Sherman's advance when he had passed
+Fayetteville.
+
+On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New
+Orleans, to move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama,
+for the purpose of destroying roads, machine shops, etc.  On the
+8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the Valley of
+Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit
+and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg; and
+on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the
+roads would permit, saying:  "As soon as it is possible to
+travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching
+Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone.  From there you could
+destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be
+of no further use to the rebellion. * * * This additional raid,
+with one starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering
+about four or five thousand cavalry; one from Eastport,
+Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with
+about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter pushing
+for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large
+army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will
+be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I
+would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish
+this.  Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last."
+
+On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had
+received his orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was
+extremely anxious to hear of his being in Alabama.  I notified
+him, also, that I had sent Grierson to take command of his
+cavalry, he being a very efficient officer.  I further suggested
+that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, and if he was there, he
+would find him an officer of great courage and capacity whom it
+would be difficult to get by.  I still further informed him that
+Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into Mississippi
+on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter.  This
+force did not get off however.
+
+All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's
+march, the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the
+West from leaving there.  But neither Canby nor Thomas could be
+got off in time.  I had some time before depleted Thomas's army
+to reinforce Canby, for the reason that Thomas had failed to
+start an expedition which he had been ordered to send out, and
+to have the troops where they might do something.  Canby seemed
+to be equally deliberate in all of his movements.  I ordered him
+to go in person; but he prepared to send a detachment under
+another officer.  General Granger had got down to New Orleans,
+in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put him
+in command of troops.  In spite of this he asked the War
+Department to assign Granger to the command of a corps.
+
+Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the
+cause in that quarter, I said to Canby:  "I am in receipt of a
+dispatch * * * informing me that you have made requisitions for
+a construction corps and material to build seventy miles of
+railroad.  I have directed that none be sent.  Thomas's army has
+been depleted to send a force to you that they might be where
+they could act in winter, and at least detain the force the
+enemy had in the West.  If there had been any idea of repairing
+railroads, it could have been done much better from the North,
+where we already had the troops.  I expected your movements to
+be co-operative with Sherman's last.  This has now entirely
+failed.  I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly
+and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine
+shops, etc., not to build them.  Take Mobile and hold it, and
+push your forces to the interior--to Montgomery and to Selma.
+Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for
+carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such
+positions as can be supplied by water.  By this means alone you
+can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the
+interior can be kept broken."
+
+Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to
+render any service in the direction for which they were designed.
+
+The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's
+troops and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand
+men in all; but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as
+I was sure would be the case, to retard Sherman's movements.
+Everything possible was being done to raise troops in the
+South.  Lee dispatched against Sherman the troops which had been
+sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including those of the other
+defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, amounted, after
+deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, to
+fourteen thousand men.  After Thomas's victory at Nashville what
+remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as
+rapidly as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces;
+and, finally, General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest
+commanders of the South though not in favor with the
+administration (or at least with Mr. Davis), was put in command
+of all the troops in North and South Carolina.
+
+Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January,
+but before sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him
+down the coast to see the situation of affairs, as I could give
+fuller directions after being on the ground than I could very
+well have given without.  We soon returned, and the troops were
+sent by sea to Cape Fear River.  Both New Bern and Wilmington
+are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite at
+Goldsboro.  Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the
+mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to
+secure the Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad.  This column
+took their pontoon bridges with them, to enable them to cross
+over to the island south of the city of Wilmington.  A large
+body was sent by the north side to co-operate with them.  They
+succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of February.  I took the
+precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case he should be
+forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching North
+Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was
+liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected
+march.  I also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a
+great abundance, now that we were not operating the roads in
+Virginia.  The gauge of the North Carolina railroads being the
+same as the Virginia railroads had been altered too; these cars
+and locomotives were ready for use there without any change.
+
+On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to
+Thomas to move south to Alabama and Georgia.  (I had previously
+reduced his force by sending a portion of it to Terry.)  I
+directed in lieu of this movement, that he should send Stoneman
+through East Tennessee, and push him well down toward Columbia,
+South Carolina, in support of Sherman.  Thomas did not get
+Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I had supposed
+he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his being
+in Louisville, Kentucky.  I immediately changed the order, and
+directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg.  Finally, however,
+on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western
+end of South Carolina, creating some consternation.  I also
+ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and
+to destroy no more roads east of that.  I also directed him to
+concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable
+movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.
+
+Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah.
+Sherman's march was without much incident until he entered
+Columbia, on the 17th of February.  He was detained in his
+progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild
+the bridges.  There was constant skirmishing and fighting between
+the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the
+advance of the infantry.  Four days, also, were lost in making
+complete the destruction of the most important railroads south
+of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water,
+and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road.  A
+formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in
+the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton.  There
+was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high
+water in the stream.  Hampton left as Sherman approached, and
+the city was found to be on fire.
+
+There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in
+discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire.
+Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies
+it on the part of the Confederates.  One thing is certain:  as
+soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to
+extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the
+limited means at hand.  In any case, the example set by the
+Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town
+which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act
+of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible
+for the conflict then raging, not imperative.
+
+The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took
+possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the
+National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making
+terms for the protection of property, etc.  Sherman paid no
+attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took
+the town without making any conditions whatever with its
+citizens.  He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in
+extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were
+rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes.  When he
+left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to
+be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some
+arrangement could be made for their future supplies.  He
+remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings,
+workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were
+destroyed.  While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first
+time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting him,
+under the command of General Beauregard.
+
+Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster
+garrisoned the place.  Wilmington was captured on the 22d.
+Columbia and Cheraw farther north, were regarded as so secure
+from invasion that the wealthy people of Charleston and Augusta
+had sent much of their valuable property to these two points to
+be stored.  Among the goods sent there were valuable carpets,
+tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture.  I am afraid
+much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops.  There
+was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery,
+small-arms and fixed ammunition.  These, of course were among
+the articles destroyed.  While here, Sherman also learned of
+Johnston's restoration to command.  The latter was given, as
+already stated, all troops in North and South Carolina.  After
+the completion of the destruction of public property about
+Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his march and reached Cheraw
+without any special opposition and without incident to relate.
+The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed on the
+way.  Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on
+the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced
+straight for Fayetteville.  Hardee and Hampton were there, and
+barely escaped.  Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of
+March.  He had dispatched scouts from Cheraw with letters to
+General Terry, at Wilmington, asking him to send a steamer with
+some supplies of bread, clothing and other articles which he
+enumerated.  The scouts got through successfully, and a boat was
+sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had asked
+as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those
+stores did not contain clothing.
+
+Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for
+Goldsboro.  The march, now, had to be made with great caution,
+for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that
+still remained open to the enemy.  Besides, he was confronting
+all that he had had to confront in his previous march up to that
+point, reinforced by the garrisons along the road and by what
+remained of Hood's army.  Frantic appeals were made to the
+people to come in voluntarily and swell the ranks of our foe.  I
+presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all over 35,000
+or 40,000 men.  The people had grown tired of the war, and
+desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous
+than the voluntary accessions.
+
+There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between
+Johnston's troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at
+Bentonville on the 19th and 21st of March, but Johnston withdrew
+from the contest before the morning of the 22d.  Sherman's loss
+in these last engagements in killed, wounded, and missing, was
+about sixteen hundred.  Sherman's troops at last reached
+Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; and
+there his men were destined to have a long rest.  Schofield was
+there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to
+Wilmington.
+
+Sherman was no longer in danger.  He had Johnston confronting
+him; but with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers
+and morale.  He had Lee to the north of him with a force largely
+superior; but I was holding Lee with a still greater force, and
+had he made his escape and gotten down to reinforce Johnston,
+Sherman, with the reinforcements he now had from Schofield and
+Terry, would have been able to hold the Confederates at bay for
+an indefinite period.  He was near the sea-shore with his back
+to it, and our navy occupied the harbors.  He had a railroad to
+both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly
+protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country
+and deepen as they approach the sea.  Then, too, Sherman knew
+that if Lee should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and
+Johnson together would be crushed in one blow if they attempted
+to make a stand.  With the loss of their capital, it is doubtful
+whether Lee's army would have amounted to much as an army when it
+reached North Carolina.  JohnstonÕs army was demoralized by
+constant defeat and would hardly have made an offensive
+movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on
+duty.  The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like
+their brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man
+is so brave that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as
+to discourage him and dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter
+how just he deems it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF
+WHITE OAK ROAD.
+
+On the last of January, 1895, peace commissioners from the
+so-called Confederate States presented themselves on our lines
+around Petersburg, and were immediately conducted to my
+headquarters at City Point.  They proved to be Alexander H.
+Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, Judge Campbell,
+Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly United
+States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.
+
+It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at
+once conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River
+boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of
+passengers.  I at once communicated by telegraph with Washington
+and informed the Secretary of War and the President of the
+arrival of these commissioners and that their object was to
+negotiate terms of peace between he United States and, as they
+termed it, the Confederate Government.  It was instructed to
+retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom
+he would designate, should come to meet them.  They remained
+several days as guests on board the boat.  I saw them quite
+frequently, though I have no recollection of having had any
+conversation whatever with them on the subject of their
+mission.  It was something I had nothing to do with, and I
+therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject.  For
+my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit,
+that they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT.  There had
+been too great a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything
+of the kind.  As long as they remained there, however, our
+relations were pleasant and I found them all very agreeable
+gentlemen.  I directed the captain to furnish them with the best
+the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort in every
+way possible.  No guard was placed over them and no restriction
+was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked
+that they would not abuse the privileges extended to them.  They
+were permitted to leave the boat when they felt like it, and did
+so, coming up on the bank and visiting me at my headquarters.
+
+I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but
+knew them well by reputation and through their public services,
+and I had been a particular admirer of Mr. Stephens.  I had
+always supposed that he was a very small man, but when I saw him
+in the dusk of the evening I was very much surprised to find so
+large a man as he seemed to be.  When he got down on to the boat
+I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen overcoat, a
+manufacture that had been introduced into the South during the
+rebellion.  The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I
+had ever seen, even in Canada.  The overcoat extended nearly to
+his feet, and was so large that it gave him the appearance of
+being an average-sized man.  He took this off when he reached
+the cabin of the boat, and I was struck with the apparent change
+in size, in the coat and out of it.
+
+After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a
+dispatch from Washington, directing me to send the commissioners
+to Hampton Roads to meet the President and a member of the
+cabinet.  Mr. Lincoln met them there and had an interview of
+short duration.  It was not a great while after they met that
+the President visited me at City Point.  He spoke of his having
+met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there
+would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they
+would recognize, first:  that the Union as a whole must be
+forever preserved, and second:  that slavery must be abolished.
+If they were willing to concede these two points, then he was
+ready to enter into negotiations and was almost willing to hand
+them a blank sheet of paper with his signature attached for them
+to fill in the terms upon which they were willing to live with us
+in the Union and be one people.  He always showed a generous and
+kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I never heard him
+abuse an enemy.  Some of the cruel things said about President
+Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the
+heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful
+disposition and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he
+seemed glad to get away from the cares and anxieties of the
+capital.
+
+Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln.  It was on
+the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the
+peace commissioners at Hampton Roads.  After a little
+conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of
+Stephens's.  I replied that I had.  "Well," said he, "did you
+see him take it off?"  I said yes.  "Well," said he, "didn't you
+think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you
+did see?"  Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate
+General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate.  He
+repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens
+laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.
+
+The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace
+commissioners, passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for
+two or three little incidents.  On one occasion during this
+period, while I was visiting Washington City for the purpose of
+conferring with the administration, the enemy's cavalry under
+General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left and then going to
+the south, got in east of us.  Before their presence was known,
+they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were
+grazing in that section.  It was a fair capture, and they were
+sufficiently needed by the Confederates.  It was only
+retaliating for what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a
+time, when out of supplies taking what the Confederate army
+otherwise would have gotten.  As appears in this book, on one
+single occasion we captured five thousand head of cattle which
+were crossing the Mississippi River near Port Hudson on their
+way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in the East.
+
+One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the
+rebellion was the last few weeks before Petersburg.  I felt that
+the situation of the Confederate army was such that they would
+try to make an escape at the earliest practicable moment, and I
+was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to
+hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but a picket
+line.  He had his railroad by the way of Danville south, and I
+was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores and
+ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him
+for his immediate defence.  I knew he could move much more
+lightly and more rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start,
+he would leave me behind so that we would have the same army to
+fight again farther south and the war might be prolonged another
+year.
+
+I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it
+was possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where
+they were.  There is no doubt that Richmond would have been
+evacuated much sooner than it was, if it had not been that it
+was the capital of the so-called Confederacy, and the fact of
+evacuating the capital would, of course, have had a very
+demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army.  When it was
+evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once
+began to crumble and fade away.  Then, too, desertions were
+taking place, not only among those who were with General Lee in
+the neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole
+Confederacy.  I remember that in a conversation with me on one
+occasion long prior to this, General Butler remarked that the
+Confederates would find great difficulty in getting more men for
+their army; possibly adding, though I am not certain as to this,
+"unless they should arm the slave."
+
+The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied
+man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they
+had passed a law for the further conscription of boys from
+fourteen to eighteen, calling them the junior reserves, and men
+from forty-five to sixty to be called the senior reserves.  The
+latter were to hold the necessary points not in immediate
+danger, and especially those in the rear.  General Butler, in
+alluding to this conscription, remarked that they were thus
+"robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I
+afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.
+
+It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits
+they were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout
+the entire army, by desertions alone.  Then by casualties of
+war, sickness, and other natural causes, their losses were much
+heavier.  It was a mere question of arithmetic to calculate how
+long they could hold out while that rate of depletion was going
+on.  Of course long before their army would be thus reduced to
+nothing the army which we had in the field would have been able
+to capture theirs.  Then too I knew from the great number of
+desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so gallantly
+and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as
+earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which
+they were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent.  Many of
+them were making application to be sent North where they might
+get employment until the war was over, when they could return to
+their Southern homes.
+
+For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for
+the time to come when I could commence the spring campaign,
+which I thoroughly believed would close the war.
+
+There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and
+which detained me.  One was the fact that the winter had been
+one of heavy rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery
+and teams.  It was necessary to wait until they had dried
+sufficiently to enable us to move the wagon trains and artillery
+necessary to the efficiency of an army operating in the enemy's
+country.  The other consideration was that General Sheridan with
+the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was operating on the north
+side of the James River, having come down from the Shenandoah. It
+was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, and I was
+therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the
+James River.
+
+Let us now take account of what he was doing.
+
+On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan.  He had met Early
+between Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing
+nearly his entire command.  Early and some of his officers
+escaped by finding refuge in the neighboring houses or in the
+woods.
+
+On the 12th I heard from him again.  He had turned east, to come
+to White House.  He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because
+the rains had been so very heavy and the streams were so very
+much swollen.  He had a pontoon train with him, but it would not
+reach half way across some of the streams, at their then stage of
+water, which he would have to get over in going south as first
+ordered.
+
+I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the
+depot there open until he arrived.  We had intended to abandon
+it because the James River had now become our base of supplies.
+
+Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into
+two divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin.
+General Merritt was acting as chief of cavalry.  Sheridan moved
+very light, carrying only four days' provisions with him, with a
+larger supply of coffee, salt and other small rations, and a very
+little else besides ammunition.  They stopped at Charlottesville
+and commenced tearing up the railroad back toward Lynchburg.  He
+also sent a division along the James River Canal to destroy
+locks, culverts etc.  All mills and factories along the lines of
+march of his troops were destroyed also.
+
+Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a
+march to White House was now somewhat hazardous.  He determined
+therefore to fight his way along the railroad and canal till he
+was as near to Richmond as it was possible to get, or until
+attacked.  He did this, destroying the canal as far as
+Goochland, and the railroad to a point as near Richmond as he
+could get.  On the 10th he was at Columbia.  Negroes had joined
+his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they
+assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads
+and the canal.  His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when
+he started, because he had been able to find plenty of forage.
+He had captured most of Early's horses and picked up a good many
+others on the road.  When he reached Ashland he was assailed by
+the enemy in force.  He resisted their assault with part of his
+command, moved quickly across the South and North Anna, going
+north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.
+
+The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to
+the time he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was.
+Supplies had to be got up to him which would last him through a
+long march, as there would probably not be much to be obtained
+in the country through which he would pass.  I had to arrange,
+therefore, that he should start from where he was, in the
+neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the earliest day
+at which he supposed he could be ready.
+
+Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he,
+could come up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined
+to move as soon as the roads and weather would admit of my doing
+so.  I had been tied down somewhat in the matter of fixing any
+time at my pleasure for starting, until Sheridan, who was on his
+way from the Shenandoah Valley to join me, should arrive, as both
+his presence and that of his cavalry were necessary to, the
+execution of the plans which I had in mind.  However, having
+arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to
+make my plans.
+
+Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night
+before I was aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into
+North Carolina to join with Johnston in attempting to crush out
+Sherman, I had, as early as the 1st of the month of March, given
+instructions to the troops around Petersburg to keep a sharp
+lookout to see that such a movement should not escape their
+notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was undertaken.
+
+It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and
+General Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in
+and about and Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no
+longer tenable for them, and that they must get away as soon as
+possible.  They, too, were waiting for dry roads, or a condition
+of the roads which would make it possible to move.
+
+General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider
+opening to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater
+security than he would have in the way the two armies were
+situated, determined upon an assault upon the right of our lines
+around Petersburg.  The night of the 24th of March was fixed upon
+for this assault, and General Gordon was assigned to the
+execution of the plan.  The point between Fort Stedman and
+Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was
+selected as the point of his attack.  The attack was to be made
+at night, and the troops were to get possession of the higher
+ground in the rear where they supposed we had intrenchments,
+then sweep to the right and left, create a panic in the lines of
+our army, and force me to contract my lines.  Lee hoped this
+would detain me a few days longer and give him an opportunity of
+escape.  The plan was well conceived and the execution of it very
+well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our
+line.
+
+Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the
+point at which they were to make their charge, and got
+possession of our picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of
+the troops inside of our main line of intrenchments; this reduced
+the distance he would have to charge over to not much more than
+fifty yards.  For some time before the deserters had been coming
+in with great frequency, often bringing their arms with them, and
+this the Confederate general knew.  Taking advantage of this
+knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through
+to ours as if to desert.  When they got to our lines they at once
+took possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In
+the main line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great
+security.  This plan was to have been executed and much damage
+done before daylight; but the troops that were to reinforce
+Gordon had to be brought from the north side of the James River
+and, by some accident on the railroad on their way over, they
+were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to be
+nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.
+
+The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the
+enemy passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery
+No. 10.  Then turning to the right and left they captured the
+fort and the battery, with all the arms and troops in them.
+Continuing the charge, they also carried batteries Eleven and
+Twelve to our left, which they turned toward City Point.
+
+Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in
+his line cut him off from all communication with his
+headquarters.  Parke, however, commanding the 9th corps when
+this breach took place, telegraphed the facts to Meade's
+headquarters, and learning that the general was away, assumed
+command himself and with commendable promptitude made all
+preparations to drive the enemy back.  General Tidball gathered
+a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them in rear
+of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground
+between the lines very thoroughly.  Hartranft was soon out with
+his division, as also was Willcox.  Hartranft to the right of
+the breach headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly
+drove them back into Fort Stedman.  On the other side they were
+driven back into the intrenchments which they had captured, and
+batteries eleven and twelve were retaken by Willcox early in the
+morning.
+
+Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and
+batteries, and communication was once more established.  The
+artillery fire was kept up so continuously that it was
+impossible for the Confederates to retreat, and equally
+impossible for reinforcements to join them.  They all,
+therefore, fell captives into our hands.  This effort of Lee's
+cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing,
+wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.
+
+After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates,
+our troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched
+picket line, which they strengthened and held.  This, in turn,
+gave us but a short distance to charge over when our attack came
+to be made a few days later.
+
+The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack
+(24th of March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence
+on the 29th.  Ord, with three divisions of infantry and
+Mackenzie's cavalry, was to move in advance on the night of the
+27th, from the north side of the James River and take his place
+on our extreme left, thirty miles away.  He left Weitzel with
+the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda Hundred and
+the north of the James River.  The engineer brigade was to be
+left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about
+Petersburg. (*42)
+
+Ord was at his place promptly.  Humphreys and Warren were then
+on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps.  They were
+directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position
+in their places, to cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west
+toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from
+which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the
+Danville Railroad.  There was considerable fighting in taking up
+these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army
+of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses
+were quite severe.
+
+This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March.  His
+horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their
+shoes.  A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the
+animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for
+moving.  Immediately on General Sheridan's arrival at City Point
+I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided
+upon.  The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.
+
+After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked
+out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with
+him by himself--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a
+member of my staff.  In preparing his instructions I
+contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing
+Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and
+terminating the contest before separating from the enemy.  But
+the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the
+prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never
+terminate except by compromise.  Knowing that unless my plan
+proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous
+defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event
+he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of
+supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of
+the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the
+rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with
+Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces
+to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had
+received, to act in cooperation with the armies around
+Petersburg and Richmond.
+
+I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed
+somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut
+loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself
+between the two main armies of the enemy.  I said to him:
+"General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely
+as a blind;" and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore
+described.  I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to
+close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should
+go no farther.  His face at once brightened up, and slapping his
+hand on his leg he said:  "I am glad to hear it, and we can do
+it."
+
+Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks
+until he got further instructions from me.
+
+One day, after the movement I am about to describe had
+commenced, and when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far
+to the rear, south, Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters
+were then established, at Dabney's Mills.  He met some of my
+staff officers outside, and was highly jubilant over the
+prospects of success, giving reasons why he believed this would
+prove the final and successful effort.  Although my
+chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our
+position about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he
+asked Sheridan to come in to see me and say to me what he had
+been saying to them.  Sheridan felt a little modest about giving
+his advice where it had not been asked; so one of my staff came
+in and told me that Sheridan had what they considered important
+news, and suggested that I send for him.  I did so, and was glad
+to see the spirit of confidence with which he was imbued. Knowing
+as I did from experience, of what great value that feeling of
+confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a movement
+at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen after
+I had started out the roads were still very heavy.  Orders were
+given accordingly.
+
+Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having
+been a few days free from rain, the surface of the ground was
+dry, giving indications that the time had come when we could
+move.  On that date I moved out with all the army available
+after leaving sufficient force to hold the line about
+Petersburg.  It soon set in raining again however, and in a very
+short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and
+almost so for cavalry.  Sometimes a horse or mule would be
+standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot
+would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all
+his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of
+the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other
+southern States.  It became necessary therefore to build
+corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our
+artillery upon.  The army had become so accustomed to this kind
+of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very
+rapidly.  The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient
+progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan
+with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then
+come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus
+menacing the right of Lee's line.
+
+This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to
+the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right,
+or Five Forks.  The column moving detached from the army still in
+the trenches was, excluding the cavalry, very small.  The forces
+in the trenches were themselves extending to the left flank.
+Warren was on the extreme left when the extension began, but
+Humphreys was marched around later and thrown into line between
+him and Five Forks.
+
+My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get
+on the enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken
+their centre to protect their right so that an assault in the
+centre might be successfully made.  General Wright's corps had
+been designated to make this assault, which I intended to order
+as soon as information reached me of Sheridan's success.  He was
+to move under cover as close to the enemy as he could get.
+
+It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to
+be to get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville
+Railroad, as soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on
+the 29th.  These roads were so important to his very existence
+while he remained in Richmond and Petersburg, and of such vital
+importance to him even in case of retreat, that naturally he
+would make most strenuous efforts to defend them.  He did on the
+30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce Five Forks.  He
+also sent around to the right of his army some two or three other
+divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in
+readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on
+call.  He came over himself to superintend in person the defence
+of his right flank.
+
+Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the
+30th, and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks.  He
+had only his cavalry with him.  Soon encountering the rebel
+cavalry he met with a very stout resistance.  He gradually drove
+them back however until in the neighborhood of Five Forks.  Here
+he had to encounter other troops besides those he had been
+contending with, and was forced to give way.
+
+In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken
+place and stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie
+gradually and slowly, and asked me to send Wright's corps to his
+assistance.  I replied to him that it was impossible to send
+Wright's corps because that corps was already in line close up
+to the enemy, where we should want to assault when the proper
+time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but the 2d
+(Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left
+and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the
+left flank of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send
+Warren.
+
+Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that
+night (the 31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in
+communication with Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to
+him.  He was very slow in moving, some of his troops not
+starting until after 5 o'clock next morning.  When he did move
+it was done very deliberately, and on arriving at Gravelly Run
+he found the stream swollen from the recent rains so that he
+regarded it as not fordable.  Sheridan of course knew of his
+coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as
+possible, sent orders to him to hasten.  He was also hastened or
+at least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade.  He now
+felt that he could not cross that creek without bridges, and his
+orders were changed to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in
+flank or get in their rear; but he was so late in getting up that
+Sheridan determined to move forward without him.  However,
+Ayres's division of Warren's corps reached him in time to be in
+the fight all day, most of the time separated from the remainder
+of the 5th corps and fighting directly under Sheridan.
+
+Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the
+whole of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until
+late in the afternoon.  Griffin's division in backing to get out
+of the way of a severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching
+away from the fighting.  This did not continue long, however; the
+division was brought back and with Ayres's division did most
+excellent service during the day.  Crawford's division of the
+same corps had backed still farther off, and although orders
+were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was late before it
+finally got to where it could be of material assistance.  Once
+there it did very excellent service.
+
+Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little
+later, in advancing up to the point from which to make his
+designed assault upon Five Forks itself.  He was very impatient
+to make the assault and have it all over before night, because
+the ground he occupied would be untenable for him in bivouac
+during the night.  Unless the assault was made and was
+successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie
+Court-House, or even further than that for the night.
+
+It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get
+Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren.  He sent
+staff officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing
+that general to report to him, but they were unable to find
+him.  At all events Sheridan was unable to get that officer to
+him.  Finally he went himself.  He issued an order relieving
+Warren and assigning Griffin to the command of the 5th corps.
+The troops were then brought up and the assault successfully
+made.
+
+I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in
+the battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach
+Sheridan in time, that I was very much afraid that at the last
+moment he would fail Sheridan.  He was a man of fine
+intelligence, great earnestness, quick perception, and could
+make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, under
+difficulties where he was forced to act.  But I had before
+discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very
+prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just
+before us.  He could see every danger at a glance before he had
+encountered it.  He would not only make preparations to meet the
+danger which might occur, but he would inform his commanding
+officer what others should do while he was executing his move.
+
+I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his
+attention to these defects, and to say that as much as I liked
+General Warren, now was not a time when we could let our
+personal feelings for any one stand in the way of success; and
+if his removal was necessary to success, not to hesitate.  It
+was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed Warren.  I was
+very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still more that I
+had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another field
+of duty.
+
+It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the
+parapets of the enemy.  The two armies were mingled together
+there for a time in such manner that it was almost a question
+which one was going to demand the surrender of the other.  Soon,
+however, the enemy broke and ran in every direction; some six
+thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms in large
+quantities, falling into our hands.  The flying troops were
+pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under
+Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.
+
+This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when
+Sheridan halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of
+the part of the enemy's line which had been captured, returned,
+sending the 5th corps across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of
+Petersburg, and facing them toward it.  Merritt, with the
+cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of Five Forks.
+
+This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the
+1st of April.  I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and
+Parke at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d.  I also ordered
+the 2d corps, General Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army
+of the James, on the left, to hold themselves in readiness to
+take any advantage that could be taken from weakening in their
+front.
+
+I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day;
+in fact I had reported to him during the day and evening as I
+got news, because he was so much interested in the movements
+taking place that I wanted to relieve his mind as much as I
+could.  I notified Weitzel on the north side of the James River,
+directing him, also, to keep close up to the enemy, and take
+advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to promptly
+enter the city of Richmond.
+
+I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks
+as of so much importance that he would make a last desperate
+effort to retake it, risking everything upon the cast of a
+single die.  It was for this reason that I had ordered the
+assault to take place at once, as soon as I had received the
+news of the capture of Five Forks.  The corps commanders,
+however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not see
+to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But
+we kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the
+whole line including that north of the James River, until it was
+light enough to move, which was about a quarter to five in the
+morning.
+
+At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed,
+brushed the abatis from their front as they advanced under a
+heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and went without flinching
+directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves
+inside of the enemy's line.  Parke, who was on the right, swept
+down to the right and captured a very considerable length of
+line in that direction, but at that point the outer was so near
+the inner line which closely enveloped the city of Petersburg
+that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a very
+serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the
+defence of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in
+this.
+
+Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run,
+sweeping everything before him.  The enemy had traverses in rear
+of his captured line, under cover of which he made something of a
+stand, from one to another, as Wright moved on; but the latter
+met no serious obstacle.  As you proceed to the left the outer
+line becomes gradually much farther from the inner one, and
+along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly two miles apart.
+Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of
+artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of
+them.
+
+In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the
+instructions they had received, had succeeded by daylight, or
+very early in the morning, in capturing the intrenched
+picket-lines in their front; and before Wright got up to that
+point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of the enemy's
+intrenchments.  The second corps soon followed; and the outer
+works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops,
+never to be wrenched from them again.  When Wright reached
+Hatcher's Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side
+Railroad just outside of the city.
+
+My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills.  As soon as I
+received the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches
+announcing the fact to all points around the line, including the
+troops at Bermuda Hundred and those on the north side of the
+James, and to the President at City Point.  Further dispatches
+kept coming in, and as they did I sent the additional news to
+these points.  Finding at length that they were all in, I
+mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works.
+When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as
+Wright's three thousand prisoners were coming out.  I was soon
+joined inside by General Meade and his staff.
+
+Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost
+ground.  Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but
+repulsed every effort.  Before noon Longstreet was ordered up
+from the north side of the James River thus bringing the bulk of
+Lee's army around to the support of his extreme right.  As soon
+as I learned this I notified Weitzel and directed him to keep up
+close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, commanding the Bermuda
+Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they found any break
+to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this would
+separate Richmond and Petersburg.
+
+Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to
+Petersburg, coming in on our left.  This gave us a continuous
+line from the Appomattox River below the city to the same river
+above.  At eleven o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I
+reinforced Parke with two brigades from City Point.  With this
+additional force he completed his captured works for better
+defence, and built back from his right, so as to protect his
+flank.  He also carried in and made an abatis between himself
+and the enemy.  Lee brought additional troops and artillery
+against Parke even after this was done, and made several
+assaults with very heavy losses.
+
+The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to
+Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and
+Fort Whitworth.  We thought it had now become necessary to carry
+them by assault.  About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was
+assaulted by Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's),
+supported by two brigades from Ord's command.  The battle was
+desperate and the National troops were repulsed several times;
+but it was finally carried, and immediately the troops in Fort
+Whitworth evacuated the place.  The guns of Fort Gregg were
+turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding officer
+with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.
+
+I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan.  In
+moving to execute this order he came upon the enemy at the
+intersection of the White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road.  The
+enemy fell back to Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and
+were followed by Miles.  This position, naturally a strong and
+defensible one, was also strongly intrenched.  Sheridan now came
+up and Miles asked permission from him to make the assault, which
+Sheridan gave.  By this time Humphreys had got through the outer
+works in his front, and came up also and assumed command over
+Miles, who commanded a division in his corps.  I had sent an
+order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards
+Petersburg.  This order he now got, and started off, thus
+leaving Miles alone.  The latter made two assaults, both of
+which failed, and he had to fall back a few hundred yards.
+
+Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed
+Humphreys to send a division back to his relief.  He went
+himself.
+
+Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent
+Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate
+cavalry that had assembled there.  Merritt drove them north to
+the Appomattox River.  Sheridan then took the enemy at
+Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and
+the two together captured the place, with a large number of
+prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder,
+portions of three Confederate corps, to flight.  Sheridan
+followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was
+stopped.  Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he
+with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault.  I cannot
+explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to
+City Point that evening:
+
+
+BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG,
+April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M.
+
+COLONEL T. S. BOWERS,
+City Point.
+
+We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few
+hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to
+the river above.  Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of
+them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either
+designedly on their part or because they could not help it.
+Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them.  Miles's
+division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to
+Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met
+them, and at last accounts was engaged with them.  Not knowing
+whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was
+sent with another division from here.  The whole captures since
+the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve
+thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery.  I do not
+know the number of men and guns accurately however.  * * *  I
+think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the
+river above to the river below.  I ordered a bombardment to be
+commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an
+assault at six o'clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early
+in the morning.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY-- VISIT
+TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d
+and took a position under cover of a house which protected us
+from the enemies musketry which was flying thick and fast
+there.  As we would occasionally look around the corner we could
+see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the
+bridge, packed with the Confederate army.  I did not have
+artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make
+his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit.  At all
+events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass
+of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.
+
+Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man
+came in who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of
+Northern Virginia.  He said that Lee had for some time been at
+work preparing a strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he
+would throw himself when forced out of Petersburg, and fight his
+final battle there; that he was actually at that time drawing his
+troops from Richmond, and falling back into this prepared work.
+This statement was made to General Meade and myself when we were
+together.  I had already given orders for the movement up the
+south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading off Lee;
+but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he
+thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move
+against Lee in his new position.  I knew that Lee was no fool,
+as he would have been to have put himself and his army between
+two formidable streams like the James and Appomattox rivers, and
+between two such armies as those of the Potomac and the James.
+Then these streams coming together as they did to the east of
+him, it would be only necessary to close up in the west to have
+him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or possibility of
+reinforcement.  It would only have been a question of days, and
+not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him
+by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to
+surrender his army.  Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war
+to deceive your antagonist.  My judgment was that Lee would
+necessarily have to evacuate Richmond, and that the only course
+for him to pursue would be to follow the Danville Road.
+Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that road south
+of Lee, and I told Meade this.  He suggested that if Lee was
+going that way we would follow him.  My reply was that we did
+not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut
+him off, and if he would only stay in the position he (Meade)
+believed him to be in at that time, I wanted nothing better;
+that when we got in possession of the Danville Railroad, at its
+crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still found him between
+the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward and close
+him up.  That we would then have all the advantage we could
+possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg,
+even if he remained in the position assigned him by the engineer
+officer.
+
+I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so
+as to start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning,
+supposing that Lee would be gone during the night.  During the
+night I strengthened Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.
+
+Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond,
+during the day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it
+would be impossible for him to hold out longer than night, if he
+could hold out that long.  Davis was at church when he received
+Lee's dispatch.  The congregation was dismissed with the notice
+that there would be no evening service.  The rebel government
+left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d.
+
+At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court
+House, his object being to get away, join Johnston if possible,
+and to try to crush Sherman before I could get there.  As soon
+as I was sure of this I notified Sheridan and directed him to
+move out on the Danville Railroad to the south side of the
+Appomattox River as speedily as possible.  He replied that he
+already had some of his command nine miles out.  I then ordered
+the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the
+same road in the morning.  Parke's corps followed by the same
+road, and the Army of the James was directed to follow the road
+which ran alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's
+Station, and to repair the railroad and telegraph as they
+proceeded.  That road was a 5 feet gauge, while our rolling
+stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; consequently the
+rail on one side of the track had to be taken up throughout the
+whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of our
+cars and locomotives.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some
+days.  I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only
+while I felt a strong conviction that the move was going to be
+successful, yet it might not prove so; and then I would have
+only added another to the many disappointments he had been
+suffering for the past three years.  But when we started out he
+saw that we were moving for a purpose, and bidding us Godspeed,
+remained there to hear the result.
+
+The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed
+Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I
+would await his arrival.  I had started all the troops out early
+in the morning, so that after the National army left Petersburg
+there was not a soul to be seen, not even an animal in the
+streets.  There was absolutely no one there, except my staff
+officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry.  We had
+selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until
+the President arrived.
+
+About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm
+congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and
+to the army which had accomplished it, was:  "Do you know,
+general, that I have had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days
+that you intended to do something like this."  Our movements
+having been successful up to this point, I no longer had any
+object in concealing from the President all my movements, and
+the objects I had in view.  He remained for some days near City
+Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by
+telegraph.
+
+Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join
+me at a fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's
+army.  I told him that I had been very anxious to have the
+Eastern armies vanquish their old enemy who had so long resisted
+all their repeated and gallant attempts to subdue them or drive
+them from their capital.  The Western armies had been in the
+main successful until they had conquered all the territory from
+the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and were
+now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking
+admittance.  I said to him that if the Western armies should be
+even upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the
+credit would be given to them for the capture, by politicians
+and non-combatants from the section of country which those
+troops hailed from.  It might lead to disagreeable bickerings
+between members of Congress of the East and those of the West in
+some of their debates.  Western members might be throwing it up
+to the members of the East that in the suppression of the
+rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to
+accomplish much in the way of contributing toward that end, but
+had to wait until the Western armies had conquered all the
+territory south and west of them, and then come on to help them
+capture the only army they had been engaged with.
+
+Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it
+before, because his anxiety was so great that he did not care
+where the aid came from so the work was done.
+
+The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four
+years' record in the suppression of the rebellion.  The army it
+had to fight was the protection to the capital of a people which
+was attempting to found a nation upon the territory of the United
+States.  Its loss would be the loss of the cause.  Every energy,
+therefore, was put forth by the Confederacy to protect and
+maintain their capital.  Everything else would go if it went.
+Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to maintain its
+position, no matter what territory was wrested from the South in
+another quarter.
+
+I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between
+the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has
+been none between the politicians.  Possibly I am the only one
+who thought of the liability of such a state of things in
+advance.
+
+When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his
+horse and started on his return to City Point, while I and my
+staff started to join the army, now a good many miles in
+advance.  Up to this time I had not received the report of the
+capture of Richmond.
+
+Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from
+General Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession
+of Richmond at about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day,
+the 3d, and that he had found the city on fire in two places.
+The city was in the most utter confusion.  The authorities had
+taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter,
+and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government
+had left, for the people to gather up.  The city had been
+deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any
+notice whatever that they were about to leave.  In fact, up to
+the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to
+believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere
+around Petersburg.
+
+Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in
+Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers
+in the town.  The city was on fire.  Our troops were directed to
+extinguish the flames, which they finally succeeded in doing.
+The fire had been started by some one connected with the
+retreating army.  All authorities deny that it was authorized,
+and I presume it was the work of excited men who were leaving
+what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it
+was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of
+their enemy.  Be that as it may, the National troops found the
+city in flames, and used every effort to extinguish them.
+
+The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them,
+were cut off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued
+by our cavalry so hotly and closely that they threw away
+caissons, ammunition, clothing, and almost everything to lighten
+their loads, and pushed along up the Appomattox River until
+finally they took water and crossed over.
+
+I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join
+the command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine
+miles out.  We had still time to march as much farther, and time
+was an object; but the roads were bad and the trains belonging to
+the advance corps had blocked up the road so that it was
+impossible to get on.  Then, again, our cavalry had struck some
+of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the orders were that
+the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever they
+appeared.  This caused further delay.
+
+General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which
+were left back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into
+bivouac and trying to get up some rations for them, and clearing
+out the road, so that when they did start they would be
+uninterrupted.  Humphreys, who was far ahead, was also out of
+rations.  They did not succeed in getting them up through the
+night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were so
+elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a
+victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations
+to running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them.  So
+the march was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.
+
+Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven
+them north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were
+forced to cross.
+
+On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations
+up from Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to
+meet him at Farmville.  This showed that Lee had already
+abandoned the idea of following the railroad down to Danville,
+but had determined to go farther west, by the way of
+Farmville.  I notified Sheridan of this and directed him to get
+possession of the road before the supplies could reach Lee.  He
+responded that he had already sent Crook's division to get upon
+the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face north
+and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought
+Crook must be there now.  The bulk of the army moved directly
+for Jetersville by two roads.
+
+After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that
+Crook was on the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to
+make a forced march with the Army of the Potomac, and to send
+Parke's corps across from the road they were on to the South
+Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the Army of the James and
+to protect the railroad which that army was repairing as it went
+along.
+
+Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph
+office, they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred
+thousand rations from Danville.  The dispatch had not been sent,
+but Sheridan sent a special messenger with it to Burkesville and
+had it forwarded from there.  In the meantime, however,
+dispatches from other sources had reached Danville, and they
+knew there that our army was on the line of the road; so that
+they sent no further supplies from that quarter.
+
+At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off
+between the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on
+and the Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in
+flank.  They picked up a great many prisoners and forced the
+abandonment of some property.
+
+Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his
+advance north of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect
+forage.  The country was very poor and afforded but very
+little.  His foragers scattered a great deal; many of them were
+picked up by our men, and many others never returned to the Army
+of Northern Virginia.
+
+Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of
+Jetersville, and Sheridan notified me of the situation.  I again
+ordered Meade up with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one
+corps of infantry with a little cavalry confronting Lee's entire
+army.  Meade, always prompt in obeying orders, now pushed forward
+with great energy, although he was himself sick and hardly able
+to be out of bed.  Humphreys moved at two, and Wright at three
+o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have said, the
+wagons being far in the rear.
+
+I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side
+Railroad.  On the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of
+the progress Meade was making, and suggested that he might now
+attack Lee.  We had now no other objective than the Confederate
+armies, and I was anxious to close the thing up at once.
+
+On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about
+ten miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I
+then received from Sheridan the following dispatch:
+
+"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and
+on this side of it.  General Davies, whom I sent out to
+Painesville on their right flank, has just captured six pieces
+of artillery and some wagons.  We can capture the Army of
+Northern Virginia if force enough can be thrown to this point,
+and then advance upon it.  My cavalry was at Burkesville
+yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last
+night.  General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person.  They
+are out of rations, or nearly so.  They were advancing up the
+railroad towards Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them
+at this point."
+
+It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to
+his provisions.
+
+Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards
+Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him.
+Davies found the movement had already commenced.  He attacked
+and drove away their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the
+west, capturing and burning 180 wagons.  He also captured five
+pieces of artillery.  The Confederate infantry then moved
+against him and probably would have handled him very roughly,
+but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of cavalry to follow
+Davies, and they came to his relief in time.  A sharp engagement
+took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the
+enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.
+
+Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the
+afternoon, but in advance of all his troops.  The head of
+Humphreys's corps followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan
+stationed the troops as they came up, at Meade's request, the
+latter still being very sick.  He extended two divisions of this
+corps off to the west of the road to the left of Griffin's corps,
+and one division to the right.  The cavalry by this time had also
+come up, and they were put still farther off to the left,
+Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the
+enemy intended to escape.  He wanted to attack, feeling that if
+time was given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented
+this, preferring to wait till his troops were all up.
+
+At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed
+to him by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he
+wished I was there myself.  The letter was dated Amelia Court
+House, April 5th, and signed by Colonel Taylor.  It was to his
+mother, and showed the demoralization of the Confederate army.
+Sheridan's note also gave me the information as here related of
+the movements of that day.  I received a second message from
+Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more emphatically the
+importance of my presence.  This was brought to me by a scout in
+gray uniform.  It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up in
+tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in.  This was a
+precaution taken so that if the scout should be captured he
+could take this tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into
+his mouth, chew it.  It would cause no surprise at all to see a
+Confederate soldier chewing tobacco.  It was nearly night when
+this letter was received.  I gave Ord directions to continue his
+march to Burkesville and there intrench himself for the night,
+and in the morning to move west to cut off all the roads between
+there and Farmville.
+
+I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of
+cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's
+army.  The distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being
+dark our progress was slow through the woods in the absence of
+direct roads.  However, we got to the outposts about ten o'clock
+in the evening, and after some little parley convinced the
+sentinels of our identity and were conducted in to where
+Sheridan was bivouacked.  We talked over the situation for some
+little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was
+trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to
+the right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of
+escaping us and putting us in rear of him.
+
+We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about
+midnight.  I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow
+the enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders
+would allow the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no
+doubt that Lee was moving right then.  Meade changed his orders
+at once.  They were now given for an advance on Amelia Court
+House, at an early hour in the morning, as the army then lay;
+that is, the infantry being across the railroad, most of it to
+the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out still farther
+to the left.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE
+--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.
+
+The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the
+south-west from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville
+Railroad bridge, and then trends north-westerly.  Sailor's
+Creek, an insignificant stream, running northward, empties into
+the Appomattox between the High Bridge and Jetersville.  Near
+the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to Lynchburg
+crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge.  The railroad
+runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles
+west, and from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of
+it.  The roads coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross
+the Appomattox River there on a bridge and run on the north
+side, leaving the Lynchburg and Petersburg Railroad well to the
+left.
+
+Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of
+all the roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to
+move upon, and never permitted the head of his columns to stop
+because of any fighting that might be going on in his rear.  In
+this way he came very near succeeding in getting to his
+provision trains and eluding us with at least part of his army.
+
+As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and
+our army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered
+them.  There was a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek
+was reached.  Our cavalry charged in upon a body of theirs which
+was escorting a wagon train in order to get it past our left.  A
+severe engagement ensued, in which we captured many prisoners,
+and many men also were killed and wounded.  There was as much
+gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in these little
+engagements as was displayed at any time during the war,
+notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.
+
+The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy
+engagement took place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry
+were all brought into action.  Our men on the right, as they
+were brought in against the enemy, came in on higher ground, and
+upon his flank, giving us every advantage to be derived from the
+lay of the country.  Our firing was also very much more rapid,
+because the enemy commenced his retreat westward and in firing
+as he retreated had to turn around every time he fired.  The
+enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded as in
+captures.  Some six general officers fell into our hands in this
+engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners.  This
+engagement was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the
+6th, and the retreat and pursuit were continued until nightfall,
+when the armies bivouacked upon the ground where the night had
+overtaken them.
+
+When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that
+morning, I ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme
+right, to be moved to the left past the whole army, to take the
+place of Griffin's, and ordered the latter at the same time to
+move by and place itself on the right.  The object of this
+movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, next to the
+cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously and
+so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.
+
+The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's
+direct command until after the surrender.
+
+Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads
+southward between Burkesville and the High Bridge.  On the
+morning of the 6th he sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry
+regiments with instructions to destroy High Bridge and to return
+rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he prepared himself to resist
+the enemy there.  Soon after Washburn had started Ord became a
+little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel Read, of his
+staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and bring
+him back.  Very shortly after this he heard that the head of
+Lee's column had got up to the road between him and where
+Washburn now was, and attempted to send reinforcements, but the
+reinforcements could not get through.  Read, however, had got
+through ahead of the enemy.  He rode on to Farmville and was on
+his way back again when he found his return cut off, and
+Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's army.  Read
+drew his men up into line of battle, his force now consisting of
+less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode along
+their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the
+same enthusiasm that he himself felt.  He then gave the order to
+charge.  This little band made several charges, of course
+unsuccessful ones, but inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than
+equal to their own entire number.  Colonel Read fell mortally
+wounded, and then Washburn; and at the close of the conflict
+nearly every officer of the command and most of the rank and
+file had been either killed or wounded.  The remainder then
+surrendered.  The Confederates took this to be only the advance
+of a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to
+intrench; so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked
+the progress of a strong detachment of the Confederate army.
+
+This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains
+following.  Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road
+bridge near the High Bridge, and attempted to destroy it.  He
+did set fire to it, but the flames had made but little headway
+when Humphreys came up with his corps and drove away the
+rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it was being
+burned up.  Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, and
+followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at
+Farmville with the one from Petersburg.  Here Lee held a
+position which was very strong, naturally, besides being
+intrenched.  Humphreys was alone, confronting him all through
+the day, and in a very hazardous position.  He put on a bold
+face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was not
+assaulted in return.
+
+Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's
+Court House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in
+between Griffin and the Appomattox.  Crook's division of cavalry
+and Wright's corps pushed on west of Farmville.  When the
+cavalry reached Farmville they found that some of the
+Confederates were in ahead of them, and had already got their
+trains of provisions back to that point; but our troops were in
+time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, although
+they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did
+not get them for some time.  These troops retreated to the north
+side of the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying
+the bridge after them.  Considerable fighting ensued there
+between Wright's corps and a portion of our cavalry and the
+Confederates, but finally the cavalry forded the stream and
+drove them away.  Wright built a foot-bridge for his men to
+march over on and then marched out to the junction of the roads
+to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night.  I had stopped
+the night before at Burkesville Junction.  Our troops were then
+pretty much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital
+there, and Ord's command was extended from that point towards
+Farmville.
+
+Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular
+army, who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one
+of the prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when
+we had got across the James River he knew their cause was lost,
+and it was the duty of their authorities to make the best terms
+they could while they still had a right to claim concessions.
+The authorities thought differently, however.  Now the cause was
+lost and they had no right to claim anything.  He said further,
+that for every man that was killed after this in the war
+somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little better
+than murder.  He was not sure that Lee would consent to
+surrender his army without being able to consult with the
+President, but he hoped he would.
+
+I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the
+day.  Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the
+south.  Meade was back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys
+confronting Lee as before stated.  After having gone into
+bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, Sheridan learned that
+seven trains of provisions and forage were at Appomattox, and
+determined to start at once and capture them; and a forced march
+was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could
+secure them.  He wrote me a note telling me this.  This fact,
+together with the incident related the night before by Dr.
+Smith, gave me the idea of opening correspondence with General
+Lee on the subject of the surrender of his army.  I therefore
+wrote to him on this day, as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+5 P.M., April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:
+
+
+April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I have received your note of this day.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+R. E. LEE,
+General.
+
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
+Commanding Armies of the U. S.
+
+
+This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving
+another letter and wrote him as follows:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking
+the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army
+of Northern Virginia is just received.  In reply I would say
+that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I
+would insist upon, namely:  that the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia
+will be received.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's army was rapidly crumbling.  Many of his soldiers had
+enlisted from that part of the State where they now were, and
+were continually dropping out of the ranks and going to their
+homes.  I know that I occupied a hotel almost destitute of
+furniture at Farmville, which had probably been used as a
+Confederate hospital.  The next morning when I came out I found
+a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and said that he
+was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel of a
+regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood.  He said
+that when he came along past home, he found that he was the only
+man of the regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped
+out, and now wanted to surrender himself.  I told him to stay
+there and he would not be molested.  That was one regiment which
+had been eliminated from Lee's force by this crumbling process.
+
+Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved
+with alacrity and without any straggling.  They began to see the
+end of what they had been fighting four years for.  Nothing
+seemed to fatigue them.  They were ready to move without rations
+and travel without rest until the end.  Straggling had entirely
+ceased, and every man was now a rival for the front.  The
+infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry could.
+
+Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of
+Appomattox Station, which is about five miles south-west of the
+Court House, to get west of the trains and destroy the roads to
+the rear.  They got there the night of the 8th, and succeeded
+partially; but some of the train men had just discovered the
+movement of our troops and succeeded in running off three of the
+trains.  The other four were held by Custer.
+
+The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning
+of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union
+soldiers near.  The Confederates were surprised to find our
+cavalry had possession of the trains.  However, they were
+desperate and at once assaulted, hoping to recover them.  In the
+melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one of the trains,
+but not in getting anything from it.  Custer then ordered the
+other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the
+fight continued.
+
+So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were
+engaged.  Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the
+rear, no doubt expecting they had nothing to meet but our
+cavalry.  But our infantry had pushed forward so rapidly that by
+the time the enemy got up they found Griffin's corps and the Army
+of the James confronting them.  A sharp engagement ensued, but
+Lee quickly set up a white flag.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of
+Lee.  I was suffering very severely with a sick headache, and
+stopped at a farmhouse on the road some distance in rear of the
+main body of the army.  I spent the night in bathing my feet in
+hot water and mustard, and putting mustard plasters on my wrists
+and the back part of my neck, hoping to be cured by morning.
+During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter of the
+8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following
+morning. (*43)  But it was for a different purpose from that of
+surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of yesterday is received.  As I have no authority to
+treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M.
+to-day could lead to no good.  I will state, however, General,
+that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole
+North entertains the same feeling.  The terms upon which peace
+can be had are well understood.  By the South laying down their
+arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands
+of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet
+destroyed.  Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be
+settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself,
+etc.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering
+with the headache, to get to the head of the column.  I was not
+more than two or three miles from Appomattox Court House at the
+time, but to go direct I would have to pass through Lee's army,
+or a portion of it.  I had therefore to move south in order to
+get upon a road coming up from another direction.
+
+When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I
+was in this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and
+consequently could not be communicated with immediately, and be
+informed of what Lee had done.  Lee, therefore, sent a flag to
+the rear to advise Meade and one to the front to Sheridan,
+saying that he had sent a message to me for the purpose of
+having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his army, and
+asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be
+communicated with.  As they had heard nothing of this until the
+fighting had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of
+these commanders hesitated very considerably about suspending
+hostilities at all.  They were afraid it was not in good faith,
+and we had the Army of Northern Virginia where it could not
+escape except by some deception.  They, however, finally
+consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours to give
+an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if
+possible.  It was found that, from the route I had taken, they
+would probably not be able to communicate with me and get an
+answer back within the time fixed unless the messenger should
+pass through the rebel lines.
+
+Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this
+message through his lines to me.
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in
+your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT
+Commanding U. S. Armies.
+
+
+When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick
+headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was
+cured.  I wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. Armies.
+
+Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received,
+in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and
+Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road.  I am at
+this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will
+push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice
+sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take
+place will meet me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his
+troops drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army
+near by.  They were very much excited, and expressed their view
+that this was all a ruse employed to enable the Confederates to
+get away.  They said they believed that Johnston was marching up
+from North Carolina now, and Lee was moving to join him; and they
+would whip the rebels where they now were in five minutes if I
+would only let them go in.  But I had no doubt about the good
+faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he was.  I
+found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court
+House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers,
+awaiting my arrival.  The head of his column was occupying a
+hill, on a portion of which was an apple orchard, beyond a
+little valley which separated it from that on the crest of which
+Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle to the south.
+
+Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I
+will give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.
+
+Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told
+until they are believed to be true.  The war of the rebellion
+was no exception to this rule, and the story of the apple tree
+is one of those fictions based on a slight foundation of fact.
+As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the
+hill occupied by the Confederate forces.  Running diagonally up
+the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, ran very near
+one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on that
+side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little
+embankment.  General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that
+when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this
+embankment with his feet in the road below and his back resting
+against the tree.  The story had no other foundation than
+that.  Like many other stories, it would be very good if it was
+only true.
+
+I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him
+in the Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference
+in our age and rank, that he would remember me, while I would
+more naturally remember him distinctly, because he was the chief
+of staff of General Scott in the Mexican War.
+
+When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the
+result that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough
+garb.  I was without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback
+on the field, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the
+shoulder straps of my rank to indicate to the army who I was.
+When I went into the house I found General Lee.  We greeted each
+other, and after shaking hands took our seats.  I had my staff
+with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the
+whole of the interview.
+
+What General Lee's feelings were I do not know.  As he was a man
+of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to
+say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come,
+or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it.
+Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my
+observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant
+on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed.  I felt
+like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who
+had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a
+cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for
+which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the
+least excuse.  I do not question, however, the sincerity of the
+great mass of those who were opposed to us.
+
+General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely
+new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely
+the sword which had been presented by the State of Virginia; at
+all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that
+would ordinarily be worn in the field.  In my rough traveling
+suit, the uniform of a private with the straps of a
+lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a
+man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of faultless form.
+But this was not a matter that I thought of until afterwards.
+
+We soon fell into a conversation about old army times.  He
+remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I
+told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly,
+but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about
+sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very
+likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be
+remembered by him after such a long interval.  Our conversation
+grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our
+meeting.  After the conversation had run on in this style for
+some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our
+meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the
+purpose of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his
+army.  I said that I meant merely that his army should lay down
+their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of
+the war unless duly and properly exchanged.  He said that he had
+so understood my letter.
+
+Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters
+foreign to the subject which had brought us together.  This
+continued for some little time, when General Lee again
+interrupted the course of the conversation by suggesting that
+the terms I proposed to give his army ought to be written out. I
+called to General Parker, secretary on my staff, for writing
+materials, and commenced writing out the following terms:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+
+Ap 19th, 1865.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Comd'g C. S. A.
+
+GEN:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of
+the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of
+N. Va. on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls of all the officers
+and men to be made in duplicate.  One copy to be given to an
+officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such
+officer or officers as you may designate.  The officers to give
+their individual paroles not to take up arms against the
+Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and
+each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the
+men of their commands.  The arms, artillery and public property
+to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer
+appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace the
+side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+Very respectfully,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lt. Gen.
+
+
+When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word
+that I should make use of in writing the terms.  I only knew
+what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that
+there could be no mistaking it.  As I wrote on, the thought
+occurred to me that the officers had their own private horses
+and effects, which were important to them, but of no value to
+us; also that it would be an unnecessary humiliation to call
+upon them to deliver their side arms.
+
+No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and
+myself, either about private property, side arms, or kindred
+subjects.  He appeared to have no objections to the terms first
+proposed; or if he had a point to make against them he wished to
+wait until they were in writing to make it.  When he read over
+that part of the terms about side arms, horses and private
+property of the officers, he remarked, with some feeling, I
+thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his army.
+
+Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked
+to me again that their army was organized a little differently
+from the army of the United States (still maintaining by
+implication that we were two countries); that in their army the
+cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses; and he asked
+if he was to understand that the men who so owned their horses
+were to be permitted to retain them.  I told him that as the
+terms were written they would not; that only the officers were
+permitted to take their private property.  He then, after
+reading over the terms a second time, remarked that that was
+clear.
+
+I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last
+battle of the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I
+took it that most of the men in the ranks were small farmers.
+The whole country had been so raided by the two armies that it
+was doubtful whether they would be able to put in a crop to
+carry themselves and their families through the next winter
+without the aid of the horses they were then riding.  The United
+States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the
+officers I left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to
+let every man of the Confederate army who claimed to own a horse
+or mule take the animal to his home.  Lee remarked again that
+this would have a happy effect.
+
+He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the
+terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted.  I
+will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the
+stipulations into effect.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union
+generals present were severally present to General Lee.
+
+The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it
+back, this and much more that has been said about it is the
+purest romance.  The word sword or side arms was not mentioned
+by either of us until I wrote it in the terms.  There was no
+premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I
+wrote it down.  If I had happened to omit it, and General Lee
+had called my attention to it, I should have put it in the terms
+precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers
+retaining their horses.
+
+General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his
+leave, remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for
+want of food, and that they were without forage; that his men
+had been living for some days on parched corn exclusively, and
+that he would have to ask me for rations and forage.  I told him
+"certainly," and asked for how many men he wanted rations.  His
+answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I authorized him to
+send his own commissary and quartermaster to Appomattox Station,
+two or three miles away, where he could have, out of the trains
+we had stopped, all the provisions wanted.  As for forage, we
+had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.
+
+Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to
+carry into effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they
+should start for their homes--General Lee leaving Generals
+Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for them to confer with in
+order to facilitate this work.  Lee and I then separated as
+cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and all
+went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.
+
+Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as
+follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War,
+Washington.
+
+General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this
+afternoon on terms proposed by myself.  The accompanying
+additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men
+commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the
+victory.  I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped.  The
+Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult
+over their downfall.
+
+I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to
+putting a stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now
+deemed other useless outlay of money.  Before leaving, however,
+I thought I (*44) would like to see General Lee again; so next
+morning I rode out beyond our lines towards his headquarters,
+preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer carrying a white flag.
+
+Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me.  We
+had there between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very
+pleasant conversation of over half an hour, in the course of
+which Lee said to me that the South was a big country and that
+we might have to march over it three or four times before the
+war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do it as
+they could no longer resist us.  He expressed it as his earnest
+hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more
+loss and sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the
+result.  I then suggested to General Lee that there was not a
+man in the Confederacy whose influence with the soldiery and the
+whole people was as great as his, and that if he would now advise
+the surrender of all the armies I had no doubt his advice would
+be followed with alacrity.  But Lee said, that he could not do
+that without consulting the President first.  I knew there was
+no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of what was
+right.
+
+I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom
+seemed to have a great desire to go inside the Confederate
+lines.  They finally asked permission of Lee to do so for the
+purpose of seeing some of their old army friends, and the
+permission was granted.  They went over, had a very pleasant
+time with their old friends, and brought some of them back with
+them when they returned.
+
+When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I
+returned to the house of Mr. McLean.  Here the officers of both
+armies came in great numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as
+much as though they had been friends separated for a long time
+while fighting battles under the same flag.  For the time being
+it looked very much as if all thought of the war had escaped
+their minds.  After an hour pleasantly passed in this way I set
+out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort,
+for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by
+this time been repaired.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac
+and the James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale
+of the National troops had greatly improved.  There was no more
+straggling, no more rear guards.  The men who in former times
+had been falling back, were now, as I have already stated,
+striving to get to the front.  For the first time in four weary
+years they felt that they were now nearing the time when they
+could return to their homes with their country saved.  On the
+other hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly
+depressed.  Their despondency increased with each returning day,
+and especially after the battle of Sailor's Creek.  They threw
+away their arms in constantly increasing numbers, dropping out
+of the ranks and betaking themselves to the woods in the hope of
+reaching their homes.  I have already instanced the case of the
+entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met at
+Farmville.  As a result of these and other influences, when Lee
+finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356
+officers and men left to be paroled, and many of these were
+without arms.  It was probably this latter fact which gave rise
+to the statement sometimes made, North and South, that Lee
+surrendered a smaller number of men than what the official
+figures show.  As a matter of official record, and in addition
+to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March
+29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say
+nothing of Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing,
+during the series of desperate conflicts which marked his
+headlong and determined flight.  The same record shows the
+number of cannon, including those at Appomattox, to have been
+689 between the dates named.
+
+There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the
+number of troops engaged in every battle, or all important
+battles, fought between the sections, the South magnifying the
+number of Union troops engaged and belittling their own.
+Northern writers have fallen, in many instances, into the same
+error.  I have often heard gentlemen, who were thoroughly loyal
+to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South had made
+and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with
+their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the
+twelve four being colored slaves, non-combatants.  I will add to
+their argument.  We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who
+volunteered under great difficulty from the twelve million
+belonging to the South.
+
+But the South had rebelled against the National government.  It
+was not bound by any constitutional restrictions.  The whole
+South was a military camp.  The occupation of the colored people
+was to furnish supplies for the army.  Conscription was resorted
+to early, and embraced every male from the age of eighteen to
+forty-five, excluding only those physically unfit to serve in
+the field, and the necessary number of civil officers of State
+and intended National government.  The old and physically
+disabled furnished a good portion of these.  The slaves, the
+non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in
+the field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to
+age.  Children from the age of eight years could and did handle
+the hoe; they were not much older when they began to hold the
+plough.  The four million of colored non-combatants were equal
+to more than three times their number in the North, age for age
+and sex for sex, in supplying food from the soil to support
+armies.  Women did not work in the fields in the North, and
+children attended school.
+
+The arts of peace were carried on in the North.  Towns and
+cities grew during the war.  Inventions were made in all kinds
+of machinery to increase the products of a day's labor in the
+shop, and in the field.  In the South no opposition was allowed
+to the government which had been set up and which would have
+become real and respected if the rebellion had been
+successful.  No rear had to be protected.  All the troops in
+service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of
+ground threatened with invasion.  The press of the South, like
+the people who remained at home, were loyal to the Southern
+cause.
+
+In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented
+about the same appearance they do in time of peace.  The furnace
+was in blast, the shops were filled with workmen, the fields were
+cultivated, not only to supply the population of the North and
+the troops invading the South, but to ship abroad to pay a part
+of the expense of the war.  In the North the press was free up
+to the point of open treason.  The citizen could entertain his
+views and express them.  Troops were necessary in the Northern
+States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being
+released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by
+fire our Northern cities.  Plans were formed by Northern and
+Southern citizens to burn our cities, to poison the water
+supplying them, to spread infection by importing clothing from
+infected regions, to blow up our river and lake steamers
+--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives.  The
+copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel
+successes, and belittled those of the Union army.  It was, with
+a large following, an auxiliary to the Confederate army.  The
+North would have been much stronger with a hundred thousand of
+these men in the Confederate ranks and the rest of their kind
+thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment was in the South,
+than we were as the battle was fought.
+
+As I have said, the whole South was a military camp.  The
+colored people, four million in number, were submissive, and
+worked in the field and took care of the families while the
+able-bodied white men were at the front fighting for a cause
+destined to defeat.  The cause was popular, and was
+enthusiastically supported by the young men.  The conscription
+took all of them.  Before the war was over, further
+conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of
+age as junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty
+as senior reserves.  It would have been an offence, directly
+after the war, and perhaps it would be now, to ask any
+able-bodied man in the South, who was between the ages of
+fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, whether he had
+been in the Confederate army.  He would assert that he had, or
+account for his absence from the ranks.  Under such
+circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a
+superiority of force in every battle fought.  I know they did
+not.
+
+During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no
+military education, but possessed of courage and endurance,
+operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and
+Tennessee.  He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at
+home wherever he went.  The army operating against the South, on
+the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the
+North, from which all supplies had to come to the front.  Every
+foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient
+distances apart.  These guards could not render assistance beyond
+the points where stationed.  Morgan Was foot-loose and could
+operate where, his information--always correct--led him to
+believe he could do the greatest damage.  During the time he was
+operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several
+times the number he ever had under his command at any one
+time.  He destroyed many millions of property in addition.
+Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by
+him.  Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held
+from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for
+offensive operations.  It is safe to say that more than half the
+National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were
+on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their
+bearing arms.  Then, again, large forces were employed where no
+Confederate army confronted them.  I deem it safe to say that
+there were no large engagements where the National numbers
+compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment
+occupied by the enemy.
+
+While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to
+Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his
+flagship.  He found the people of that city in great
+consternation.  The leading citizens among the people who had
+remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should
+be done to relieve them from suspense.  General Weitzel was not
+then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring
+villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the
+conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the
+Confederate capital.  The President sent for him, and, on his
+arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral
+Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present.
+After this interview the President wrote an order in about these
+words, which I quote from memory:  "General Weitzel is authorized
+to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to
+meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the
+Confederate armies."
+
+Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out
+a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers.  This
+call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had
+contemplated, as he did not say the "Legislature of Virginia"
+but "the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia."
+Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the
+very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order
+authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body,
+and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer
+the spot than he was.
+
+This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton.  He was a man who never
+questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time
+what he wanted to do.  He was an able constitutional lawyer and
+jurist; but the Constitution was not an impediment to him while
+the war lasted.  In this latter particular I entirely agree with
+the view he evidently held.  The Constitution was not framed with
+a view to any such rebellion as that of 1861-5.  While it did not
+authorize rebellion it made no provision against it.  Yet the
+right to resist or suppress rebellion is as inherent as the
+right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an
+individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy.  The
+Constitution was therefore in abeyance for the time being, so
+far as it in any way affected the progress and termination of
+the war.
+
+Those in rebellion against the government of the United States
+were not restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other,
+except the acts of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted
+to the cause for which the South was then fighting.  It would be
+a hard case when one-third of a nation, united in rebellion
+against the national authority, is entirely untrammeled, that
+the other two-thirds, in their efforts to maintain the Union
+intact, should be restrained by a Constitution prepared by our
+ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the permanency of
+the confederation of the States.
+
+After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my
+staff and a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way
+to Washington.  The road from Burkesville back having been newly
+repaired and the ground being soft, the train got off the track
+frequently, and, as a result, it was after midnight of the
+second day when I reached City Point.  As soon as possible I
+took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.
+
+While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the
+necessary orders for the new state of affairs ; communicating
+with my different commanders of separate departments, bodies of
+troops, etc.  But by the 14th I was pretty well through with
+this work, so as to be able to visit my children, who were then
+in Burlington, New Jersey, attending school.  Mrs. Grant was
+with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by
+President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on
+the evening of that day.  I replied to the President's verbal
+invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would
+take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very
+anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get
+through my work during the day I should do so.  I did get
+through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending
+Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.
+
+At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on
+Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the
+Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they
+took the cars again.  When I reached the ferry, on the east side
+of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival
+there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of
+the President and Mr. Seward, and of the probable assassination
+of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and requesting my immediate
+return.
+
+It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that
+overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially
+the assassination of the President.  I knew his goodness of
+heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to
+have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the
+people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges
+of citizenship with equality among all.  I knew also the feeling
+that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation
+against the Southern people, and I feared that his course
+towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling
+citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a
+long while.  I felt that reconstruction had been set back, no
+telling how far.
+
+I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to
+Washington City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after
+midnight and Burlington was but an hour away.  Finding that I
+could accompany her to our house and return about as soon as
+they would be ready to take me from the Philadelphia station, I
+went up with her and returned immediately by the same special
+train.  The joy that I had witnessed among the people in the
+street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had
+been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of
+mourning.  I have stated what I believed then the effect of this
+would be, and my judgment now is that I was right.  I believe the
+South would have been saved from very much of the hardness of
+feeling that was engendered by Mr. Johnson's course towards them
+during the first few months of his administration.  Be this as it
+may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was particularly unfortunate for
+the entire nation.
+
+Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness
+of feeling.  His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready
+remark, "Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was
+repeated to all those men of the South who came to him to get
+some assurances of safety so that they might go to work at
+something with the feeling that what they obtained would be
+secure to them.  He uttered his denunciations with great
+vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of
+safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond
+endurance.
+
+The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or
+ought to be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and
+judgment of those over whom he presides; and the Southerners who
+read the denunciations of themselves and their people must have
+come to the conclusion that he uttered the sentiments of the
+Northern people; whereas, as a matter of fact, but for the
+assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great majority of
+the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would have
+been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be
+the least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against
+their government.  They believed, I have no doubt, as I did,
+that besides being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.
+
+The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back
+into the Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the
+nation.  Naturally the nearer they were placed to an equality
+with the people who had not rebelled, the more reconciled they
+would feel with their old antagonists, and the better citizens
+they would be from the beginning.  They surely would not make
+good citizens if they felt that they had a yoke around their
+necks.
+
+I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at
+that time were in favor of negro suffrage.  They supposed that
+it would naturally follow the freedom of the negro, but that
+there would be a time of probation, in which the ex-slaves could
+prepare themselves for the privileges of citizenship before the
+full right would be conferred; but Mr. Johnson, after a complete
+revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard the South not only as
+an oppressed people, but as the people best entitled to
+consideration of any of our citizens.  This was more than the
+people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were
+prepared for, and they became more radical in their views.  The
+Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr.
+Johnson having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and
+such sympathy and support as they could get from the North, they
+felt that they would be able to control the nation at once, and
+already many of them acted as if they thought they were entitled
+to do so.
+
+Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and
+receiving the support of the South on the other, drove Congress,
+which was overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one
+measure and then another to restrict his power.  There being a
+solid South on one side that was in accord with the political
+party in the North which had sympathized with the rebellion, it
+finally, in the judgment of Congress and of the majority of the
+legislatures of the States, became necessary to enfranchise the
+negro, in all his ignorance.  In this work, I shall not discuss
+the question of how far the policy of Congress in this
+particular proved a wise one.  It became an absolute necessity,
+however, because of the foolhardiness of the President and the
+blindness of the Southern people to their own interest.  As to
+myself, while strongly favoring the course that would be the
+least humiliating to the people who had been in rebellion, I
+gradually worked up to the point where, with the majority of the
+people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN-- CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed
+leisurely back to Burkesville Station with the Army of the
+Potomac and the Army of the James, and to go into camp there
+until further orders from me.  General Johnston, as has been
+stated before, was in North Carolina confronting General
+Sherman.  It could not be known positively, of course, whether
+Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though
+I supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was
+the natural point from which to move to attack him.  The army
+which I could have sent against him was superior to his, and
+that with which Sherman confronted him was also superior; and
+between the two he would necessarily have been crushed, or
+driven away.  With the loss of their capital and the Army of
+Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether Johnston's men would
+have the spirit to stand.  My belief was that he would make no
+such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution against
+what might happen, however improbable.
+
+Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a
+messenger to North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General
+Sherman, informing him of the surrender of Lee and his army;
+also of the terms which I had given him; and I authorized
+Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston if the latter chose
+to accept them.  The country is familiar with the terms that
+Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a
+political question as well as a military one and he would
+therefore have to confer with the government before agreeing to
+them definitely.
+
+General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting
+there to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what
+Mr. Lincoln had said to the peace commissioners when he met them
+at Hampton Roads, viz.:  that before he could enter into
+negotiations with them they would have to agree to two points:
+one being that the Union should be preserved, and the other that
+slavery should be abolished; and if they were ready to concede
+these two points he was almost ready to sign his name to a blank
+piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance of the
+terms upon which we would live together.  He had also seen
+notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond,
+and had read in the same papers that while there he had
+authorized the convening of the Legislature of Virginia.
+
+Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had
+made with general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes
+of the President of the United States.  But seeing that he was
+going beyond his authority, he made it a point that the terms
+were only conditional.  They signed them with this
+understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms could be
+sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper
+authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved,
+then he would give due notice, before resuming hostilities.  As
+the world knows, Sherman, from being one of the most popular
+generals of the land (Congress having even gone so far as to
+propose a bill providing for a second lieutenant-general for the
+purpose of advancing him to that grade), was denounced by the
+President and Secretary of War in very bitter terms.  Some
+people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor--a most
+preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much
+service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in
+granting such terms as he did to Johnston and his army.  If
+Sherman had taken authority to send Johnston with his army home,
+with their arms to be put in the arsenals of their own States,
+without submitting the question to the authorities at
+Washington, the suspicions against him might have some
+foundation.  But the feeling against Sherman died out very
+rapidly, and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the
+fullest confidence of the American people.
+
+When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson
+and the Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman
+had forwarded for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately
+called and I was sent for.  There seemed to be the greatest
+consternation, lest Sherman would commit the government to terms
+which they were not willing to accede to and which he had no
+right to grant.  A message went out directing the troops in the
+South not to obey General Sherman.  I was ordered to proceed at
+once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there myself.
+Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as
+possible.  I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly
+as possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of
+my presence.
+
+When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at
+once closeted together.  I showed him the instruction and orders
+under which I visited him.  I told him that I wanted him to
+notify General Johnston that the terms which they had
+conditionally agreed upon had not been approved in Washington,
+and that he was authorized to offer the same terms I had given
+General Lee.  I sent Sherman to do this himself.  I did not wish
+the knowledge of my presence to be know to the army generally; so
+I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender
+solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was
+anywhere near the field.  As soon as possible I started to get
+away, to leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.
+
+At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last
+newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement
+in the North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and
+harsh orders that had been promulgated by the President and
+Secretary of War.  I knew that Sherman must see these papers,
+and I fully realized what great indignation they would cause
+him, though I do not think his feelings could have been more
+excited than were my own.  But like the true and loyal soldier
+that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given him,
+obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in
+his camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.
+
+There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could
+not be communicated with, and had to be left to act according to
+the judgment of their respective commanders.  With these it was
+impossible to tell how the news of the surrender of Lee and
+Johnston, of which they must have heard, might affect their
+judgment as to what was best to do.
+
+The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from
+the commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off:  one under
+Canby himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman
+from East Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson,
+starting from Eastport, Mississippi, on the 22d of March.  They
+were all eminently successful, but without any good result. 
+Indeed much valuable property was destroyed and many lives lost
+at a time when we would have liked to spare them. The war was
+practically over before their victories were gained.  They were
+so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any
+troops away that otherwise would have been operating against the
+armies which were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a
+surrender.  The only possible good that we may have experienced
+from these raids was by Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about
+the time the armies of the Potomac and the James were closing in
+on Lee at Appomattox.
+
+Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike
+the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.  He got upon that road,
+destroyed its bridges at different places and rendered the road
+useless to the enemy up to within a few miles of Lynchburg.  His
+approach caused the evacuation of that city about the time we
+were at Appomattox, and was the cause of a commotion we heard of
+there.  He then pushed south, and was operating in the rear of
+Johnston's army about the time the negotiations were going on
+between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's surrender.  In
+this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount of
+stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners
+were the trophies of his success.
+
+Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March.  The city of
+Mobile was protected by two forts, besides other
+intrenchments--Spanish Fort, on the east side of the bay, and
+Fort Blakely, north of the city.  These forts were invested.  On
+the night of the 8th of April, the National troops having carried
+the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was evacuated; and
+on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was carried
+by assault, with a considerable loss to us.  On the 11th the city
+was evacuated.
+
+I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent
+against Mobile when its possession by us would have been of
+great advantage.  It finally cost lives to take it when its
+possession was of no importance, and when, if left alone, it
+would within a few days have fallen into our hands without any
+bloodshed whatever.
+
+Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well
+armed.  He was an energetic officer and accomplished his work
+rapidly.  Forrest was in his front, but with neither his
+old-time army nor his old-time prestige.  He now had principally
+conscripts.  His conscripts were generally old men and boys.  He
+had a few thousand regular cavalry left, but not enough to even
+retard materially the progress of Wilson's cavalry.  Selma fell
+on the 2d of April, with a large number of prisoners and a large
+quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to be disposed of
+by the victors.  Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point fell in
+quick succession.  These were all important points to the enemy
+by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies,
+and because of their manufactories of war material.  They were
+fortified or intrenched, and there was considerable fighting
+before they were captured.  Macon surrendered on the 21st of
+April.  Here news was received of the negotiations for the
+surrender of Johnston's army.  Wilson belonged to the military
+division commanded by Sherman, and of course was bound by his
+terms.  This stopped all fighting.
+
+General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate
+officer still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on
+the 4th of May he surrendered everything within the limits of
+this extensive command.  General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the
+trans-Mississippi department on the 26th of May, leaving no
+other Confederate army at liberty to continue the war.
+
+Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president
+of the defunct confederacy before he got out of the country.
+This occurred at Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May.  For
+myself, and I believe Mr. Lincoln shared the feeling, I would
+have been very glad to have seen Mr. Davis succeed in escaping,
+but for one reason:  I feared that if not captured, he might get
+into the trans-Mississippi region and there set up a more
+contracted confederacy.  The young men now out of homes and out
+of employment might have rallied under his standard and
+protracted the war yet another year.  The Northern people were
+tired of the war, they were tired of piling up a debt which
+would be a further mortgage upon their homes.
+
+Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he
+did not wish to deal with the matter of his punishment.  He knew
+there would be people clamoring for the punishment of the
+ex-Confederate president, for high treason.  He thought blood
+enough had already been spilled to atone for our wickedness as a
+nation.  At all events he did not wish to be the judge to decide
+whether more should be shed or not.  But his own life was
+sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president
+of the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government
+which he had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.
+
+All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best
+interest of all concerned.  This reflection does not, however,
+abate in the slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely
+loss of so good and great a man as Abraham Lincoln.
+
+He would have proven the best friend the South could have had,
+and saved much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling
+brought out by reconstruction under a President who at first
+wished to revenge himself upon Southern men of better social
+standing than himself, but who still sought their recognition,
+and in a short time conceived the idea and advanced the
+proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly out
+of all their difficulties.
+
+The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction
+period to stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the
+minds of the people to be told now.  Much of it, no doubt, was
+unconstitutional; but it was hoped that the laws enacted would
+serve their purpose before the question of constitutionality
+could be submitted to the judiciary and a decision obtained.
+These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a dead
+letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one
+taking interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.
+
+Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing
+when he was captured.  I cannot settle this question from
+personal knowledge of the facts; but I have been under the
+belief, from information given to me by General Wilson shortly
+after the event, that when Mr. Davis learned that he was
+surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed in a
+gentleman's dressing gown.  Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted
+to escape, and would not reflect much how this should be
+accomplished provided it might be done successfully.  If
+captured, he would be no ordinary prisoner.  He represented all
+there was of that hostility to the government which had caused
+four years of the bloodiest war--and the most costly in other
+respects of which history makes any record.  Every one supposed
+he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he would be
+executed.  Had he succeeded in making his escape in any disguise
+it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his
+admirers.
+
+As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as
+my remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling
+somewhat upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to
+him, that I give my estimate of him as a soldier.  The same
+remark will apply also in the case of General Canby.  I had been
+at West Point with Thomas one year, and had known him later in
+the old army.  He was a man of commanding appearance, slow and
+deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest and brave.  He
+possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent degree.  He
+gained the confidence of all who served under him, and almost
+their love.  This implies a very valuable quality.  It is a
+quality which calls out the most efficient services of the
+troops serving under the commander possessing it.
+
+Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good.
+He could not be driven from a point he was given to hold.  He
+was not as good, however, in pursuit as he was in action.  I do
+not believe that he could ever have conducted Sherman's army
+from Chattanooga to Atlanta against the defences and the
+commander guarding that line in 1864.  On the other hand, if it
+had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to
+hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer
+could have done it better.
+
+Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has
+received, the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played
+in the great tragedy of 1861-5.
+
+General Canby was an officer of great merit.  He was naturally
+studious, and inclined to the law.  There have been in the army
+but very few, if any, officers who took as much interest in
+reading and digesting every act of Congress and every regulation
+for the government of the army as he.  His knowledge gained in
+this way made him a most valuable staff officer, a capacity in
+which almost all his army services were rendered up to the time
+of his being assigned to the Military Division of the Gulf.  He
+was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and
+learning.  I presume his feelings when first called upon to
+command a large army against a fortified city, were somewhat
+like my own when marching a regiment against General Thomas
+Harris in Missouri in 1861.  Neither of us would have felt the
+slightest trepidation in going into battle with some one else
+commanding.  Had Canby been in other engagements afterwards, he
+would, I have no doubt, have advanced without any fear arising
+from a sense of the responsibility.  He was afterwards killed in
+the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the hostile
+Modoc Indians.  His character was as pure as his talent and
+learning were great.  His services were valuable during the war,
+but principally as a bureau officer.  I have no idea that it was
+from choice that his services were rendered in an office, but
+because of his superior efficiency there.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there
+would be no more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in
+North Carolina and Virginia were ordered to march immediately to
+the capital, and go into camp there until mustered out.  Suitable
+garrisons were left at the prominent places throughout the South
+to insure obedience to the laws that might be enacted for the
+government of the several States, and to insure security to the
+lives and property of all classes.  I do not know how far this
+was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, that
+such a course should be pursued.  I think now that these
+garrisons were continued after they ceased to be absolutely
+required; but it is not to be expected that such a rebellion as
+was fought between the sections from 1861 to 1865 could
+terminate without leaving many serious apprehensions in the mind
+of the people as to what should be done.
+
+Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on
+the south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there
+put them in camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the
+situation was there.
+
+It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon
+him.  Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and
+had issued orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from
+obeying his, Sherman's, orders.  Sherman met the papers on his
+return, containing this order of Halleck, and very justly felt
+indignant at the outrage.  On his arrival at Fortress Monroe
+returning from Savannah, Sherman received an invitation from
+Halleck to come to Richmond and be his guest.  This he
+indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, that he
+had seen his order.  He also stated that he was coming up to
+take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would
+probably be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he
+(Sherman) would not be responsible for what some rash person
+might do through indignation for the treatment he had
+received.  Very soon after that, Sherman received orders from me
+to proceed to Washington City, and to go into camp on the south
+side of the city pending the mustering-out of the troops.
+
+There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from
+Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington
+City.  The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been
+engaged in all the battles of the West and had marched from the
+Mississippi through the Southern States to the sea, from there
+to Goldsboro, and thence to Washington City, had passed over
+many of the battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, thus
+having seen, to a greater extent than any other body of troops,
+the entire theatre of the four years' war for the preservation
+of the Union.
+
+The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to
+Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was
+anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally
+magnificent in the way it was conducted.  It had an important
+bearing, in various ways, upon the great object we had in view,
+that of closing the war.  All the States east of the Mississippi
+River up to the State of Georgia, had felt the hardships of the
+war.  Georgia, and South Carolina, and almost all of North
+Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from invasion by the
+Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts.  Their
+newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success,
+that the people who remained at home had been convinced that the
+Yankees had been whipped from first to last, and driven from
+pillar to post, and that now they could hardly be holding out
+for any other purpose than to find a way out of the war with
+honor to themselves.
+
+Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front
+were proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a
+mob of men who were frightened out of their wits and hastening,
+panic-stricken, to try to get under the cover of our navy for
+protection against the Southern people.  As the army was seen
+marching on triumphantly, however, the minds of the people
+became disabused and they saw the true state of affairs.  In
+turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to
+submit without compromise.
+
+Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was
+calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great
+storehouse of Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate
+armies.  As the troops advanced north from Savannah, the
+destruction of the railroads in South Carolina and the southern
+part of North Carolina, further cut off their resources and left
+the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina dependent for
+supplies upon a very small area of country, already very much
+exhausted of food and forage.
+
+In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and
+the other from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina,
+arrived and went into camp near the Capital, as directed.  The
+troops were hardy, being inured to fatigue, and they appeared in
+their respective camps as ready and fit for duty as they had ever
+been in their lives.  I doubt whether an equal body of men of any
+nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, was ever
+gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great
+battle.
+
+The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the
+officers capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of
+the nations of Europe are taken from a class of people who are
+not very intelligent and who have very little interest in the
+contest in which they are called upon to take part.  Our armies
+were composed of men who were able to read, men who knew what
+they were fighting for, and could not be induced to serve as
+soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the nation
+was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal
+to men who fought merely because they were brave and because
+they were thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.
+
+There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the
+time these troops were in camp before starting North.
+
+I remember one little incident which I will relate as an
+anecdote characteristic of Mr. Lincoln.  It occurred a day after
+I reached Washington, and about the time General Meade reached
+Burkesville with the army.  Governor Smith of Virginia had left
+Richmond with the Confederate States government, and had gone to
+Danville.  Supposing I was necessarily with the army at
+Burkesville, he addressed a letter to me there informing me
+that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia,
+he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond to
+Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the
+functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal
+authorities.  I give this letter only in substance.  He also
+inquired of me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the
+duties of his office, he with a few others might not be permitted
+to leave the country and go abroad without interference.  General
+Meade being informed that a flag of truce was outside his pickets
+with a letter to me, at once sent out and had the letter brought
+in without informing the officer who brought it that I was not
+present.  He read the letter and telegraphed me its contents.
+Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this dispatch, I
+repeated its contents to him.  Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was
+asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor
+Smith's letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would
+be permitted to leave the country unmolested, that his position
+was like that of a certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in
+Springfield who was very popular with the people, a man of
+considerable promise, and very much liked.  Unfortunately he had
+acquired the habit of drinking, and his friends could see that
+the habit was growing on him.  These friends determined to make
+an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a pledge to
+abstain from all alcoholic drinks.  They asked Pat to join them
+in signing the pledge, and he consented.  He had been so long
+out of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he
+resorted to soda-water as a substitute.  After a few days this
+began to grow distasteful to him.  So holding the glass behind
+him, he said:  "Doctor, couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in
+that unbeknownst to myself."
+
+I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave
+me, but I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform
+the duties of his office.  I also know that it Mr. Lincoln had
+been spared, there would have been no efforts made to prevent
+any one from leaving the country who desired to do so.  He would
+have been equally willing to permit the return of the same
+expatriated citizens after they had time to repent of their
+choice.
+
+On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general
+for a grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's
+and Meade's armies.  The review commenced on the 23d and lasted
+two days.  Meade's army occupied over six hours of the first day
+in passing the grand stand which had been erected in front of the
+President's house.  Sherman witnessed this review from the grand
+stand which was occupied by the President and his cabinet.  Here
+he showed his resentment for the cruel and harsh treatment that
+had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by the Secretary of
+War, by refusing to take his extended hand.
+
+Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the
+Potomac.  During the night of the 23d he crossed over and
+bivouacked not far from the Capitol.  Promptly at ten o'clock on
+the morning of the 24th, his troops commenced to pass in
+review.  Sherman's army made a different appearance from that of
+the Army of the Potomac.  The latter had been operating where
+they received directly from the North full supplies of food and
+clothing regularly:  the review of this army therefore was the
+review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and
+orderly soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but
+without the experience of gathering their own food and supplies
+in an enemy's country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's
+army was not so well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but
+their marching could not be excelled; they gave the appearance
+of men who had been thoroughly drilled to endure hardships,
+either by long and continuous marches or through exposure to any
+climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp.  They exhibited
+also some of the order of march through Georgia where the "sweet
+potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went
+marching through.  In the rear of a company there would be a
+captured horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils,
+captured chickens and other food picked up for the use of the
+men.  Negro families who had followed the army would sometimes
+come along in the rear of a company, with three or four children
+packed upon a single mule, and the mother leading it.
+
+The sight was varied and grand:  nearly all day for two
+successive days, from the Capitol to the Treasury Building,
+could be seen a mass of orderly soldiers marching in columns of
+companies.  The National flag was flying from almost every house
+and store; the windows were filled with spectators; the
+door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored people and
+poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters from
+which to get a view of the grand armies.  The city was about as
+full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually
+is on inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.
+
+It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln
+and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great
+conspicuous figures in the executive branch of the government.
+There is no great difference of opinion now, in the public mind,
+as to the characteristics of the President.  With Mr. Stanton the
+case is different.  They were the very opposite of each other in
+almost every particular, except that each possessed great
+ability.  Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them
+feel that it was a pleasure to serve him.  He preferred yielding
+his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon having
+his own way.  It distressed him to disappoint others.  In matters
+of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least
+offensive way.  Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority
+to command, unless resisted.  He cared nothing for the feeling
+of others.  In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to
+disappoint than to gratify.  He felt no hesitation in assuming
+the functions of the executive, or in acting without advising
+with him.  If his act was not sustained, he would change it--if
+he saw the matter would be followed up until he did so.
+
+It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the
+complement of each other.  The Secretary was required to prevent
+the President's being imposed upon.  The President was required
+in the more responsible place of seeing that injustice was not
+done to others.  I do not know that this view of these two men
+is still entertained by the majority of the people.  It is not a
+correct view, however, in my estimation.  Mr. Lincoln did not
+require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a public
+trust.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his
+generals in making and executing their plans.  The Secretary was
+very timid, and it was impossible for him to avoid interfering
+with the armies covering the capital when it was sought to
+defend it by an offensive movement against the army guarding the
+Confederate capital.  He could see our weakness, but he could not
+see that the enemy was in danger.  The enemy would not have been
+in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field.  These
+characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly
+after Early came so near getting into the capital.
+
+Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during
+the war between the States, and who attracted much public
+attention, but of whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given
+any estimate, are Meade, Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and
+Hooker.  There were others of great merit, such as Griffin,
+Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie.  Of those first named, Burnside
+at one time had command of the Army of the Potomac, and later of
+the Army of the Ohio.  Hooker also commanded the Army of the
+Potomac for a short time.
+
+General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to
+his usefulness that were beyond his control.  He had been an
+officer of the engineer corps before the war, and consequently
+had never served with troops until he was over forty-six years
+of age.  He never had, I believe, a command of less than a
+brigade.  He saw clearly and distinctly the position of the
+enemy, and the topography of the country in front of his own
+position.  His first idea was to take advantage of the lay of
+the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we
+wanted to move afterwards.  He was subordinate to his superiors
+in rank to the extent that he could execute an order which
+changed his own plans with the same zeal he would have displayed
+if the plan had been his own.  He was brave and conscientious,
+and commanded the respect of all who knew him.  He was
+unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his control, at
+times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the most
+offensive manner.  No one saw this fault more plainly than he
+himself, and no one regretted it more.  This made it unpleasant
+at times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him
+even with information.  In spite of this defect he was a most
+valuable officer and deserves a high place in the annals of his
+country.
+
+General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and
+respected.  He was not, however, fitted to command an army.  No
+one knew this better than himself.  He always admitted his
+blunders, and extenuated those of officers under him beyond what
+they were entitled to.  It was hardly his fault that he was ever
+assigned to a separate command.
+
+Of Hooker I saw but little during the war.  I had known him very
+well before, however.  Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his
+achievement in bringing his command around the point of Lookout
+Mountain and into Chattanooga Valley was brilliant.  I
+nevertheless regarded him as a dangerous man.  He was not
+subordinate to his superiors.  He was ambitious to the extent of
+caring nothing for the rights of others.  His disposition was,
+when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main body of
+the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his
+standard all he could of his juniors.
+
+Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general
+officers who did not exercise a separate command.  He commanded
+a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never
+mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he
+was responsible.  He was a man of very conspicuous personal
+appearance.  Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now
+write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that
+would attract the attention of an army as he passed.  His genial
+disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his
+presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for
+him the confidence of troops serving under him.  No matter how
+hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander
+was looking after them.
+
+Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity
+of forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from
+personal observation.  I had known him in Mexico when both of us
+were lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that
+either of us would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He
+stood very high in the army, however, as an officer and a man. 
+He was brave and conscientious.  His ambition was not great, and
+he seemed to dread responsibility.  He was willing to do any
+amount of battling, but always wanted some one else to direct. 
+He declined the command of the Army of the Potomac once, if not
+oftener.
+
+General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer
+without a military education.  His way was won without political
+influence up to an important separate command--the expedition
+against Fort Fisher, in January, 1865.  His success there was
+most brilliant, and won for him the rank of brigadier-general in
+the regular army and of major-general of volunteers.  He is a man
+who makes friends of those under him by his consideration of
+their wants and their dues.  As a commander, he won their
+confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of
+perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed
+at any given time.
+
+Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders,
+but came into that position so near to the close of the war as
+not to attract public attention.  All three served as such, in
+the last campaign of the armies of the Potomac and the James,
+which culminated at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th of April,
+1865.  The sudden collapse of the rebellion monopolized attention
+to the exclusion of almost everything else.  I regarded Mackenzie
+as the most promising young officer in the army.  Graduating at
+West Point, as he did, during the second year of the war, he had
+won his way up to the command of a corps before its close.  This
+he did upon his own merit and without influence.
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United
+Status will have to be attributed to slavery.  For some years
+before the war began it was a trite saying among some
+politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot
+exist."  All must become slave or all free, or the state will go
+down.  I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the
+time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I
+have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.
+
+Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for
+its security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours
+where the larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by
+an intelligent and well-to-do population, the people would
+naturally have but little sympathy with demands upon them for
+its protection.  Hence the people of the South were dependent
+upon keeping control of the general government to secure the
+perpetuation of their favorite restitution.  They were enabled
+to maintain this control long after the States where slavery
+existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the
+assistance they received from odd men here and there throughout
+the Northern States.  They saw their power waning, and this led
+them to encroach upon the prerogatives and independence of the
+Northern States by enacting such laws as the Fugitive Slave
+Law.  By this law every Northern man was obliged, when properly
+summoned, to turn out and help apprehend the runaway slave of a
+Southern man.  Northern marshals became slave-catchers, and
+Northern courts had to contribute to the support and protection
+of the institution.
+
+This was a degradation which the North would not permit any
+longer than until they could get the power to expunge such laws
+from the statute books.  Prior to the time of these
+encroachments the great majority of the people of the North had
+no particular quarrel with slavery, so long as they were not
+forced to have it themselves.  But they were not willing to play
+the role of police for the South in the protection of this
+particular institution.
+
+In the early days of the country, before we had railroads,
+telegraphs and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any
+sort--the States were each almost a separate nationality.  At
+that time the subject of slavery caused but little or no
+disturbance to the public mind.  But the country grew, rapid
+transit was established, and trade and commerce between the
+States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of
+the National government became more felt and recognized and,
+therefore, had to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.
+
+It is probably well that we had the war when we did.  We are
+better off now than we would have been without it, and have made
+more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made.  The
+civilized nations of Europe have been stimulated into unusual
+activity, so that commerce, trade, travel, and thorough
+acquaintance among people of different nationalities, has become
+common; whereas, before, it was but the few who had ever had the
+privilege of going beyond the limits of their own country or who
+knew anything about other people.  Then, too, our republican
+institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking out
+of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that
+our republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the
+slightest strain was brought upon it.  Now it has shown itself
+capable of dealing with one of the greatest wars that was ever
+made, and our people have proven themselves to be the most
+formidable in war of any nationality.
+
+But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the
+necessity of avoiding wars in the future.
+
+The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles
+shows the lack of conscience of communities where the
+responsibility does not come upon a single individual.  Seeing a
+nation that extended from ocean to ocean, embracing the better
+part of a continent, growing as we were growing in population,
+wealth and intelligence, the European nations thought it would
+be well to give us a check.  We might, possibly, after a while
+threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their
+institutions.  Hence, England was constantly finding fault with
+the administration at Washington because we were not able to
+keep up an effective blockade.  She also joined, at first, with
+France and Spain in setting up an Austrian prince upon the
+throne in Mexico, totally disregarding any rights or claims that
+Mexico had of being treated as an independent power.  It is true
+they trumped up grievances as a pretext, but they were only
+pretexts which can always be found when wanted.
+
+Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that
+protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would
+have liked to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had
+forced loans from them.  Under pretence of protecting their
+citizens, these nations seized upon Mexico as a foothold for
+establishing a European monarchy upon our continent, thus
+threatening our peace at home.  I, myself, regarded this as a
+direct act of war against the United States by the powers
+engaged, and supposed as a matter of course that the United
+States would treat it as such when their hands were free to
+strike.  I often spoke of the matter to Mr. Lincoln and the
+Secretary of War, but never heard any special views from them to
+enable me to judge what they thought or felt about it.  I
+inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were unwilling
+to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our
+hands.
+
+All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the
+armed intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince
+upon the throne of Mexico; but the governing people of these
+countries continued to the close of the war to throw obstacles
+in our way.  After the surrender of Lee, therefore, entertaining
+the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan with a corps to the
+Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in expelling
+the French from Mexican.  These troops got off before they could
+be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan
+distributed them up and down the river, much to the
+consternation of the troops in the quarter of Mexico bordering
+on that stream.  This soon led to a request from France that we
+should withdraw our troops from the Rio Grande and to
+negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs.  Finally Bazaine was
+withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government.  From
+that day the empire began to totter.  Mexico was then able to
+maintain her independence without aid from us.
+
+France is the traditional ally and friend of the United
+States.  I did not blame France for her part in the scheme to
+erect a monarchy upon the ruins of the Mexican Republic.  That
+was the scheme of one man, an imitator without genius or
+merit.  He had succeeded in stealing the government of his
+country, and made a change in its form against the wishes and
+instincts of his people.  He tried to play the part of the first
+Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role.  He sought by
+new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal
+failure of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own
+overthrow.
+
+Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was
+an expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her
+people.  It was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon
+III.  The beginning was when he landed troops on this
+continent.  Failing here, the prestige of his name--all the
+prestige he ever had--was gone.  He must achieve a success or
+fall.  He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and fell.
+
+I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I
+recognize his great genius.  His work, too, has left its impress
+for good on the face of Europe.  The third Napoleon could have no
+claim to having done a good or just act.
+
+To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared
+for war.  There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict,
+such as the last one, occurring among our own people again; but,
+growing as we are, in population, wealth and military power, we
+may become the envy of nations which led us in all these
+particulars only a few years ago; and unless we are prepared for
+it we may be in danger of a combined movement being some day made
+to crush us out.  Now, scarcely twenty years after the war, we
+seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on
+as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an
+invasion by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time
+until we could prepare for them.
+
+We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be
+put in the finest possible condition.  Neither of these cost much
+when it is considered where the money goes, and what we get in
+return.  Money expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our
+security and tends to prevent war in the future, but is very
+material aid to our commerce with foreign nations in the
+meantime.  Money spent upon sea-coast defences is spent among
+our own people, and all goes back again among the people.  The
+work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a
+feeling of security.
+
+England's course towards the United States during the rebellion
+exasperated the people of this country very much against the
+mother country.  I regretted it.  England and the United States
+are natural allies, and should be the best of friends.  They
+speak one language, and are related by blood and other ties.  We
+together, or even either separately, are better qualified than
+any other people to establish commerce between all the
+nationalities of the world.
+
+England governs her own colonies, and particularly those
+embracing the people of different races from her own, better
+than any other nation.  She is just to the conquered, but
+rigid.  She makes them self-supporting, but gives the benefit of
+labor to the laborer.  She does not seem to look upon the
+colonies as outside possessions which she is at liberty to work
+for the support and aggrandizement of the home government.
+
+The hostility of England to the United States during our
+rebellion was not so much real as it was apparent.  It was the
+hostility of the leaders of one political party.  I am told that
+there was no time during the civil war when they were able to get
+up in England a demonstration in favor of secession, while these
+were constantly being gotten up in favor of the Union, or, as
+they called it, in favor of the North.  Even in Manchester,
+which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off from
+her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the
+North at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.
+
+It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may
+come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery
+before.  The condition of the colored man within our borders may
+become a source of anxiety, to say the least.  But he was brought
+to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as
+having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our
+citizens.  It was looking to a settlement of this question that
+led me to urge the annexation of Santo Domingo during the time I
+was President of the United States.
+
+Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the
+administration, but by all the people, almost without price. The
+island is upon our shores, is very fertile, and is capable of
+supporting fifteen millions of people.  The products of the soil
+are so valuable that labor in her fields would be so compensated
+as to enable those who wished to go there to quickly repay the
+cost of their passage.  I took it that the colored people would
+go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states
+governed by their own race.  They would still be States of the
+Union, and under the protection of the General Government; but
+the citizens would be almost wholly colored.
+
+By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen,
+territory almost equal in extent to that we already possessed.
+It was seen that the volunteers of the Mexican war largely
+composed the pioneers to settle up the Pacific coast country.
+Their numbers, however, were scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus
+for the population of the important points of the territory
+acquired by that war.  After our rebellion, when so many young
+men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found they
+were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of
+the villages, but wanted larger fields.  The mines of the
+mountains first attracted them; but afterwards they found that
+rich valleys and productive grazing and farming lands were
+there.  This territory, the geography of which was not known to
+us at the close of the rebellion, is now as well mapped as any
+portion of our country.  Railroads traverse it in every
+direction, north, south, east, and west.  The mines are
+worked.  The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich
+agricultural lands are found in many of the valleys.  This is
+the work of the volunteer.  It is probable that the Indians
+would have had control of these lands for a century yet but for
+the war.  We must conclude, therefore, that wars are not always
+evils unmixed with some good.
+
+Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were
+satisfied to remain near the scenes of their birth.  In fact an
+immense majority of the whole people did not feel secure against
+coming to want should they move among entire strangers.  So much
+was the country divided into small communities that localized
+idioms had grown up, so that you could almost tell what section
+a person was from by hearing him speak.  Before, new territories
+were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with
+others; people who, when the country began to settle up around
+them, would push out farther from civilization.  Their guns
+furnished meat, and the cultivation of a very limited amount of
+the soil, their bread and vegetables.  All the streams abounded
+with fish.  Trapping would furnish pelts to be brought into the
+States once a year, to pay for necessary articles which they
+could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, tobacco and some store
+goods.  Occasionally some little articles of luxury would enter
+into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, two or three
+pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if
+anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.
+
+Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the
+settlements of these frontiersmen.  This is all changed now. The
+war begot a spirit of independence and enterprise.  The feeling
+now is, that a youth must cut loose from his old surroundings to
+enable him to get up in the world.  There is now such a
+commingling of the people that particular idioms and
+pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; the
+country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea";
+railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior;
+maps, nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now
+furnished the student of geography.
+
+The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We
+have but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity
+at home, and the respect of other nations.  Our experience ought
+to teach us the necessity of the first; our power secures the
+latter.
+
+I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be
+great harmony between the Federal and Confederate.  I cannot
+stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy;
+but I feel it within me that it is to be so.  The universally
+kind feeling expressed for me at a time when it was supposed
+that each day would prove my last, seemed to me the beginning of
+the answer to "Let us have peace."
+
+The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a
+section of the country, nor to a division of the people.  They
+came from individual citizens of all nationalities; from all
+denominations--the Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and
+from the various societies of the land--scientific, educational,
+religious or otherwise.  Politics did not enter into the matter
+at all.
+
+I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should
+be given because I was the object of it.  But the war between
+the States was a very bloody and a very costly war.  One side or
+the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life
+before it could be brought to an end.  I commanded the whole of
+the mighty host engaged on the victorious side.  I was, no
+matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative of that
+side of the controversy.  It is a significant and gratifying
+fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this
+spontaneous move.  I hope the good feeling inaugurated may
+continue to the end.
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES
+ARMIES 1864-65.
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+July 22, 1865.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+SIR:  I have the honor to submit the following report of the
+operations of the Armies of the United States from the date of
+my appointment to command the same.
+
+From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with
+the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops
+that could be brought into the field, regardless of season and
+weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of the war.  The
+resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far
+inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast
+territory, with a population hostile to the government, to
+garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to
+protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.
+
+The armies in the East and West acted independently and without
+concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together,
+enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his interior lines
+of communication for transporting troops from East to West,
+reinforcing the army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough
+large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on our part, to go
+to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of
+their armies.  It was a question whether our numerical strength
+and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages
+and the enemy's superior position.
+
+From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could
+be had that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the
+people, both North and South, until the military power of the
+rebellion was entirely broken.
+
+I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of
+troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy;
+preventing him from using the same force at different seasons
+against first one and then another of our armies, and the
+possibility of repose for refitting and producing necessary
+supplies for carrying on resistance.  Second, to hammer
+continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his
+resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there
+should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the
+loyal section of our common country to the constitution and laws
+of the land.
+
+These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given
+and campaigns made to carry them out.  Whether they might have
+been better in conception and execution is for the people, who
+mourn the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the
+pecuniary cost, to say.  All I can say is, that what I have done
+has been done conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in
+what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole
+country.
+
+At the date when this report begins, the situation of the
+contending forces was about as follows:  The Mississippi River
+was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops, from St.  Louis,
+Missouri, to its mouth.  The line of the Arkansas was also held,
+thus giving us armed possession of all west of the Mississippi,
+north of that stream.  A few points in Southern Louisiana, not
+remote from the river, were held by us, together with a small
+garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande.  All the
+balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas
+was in the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an
+army of probably not less than eighty thousand effective men,
+that could have been brought into the field had there been
+sufficient opposition to have brought them out.  The let-alone
+policy had demoralized this force so that probably but little
+more than one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one
+time.  But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of
+guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along the
+Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the
+population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to
+keep navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal
+people to the west of it.  To the east of the Mississippi we
+held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston
+rivers, running eastward to include nearly all of the State of
+Tennessee.  South of Chattanooga, a small foothold had been
+obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East Tennessee from
+incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West
+Virginia was substantially within our lines.  Virginia, with the
+exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area
+about the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk
+and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the
+Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the
+enemy.  Along the sea-coast footholds had been obtained at
+Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in North Carolina; Beaufort,
+Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Port
+Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in
+Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our possession,
+while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy.  The
+accompanying map , a copy of which was sent to General Sherman
+and other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the
+territory occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and
+at the opening of the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are
+the lines which it was proposed to occupy.
+
+Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a
+large population disloyal to the government, making it necessary
+to guard every foot of road or river used in supplying our
+armies.  In the South, a reign of military despotism prevailed,
+which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier;
+and those who could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts
+for collecting deserters and returning them.  This enabled the
+enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the field.
+
+The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the
+Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and
+J. E. Johnston, his ablest and best generals.  The army commanded
+by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from
+Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending
+Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac.
+The army under Johnston occupied a strongly intrenched position
+at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defending Atlanta, Georgia, a
+place of great importance as a railroad centre, against the
+armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman.  In addition to these
+armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in North-east
+Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme eastern
+part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons,
+and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.
+
+These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them,
+were the main objective points of the campaign.
+
+Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of
+the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the
+armies and territory east of the Mississippi River to the
+Alleghanies and the Department of Arkansas, west of the
+Mississippi, had the immediate command of the armies operating
+against Johnston.
+
+Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the
+Army of the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision
+of the movements of all our armies.
+
+General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army,
+to break it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's
+country as far as he could, inflicting all the damage he could
+upon their war resources.  If the enemy in his front showed
+signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his
+ability, while I would prevent the concentration of Lee upon him,
+if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do so.  More
+specific written instructions were not given, for the reason that
+I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was
+satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the
+fullest extent possible.
+
+Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River
+against Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous
+to my appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of
+March, of the importance it was that Shreveport should be taken
+at the earliest possible day, and that if he found that the
+taking of it would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time
+than General Sherman had given his troops to be absent from
+their command, he would send them back at the time specified by
+General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main
+object of the Red River expedition, for this force was necessary
+to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his expedition
+prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River
+with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the
+balance of his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans,
+commencing no move for the further acquisition of territory,
+unless it was to make that then held by him more easily held;
+that it might be a part of the spring campaign to move against
+Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops enough could be
+obtained to make it without embarrassing other movements; that
+New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an
+expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a
+real move from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks),
+instead of a demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.
+
+On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification
+and directions, he was instructed as follows:
+
+
+"1st.  If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that
+you turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and
+the navy.
+
+"2d.  That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of
+your hold upon the Rio Grande.  This can be held with four
+thousand men, if they will turn their attention immediately to
+fortifying their positions.  At least one-half of the force
+required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.
+
+"3d.  By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force
+to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten
+thousand men, if not to a less number.  Six thousand more would
+then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until
+active operations can again be resumed west of the river.
+According to your last return, this would give you a force of
+over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against
+Mobile.  To this I expect to add five thousand men from
+Missouri.  If however, you think the force here stated too small
+to hold the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession
+of, I would say concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of
+your present command for operations against Mobile.  With these
+and such additions as I can give you from elsewhere, lose no
+time in making a demonstration, to be followed by an attack upon
+Mobile.  Two or more iron-clads will be ordered to report to
+Admiral Farragut.  This gives him a strong naval fleet with
+which to co-operate.  You can make your own arrangements with
+the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of
+approach.  My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should
+be your base; but, from your long service in the Gulf
+Department, you will know best about the matter.  It is intended
+that your movements shall be co-operative with movements
+elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon.  All I would now
+add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at
+once.  Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and
+start at the earliest possible moment.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."
+
+
+Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his
+objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also.  For
+his movement two plans presented themselves:  One to cross the
+Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above,
+moving by his left.  Each presented advantages over the other,
+with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee would be
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a
+raid.  But if we took this route, all we did would have to be
+done whilst the rations we started with held out; besides, it
+separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how
+to cooperate.  If we took the other route, Brandy Station could
+be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the
+York or James rivers.  Of these, however, it was decided to take
+the lower route.
+
+The following letter of instruction was addressed to
+Major-General B. F. Butler:
+
+
+"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall
+commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to
+have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far
+as this object can be accomplished.
+
+"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three
+large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute
+necessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the
+enemy.  But, generally speaking, concentration can be
+practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the
+enemy's country from the territory they have to guard.  By such
+movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy and the
+country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to
+guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a
+part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's
+army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our
+attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable
+to unite all the force we can against them.  The necessity of
+covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of
+covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to
+unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose,
+therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems
+practicable:  The Army of the Potomac will act from its present
+base, Lee's army being the objective point.  You will collect
+all the forces from your command that can be spared from
+garrison duty--I should say not less than twenty thousand
+effective men--to operate on the south side of James River,
+Richmond being your objective point.  To the force you already
+have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina,
+under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person.
+Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to
+command the troops sent into the field from your own department.
+
+"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress
+Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant,
+or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Should you not receive
+notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of
+them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to
+deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.
+
+"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much
+force as possible.  Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and
+concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as
+you can.  From City Point directions cannot be given at this
+time for your further movements.
+
+"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond
+is to be your objective point, and that there is to be
+co-operation between your force and the Army of the
+Potomac--must be your guide.  This indicates the necessity of
+your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you
+advance.  Then, should the enemy be forced into his
+intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow,
+and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.
+
+"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your
+direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your
+cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford,
+about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense
+advantage.
+
+"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest
+practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may
+give for the execution of this order.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On
+the 19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army
+and that of General Meade, he was informed that I expected him
+to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade moved
+from Culpeper.  The exact time I was to telegraph him as soon as
+it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27th of
+April; that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper
+and Richmond, if he would stand.  Should he, however, fall back
+into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his
+(General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be
+certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side,
+so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I
+would form the junction there; that circumstances might make
+this course advisable anyhow; that he should use every exertion
+to secure footing as far up the south side of the river as he
+could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to
+move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least
+detain as large a force there as possible.
+
+In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and
+Johnston, I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily
+kept in departments remote from the fields of immediate
+operations, and also those kept in the background for the
+protection of our extended lines between the loyal States and
+the armies operating against them.
+
+A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel,
+was so held for the protection of West Virginia, and the
+frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania.  Whilst these troops
+could not be withdrawn to distant fields without exposing the
+North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of the enemy,
+they could act directly to their front, and give better
+protection than if lying idle in garrison.  By such a movement
+they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the
+protection of his supplies and lines of communication, or he
+would lose them.  General Sigel was therefore directed to
+organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move
+from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and
+Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.
+Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own
+request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to
+give up the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one
+under General Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten
+thousand men, and one on the Shenandoah, numbering about seven
+thousand men.  The one on the Shenandoah to assemble between
+Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery
+advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made
+available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook would
+take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down
+the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could,
+destroying the New River Bridge and the salt-works, at
+Saltville, Va.
+
+Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations
+were delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in
+readiness and the roads favorable, orders were given for a
+general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of May.
+
+My first object being to break the military power of the
+rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made
+me desirous that General Butler should succeed in his movement
+against Richmond, as that would tend more than anything else,
+unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to accomplish this
+desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my
+determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to
+retreat, or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large
+force to go north, and still retain enough for the defence of
+Richmond.  It was well understood, by both Generals Butler and
+Meade, before starting en the campaign, that it was my intention
+to put both their armies south of the James River, in case of
+failure to destroy Lee without it.
+
+Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at
+Fort Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent
+importance of getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying
+railroad communication as far south as possible.  Believing,
+however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it
+was reinforced, I made that the objective point of his
+operations.  As the Army of the Potomac was to move
+simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with
+safety, and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to
+the defence of the city in time to meet a rapid movement from
+the north of James River.
+
+I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I
+tried, as far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent
+command of the Army of the Potomac.  My instructions for that
+army were all through him, and were general in their nature,
+leaving all the details and the execution to him.  The campaigns
+that followed proved him to be the right man in the right
+place.  His commanding always in the presence of an officer
+superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that public
+attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he
+would otherwise have received.
+
+The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the
+morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and
+orders of Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions.  Before
+night, the whole army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth
+corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's
+Ford, the cavalry, under Major-General Sheridan, moving in
+advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about
+four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition.  The
+average distance travelled by the troops that day was about
+twelve miles.  This I regarded as a great success, and it
+removed from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had
+entertained, that of crossing the river in the face of an
+active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how
+so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country,
+and protected.  Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth,
+Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy
+outside his intrenchments near Mine Run.  The battle raged
+furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight
+as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which,
+considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the
+roads, was done with commendable promptness.
+
+General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the
+Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at
+the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad,
+holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move
+until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was
+secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was
+received.  This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of
+the 4th.  By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was
+leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some
+of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles,
+crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.  Considering
+that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was
+composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the
+accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.
+
+The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock
+on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury
+until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same
+position that they had on the evening of the 5th.  After dark,
+the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank,
+capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable
+confusion.  But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was
+personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon
+reformed it and restored order.  On the morning of the 7th,
+reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his
+intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of
+the battle-field.  From this it was evident to my mind that the
+two days' fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further
+maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his
+advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind
+his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my whole
+force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued
+for a movement by his right flank.  On the night of the 7th, the
+march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth
+corps moving on the most direct road.  But the enemy having
+become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line,
+was enabled to reach there first.  On the 8th, General Warren
+met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and
+delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at
+Spottsylvania.  This force was steadily driven back on the main
+force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable
+fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides.  On the morning
+of the 9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the
+enemy's lines of communication with Richmond.  The 9th, 10th,
+and 11th were spent in manoeuvring and fighting, without
+decisive results.  Among the killed on the 9th was that able and
+distinguished soldier Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the
+sixth army corps.  Major-General H. G. Wright succeeded him in
+command.  Early on the morning of the 12th a general attack was
+made on the enemy in position.  The second corps, Major-General
+Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, capturing
+most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces of
+artillery.  But the resistance was so obstinate that the
+advantage gained did not prove decisive.  The 13th, 14th, 15th,
+16th, 17th, and 18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting
+the arrival of reinforcements from Washington.  Deeming it
+impracticable to make any further attack upon the enemy at
+Spottsylvania Court House, orders were issued on the 15th with a
+view to a movement to the North Anna, to commence at twelve
+o'clock on the night of the 19th.  Late in the afternoon of the
+19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our extreme right
+flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy loss.
+This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of
+the 21st, when it was commenced.  But the enemy again, having
+the shorter line, and being in possession of the main roads, was
+enabled to reach the North Anna in advance of us, and took
+position behind it.  The fifth corps reached the North Anna on
+the afternoon of the 23d, closely followed by the sixth corps.
+The second and ninth corps got up about the same time, the
+second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying between
+that and Jericho Ford.  General Warren effected a crossing the
+same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon
+after getting into position he was violently attacked, but
+repulsed the enemy with great slaughter.  On the 25th, General
+Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac from the raid on which
+he started from Spottsylvania, having destroyed the depots at
+Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, large
+supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track;
+recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to
+Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's
+cavalry at Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around
+Richmond (but finding the second line too strong to be carried by
+assault), recrossed to the north bank of the Chickahominy at
+Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, and moved by a detour to
+Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he communicated with
+General Butler.  This raid had the effect of drawing off the
+whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy
+to guard our trains.
+
+General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in
+pursuance of instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore
+having joined him with the tenth corps.  At the same time he
+sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way of
+West Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a
+foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, under General
+Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of
+Petersburg and Richmond.  On the 5th, he occupied, without
+opposition, both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement
+being a complete surprise.  On the 6th, he was in position with
+his main army, and commenced intrenching.  On the 7th he made a
+reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad,
+destroying a portion of it after some fighting.  On the 9th he
+telegraphed as follows:
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING,
+May 9, 1864.
+
+"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+"Our operations may be summed up in a few words.  With one
+thousand seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the
+Peninsula, forced the Chickahominy, and have safely, brought
+them to their present position.  These were colored cavalry, and
+are now holding our advance pickets towards Richmond.
+
+"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the
+same day with our movement up James River, forced the Black
+Water, burned the railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below
+Petersburg, cutting into Beauregard's force at that point.
+
+"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles
+of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we
+can hold out against the whole of Lee's army.  I have ordered up
+the supplies.
+
+"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south
+by the cutting of the railroads by Kautz.  That portion which
+reached Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and
+wounding many, and taking many prisoners, after a severe and
+well-contested fight.
+
+"General Grant will not be troubled with any further
+reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's force.
+
+"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."
+
+
+On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a
+portion of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff,
+or Fort Darling, with small loss.  The time thus consumed from
+the 6th lost to us the benefit of the surprise and capture of
+Richmond and Petersburg, enabling, as it did, Beauregard to
+collect his loose forces in North and South Carolina, and bring
+them to the defence of those places.  On the 16th, the enemy
+attacked General Butler in his position in front of Drury's
+Bluff.  He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments
+between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy
+intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads,
+the city, and all that was valuable to him.  His army,
+therefore, though in a position of great security, was as
+completely shut off from further operations directly against
+Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked.  It
+required but a comparatively small force of the enemy to hold it
+there.
+
+On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a
+raid against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at
+Coalfield, Powhatan, and Chula Stations, destroying them, the
+railroad-track, two freight trains, and one locomotive, together
+with large quantities of commissary and other stores; thence,
+crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at Wilson's,
+Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the
+road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point,
+which he reached on the 18th.
+
+On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General
+Butler, the enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an
+iron-clad ram, attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H.
+W. Wessells, and our gunboats there, and, after severe fighting,
+the place was carried by assault, and the entire garrison and
+armament captured.  The gunboat Smithfield was sunk, and the
+Miami disabled.
+
+The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically
+sealed itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to
+bring the most, if not all, the reinforcements brought from the
+south by Beauregard against the Army of the Potomac. In addition
+to this reinforcement, a very considerable one, probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men, was obtained by calling in the
+scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of
+Virginia.
+
+The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was
+difficult to operate from against the enemy.  I determined,
+therefore, to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough
+only to secure what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d,
+I directed that they be sent forward, under command of
+Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by
+Major-General A. E. Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the
+Potomac, and from this time forward constituted a portion of
+Major-General Meade's command.
+
+Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than
+either of his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th
+to the north bank of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town
+to turn the enemy's position by his right.
+
+Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under
+Sheridan, and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the
+Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and
+on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe, but
+successful engagement with the enemy at Hawes's Shop.  On the
+29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy skirmishing, to the
+Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the
+enemy's position north of the Chickahominy.  Late on the evening
+of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but was
+repulsed with very considerable loss.  An attack was immediately
+ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted
+in driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.
+
+On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the
+railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the
+enemy's cavalry.  General Sheridan, on the same day, reached
+Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and
+General Smith's command, which had just arrived, via White
+House, from General Butler's army.
+
+On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the
+6th corps and the troops under General Smith, the other corps
+being held in readiness to advance on the receipt of orders.
+This resulted in our carrying and holding the enemy's first line
+of works in front of the right of the 6th corps, and in front of
+General Smith.  During the attack the enemy made repeated
+assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack,
+but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance.  That night
+he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the day,
+but failed.  The 2d was spent in getting troops into position
+for an attack on the 3d.  On the 3d of June we again assaulted
+the enemy's works, in the hope of driving him from his
+position.  In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of the
+enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light.  It was
+the only general attack made from the Rapidan to the James which
+did not inflict upon the enemy losses to compensate for our own
+losses.  I would not be understood as saying that all previous
+attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished as
+much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy
+severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete
+overthrow of the rebellion.
+
+From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond,
+it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between
+him and the city.  I was still in a condition to either move by
+his left flank, and invest Richmond from the north side, or
+continue my move by his right flank to the south side of the
+James.  While the former might have been better as a covering
+for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground satisfied me
+that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and east of
+Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long,
+vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to
+guard, and that would have to be protected to supply the army,
+and would leave open to the enemy all his lines of communication
+on the south side of the James.  My idea, from the start, had
+been to beat Lee's army north of Richmond, if possible.  Then,
+after destroying his lines of communication north of the James
+River, to transfer the army to the south side, and besiege Lee
+in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat.  After
+the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that the enemy
+deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army
+he then had.  He acted purely on the defensive, behind
+breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of
+them, and where, in case of repulse, he could easily retire
+behind them.  Without a greater sacrifice of life than I was
+willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had
+designed north of Richmond.  I therefore determined to continue
+to hold substantially the ground we then occupied, taking
+advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present
+themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville
+and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection
+between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and
+when the cavalry  got well off, to move the army to the south
+side of the James River, by the enemy's right flank, where I
+felt I could cut off all his sources of supply, except by the
+canal.
+
+On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan,
+got off on the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad,
+with instructions to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near
+Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and after the
+work laid out for them was thoroughly done, to join the Army of
+the Potomac by the route laid down in Sheridan's instructions.
+
+On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry,
+under General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to
+capture Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and
+common bridges across the Appomattox.  The cavalry carried the
+works on the south side, and penetrated well in towards the
+town, but were forced to retire.  General Gillmore, finding the
+works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault
+impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting
+one.
+
+Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I
+sent back to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's
+command by water, via the White House, to reach there in advance
+of the Army of the Potomac.  This was for the express purpose of
+securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our
+intention, could reinforce the place.
+
+The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the
+evening of the 12th.  One division of cavalry, under General
+Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long
+Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossings
+of the other corps.  The advance corps reached James River, at
+Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, on the night of
+the 13th.
+
+During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern
+Virginia had been confronting each other.  In that time they had
+fought more desperate battles than it probably ever before fell
+to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing
+the vantage ground of either.  The Southern press and people,
+with more shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding
+that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New
+York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they only
+defended their Capital and Southern territory.  Hence, Antietam,
+Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were
+by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for
+them.  Their army believed this.  It produced a morale which
+could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard
+fighting.  The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North
+Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our
+side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him
+as to make him wary ever after of taking the offensive.  His
+losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that
+we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking
+party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field.  The
+details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the
+part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in
+the report of Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports
+accompanying it.
+
+During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the
+James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting
+base, by wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded
+country, with a lack of wharves at each new base from which to
+conveniently discharge vessels.  Too much credit cannot,
+therefore, be awarded to the quartermaster and commissary
+departments for the zeal and efficiency displayed by them. Under
+the general supervision of the chief quartermaster,
+Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to occupy all
+the available roads between the army and our water-base, and but
+little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.
+
+The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under
+General Sigel, commenced on the 1st of May.  General Crook, who
+had the immediate command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his
+forces into two columns, giving one, composed of cavalry, to
+General Averell.  They crossed the mountains by separate routes.
+Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near
+Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and
+Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges
+and depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with
+Crook at Union on the 15th.  General Sigel moved up the
+Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and,
+after a severe engagement, was defeated with heavy loss, and
+retired behind Cedar Creek.  Not regarding the operations of
+General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal from command,
+and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him.  His
+instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to
+Major-General H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:
+
+
+"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA.
+May 20, 1864.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+"The enemy are evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as
+are brought over the branch road running through Staunton.  On
+the whole, therefore, I think it would be better for General
+Hunter to move in that direction; reach Staunton and
+Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too much
+opposition.  If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he
+will be doing good service.  * * *
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he
+should do so, living on the country.  The railroads and canal
+should be destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks.
+Completing this, he could find his way back to his original
+base, or from about Gordonsville join this army.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up
+the Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at
+Piedmont, and, after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated
+him, capturing on the field of battle one thousand five hundred
+men, three pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small
+arms.  On the 8th of the same month he formed a junction with
+Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct
+on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he reached and invested
+on the 16th day of June.  Up to this time he was very successful;
+and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance
+stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would,
+no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, point.  The
+destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was very
+great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee
+sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg a short time before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on
+the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition
+to give battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately,
+this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his
+return but by way of Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his
+troops for several weeks from the defence of the North.
+
+Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of
+Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been
+in a position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the
+enemy, should the force he met have seemed to endanger it.  If
+it did not, he would have been within easy distance of the James
+River Canal, on the main line of communication between Lynchburg
+and the force sent for its defence.  I have never taken
+exception to the operations of General Hunter, and am not now
+disposed to find fault with him, for I have no doubt he acted
+within what he conceived to be the spirit of his instructions
+and the interests of the service.  The promptitude of his
+movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the
+commendation of his country.
+
+To return to the Army of the Potomac:  The 2d corps commenced
+crossing the James River on the morning of the 14th by
+ferry-boats at Wilcox's Landing.  The laying of the pontoon-
+bridge was completed about midnight of the 14th, and the
+crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly pushed forward
+by both bridge and ferry.
+
+After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to
+Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate
+capture of Petersburg.
+
+The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him
+to send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the
+troops he could give him without sacrificing the position he
+then held.  I told him that I would return at once to the Army
+of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and throw it forward to
+Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be done, that we
+could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the enemy
+could bring troops against us.  General Smith got off as
+directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg
+before daylight next morning, but for some reason that I have
+never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready
+to assault his main lines until near sundown.  Then, with a part
+of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines
+north-east of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a
+distance of over two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces
+of artillery and three hundred prisoners.  This was about seven
+P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no
+other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had
+reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The
+night was clear the moon shining brightly and favorable to
+further operations.  General Hancock, with two divisions of the
+2d corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the
+service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to
+the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the
+position of affairs, and what to do with the troops.  But
+instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into
+Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of
+his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.
+
+By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force.
+An attack was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by
+the troops under Smith and the 2d and 9th corps.  It required
+until that time for the 9th corps to get up and into position.
+The attack was made as ordered, and the fighting continued with
+but little intermission until six o'clock the next morning, and
+resulted in our carrying the advance and some of the main works
+of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously
+captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over
+four hundred prisoners.
+
+The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and
+persisted in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only
+resulted in forcing the enemy into an interior line, from which
+he could not be dislodged.  The advantages of position gained by
+us were very great.  The army then proceeded to envelop
+Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far as possible
+without attacking fortifications.
+
+On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a
+part of his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting,
+no doubt, to get troops from north of the James to take the place
+of those withdrawn before we could discover it.  General Butler,
+taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad
+between Petersburg and Richmond.  As soon as I was apprised of
+the advantage thus gained, to retain it I ordered two divisions
+of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that were embarking
+at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to report to
+General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was
+notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of
+his present line urged upon him.
+
+About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced
+back to the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning.
+General Wright, with his two divisions, joined General Butler on
+the forenoon of the 17th, the latter still holding with a strong
+picket-line the enemy's works.  But instead of putting these
+divisions into the enemy's works to hold them, he permitted them
+to halt and rest some distance in the rear of his own line.
+Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
+attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.
+
+On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was
+effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the
+north bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by
+pontoon-bridge with Bermuda Hundred.
+
+On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition
+against the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House
+just as the enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled
+it to retire.  The result of this expedition was, that General
+Sheridan met the enemy's cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the
+morning of the 11th of June, whom he attacked, and after an
+obstinate contest drove from the field in complete rout.  He
+left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and about
+four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses.  On the 12th
+he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court
+House.  This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced
+in the direction of Gordonsville.  He found the enemy reinforced
+by infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles
+from the latter place and too strong to successfully assault.  On
+the extreme right, however, his reserve brigade carried the
+enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by
+infantry.  Night closed the contest.  Not having sufficient
+ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals being
+without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing),
+and hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command
+to the north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return
+march, reaching White House at the time before stated.  After
+breaking up the depot at that place, he moved to the James
+River, which he reached safely after heavy fighting.  He
+commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, without
+further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of
+the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry
+of the Army of the James moved against the enemy's railroads
+south of Richmond.  Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's
+Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and
+the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near
+Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the
+enemy's cavalry.  He reached Burkesville Station on the
+afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville
+Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles,
+where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which
+he could not dislodge him.  He then commenced his return march,
+and on the 28th met the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon
+Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not
+decisive engagement.  Thence he made a detour from his left with
+a view of reaching Reams's Station (supposing it to be in our
+possession).  At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry,
+supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of
+his artillery and trains.  In this last encounter, General
+Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made
+his way into our lines.  General Wilson, with the remainder of
+his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming
+in safely on our left and rear.  The damage to the enemy in this
+expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained.  It
+severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several
+weeks.
+
+With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond
+to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his
+army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to
+take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from
+Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of
+the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the
+night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the
+cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank
+of the James River and joined the force General Butler had
+there.  On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched
+position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.  On the
+28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market
+Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in
+heavy force.  The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in
+considerable loss to both sides.  The first object of this move
+having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by
+the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made,
+by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back
+there.  One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night
+of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th
+corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be
+foot-loose in the assault to be made.  The other two divisions
+of the 2d corps and Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the
+night of the 29th and moved in front of Petersburg.  On the
+morning of the 30th, between four and five o'clock, the mine was
+sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a regiment, and the
+advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th corps,
+immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion,
+and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a
+detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to
+advance promptly to the ridge beyond.  Had they done this, I
+have every reason to believe that Petersburg would have
+fallen.  Other troops were immediately pushed forward, but the
+time consumed in getting them up enabled the enemy to rally from
+his surprise (which had been complete), and get forces to this
+point for its defence.  The captured line thus held being
+untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were withdrawn,
+but not without heavy loss.  Thus terminated in disaster what
+promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.
+
+Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter
+was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus
+laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and
+Pennsylvania, he returned northward and moved down that
+valley.  As soon as this movement of the enemy was ascertained,
+General Hunter, who had reached the Kanawha River, was directed
+to move his troops without delay, by river and railroad, to
+Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of navigation by
+reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great delay was
+experienced in getting there.  It became necessary, therefore,
+to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy.  For
+this purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating
+against Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then
+fortunately beginning to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf
+Department, under orders issued immediately after the
+ascertainment of the result of the Red River expedition.  The
+garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time made up
+of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments
+from the invalid corps.  One division under command of General
+Ricketts, of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the
+remaining two divisions of the 6th corps, under General Wright,
+were subsequently sent to Washington.  On the 3d of July the
+enemy approached Martinsburg.  General Sigel, who was in command
+of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac at
+Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry,
+crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards
+Frederick City.  General Wallace, with Rickett's division and
+his own command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops,
+pushed out from Baltimore with great promptness, and met the
+enemy in force on the Monocacy, near the crossing of the
+railroad bridge.  His force was not sufficient to insure
+success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and although it
+resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and
+thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with
+two division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th
+corps, before him.  From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington,
+his cavalry advance reaching Rockville on the evening of the
+10th.  On the 12th a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of
+Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position and force.  A
+severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred and
+eighty in killed and wounded.  The enemy's loss was probably
+greater.  He commenced retreating during the night.  Learning
+the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by
+telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th,
+the assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of
+all the troops that could be made available to operate in the
+field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside
+of the trenches with all the force he could, and push Early to
+the last moment.  General Wright commenced the pursuit on the
+13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on
+the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 20th,
+General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of the rebel
+army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and
+several hundred prisoners.
+
+Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or
+Richmond, I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to
+the armies operating against Richmond, so that they might be
+used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops
+sent by him into the valley; and that Hunter should remain in
+the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between any force of the enemy
+and Washington, acting on the defensive as much as possible.  I
+felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the fact
+would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave
+Washington.  Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the
+order to return to the James.
+
+About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again
+advancing upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps,
+then at Washington, was ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's
+Ferry.  The rebel force moved down the valley, and sent a raiding
+party into Pennsylvania which on the 30th burned Chambersburg,
+and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and
+with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West
+Virginia.  From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires
+were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making
+it necessary to transmit messages a part of the way by boat.  It
+took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches
+through and return answers would be received showing a
+difference state of facts from those on which they were based,
+causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that must
+have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and
+rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they
+otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident
+to my mind that some person should have the supreme command of
+all the forces in the Department of West Virginia, Washington,
+Susquehanna, and the Middle Department, and I so recommended.
+
+On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in
+person to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington,
+with a view to his assignment to the command of all the forces
+against Early.  At this time the enemy was concentrated in the
+neighborhood of Winchester, while our forces, under General
+Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of
+the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy
+Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.  From where I was, I
+hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces
+at Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington.
+Therefore, on the 4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's
+command, and determine for myself what was best to be done.  On
+arrival there, and after consultation with General Hunter, I
+issued to him the following instructions:
+
+
+"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND,
+August 5, 1864--8 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in
+the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards
+and garrisons for public property as may be necessary.  Use, in
+this concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be
+saved.  From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has
+moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following
+him and attacking him wherever found; follow him, if driven south
+of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so.  If it is
+ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the
+Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a
+competent commander, a sufficient force to look after the
+raiders, and drive them to their homes.  In detaching such a
+force,the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington
+via Rockville may be taken into account.
+
+"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of
+the best cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and
+horses.  These will be instructed, in the absence of further
+orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac.  One
+brigade will probably start to-morrow.  In pushing up the
+Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go
+first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to
+invite the enemy to return.  Take all provisions, forage, and
+stock wanted for the use of your command; such as cannot be
+consumed, destroy.  It is not desirable that the buildings
+should be destroyed--they should rather be protected; but the
+people should be informed that, so long as an army can subsist
+among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and we
+are determined to stop them at all hazards.
+
+"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do
+this you want to keep him always in sight.  Be guided in your
+course by the course he takes.
+
+"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving
+regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in
+the country through which you march.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."
+
+
+The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance
+reached Halltown that night.
+
+General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a
+willingness to be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have
+General Sheridan, then at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by
+the morning train, with orders to take general command of all
+the troops in the field, and to call on General Hunter at
+Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of
+instructions.  I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan
+arrived, on the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with
+him in relation to military affairs in that vicinity, I returned
+to City Point by way of Washington.
+
+On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments
+of West Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted
+into the "Middle Military Division," and  Major-General Sheridan
+was assigned to temporary command of the same.
+
+Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and
+Wilson, were sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The
+first reached him at Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.
+
+His operations during the month of August and the fore part of
+September were both of an offensive and defensive character,
+resulting in many severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry,
+in which we were generally successful, but no general engagement
+took place.  The two armies lay in such a position--the enemy on
+the west bank of the Opequon Creek covering Winchester, and our
+forces in front of Berryville--that either could bring on a
+battle at any time.  Defeat to us would lay open to the enemy
+the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances
+before another army could be interposed to check him.  Under
+these circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to
+be taken.  Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
+and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by
+the enemy, became so indispensably necessary to us, and the
+importance of relieving Pennsylvania and Maryland from
+continuously threatened invasion so great, that I determined the
+risk should be taken.  But fearing to telegraph the order for an
+attack without knowing more than I did of General Sheridan's
+feelings as to what would be the probable result, I left City
+Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his headquarters,
+to decide, after conference with him, what should be done.  I met
+him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each
+army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and
+expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but
+two words of instructions necessary--Go in!  For the
+conveniences of forage, the teams for supplying the army were
+kept at Harper's Ferry.  I asked him if he could get out his
+teams and supplies in time to make an attack on the ensuing
+Tuesday morning.  His reply was, that he could before daylight
+on Monday.  He was off promptly to time, and I may here add,
+that the result was such that I have never since deemed it
+necessary to visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.
+
+Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked
+General Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a
+most sanguinary and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in
+the evening, defeated him with heavy loss, carrying his entire
+position from Opequon Creek to Winchester, capturing several
+thousand prisoners and five pieces of artillery.  The enemy
+rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at Fisher's Hill,
+where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss on the
+20th [22d].  Sheridan pursued him with great energy through
+Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge.  After
+stripping the upper valley of most of the supplies and
+provisions for the rebel army, he returned to Strasburg, and
+took position on the north side of Cedar Creek.
+
+Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again
+returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry
+encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated,
+with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and
+fifty prisoners.  On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the
+mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded
+the North Fork, and early on the morning of the 19th, under
+cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised and turned our left
+flank, and captured the batteries which enfiladed our whole
+line.  Our troops fell back with heavy loss and in much
+confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and
+Newtown.  At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at
+Winchester when the battle commenced arrived on the field,
+arranged his lines just in time to repulse a heavy attack of the
+enemy, and immediately assuming the offensive, he attacked in
+turn with great vigor.  The enemy was defeated with great
+slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and
+the trophies he had captured in the morning.  The wreck of his
+army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of
+Staunton and Lynchburg.  Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus
+ended this, the enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the
+Shenandoah Valley.  I was now enabled to return the 6th corps to
+the Army of the Potomac, and to send one division from Sheridan's
+army to the Army of the James, and another to Savannah, Georgia,
+to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the sea-coast, and thus
+enable him to move without detaching from his force for that
+purpose.
+
+Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy
+had detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early
+in the Shenandoah Valley.  I therefore sent the 2d corps and
+Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a
+force of General Butler's army, on the night of the 13th of
+August, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James,
+to prevent him from sending troops away, and, if possible, to
+draw back those sent.  In this move we captured six pieces of
+artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that
+were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one
+division (Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.
+
+The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist
+this movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was
+moved out on the 18th, and took possession of the Weldon
+Railroad.  During the day he had considerable fighting.  To
+regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and
+desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great
+loss.  On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of
+the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the
+front at Petersburg.  On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's
+division of cavalry, while at Reams's Station destroying the
+railroad, were attacked, and after desperate fighting, a part of
+our line gave way, and five pieces of artillery fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from
+the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad,
+enabling us to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the
+army in front of Petersburg.
+
+The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled
+the enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few
+troops north of the James for the defence of Richmond.  On the
+night of the 28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the
+18th corps, Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's
+army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced
+on the morning of the 29th, carrying the very strong
+fortifications and intrenchments below Chaffin's Farm, known as
+Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery, and the
+New Market Road and intrenchments.  This success was followed up
+by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front of
+the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with
+heavy loss.  Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to
+the right of this, supported by infantry, and reached the
+enemy's inner line, but was unable to get further.  The position
+captured from the enemy was so threatening to Richmond, that I
+determined to hold it.  The enemy made several desperate
+attempts to dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, and for
+which he paid dearly.  On the morning of the 30th, General Meade
+sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the enemy's
+line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of
+troops to the north side.  In this reconnoissance we captured
+and held the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church.  In the
+afternoon, troops moving to get to the left of the point gained
+were attacked by the enemy in heavy force, and compelled to fall
+back until supported by the forces holding the captured works.
+Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, but repulsed the
+enemy with great loss.
+
+On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north
+of the James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed,
+wounded, and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight
+or nine pieces.  This he followed up by an attack on our
+intrenched infantry line, but was repulsed with severe
+slaughter.  On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent out by
+General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new
+works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to
+us.
+
+On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient
+men to hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right
+flank.  The 2d corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th
+corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering our left flank,
+forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, and moved up the south side
+of it towards the South Side Railroad, until the 2d corps and
+part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it
+crosses Hatcher's Run.  At this point we were six miles distant
+from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement
+to reach and hold.  But finding that we had not reached the end
+of the enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself
+for a successful assault by which he might be doubled up and
+shortened, I determined to withdraw to within our fortified
+line.  Orders were given accordingly.  Immediately upon
+receiving a report that General Warren had connected with
+General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters.  Soon after I
+left the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap
+between Generals Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as
+reported, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right
+and rear.  General Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet
+it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works,
+and withdrew that night to his old position.
+
+In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration
+on the north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the
+Williamsburg Road, and also on the York River Railroad.  In the
+former he was unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in
+carrying a work which was afterwards abandoned, and his forces
+withdrawn to their former positions.
+
+From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and
+Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the
+defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements
+for crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent
+his detaching any considerable force to send south.  By the 7th
+of February, our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the
+Weldon Railroad had been destroyed to Hicksford.
+
+General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with
+the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded,
+respectively, by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon
+Johnston's army at Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at
+Buzzard's Roost, covering Dalton, too strong to be assaulted,
+General McPherson was sent through Snake Gap to turn it, while
+Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it in front and on the
+north.  This movement was successful.  Johnston, finding his
+retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified
+position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of
+May 15th.  A heavy battle ensued.  During the night the enemy
+retreated south.  Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken
+near Adairsville, and heavy skirmishing followed.  The next
+morning, however, he had again disappeared.  He was vigorously
+pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville on the 19th, but during
+the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah.  While these
+operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's division
+of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts
+and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries.  General
+Sherman, having give his army a few days' rest at this point,
+again put it in motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of
+turning the difficult pass at Allatoona.  On the afternoon of
+the 25th, the advance, under General Hooker, had a severe battle
+with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope Church, near
+Dallas.  Several sharp encounters occurred at this point.  The
+most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General
+McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.
+
+On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position
+at New Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of
+Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains.  He was forced to yield the
+two last-named places, and concentrate his army on Kenesaw,
+where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and McPherson made a
+determined but unsuccessful assault.  On the night of the 2d of
+July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, and
+on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence
+of this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men
+rest and get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed
+his operations, crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large
+portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy back to
+Atlanta. At this place General Hood succeeded General Johnston
+in command of the rebel army, and assuming the
+offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon
+Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and
+determined of which was on the 22d of July.  About one P.M. of
+this day the brave, accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson
+was killed.  General Logan succeeded him, and commanded the Army
+of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and until he was
+superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same
+success and ability that had characterized him in the command of
+a corps or division.
+
+In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss.
+Finding it impossible to entirely invest the place, General
+Sherman, after securing his line of communications across the
+Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's left
+flank upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy
+from his fortifications.  In this he succeeded, and after
+defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and
+Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of
+September occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.
+
+About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler,
+attempted to cut his communications in the rear, but was
+repulsed at Dalton, and driven into East Tennessee, whence it
+proceeded west to McMinnville, Murfreesboro', and Franklin, and
+was finally driven south of the Tennessee.  The damage done by
+this raid was repaired in a few days.
+
+During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau
+joined General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur,
+having made a successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery
+Railroad, and its branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also
+made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the
+remaining Railroad communication with Atlanta.  The first two
+were successful the latter, disastrous.
+
+General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was
+prompt, skilful, and brilliant.  The history of his flank
+movements and battles during that memorable campaign will ever
+be read with an interest unsurpassed by anything in history.
+
+His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders,
+accompanying it, give the details of that most successful
+campaign.
+
+He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a
+single-track railroad from Nashville to the point where he was
+operating.  This passed the entire distance through a hostile
+country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. The
+cavalry force of the enemy under Forrest, in Northern
+Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to advance far
+enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat
+disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the
+possibility of further use.  To guard against this danger,
+Sherman left what he supposed to be a sufficient force to
+operate against Forrest in West Tennessee.  He directed General
+Washburn, who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D.
+Sturgis in command of this force to attack him.  On the morning
+of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near Guntown,
+Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout and
+confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles,
+hotly pursued by the enemy.  By this, however, the enemy was
+defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications.
+The persistency with which he followed up this success exhausted
+him, and made a season for rest and repairs necessary.  In the
+meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, with the troops of the Army
+of the Tennessee that had been sent by General Sherman to General
+Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return from Red River, where
+they had done most excellent service.  He was directed by
+General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against
+Forrest.  This he did with the promptness and effect which has
+characterized his whole military career.  On the 14th of July,
+he met the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him
+badly.  The fighting continued through three days.  Our loss was
+small compared with that of the enemy.  Having accomplished the
+object of his expedition, General Smith returned to Memphis.
+
+During the months of March and April this same force under
+Forrest annoyed us considerably.  On the 24th of March it
+captured Union City, Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th
+attacked Paducah, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois
+Volunteers.  Colonel H., having but a small force, withdrew to
+the forts near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and
+drove him from the place.
+
+On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel
+General Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to
+surrender, but received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th
+New Jersey Volunteers, that being placed there by his Government
+with adequate force to hold his post and repel all enemies from
+it, surrender was out of the question.
+
+On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow,
+Tennessee, garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and
+the 1st Regiment Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major
+Booth.  The garrison fought bravely until about three o'clock in
+the afternoon, when the enemy carried the works by assault; and,
+after our men threw down their arms, proceeded to an inhuman and
+merciless massacre of the garrison.
+
+On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared
+before Paducah, but was again driven off.
+
+Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's
+operations, were also very active in Kentucky.  The most noted
+of these was Morgan.  With a force of from two to three thousand
+cavalry, he entered the State through Pound Gap in the latter
+part of May.  On the 11th of June they attacked and captured
+Cynthiana, with its entire garrison.  On the 12th he was
+overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy
+loss, and was finally driven out of the State.  This notorious
+guerilla was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville,
+Tennessee, and his command captured and dispersed by General
+Gillem.
+
+In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the
+Red River expedition, except so far as relates to the movements
+of the troops sent by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith,
+I am unable to give the date of its starting.  The troops under
+General Smith, comprising two divisions of the 16th and a
+detachment of the 17th army corps, left Vicksburg on the 10th of
+March, and reached the designated point on Red River one day
+earlier than that appointed by General Banks.  The rebel forces
+at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the
+14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying
+the enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed
+forward to Fort de Russy, which had been left with a weak
+garrison, and captured it with its garrison about three hundred
+and fifty men, eleven pieces of artillery, and many
+small-arms.  Our loss was but slight.  On the 15th he pushed
+forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th.  On
+the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's
+Hill, in which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten
+prisoners and four pieces of artillery.
+
+On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the
+rebel General Taylor, at Cane River.  By the 26th, General Banks
+had assembled his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to
+Grand Ecore.  On the morning of April 6th he moved from Grand
+Ecore.  On the afternoon of the 7th, he advanced and met the
+enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him from the field.  On the
+same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight miles beyond
+Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat.  On the 8th,
+at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and
+defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and
+an immense amount of transportation and stores.  During the
+night, General Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another
+battle was fought on the 9th, and the enemy repulsed with great
+loss.  During the night, General Banks continued his retrograde
+movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to Alexandria, which he
+reached on the 27th of April.  Here a serious difficulty arose
+in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the
+expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much
+since they passed up as to prevent their return.  At the
+suggestion of Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under
+his superintendence, wing-dams were constructed, by which the
+channel was contracted so that the fleet passed down the rapids
+in safety.
+
+The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after
+considerable skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached
+Morganzia and Point Coupee near the end of the month.  The
+disastrous termination of this expedition, and the lateness of
+the season, rendered impracticable the carrying out of my plans
+of a movement in force sufficient to insure the capture of
+Mobile.
+
+On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with
+the 7th army corps, to  cooperate with General Banks's
+expedition on the Red River, and reached Arkadelphia on the
+28th.  On the 16th of April, after driving the enemy before him,
+he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in Washita County, by General
+Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith.  After several severe
+skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele
+reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April.
+
+On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks
+on Red River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's
+Mill, in Dallas County, General Steele determined to fall back
+to the Arkansas River.  He left Camden on the 26th of April, and
+reached Little Rock on the 2d of May.  On the 30th of April, the
+enemy attacked him while crossing Saline River at Jenkins's
+Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable loss.  Our loss was
+about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.
+
+Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the
+"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore
+directed to send the 19th army corps to join the armies
+operating against Richmond, and to limit the remainder of his
+command to such operations as might be necessary to hold the
+positions and lines of communications he then occupied.
+
+Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman,
+General Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy
+that was collecting near the Mississippi River.  General Smith
+met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of
+June.  Our loss was about forty killed and seventy wounded.
+
+In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General
+Gordon Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to
+co-operate with Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile
+Bay.  On the 8th of August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the
+combined naval and land forces.  Fort Powell was blown up and
+abandoned.
+
+On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe
+bombardment, surrendered on the 23d.  The total captures
+amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four prisoners,
+and one hundred and four pieces of artillery.
+
+About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel
+General Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had
+reached Jacksonport, on his way to invade Missouri, General A.
+J. Smith's command, then en route from Memphis to join Sherman,
+was ordered to Missouri.  A cavalry force was also, at the same
+time, sent from Memphis, under command of Colonel Winslow.  This
+made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those of Price, and
+no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price and
+drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in
+Arkansas, would cut off his retreat.  On the 26th day of
+September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to
+retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and
+continued up that river towards Kansas.  General Curtis,
+commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such
+forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while
+General Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.
+
+The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated,
+with the loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large
+number of prisoners.  He made a precipitate retreat to Northern
+Arkansas.  The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam
+over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable
+mischief done by him, show to how little purpose a superior force
+may be used.  There is no reason why General Rosecrans should not
+have concentrated his forces, and beaten and driven Price before
+the latter reached Pilot Knob.
+
+September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the
+Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the
+garrison at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which
+capitulated on the 24th.  Soon after the surrender two regiments
+of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were
+compelled to surrender.  Forrest destroyed the railroad
+westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle,
+skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the
+same day cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near
+Tullahoma and Dechard.  On the morning of the 30th, one column
+of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before Huntsville,
+and summoned the surrender of the garrison.  Receiving an answer
+in the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until
+next morning, when he again summoned its surrender, and received
+the same reply as on the night before.  He withdrew in the
+direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, and
+attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without
+success.  On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but
+was handsomely repulsed.
+
+Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the
+morning of the 1st, but did not make an attack.  On the morning
+of the 3d he moved towards Mount Pleasant.  While these
+operations were going on, every exertion was made by General
+Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest before he could
+recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his escape to
+Corinth, Mississippi.
+
+In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to
+destroy the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy
+on the 2d of October, about three miles and a half from
+Saltville, and drove him into his strongly intrenched position
+around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge
+him.  During the night he withdrew his command and returned to
+Kentucky.
+
+General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his
+armies in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations
+for refitting and supplying them for future service.  The great
+length of road from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however,
+which had to be guarded, allowed the troops but little rest.
+
+During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon,
+Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon
+became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the
+enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them.  He
+exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been
+beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt at the
+defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against
+the army that had so often defeated it.
+
+In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon
+reported to the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's
+right, he succeeded in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty,
+and moved north on it.
+
+General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the
+remainder of his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden,
+Alabama. Seeing the constant annoyance he would have with the
+roads to his rear if he attempted to hold Atlanta, General
+Sherman proposed the abandonment and destruction of that place,
+with all the railroads leading to it, and telegraphed me as
+follows:
+
+
+"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA
+October 10--noon.
+
+"Dispatch about Wilson just received.  Hood is now crossing
+Coosa River, twelve miles below Rome, bound west.  If he passes
+over the Mobile and Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan
+of my letter sent by Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas
+with the troops now in Tennessee to defend the State?  He will
+have an ample force when the reinforcements ordered reach
+Nashville.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this
+dispatch, I quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:  "I
+will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's
+should be reinforced to the maximum; that after you get
+Wilmington, you strike for Savannah and the river; that Canby be
+instructed to hold the Mississippi River, and send a force to get
+Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of the Alabama or the
+Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put my army in
+final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to
+be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the
+city of Savannah is in our possession."  This was in reply to a
+letter of mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch
+of his containing substantially the same proposition, and in
+which I informed him of a proposed movement against Wilmington,
+and of the situation in Virginia, etc.
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+
+October 11, 1864--11 A.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of October 10th received.  Does it not look as if
+Hood was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using
+the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply
+his base on the Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur?  If
+he does this, he ought to be met and prevented from getting
+north of the Tennessee River.  If you were to cut loose, I do
+not believe you would meet Hood's army, but would be bushwhacked
+by all the old men and little boys, and such railroad guards as
+are still left at home.  Hood would probably strike for
+Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater
+damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south.  If
+there is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that,
+but I must trust to your own judgment.  I find I shall not be
+able to send a force from here to act with you on Savannah. Your
+movements, therefore, will be independent of mine; at least until
+the fall of Richmond takes place.  I am afraid Thomas, with such
+lines of road as he has to protect, could not prevent Hood from
+going north.  With Wilson turned loose, with all your cavalry,
+you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive than
+heretofore.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+KINGSTON, GEORGIA,
+October 11--11 A.M.
+
+"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and
+Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome.  He
+threw one corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to
+follow.  I hold Atlanta with the 20th corps, and have strong
+detachments along my line.  This reduces my active force to a
+comparatively small army.  We cannot remain here on the
+defensive.  With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold
+cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads.  I would
+infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the
+country from Chattanooga to Atlanta including the latter city
+send back all my wounded and worthless, and with my effective
+army, move through Georgia, smashing things, to the sea. Hood
+may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be
+forced to follow me.  Instead of my being on the defensive, I
+would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means
+to do, he would have to guess at my plans.  The difference in
+war is full twenty-five per cent.  I can make Savannah,
+Charleston, or the mouth of the Chattahoochee.
+
+"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+October 11,1864--11.30 P.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of to-day received.  If you are satisfied the
+trip to the sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the
+Tennessee River firmly, you may make it, destroying all the
+railroad south of Dalton or Chattanooga, as you think best.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting
+through to the coast, with a garrison left on the southern
+railroads, leading east and west, through Georgia, to
+effectually sever the east from the west.  In other words, cut
+the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had been cut once
+by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River.  General
+Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.
+
+General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his
+proposed movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime
+to watch Hood.  Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward
+from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th
+corps,  Major-General Stanley commanding, and the 23d corps,
+Major-General Schofield commanding, back to Chattanooga to
+report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed
+in command of all the troops of his military division, save the
+four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with
+through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal,
+there was little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line
+of the Tennessee, or, in the event Hood should force it, would
+be able to concentrate and beat him in battle.  It was therefore
+readily consented to that Sherman should start for the sea-coast.
+
+Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of
+November, he commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and
+Macon.  His coming-out point could not be definitely fixed.
+Having to gather his subsistence as he marched through the
+country, it was not impossible that a force inferior to his own
+might compel him to head for such point as he could reach,
+instead of such as he might prefer.  The blindness of the enemy,
+however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the
+only considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the
+Mississippi River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the
+whole country open, and Sherman's route to his own choice.
+
+How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met
+with, the condition of the country through which the armies
+passed, the capture of Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River,
+and the occupation of Savannah on the 21st of December, are all
+clearly set forth in General Sherman's admirable report.
+
+Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two
+expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from
+Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the
+enemy's lines of communication with Mobile and detain troops in
+that field.  General Foster, commanding Department of the South,
+also sent an expedition, via Broad River, to destroy the railroad
+between Charleston and Savannah.  The expedition from Vicksburg,
+under command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (colonel
+3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on the 27th of
+November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge
+and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles
+of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of
+stores.  The expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable
+results.  The expedition from the Department of the South, under
+the immediate command of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch,
+consisting of about five thousand men of all arms, including a
+brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad River and debarked at
+Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it moved to
+strike the railroad at Grahamsville.  At Honey Hill, about three
+miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a
+strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe
+fighting, in our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and
+forty-six in killed, wounded, and missing.  During the night
+General Hatch withdrew.  On the 6th of December General Foster
+obtained a position covering the Charleston and Savannah
+Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifinny rivers.
+
+Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move
+northward, which seemed to me to be leading to his certain
+doom.  At all events, had I had the power to command both
+armies, I should not have changed the orders under which he
+seemed to be acting.  On the 26th of October, the advance of
+Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but
+failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and
+succeeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment
+on the north side of the Tennessee River, near Florence.  On the
+28th, Forrest reached the Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured
+a gunboat and three transports.  On the 2d of November he planted
+batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of
+the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports.  On
+the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, and was
+replied to from the gunboats and the garrison.  The gunboats
+becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports,
+to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.  About a
+million and a half dollars' worth of store and property on the
+levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire.  On the 5th the
+enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee
+River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and
+subsequently joined Hood.  On the night of the 5th, General
+Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached
+Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to
+Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with
+instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his
+advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival
+of General A. J. Smith's command from Missouri, and until
+General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.
+
+On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance.  General
+Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards
+Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and
+gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements.  The enemy
+coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield,
+at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during
+the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance
+repulsed.  His loss in this battle was one thousand seven
+hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and
+three thousand eight hundred wounded.  Among his losses were six
+general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured.  Our
+entire loss was two thousand three hundred.  This was the first
+serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was
+the fatal blow to all his expectations.  During the night,
+General Schofield fell back towards Nashville.  This left the
+field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily
+abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought
+together.  The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment
+of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.
+
+As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the
+Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri,
+General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the
+troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops
+as he could spare.  The advance of this reinforcement reached
+Nashville on the 30th of November.
+
+On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked
+Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated
+and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners,
+including four general officers.
+
+Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it
+appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.  This impatience was
+increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of
+cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky.  I feared Hood
+would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there.
+After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately
+assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters
+there in person.  Reaching Washington City, I received General
+Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the
+result as far as the battle had progressed.  I was delighted.
+All fears and apprehensions were dispelled.  I am not yet
+satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the
+appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to
+fortify, should have moved out with his whole force and given
+him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which
+delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it
+impracticable to attack earlier than he did.  But his final
+defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a
+vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.
+
+After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued
+by cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to
+abandon many pieces of artillery and most of his
+transportation.  On the 28th of December our advanced forces
+ascertained that he had made good his escape to the south side
+of the river.
+
+About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee
+and North Alabama, making it difficult to move army
+transportation and artillery, General Thomas stopped the pursuit
+by his main force at the Tennessee River.  A small force of
+cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th Pennsylvania
+Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance,
+capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's
+pontoon-bridge.  The details of these operations will be found
+clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.
+
+A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson,
+started from Memphis on the 21st of December.  On the 25th he
+surprised and captured Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona,
+Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroyed the
+railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for
+Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large
+amounts of public stores.  On the morning of the 28th he
+attacked and captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and
+destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the
+south-west, he struck the Mississippi Central Railroad at
+Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at
+Bankston, and the machine-shops and public property at Grenada,
+arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.
+
+During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a
+force under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee.  On
+the 13th of November he attacked General Gillem, near
+Morristown, capturing his artillery and several hundred
+prisoners.  Gillem, with what was left of his command, retreated
+to Knoxville.  Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to
+near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General
+Ammen.  Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman
+concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near
+Bean's Station to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or
+drive him into Virginia--destroy the salt-works at Saltville,
+and the railroad into Virginia as far as he could go without
+endangering his command.  On the 12th of December he commenced
+his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces
+wherever he met them.  On the 16th he struck the enemy, under
+Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to
+Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred
+and ninety-eight prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its
+stores and supplies, and the extensive lead-works near there.
+Returning to Marion, he met a force under Breckinridge,
+consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville,
+that had started in pursuit.  He at once made arrangements to
+attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge
+gone.  He then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the
+extensive salt-works at that place, a large amount of stores,
+and captured eight pieces of artillery.  Having thus
+successfully executed his instructions, he returned General
+Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.
+
+Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast
+port left to the enemy through which to get supplies from
+abroad, and send cotton and other products out by
+blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic
+value.  The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the
+harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect.  The nature
+of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required
+watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the
+land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for
+the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of
+blockade-runners.
+
+To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation
+of a land force, which I agreed to furnish.  Immediately
+commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D.
+Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for
+concentration upon one given point.  This necessarily attracted
+the attention of the enemy, as well as that of the loyal North;
+and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely
+of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the
+expedition became a subject of common discussion in the
+newspapers both North and South.  The enemy, thus warned,
+prepared to meet it.  This caused a postponement of the
+expedition until the later part of November, when, being again
+called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
+I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself,
+in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we
+had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and
+the time of starting.  A force of six thousand five hundred men
+was regarded as sufficient.  The time of starting was not
+definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by
+the 6th of December, if not before.  Learning, on the 30th of
+November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most
+of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost
+importance that the expedition should reach its destination
+before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make
+all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who
+had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy
+might not be detained one moment.
+
+On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:  The first object of the expedition under General
+Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington.  If
+successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington
+itself.  There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if
+advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the
+enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia.  The
+directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the
+expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of
+where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be
+taken.  The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting
+a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the
+Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river.  Should such
+landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and
+the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the
+troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the
+navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places.  These in
+our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of
+Wilmington would be sealed.  Should Fort Fisher and the point of
+land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops
+immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to
+capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise.  If time is
+consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the
+second will become a matter of after consideration.
+
+"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer
+immediately in command of the troops.
+
+"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a
+landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the
+armies operating against Richmond without delay.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were
+taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they
+were to operate, military courtesy required that all orders and
+instructions should go through him.  They were so sent, but
+General Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never
+received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their
+existence, until he read General Butler's published official
+report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorsement and
+papers accompanying it.  I had no idea of General Butler's
+accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off
+from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General
+Weitzel had received all the instructions, and would be in
+command.  I rather formed the idea that General Butler was
+actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of
+the powder-boat.  The expedition was detained several days at
+Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat.
+
+The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without
+any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon
+General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.
+
+The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and
+arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort
+Fisher, on the evening of the 15th.  Admiral Porter arrived on
+the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get
+ammunition for the monitors.  The sea becoming rough, making it
+difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being
+about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to
+replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the
+return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th.  The
+powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the
+return of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from
+the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the
+enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion
+until they were informed by the Northern press.
+
+On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a
+reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up
+towards the fort.  But before receiving a full report of the
+result of this reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct
+violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation
+of the troops and the return of the expedition.  The
+re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 27th.
+
+On the return of the expedition officers and men among them
+Brevet Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M.
+Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York
+Volunteers, First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and
+Second-Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers
+voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly
+into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken
+without much loss.
+
+Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch
+from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral
+Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher,
+and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the
+place could be taken.  The natural supposition with me was, that
+when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so
+also.  Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of
+December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would
+send a force and make another attempt to take the place.  This
+time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H.
+Terry to command the expedition.  The troops composing it
+consisted of the same that composed the former, with the
+addition of a small brigade, numbering about one thousand five
+hundred, and a small siege train.  The latter it was never found
+necessary to land.  I communicated direct to the commander of the
+expedition the following instructions:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  The expedition intrusted to your command has been
+fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C.,
+and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls.  You will then
+proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet
+lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself
+and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic
+Blockading Squadron.
+
+"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete
+understanding should exist between yourself and the naval
+commander.  I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral
+Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each
+branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of
+action.  It would be well to have the whole programme laid down
+in writing.  I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that
+you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he
+proposes.  I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is
+consistent with your own responsibilities.  The first object to
+be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on
+which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against
+that fort.  You want to look to the practicability of receiving
+your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces
+sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If
+such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will
+not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another
+plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.
+
+"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought
+to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the
+balance of it operates on the outside.  Land forces cannot
+invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or
+reinforcements, while the river is in possession of the enemy.
+
+"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort
+Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required.  All other
+supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.
+
+"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is
+assured.  When you find they can be spared, order them back, or
+such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for
+orders.
+
+"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back
+to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further
+instructions.  You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.
+
+"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops
+to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels.  These troops
+will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels
+until you are heard from.  Should you require them, they will be
+sent to you.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."
+
+
+Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet
+brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, was
+assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.
+
+It will be seen that these instructions did not differ
+materially from those given for the first expedition, and that
+in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher.
+This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the
+commanding officer.
+
+The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the
+6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th,
+where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until
+the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its
+destination that evening.  Under cover of the fleet, the
+disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the
+13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without loss.  On
+the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred
+yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession
+of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that
+might be made from the fort.  This reconnoissance disclosed the
+fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by
+the navy fire.  In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was
+assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with
+its entire garrison and armament.  Thus was secured, by the
+combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important
+successes of the war.  Our loss was:  killed, one hundred and
+ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six.  On the 16th and the
+17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works
+on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us.  This
+gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
+
+At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and
+Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of
+Virginia and North Carolina.
+
+The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the
+force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now
+threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation
+for General Thomas's surplus troops--fields from which they
+would co-operate with other movements.  General Thomas was
+therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold
+his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders.  On the
+7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of
+the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General
+Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as
+possible.  This direction was promptly complied with, and the
+advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same
+month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern.  On the
+26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith's command and a
+division of cavalry to report to General Canby.  By the 7th of
+February the whole force was en route for its destination.
+
+The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military
+department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and
+placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman.  The following
+instructions were given him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:-- *    *    *    Your movements are intended as
+co-operative with Sherman's through the States of South and
+North Carolina.  The first point to be attained is to secure
+Wilmington.  Goldsboro' will then be your objective point,
+moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, or both, as you deem
+best.  Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you will
+advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place
+with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road
+behind you.  The enterprise under you has two objects:  the
+first is to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his
+march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on
+his line of march.  As soon, therefore, as you can determine
+which of the two points, Wilmington or New Bern, you can best
+use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you will
+commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for
+sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals.  You will get of
+these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the
+interior as you may be able to occupy.  I believe General Palmer
+has received some instructions direct from General Sherman on the
+subject of securing supplies for his army.  You will learn what
+steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions
+accordingly.  A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary.
+
+"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective
+departments in the field with me at City Point.  Communicate
+with me by every opportunity, and should you deem it necessary
+at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which
+point you can communicate by telegraph.
+
+"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of
+those required for your own command.
+
+"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your
+imperative duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the
+interior to aid Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own
+judgment without waiting for instructions.  You will report,
+however, what you purpose doing.  The details for carrying out
+these instructions are necessarily left to you.  I would urge,
+however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to
+the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be looked for
+in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the
+28th of February; this limits your time very materially.
+
+"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington,
+it can be supplied from Washington.  A large force of railroad
+men have already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will
+go to Fort Fisher in a day or two.  On this point I have informed
+you by telegraph.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."
+
+
+Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher,
+accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for
+myself the condition of things, and personally conferring with
+General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.
+
+Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army
+entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee,
+the Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several
+months to re-establish a through line from west to east, and
+regarding the capture of Lee's army as the most important
+operation towards closing the rebellion--I sent orders to
+General Sherman on the 6th of December, that after establishing
+a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to include all
+his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point with
+the balance of his command.
+
+On the 18th of December, having received information of the
+defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and
+that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean
+transportation, it would take over two months to transport
+Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as
+much towards the desired result by operating from where he was,
+I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to
+what would be best to do.  A few days after this I received a
+communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December,
+acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing
+me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he
+could get transportation.  Also that he had expected, upon
+reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South
+Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but
+that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of
+Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the
+middle of January.  The confidence he manifested in this letter
+of being able to march up and join me pleased me, and, without
+waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on
+the 28th of December, to make preparations to start as he
+proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and
+South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond
+as soon as he could.
+
+On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had
+ordered the 23d corps,  Major-General Schofield commanding,
+east; that it numbered about twenty-one thousand men; that we
+had at Fort Fisher, about eight thousand men; at New Bern, about
+four thousand; that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofield
+would go there; if not, he would be sent to New Bern; that, in
+either event, all the surplus force at both points would move to
+the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his
+movement; that from either point railroad communication could be
+run out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders
+as he came into communication with them.
+
+In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to
+reduce Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy
+under Admiral Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the
+Cape Fear River.  Fort Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the
+west bank of the river, was occupied on the morning of the 19th,
+the enemy having evacuated it after our appearance before it.
+
+After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington
+on the morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards
+Goldsboro' during the night.  Preparations were at once made for
+a movement on Goldsboro' in two columns--one from Wilmington, and
+the other from New Bern--and to repair the railroad leading there
+from each place, as well as to supply General Sherman by Cape
+Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became necessary.  The
+column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, at Wise's
+Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred
+prisoners.  On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our
+intrenched position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell
+back during the night.  On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed
+and Kinston occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered.
+The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse
+River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d.
+
+By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in
+motion from Savannah.  He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on
+the 17th; thence moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via
+Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March,
+opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape
+Fear River.  On the 15th he resumed his march on Goldsboro'.  He
+met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a severe fight
+defeated and compelled it to retreat.  Our loss in this
+engagement was about six hundred.  The enemy's loss was much
+greater.  On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under
+Joe Johnston, attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing
+three guns and driving it back upon the main body.  General
+Slocum, who was in the advance ascertaining that the whole of
+Johnston's army was in the front, arranged his troops on the
+defensive, intrenched himself and awaited reinforcements, which
+were pushed forward.  On the night of the 21st the enemy
+retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our
+hands.  From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place
+had been occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the
+Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General
+Terry had got possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d),
+thus forming a junction with the columns from New Bern and
+Wilmington.
+
+Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of
+Charleston, South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the
+night of the 17th of February, and occupied by our forces on the
+18th.
+
+On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was
+directed to send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman,
+from East Tennessee, to penetrate South Carolina well down
+towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military
+resources of the country, and return, if he was able, to East
+Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing our
+prisoners there, if possible.  Of the feasibility of this
+latter, however, General Stoneman was to judge.  Sherman's
+movements, I had no doubt, would attract the attention of all
+the force the enemy could collect, and facilitate the execution
+of this.  General Stoneman was so late in making his start on
+this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of
+South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed General
+Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of
+last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he
+could.  This would keep him between our garrisons in East
+Tennessee and the enemy.  I regarded it not impossible that in
+the event of the enemy being driven from Richmond, he might fall
+back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through East
+Tennessee.  On the 14th of February the following communication
+was sent to General Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.
+
+"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against
+Mobile and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of
+about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command.  The
+cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg.
+It, with the available cavalry already in that section, will
+move from there eastward, in co-operation.  Hood's army has been
+terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in
+Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by
+the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman.  (I take it a
+large portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn.  It is so
+asserted in the Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel
+Congress said a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it
+had been brought to South Carolina to oppose Sherman.)  This
+being true, or even if it is not true, Canby's movement will
+attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance
+from your standpoint easy.  I think it advisable, therefore,
+that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare,
+and hold it in readiness to go south.  The object would be
+threefold:  first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as
+possible, to insure success to Canby; second, to destroy the
+enemy's line of communications and military resources; third, to
+destroy or capture their forces brought into the field.
+Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the points to direct the
+expedition against.  This, however, would not be so important as
+the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama.  Discretion
+should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go
+where, according to the information he may receive, he will best
+secure the objects named above.
+
+"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know
+what number of men you can put into the field.  If not more than
+five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be
+sufficient.  It is not desirable that you should start this
+expedition until the one leaving Vicksburg has been three or
+four days out, or even a week.  I do not know when it will
+start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn.  If
+you should hear through other sources before hearing from me,
+you can act on the information received.
+
+"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little
+wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for
+supplies.  I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery,
+or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns
+taken.  No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight
+horses.
+
+"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force
+you think you will be able to send under these directions.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon
+after the 20th as he could get it off.
+
+I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement
+of the armies operating against Richmond, that all
+communications with the city, north of James River, should be
+cut off.  The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from
+the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent
+from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable,
+whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the
+enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which,
+if successful. would accomplish the first at least, and possibly
+the latter of the objects.  I therefore telegraphed General
+Sheridan as follows:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will
+have no difficulty about reaching Lychburg with a cavalry force
+alone.   From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in
+every direction, so as to be of no further use to the
+rebellion.  Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look
+after Mosby's gang.  From Lynchburg, if information you might
+get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the
+streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and
+join General Sherman.  This additional raid, with one now about
+starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or
+give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or
+eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then
+thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight
+thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa,
+Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out
+the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to
+leave mothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise
+you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston
+was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan,
+inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him
+definite information as to the points he might be expected to
+move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina.  In answer, the
+following telegram was sent him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of
+opposition he meets with from the enemy.  If strongly opposed,
+he may possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit
+out for a new start.  I think, however, all danger for the
+necessity of going to that point has passed.  I believe he has
+passed Charlotte.  He may take Fayetteville on his way to
+Goldsboro'.  If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided
+in your after movements by the information you obtain.  Before
+you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him
+moving from Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy
+strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with
+railroad communications opened from his army to Wilmington or
+New Bern.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February,
+with two divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand
+each.  On the 1st of March he secured the bridge, which the
+enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the
+Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d,
+the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'.  Thence he pushed on
+to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an
+intrenched position, under General Early.  Without stopping to
+make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the
+position was carried, and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven
+pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons complete, two
+hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence, and seventeen
+battle-flags, were captured.  The prisoners, under an escort of
+fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester.  Thence he
+marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the railroad
+and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d.  Here
+he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond
+and Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north
+and south forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of
+his trains.  This necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea
+of capturing Lynchburg.  On the morning of the 6th, dividing his
+force into two columns, he sent one to Scottsville, whence it
+marched up the James River Canal to New Market, destroying every
+lock, and in many places the bank of the canal.  From here a
+force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to
+obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that
+place, but failed.  The enemy burned it on our approach.  The
+enemy also burned the bridge across the river at
+Hardwicksville.  The other column moved down the railroad
+towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Court House,
+sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, uniting
+with the column at New Market.  The river being very high, his
+pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having
+destroyed the bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river
+and get on the South Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy
+it to Appomattox Court House, the only thing left for him was to
+return to Winchester or strike a base at the White House.
+Fortunately, he chose the latter.  From New Market he took up
+his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond,
+destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever
+practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland,
+concentrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th.  Here he
+rested one day, and sent through by scouts information of his
+whereabouts and purposes, and a request for supplies to meet him
+at White House, which reached me on the night of the 12th.  An
+infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White
+House, and supplies were forwarded.  Moving from Columbia in a
+direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, he
+crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges
+and many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of
+the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.
+
+Previous to this the following communication was sent to General
+Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair
+the railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to
+Bull's Gap and fortify there.  Supplies at Knoxville could
+always be got forward as required.  With Bull's Gap fortified,
+you can occupy as outposts about all of East Tennessee, and be
+prepared, if it should be required of you in the spring, to make
+a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North Carolina.  I do not
+think Stoneman should break the road until he gets into
+Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may
+be caught west of that.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was
+moving an adequate force against Mobile and the army defending
+it under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large
+and well-appointed cavalry expeditions--one from Middle
+Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's
+vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee, under
+Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and assembling the
+remainder of his available forces, preparatory to commence
+offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's
+cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James
+were confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of
+Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies,
+reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro';
+General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign
+against the enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the
+Mississippi; and General Hancock was concentrating a force in
+the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion
+or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.
+
+After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter
+roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at White House.  At
+this time the greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear
+that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg and
+Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, and before he
+was driven from them by battle, or I was prepared to make an
+effectual pursuit.  On the 24th of March, General Sheridan moved
+from White House, crossed the James River at Jones's Landing, and
+formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in front of
+Petersburg on the 27th.  During this move, General Ord sent
+forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.
+
+On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general
+movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 24, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  On the 29th instant the armies operating against
+Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of
+turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg,
+and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan,
+which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and
+destroy the South Side and Danville railroads.  Two corps of the
+Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking
+the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest where the present
+line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.
+
+"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now
+under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon
+Road and the Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter
+before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column
+before reaching Stony Creek.  General Sheridan will then move
+independently, under other instructions which will be given
+him.  All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the
+Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military
+Division not required for guarding property belonging to their
+arm of service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be
+added to the defences of City Point.  Major-General Parke will
+be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines
+about Petersburg and City Point, subject of course to orders
+from the commander of the Army of the Potomac.  The 9th army
+corps will be left intact, to hold the present line of works so
+long as the whole line now occupied by us is held.  If, however,
+the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the
+left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the
+position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon
+Road.  All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in
+readiness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be
+designated when the order is given.
+
+"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one
+colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present
+lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the
+Potomac.  In the absence of further orders, or until further
+orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left
+column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the
+right column.  During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be
+left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army
+of the James.
+
+"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence
+on the night of the 27th instant.  General Ord will leave behind
+the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the
+absence of the main army.  A cavalry expedition, from General
+Ord's command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there
+on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the
+purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford.  This, if
+accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from
+three to five hundred men will be sufficient.  They should,
+however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared
+from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry
+crosses the Blackwater.  The crossing should probably be at
+Uniten.  Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon
+Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the
+triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston.  The
+railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of
+carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation
+of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke.
+All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks
+and eight days' in wagons.  To avoid as much hauling as
+possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of
+days' supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will
+direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient
+supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in
+passing.  Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in
+wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will
+carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies.  The
+densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making
+the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with
+the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division,
+at the option of the army commanders.
+
+"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into
+operation may be commenced at once.  The reserves of the 9th
+corps should be massed as much as possible.  While I would not
+now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them,
+they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy
+weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders.  In
+case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could
+follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the
+army.  To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations
+issued to them, same as the balance of the army.  General
+Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at
+all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so.  A
+success north of the James should be followed up with great
+promptness.  An attack will not be feasible unless it is found
+that the enemy has detached largely.  In that case it may be
+regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local
+reserves principally for the defence of Richmond.  Preparations
+may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James,
+except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a
+break is made in the lines of the enemy.
+
+"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating
+against Richmond is left behind.  The enemy, knowing this, may,
+as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in
+the hope of advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl
+everything against the moving column, and return.  It cannot be
+impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the
+trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of
+it.  The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does
+so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a
+weakening of his lines.  I would have it particularly enjoined
+upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the enemy,
+those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding
+officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move
+promptly, and notify the commander of their action.  I would also
+enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when
+other parts of their corps are engaged.  In like manner, I would
+urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines
+in front of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River
+towards our left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the
+line to the right and left of it, established themselves and
+turned the guns of the fort against us, but our troops on either
+flank held their ground until the reserves were brought up, when
+the enemy was driven back with a heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners.  Our loss was
+sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and
+five hundred and six missing.  General Meade at once ordered the
+other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective
+fronts.  Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's
+strongly intrenched picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th
+corps, and eight hundred and thirty-four prisoners.  The enemy
+made desperate attempts to retake this line, but without
+success.  Our loss in front of these was fifty-two killed, eight
+hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven
+missing.  The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.
+
+General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about
+Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them
+perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and
+stated that he would be ready to move, as he had previously
+written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed
+for twenty days, if it should become necessary to bring his
+command to bear against Lee's army, in co-operation with our
+forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg.  General Sherman
+proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, by
+turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or
+thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and
+Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville,
+or join the armies operating against Richmond, as might be
+deemed best.  This plan he was directed to carry into execution,
+if he received no further directions in the meantime.  I
+explained to him the movement I had ordered to commence on the
+29th of March.  That if it should not prove as entirely
+successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy
+the Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the
+enemy of further supplies, and also to prevent the rapid
+concentration of Lee's and Johnston's armies.
+
+I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the
+report that the enemy had retreated the night before.  I was
+firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be
+the signal for Lee to leave.  With Johnston and him combined, a
+long, tedious, and expensive campaign, consuming most of the
+summer, might become necessary.  By moving out I would put the
+army in better condition for pursuit, and would at least, by the
+destruction of the Danville Road, retard the concentration of the
+two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to abandon
+much material that he might otherwise save.  I therefore
+determined not to delay the movement ordered.
+
+On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions
+of the 24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one
+division of the 25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding,
+and MacKenzie's cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance
+of the foregoing instructions, and reached the position assigned
+him near Hatcher's Run on the morning of the 29th.  On the 28th
+the following instructions were given to General Sheridan:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at
+three A.M. to-morrow morning.  The 2d moves at about nine A.M.,
+having but about three miles to march to reach the point
+designated for it to take on the right of the 5th corps, after
+the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House.  Move your cavalry at
+as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any
+particular road or roads.  You may go out by the nearest roads
+in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to
+or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as
+soon as you can.  It is not the intention to attack the enemy in
+his intrenched position, but to force him out, if possible.
+Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be
+attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and
+with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow, as
+circumstances will dictate.  I shall be on the field, and will
+probably be able to communicate with you.  Should I not do so,
+and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched
+line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road.  If you
+find it practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side
+Road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some
+extent.  I would not advise much detention, however, until you
+reach the Danville Road, which I would like you to strike as
+near to the Appomattox as possible.  Make your destruction on
+that road as complete as possible.  You can then pass on to the
+South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like
+manner.
+
+"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads,
+which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may
+return to this army, selecting your road further south, or you
+may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman.  Should
+you select the latter course, get the information to me as early
+as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced.  At night the
+cavalry was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our
+infantry line extended to the Quaker Road, near its intersection
+with the Boydton Plank Road.  The position of the troops from
+left to right was as follows:  Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord,
+Wright, Parke.
+
+Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the
+capture of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was
+made.  I therefore addressed the following communication to
+General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not to
+cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until he
+received notice from me to do so:
+
+
+"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to
+Dinwiddie.  We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the
+Jerusalem Plank Road to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can
+be used advantageously.  After getting into line south of
+Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position.
+General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker Road
+intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing
+about one hundred men.  Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was
+pushing on when last heard from.
+
+"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so,
+before going back.  I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose
+and go after the enemy's roads at present.  In the morning push
+around the enemy, if you can, and get on to his right rear.  The
+movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify your
+action.  We will act all together as one army here, until it is
+seen what can be done with the enemy.  The signal-officer at
+Cobb's Hill reported, at half-past eleven A.M., that a cavalry
+column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg,
+taking forty minutes to pass.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain
+fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled
+vehicle, except as corduroy roads were laid in front of them.
+During the 30th, Sheridan advanced from Dinwiddie Court House
+towards Five Forks, where he found the enemy in full force.
+General Warren advanced and extended his line across the Boydton
+Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of getting
+across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front
+and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he
+was, and fortify.  General Humphreys drove the enemy from his
+front into his main line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills.
+Generals Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their
+fronts to determine the feasibility of an assault on the enemy's
+lines.  The two latter reported favorably.  The enemy confronting
+us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our extreme left, I
+conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated
+if my estimate of his forces was correct.  I determined,
+therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce
+General Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him
+to cut loose and turn the enemy's right flank, and with the
+other corps assault the enemy's lines.  The result of the
+offensive effort of the enemy the week before, when he assaulted
+Fort Stedman, particularly favored this.  The enemy's
+intrenched  picket-line captured by us at that time threw the
+lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some
+points that it was but a moment's run from one to the other.
+Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphreys's
+corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the
+roads prevented immediate movement.  On the morning of the 31st,
+General Warren reported favorably to getting possession of the
+White Oak Road, and was directed to do so.  To accomplish this,
+he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, which
+was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on
+the 2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn,
+forced back upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked.  A
+division of the 2d corps was immediately sent to his support, the
+enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the White
+Oak Road gained.  Sheridan advanced, and with a portion of his
+cavalry got possession of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after
+the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced the rebel cavalry,
+defending that point with infantry, and forced him back towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.  Here General Sheridan displayed great
+generalship.  Instead of retreating with his whole command on
+the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered,
+he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough
+to take charge of the horses.  This compelled the enemy to
+deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made
+his progress slow.  At this juncture he dispatched to me what had
+taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie
+Court House.  General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of
+the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance.  Soon
+after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could
+hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two
+divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so
+ordered at once.  Thus the operations of the day necessitated
+the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of
+Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended
+movements.  On the morning of the 1st of April, General
+Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on
+Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried
+his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and
+between five and six thousand prisoners.
+
+About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles
+Griffin relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th
+corps.  The report of this reached me after nightfall.  Some
+apprehensions filled my mind lest the enemy might desert his
+lines during the night, and by falling upon General Sheridan
+before assistance could reach him, drive him from his position
+and open the way for retreat.  To guard against this, General
+Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him,
+and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in
+the morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's
+lines.  General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps,
+sweeping everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's
+Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners.  He was
+closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command,
+until he met the other division of General Ord's that had
+succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near Hatcher's Run.
+Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and
+closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg,
+while General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and
+joined General Wright on the left.  General Parke succeeded in
+carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners,
+but was unable to carry his inner line.  General Sheridan being
+advised of the condition of affairs, returned General Miles to
+his proper command.  On reaching the enemy's lines immediately
+surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by
+a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the
+most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially
+shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the
+city.  The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to
+Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles's
+division.  A severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his
+right and left flanks were threatened by the approach of General
+Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station towards Petersburg,
+and a division sent by General Meade from the front of
+Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hands his guns and many prisoners.  This force retreated by
+the main road along the Appomattox River.  During the night of
+the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and
+retreated towards Danville.  On the morning of the 3d pursuit
+was commenced.  General Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road,
+keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General Meade with the
+2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for Burkesville, along
+the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along that road
+behind him.  On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville
+Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia
+Court House.  He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the
+arrival of General Meade, who reached there the next day.
+General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.
+
+On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the
+following communication:
+
+
+"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  All indications now are that Lee will attempt to
+reach Danville with the remnant of his force.  Sheridan, who was
+up with him last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot,
+and dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized.  We hope to
+reduce this number one-half.  I shall push on to Burkesville,
+and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go
+there.  If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are,
+and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and
+Johnston's armies.  Whether it will be better for you to strike
+for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able
+to judge when you receive this.  Rebel armies now are the only
+strategic points to strike at.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was
+moving west of Jetersville, towards Danville.  General Sheridan
+moved with his cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to
+General Meade on his reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank,
+followed by the 6th corps, while the 2d and 5th corps pressed
+hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and
+several pieces of artillery.  General Ord advanced from
+Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry
+and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General
+Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges.  This advance
+met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically
+attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small
+force overpowered.  This caused a delay in the enemy's movements,
+and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his
+force, on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched
+himself.  In the afternoon, General Sheridan struck the enemy
+south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery
+and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th
+corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was
+made, which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand
+prisoners, among whom were many general officers.  The movements
+of the 2d corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to
+the day's success.
+
+On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry,
+except one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's
+Court House; the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one
+division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High
+Bridge Road.  It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to
+the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit,
+that the 2d corps got possession of the common bridge at High
+Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately
+crossed over.  The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed
+at Farmville to its support.
+
+Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly
+hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from
+Farmville:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at
+Farmville the following:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your note of this date.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+To this I immediately replied:
+
+
+"April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same
+date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender
+of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received.  In reply, I
+would say, that peace being my great desire, there is but one
+condition I would insist upon--namely, That the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of the Northern
+Virginia will be received.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General
+Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan,
+with all the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox
+Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps.
+During the day General Meade's advance had considerable fighting
+with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general
+engagement.  Late in the evening General Sheridan struck the
+railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and
+captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and
+four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army.  During
+this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight
+received the following communication from General Lee:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day.  In
+mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of
+the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your
+proposition.  To be frank, I do not think the emergency has
+arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the
+restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired
+to know whether your proposals would lead to that end.  I cannot,
+therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of
+Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the
+Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the
+restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten
+A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the
+picket-lines of the two armies.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as
+follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the
+Appomattox:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received.  I have no
+authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed
+for ten A.M. to-day could lead to no good.  I will state,
+however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with
+yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling.  The
+terms upon which peace can be had are well understood.  By the
+South laying down their arms they will hasten that most
+desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of
+millions of property not yet destroyed.  Seriously hoping that
+all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another
+life, I subscribe myself, etc.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th
+corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a
+desperate effort to break through our cavalry.  The infantry was
+at once thrown in.  Soon after a white flag was received,
+requesting a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for
+a surrender.
+
+Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the
+following from General Lee:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your
+letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of
+which is set forth in the following correspondence:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you
+of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the
+Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls
+of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to
+be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be
+retained by such officer or officers as you may designate.  The
+officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like
+parole for the men of their commands.  The arms, artillery, and
+public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the
+officers appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace
+the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your letter of this date containing
+the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are
+accepted.  I will proceed to designate the proper officers to
+carry the stipulations into effect.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under
+Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at
+Appomattox Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered
+army was completed, and to take charge of the public property.
+The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity
+of Burkesville.
+
+General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused
+his example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the
+armies lately under his leadership are at their homes, desiring
+peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ordnance
+officers.
+
+On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved
+directly against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and
+through Raleigh, which place General Sherman occupied on the
+morning of the 13th.  The day preceding, news of the surrender
+of General Lee reached him at Smithfield.
+
+On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman
+and General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement
+for a suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for
+peace, subject to the approval of the President.  This agreement
+was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval,
+together with your instructions, was communicated to General
+Sherman by me in person on the morning of the 24th, at Raleigh,
+North Carolina, in obedience to your orders.  Notice was at once
+given by him to General Johnston for the termination of the truce
+that had been entered into.  On the 25th another meeting between
+them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which
+terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army
+upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.
+
+The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got
+off on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North
+Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg,
+and Big Lick.  The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to
+within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important
+bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed it
+between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro',
+on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and destroyed
+the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between
+Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies
+along it, and captured four hundred prisoners.  At Salisbury he
+attacked and defeated a force of the enemy under General
+Gardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one
+thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and destroyed
+large amounts of army stores.  At this place he destroyed
+fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte.
+Thence he moved to Slatersville.
+
+General Canby, who had been directed in January to make
+preparations for a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and
+the interior of Alabama, commenced his movement on the 20th of
+March.  The 16th corps, Major-General A. J. Smith commanding,
+moved from Fort Gaines by water to Fish River; the 13th corps,
+under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved from Fort Morgan and
+joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving thence on
+Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General
+Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading
+from Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and
+partially invested Fort Blakely.  After a severe bombardment of
+Spanish Fort, a part of its line was carried on the 8th of
+April.  During the night the enemy evacuated the fort.  Fort
+Blakely was carried by assault on the 9th, and many prisoners
+captured; our loss was considerable.  These successes
+practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to
+approach Mobile from the north.  On the night of the 11th the
+city was evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on
+the morning of the 12th.
+
+The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson,
+consisting of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was
+delayed by rains until March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw,
+Alabama.  On the 1st of April, General Wilson encountered the
+enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in
+confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and
+destroyed the central bridge over the Cahawba River.  On the 2d
+he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended
+by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns,
+destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops,
+vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand
+prisoners.  On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa.  On
+the 10th he crossed the Alabama River, and after sending
+information of his operations to General Canby, marched on
+Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy
+having abandoned it.  At this place many stores and five
+steamboats fell into our hands.  Thence a force marched direct
+on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places
+were assaulted and captured on the 16th.  At the former place we
+got one thousand five hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns,
+destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many
+factories, and much other public property.  At the latter place
+we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed
+nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars.  On the 20th he
+took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one
+thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by
+General Howell Cobb.  General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis
+was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and
+succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11th.
+
+On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to
+General Canby all the remaining rebel forces east of the
+Mississippi.
+
+A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy
+under Kirby Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put
+in motion for Texas, and Major-General Sheridan designated for
+its immediate command; but on the 26th day of May, and before
+they reached their destination, General Kirby Smith surrendered
+his entire command to Major-General Canby.  This surrender did
+not take place, however, until after the capture of the rebel
+President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of
+first disbanding most of his army and permitting an
+indiscriminate plunder of public property.
+
+Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against
+the government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico,
+carrying with them arms rightfully belonging to the United
+States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement among them
+some of the leaders who had surrendered in person and the
+disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio Grande, the orders for
+troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.
+
+There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and
+movements to defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most
+of them reflecting great credit on our arms, and which
+contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not
+mentioned.  Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the
+reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and brief
+dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have
+not as yet been officially reported.
+
+For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would
+respectfully refer to the reports of the commanders of
+departments in which they have occurred.
+
+It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and
+the East fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there
+is no difference in their fighting qualities.  All that it was
+possible for men to do in battle they have done.  The Western
+armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and
+received the final surrender of the remnant of the principal
+army opposed to them in North Carolina.  The armies of the East
+commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the
+Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of
+their old antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  The
+splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories
+removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately
+experienced too much), and the cause of crimination and
+recrimination that might have followed had either section failed
+in its duty.  All have a proud record, and all sections can well
+congratulate themselves and each other for having done their
+full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of
+territory belonging to the United States.  Let them hope for
+perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood,
+however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of
+valor.
+
+I have the honor to be,
+Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+__________
+FOOTNOTES
+
+(*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A.
+
+
+(*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to
+General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to
+the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have
+more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced.  Deeming the
+return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it,
+so he called for a volunteer.  Lieutenant Grant offered his
+services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and
+General Worth.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a
+great many years before the Mexican war to have established in
+the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of
+the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France.  He
+recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his
+annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any
+hearing.  Now, as he had conquered the state, he made
+assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied
+by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and
+appointed officers to receive the money.  In addition to the sum
+thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo,
+sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled
+the fund to a total of about $220,000.  Portions of this fund
+were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded
+in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some
+$118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war.  After the
+war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to
+have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury
+of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he
+had previously recommended.  This fund was the foundation of the
+Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh,
+Kentucky.
+
+The latter went into disuse many years ago.  In fact it never
+had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold.
+
+
+(*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott,
+Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high
+office.  It made also governors of States, members of the
+cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both
+in state and nation.  The rebellion, which contained more war in
+a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican
+war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results
+to those engaged on the Union side.  On the other side, the side
+of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort
+whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a
+Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the
+fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few
+people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it.
+
+
+(*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me.
+
+
+(*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs.
+W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in
+the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from
+General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th.  At
+the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates
+had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's
+landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near
+Shiloh.  This letter shows that at that time General Lew.
+Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might
+happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his
+position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends
+it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg
+landing and Purdy road.  These two roads intersect nearly a mile
+west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our
+right rested.  In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises
+General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his
+letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter
+was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the
+4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and
+suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a
+company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at
+the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that
+they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and
+from the different camps."
+
+This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has
+been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at
+the battle of Shiloh.  It shows that he naturally, with no more
+experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms,
+would take the particular road that he did start upon in the
+absence of orders to move by a different road.
+
+The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent
+dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found
+that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front
+and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very
+much in rear of the position of his advance.  This falling back
+had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up
+to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the
+road nearest the river.  But my order was verbal, and to a staff
+officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am
+not competent to say just what order the General actually
+received.
+
+General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at
+Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and
+a half miles out.  Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace
+early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the
+Second.  If the position of our front had not changed, the road
+which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right
+than the River road.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885.
+
+
+(*8) NOTE:  In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote
+for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook,
+who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some
+unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because
+of the condition of his troops.  General Badeau, in his history,
+also makes the same statement, on my authority.  Out of justice
+to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a
+point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the
+6th.  From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the
+passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep
+in mud, which made marching slow.  The division had not only
+marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the
+rain all night without rest.  It was engaged in the battle of
+the second day and did as good service as its position
+allowed.  In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a
+conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest
+commendation from division commanders in the Army of the
+Tennessee.  General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes
+mention of this fact.  General McCook himself belongs to a family
+which furnished many volunteers to the army.  I refer to these
+circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook
+injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent
+one would suppose from the public press.  I am not willing to do
+any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I
+am always willing to make the fullest admission.
+
+
+(*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the
+time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my
+recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were
+promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th
+Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri,
+M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and
+John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers.
+
+
+(*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate
+battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats,
+the De Soto.  Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his
+vessel.  However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew
+her up.  Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy.
+With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the
+New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf
+and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg.
+
+
+(*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade
+on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River.
+
+
+(*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of
+Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied
+me to Carthage.  I furnished an ambulance for his use and that
+of some of the State officers who accompanied him.
+
+
+(*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I
+proposed to make, he called to see me about it.  I recollect
+that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river
+to a house a short distance back from the levee.  I was seated
+on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman
+came up.  After a few moments' conversation he said that he would
+like to see me alone.  We passed into the house together and shut
+the door after us.  Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move
+I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position
+voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or
+a long time--to get me in.  I was going into the enemy's country,
+with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points
+strongly fortified above and below.  He said that it was an
+axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an
+enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would
+guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc.  He pointed out
+all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign
+proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to
+make.  This was, in substance, to go back until high ground
+could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there
+and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being
+always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster.  I
+said this would take us back to Memphis.  Sherman then said that
+was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad
+from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced.  To
+this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the
+lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election
+went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary
+enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and
+conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far
+as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of
+supplies would be of no use:  neither men to hold them nor
+supplies to put in them would be furnished.  The problem for us
+was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was
+lost.  No progress was being made in any other field, and we had
+to go on.
+
+Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins,
+embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and
+asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals
+upon the subject.  Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I
+did not see any reason for changing my plans.  The letter was
+not answered and the subect was not subsequently mentioned
+between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I
+remember of.  I did not regard the letter as official, and
+consequently did not preserve it.  General Sherman furnished a
+copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of
+my campaigns.  I did not regard either the conversation between
+us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply
+friendly advice which the relations between us fully
+justified.  Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a
+success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered
+by himself.  I make this statement here to correct an impression
+which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's
+prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation.
+
+
+(*14) Meant Edward's Station.
+
+(*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN:
+
+Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to
+Major-General Thomas.  You having been over the ground in
+person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further
+instructions will not be necessary for you.  It is particularly
+desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from
+communication with the South, but being confronted by a large
+force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is
+to be effected until the result of our first effort is known.
+
+I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to
+Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which,
+if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above
+Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or
+thereabouts.
+
+U. S. GRANT
+Maj.-Gen'l.
+
+
+CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga:
+
+All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's
+position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight.  Not being
+provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the
+mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot
+be given as might be desirable.  However, the general plan, you
+understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him
+strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a
+crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of
+Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the
+heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your
+chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern
+extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can
+concentrate against him.  You will co-operate with Sherman.  The
+troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your
+left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend
+fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of
+one division in readiness to move wherever ordered.  This
+division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the
+most practicable line for making an attack up the valley.  Your
+effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your
+advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and
+moving as near simultaneously with him as possible.  The
+junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will
+be at once established between the two armies by roads on the
+south bank of the river.  Further movements will then depend on
+those of the enemy.  Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily
+held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have
+there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland.  Howard's
+corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at
+Chattanooga or with Sherman.  It should be marched on Friday
+night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower
+down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness
+for such orders as may become necessary.  All these troops will
+be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one
+hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry
+soldier.  Special care should be taken by all officers to see
+that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away.  You
+will call on the engineer department for such preparations as
+you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery
+over the creek.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform
+after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying
+the ridge.
+
+(*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga
+
+General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel
+with only slight skirmishing.  His right now rests at the tunnel
+and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek.  I have
+instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in
+the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will
+be in cooperation.  Your command will either carry the
+rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the
+left, as the presence of the enemy may require.  If Hooker's
+position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small
+force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where
+he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with
+all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable
+road.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*18) WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga
+is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command,
+my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill,
+courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great
+difficulties, have effected that important object.  God bless you
+all,
+
+A. LINCOLN,
+
+President U. S.
+
+
+(*19) General John G. Foster.
+
+
+(*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill.,
+subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General
+Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword.  The
+scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running
+nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the
+names of the battles in which General Grant had participated.
+
+Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at
+Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and
+Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the
+government at Washington.
+
+
+(*21) WASHINGTON, D. C.
+December 29, 1863.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on
+account of disability from old wounds.  Should his request be
+granted, who would you like as his successor?  It is possible
+that Schofield will be sent to your command.
+
+H. W. HALLECK
+General-in-Chief.
+(OFFICIAL.)
+
+
+(*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix.
+
+
+(*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+April 4, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me
+to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts
+of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre.  For
+your information I now write you my programme, as at present
+determined upon.
+
+I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up
+his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to
+turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the
+navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New
+Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to
+hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the
+number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number
+necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less
+than twenty-five thousand men.  To this I will add five thousand
+men from Missouri.  With this force he is to commence operations
+against Mobile as soon as he can.  It will be impossible for him
+to commence too early.
+
+Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate
+against Richmond from the south side of the James River.  This
+will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W.
+F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore
+the left wing.  I will stay with the Army of the Potomac,
+increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five
+thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army,
+wherever it may be found.
+
+Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one,
+under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the
+other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to
+move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
+
+Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about
+Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord.  His force will
+be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand
+men of all arms.
+
+You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up
+and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as
+you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war
+resources.
+
+I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but
+simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave
+you free to execute it in your own way.  Submit to me, however,
+as early as you can, your plan of operations.
+
+As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he
+can.  Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the
+18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Sigel is
+concentrating now.  None will move from their places of
+rendezvous until I direct, except Banks.  I want to be ready to
+move by the 25th inst., if possible.  But all I can now direct
+is that you get ready as soon as possible.  I know you will have
+difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to
+where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish
+it.
+
+From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do
+not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I
+can take troops from there.  With the long line of railroad
+Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move
+directly to his front.  In this way he must get through to
+inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from
+one of his armies a large force to prevent it.  In other words,
+if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one
+else skins.
+
+I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report,
+Appendix.
+
+
+(*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA.,
+April 9, 1864.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE
+Com'd'g Army of the Potomac.
+
+For information and as instruction to govern your preparations
+for the coming campaign, the following is communicated
+confidentially for your own perusal alone.
+
+So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and
+towards one common centre.  Banks has been instructed to turn
+over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the
+navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and
+to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to
+move on Mobile.  This he is to do without reference to other
+movements.  From the scattered condition of his command,
+however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans
+before the 1st of May, if so soon.  Sherman will move at the same
+time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army
+being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate
+aim.  If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to
+Mobile with the aid of Banks.
+
+Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of
+the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his
+front.  This he has been directed to do, and is now making
+preparations for it.  Two columns of his command will make south
+at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from
+ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the
+other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under
+Brig.-General Crook.  The former of these will endeavor to reach
+the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington,
+and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and
+return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join
+you.  The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward
+to join Ord.  The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries
+would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to
+within easy hauling distance of every position the army could
+occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee could, if
+he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather
+interior to the one I would have to take in following.  A
+movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all
+that was done would have to be done with the supplies and
+ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting this latter
+plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies
+possible to take with us was considered.  The country over which
+we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that
+we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison to force a passage
+southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and
+Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting
+Richmond with all the South and South-west.
+
+Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South
+Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000
+men into the field directly to his front.  The force will be
+commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith.  With Smith and Gillmore,
+Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from
+the south side of the river.  His movement will be simultaneous
+with yours.
+
+Lee's army will be your objective point.  Wherever Lee goes,
+there you will go also.  The only point upon which I am now in
+doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above
+or below him.  Each plan presents great advantages over the
+other with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee is
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on
+a raid.  But if we take this route, all we do must be done
+whilst the rations we start with hold out.  We separate from
+Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate.  By the
+other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies
+until another is secured on the York or James rivers.
+
+These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more
+fully than I can write them.
+
+Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce
+you.  Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after
+the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from
+Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it.  This will enable
+you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the
+front.
+
+There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and
+transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall
+back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and
+yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such.
+What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing
+baggage to the very lowest possible standard.  Two wagons to a
+regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should
+be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and
+ordnance stores.  One wagon to brigade and one to division
+headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters.
+
+Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make
+arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded
+to White [louse on the Pamunkey.  Your estimates for this
+contingency should be made at once.  If not wanted there, there
+is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or
+elsewhere.
+
+If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made
+for ordnance stores.  I would say not much short of five hundred
+rounds of infantry ammunition would do.  By the other, half the
+amount would be sufficient.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+(*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of
+the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave
+our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and
+estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000:  and
+General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman
+the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and
+was broken by his depleted command, remarks:  "The disparity of
+forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my
+two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners,
+representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and
+three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the
+enemy."
+
+
+(*27)
+UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864.
+
+[COMPILED.]
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow.
+          First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank.
+          Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll.
+
+     Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays.
+
+     Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott.
+          First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster.
+          
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford.
+          First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler.
+          Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright.
+          First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin.
+          Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson.
+          First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter.
+          First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox.
+          First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero.
+          First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas.
+
+          Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall.
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery.
+
+     Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton.
+          First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching.
+          Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins.
+          First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson.
+          Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom.
+          Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh.
+
+
+GENERAL HEADQUARTERS.......
+          Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick.
+          Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham.
+
+
+
+CONFEDERATE ARMY.
+
+Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by
+GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834.
+
+    First Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a)
+     Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's      "
+          "     Eppa Hunton's      "
+          "     Wm. R. Terry's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b)
+     Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade
+           "    E. M. Law's (c)     "
+           "    John Bratton's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d)
+     Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade
+           "    B. G. Humphreys'   "
+           "    Goode Bryan's      "
+           "    Kershaw's (Old)    "
+
+
+    Second Army Corps:  MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e)
+         "      John Pegram 's   "   (f)
+         "      Gordon's         "   (g)
+     Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division.
+     Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h)
+     Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h)
+         "      Geo H. Stewart's "  (h)
+         "      L. A. Stafford's "  (e)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i)
+         "      Geo. Dole's      "   (k)
+         "      S. D. Ramseur's Brigade.
+         "      C. A. Battle's   "
+         "      R. D. Johnston's " (f)
+
+
+    Third Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l)     
+     Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade.
+                Mahone's             "
+     Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's       "  (m)
+        "       A. R. Wright's       "
+        "       Joseph Finegan's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n)
+        "       James H. Lane's   "
+        "       Sam'l McCowan's   "
+        "       Alfred M. Scale's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade.
+        "       John R. Cooke's  "
+        "       D. McRae's       "
+        "       J. J. Archer's   "
+        "       H. H. Walker's   "
+
+           _unattached_:  5th Alabama Battalion.
+
+
+  Cavalry Corps:  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division
+     Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade
+        "      L. L. Lomax's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade.
+        "       P. M. B. Young's   "
+        "       Thomas L. Rosser's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade.
+        "      J. R. Chambliss's    "
+
+
+  Artillery Reserve:  BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding.
+
+BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.*
+     Cabell's Battalion.
+          Manly's Battery.
+          1st Co. Richmond Howitzers.
+          Carleton's Battery.
+          Calloway's Battery.
+
+     Haskell's Battalion.
+          Branch's Battery.
+          Nelson's    "
+          Garden's    "
+          Rowan       "
+
+     Huger's Battalion.
+          Smith's Battery.
+          Moody      "
+          Woolfolk   "
+          Parker's   "
+          Taylor's   "
+          Fickling's "
+          Martin's   "
+
+     Gibb's Battalion.
+          Davidson's Battery.
+          Dickenson's   "
+          Otey's        "
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION.
+
+     Braxton's Battalion.
+          Lee Battery.
+          1st Md. Artillery.
+          Stafford    "
+          Alleghany   "
+
+     Cutshaw's Battalion.
+          Charlotteville Artillery.
+          Staunton           "
+          Courtney           "
+
+     Carter's Battalion.
+          Morris Artillery.
+          Orange      "
+          King William Artillery.
+          Jeff Davis        "
+
+    Nelson's Battalion.
+          Amherst Artillery.
+          Milledge     "
+          Fluvauna     "
+
+     Brown's Battalion.
+          Powhatan Artillery.
+          2d Richmond Howitzers.
+          3d    "         "
+          Rockbridge Artillery.
+          Salem Flying Artillery.
+
+
+COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION.
+
+     Cutt's Battalion.
+          Ross's Battery.
+          Patterson's Battery.
+          Irwin Artillery.
+
+     Richardson's Battalion.
+          Lewis Artillery.
+          Donaldsonville Artillery.
+          Norfolk Light       "
+          Huger               "
+
+     Mclntosh 's Battalion.
+          Johnson's Battery.
+          Hardaway Artillery.
+          Danville      "
+          2d Rockbridge Artillery.
+
+     Pegram's Battalion.
+          Peedee Artillery.
+          Fredericksburg Artillery.
+          Letcher             "
+          Purcell Battery.
+          Crenshaw's Battery.
+
+     Poague's Battalion.
+          Madison Artillery.
+          Albemarle    "
+          Brooke       "
+          Charlotte    "
+
+
+NOTE.
+(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at
+above date.
+(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also
+contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by
+Colonel P. D. Bowles.
+(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not
+indicated.
+
+Organization of the Army of the Valley District. (e)
+Constituting York's Brigade.
+(f) In Ramseur's Division.
+(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and
+containing 12th Georgia Battalion.
+(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's
+Division.
+(i) Grimes' Brigade.
+(k) Cook's    "
+
+(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty;
+name not indicated.
+(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding.
+(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four
+brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not
+indicated.
+(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's,
+Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade.
+
+*But one general officer reported present for duty in the
+artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original.
+
+
+(*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May II, 1864.--3 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and
+6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in
+a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow.
+will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with
+Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and
+vigorous attack.  Warren and Wright should hold their corps as
+close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any
+diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any
+opportunity presents itself.  There is but little doubt in my
+mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely
+successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been
+heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S.,
+May 11, 1864.-4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE,
+Commanding 9th Army Corps.
+
+Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under
+cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the
+enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow.  You will move against the
+enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible
+vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the12th inst.  Let
+your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost
+secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy.
+
+I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock,
+in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the
+direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you
+and General Hancock with instructions to render you every
+assistance in their power.  Generals Warren and Wright will hold
+their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage
+of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will
+push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and
+four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work,
+including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of
+artillery.  The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the
+last ditch.  We have lost no organizations, not even that of a
+company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division
+(Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from
+the enemy.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut. -General.
+
+
+(*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864.
+
+HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for
+gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days'
+battles, to wit:  Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and
+Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S.
+S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York
+Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves,
+to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W.
+S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army.  His
+services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this
+recognition.  In making these recommendations I do not wish the
+claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but
+recommend his name to be sent in at the same time.  I would also
+ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth
+Army Corps.  I would further ask the confirmation of General
+Humphreys to the rank of Major-General.
+
+General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations.
+He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I
+have come in contact with.  If their services can be rewarded by
+promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the
+honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally
+gratified.  I would not like to see one of these promotions at
+this time without seeing both.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's
+right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg
+road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox
+Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little
+River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps
+and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford
+and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th
+corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges
+above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are
+held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army
+with equal facility.  The 5th and 6th corps with one division of
+the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short
+distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and
+near to the enemy.
+
+To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter
+of our men that even success would not justify.  To turn the
+enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on
+account of the swamp upon which his right rests.  To turn him by
+the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna
+River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to
+the movement of our army, to be crossed.  I have determined
+therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near
+Hanover Town.  This crosses all three streams at once, and
+leaves us still where we can draw supplies.
+
+During the last night the teams and artillery not in position,
+belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of
+that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river
+and moved down to the rear of the left.  As soon as it is dark
+this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced
+march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings.  The
+balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and
+follow as rapidly as possible.  The left wing will also withdraw
+from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of
+the right wing.  Lee's army is really whipped.  The prisoners we
+now take show it, and the action of his army shows it
+unmistakably.  A battle with them outside of intrenchments
+cannot be had.  Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE
+over the enemy, and attack him with confidence.  I may be
+mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already
+assured.  The promptness and rapidity with which you have
+forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling
+of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the
+enemy.
+
+We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and
+Fredericksburg roads.  I want to leave a gap on the roads north
+of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to
+import rail from elsewhere.  Even if a crossing is not effected
+at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on
+down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected.  I think it
+advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port
+Royal to the White House.  I wish you would direct this change
+at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there
+in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to
+hold it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed,
+suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it
+vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful
+point from wherever they can be taken.  I shall go to where you
+are in the course of an hour.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut. -General.
+
+
+(*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be
+impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would
+protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that
+road for supplying the army.  To do so would give us a long
+vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our
+strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of
+his lines of communication on the south side of the James.  My
+idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible
+north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of
+communication on the north side of the James River to transfer
+the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or
+follow him south if he should retreat.
+
+I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it
+of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now
+have.  They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or
+feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where
+in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them.
+Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to
+make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of
+the city.  I have therefore resolved upon the following plan:
+
+I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by
+the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable
+circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be
+sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about
+Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west.  When this
+is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James
+River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to
+City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on
+north side and crossing there.  To provide for this last and
+most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest
+class ought to be immediately provided.
+
+Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all
+sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the
+canal.  If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be
+lost to him also.  Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make
+the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south
+side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they
+can.
+
+The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels
+can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our
+army is not only confident of protecting itself without
+intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever
+and whenever he can be found without this protection.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER
+
+Commanding Dept. W. Va.
+
+General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with
+instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence
+there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way
+as much as possible.  The complete destruction of this road and
+of the canal on James River is of great importance to us.
+According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your
+guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It
+would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for
+a single day.  But that point is of so much importance to the
+enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met
+as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all.  I see,
+in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of
+your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route
+should be from Staunton via Charlottesville.  If you have so
+understood it, you will be doing just what I want.  The
+direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you
+in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately
+turn east by the most practicable road.  From thence move
+eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely
+and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan.  After the work
+laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done,
+proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in
+General Sheridan's instructions.
+
+If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed
+back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back.
+
+If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem
+it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal.
+Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE
+ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
+
+FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE.  | KILLED.  | WOUNDED.  | MISSING. | 
+AGGREGATE.  |
+
+
+Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 |
+Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601|
+North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 |
+Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold
+Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 |
+Total ................  | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 |
+
+
+(*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864.  11 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned
+their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred.  They no doubt
+expected troops from north of the James River to take their
+place before we discovered it.  General Butler took advantage of
+this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road
+between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain
+possession of.
+
+Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their
+commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the
+last five days.  Day and night has been all the same, no delays
+being allowed on any account.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding, etc.
+
+The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from
+Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from
+an attack there.  The chances they think will be better on
+Burnside's front.  If this is attempted it will be necessary to
+concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's
+line we expect to penetrate.  All officers should be fully
+impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond
+the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating
+it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they
+should not succeed in breaking through.
+
+To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery
+possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front
+during the assault.  Their lines would be sufficient for the
+support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought
+on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault,
+ready to follow in if successful.  The field artillery and
+infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in
+readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or
+to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders.  One
+thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders.  If
+they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it
+to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they
+should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without
+waiting for orders from army commanders.  General Ord can
+co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five
+thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce
+you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox
+and James rivers, as may be deemed best.
+
+This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all.  If not
+attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy
+the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if
+possible.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at
+Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up....
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th.
+
+
+(*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville Tenn.
+
+If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will
+lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to
+abandon the line of the Tennessee.  Should he attack you it is
+all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he
+fortifies.  Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster
+employees, citizens, etc.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville
+with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon
+ground of your own choosing.  After the repulse of Hood at
+Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to
+Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy
+where he was.  At this distance, however, I may err as to the
+best method of dealing with the enemy.  You will now suffer
+incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily
+disposed of.  Put forth therefore every possible exertion to
+attain this end.  Should you get him to retreating give him no
+peace.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to
+where he can cross it?   It seems to me whilst you should be
+getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after
+Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is.  Time strengthens
+him in all possibility as much as it does you.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your
+cavalry.  There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign
+back to the Ohio River.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Your dispatch of yesterday received.  It looks to me evident the
+enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are
+scattered.  Why not attack at once?  By all means avoid the
+contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat
+to the Ohio.  If you think necessary call on the governors of
+States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he
+should cross the river.  You clearly never should cross except
+in rear of the enemy.  Now is one of the finest opportunities
+ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the
+enemy.  If destroyed he never can replace it.  Use the means at
+your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that
+will resound from one end of the land to the other.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be
+witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you
+will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find.  Let
+there be no further delay.  Hood cannot even stand a drawn
+battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores.  If he
+retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of
+his army.  I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day
+announcing that you have moved.  Delay no longer for weather or
+reinforcements.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from
+Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go
+no further.  Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is
+entirely destroyed.  Your army will cheerfully suffer many
+privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for
+future operations.  Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take
+them from the country as the enemy have done.  Much is now
+expected.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan,
+March 24th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*43) See Appendix.
+
+
+(*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender
+inserted at this place, was copied from the original document
+furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S.
+Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time
+of the surrender.
+
+Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold
+order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations
+and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of
+General Grant.  After such alteration it was handed to General
+Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to
+General Grant.  The original was then transcribed by General
+Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General
+Lee.
+
+The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the
+original document and all interlineations and erasures.
+
+There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and
+Lee each signed the articles of surrender.  The document in the
+form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor
+of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and
+General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and
+handed it to General Grant.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
+Volume Two
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant v2
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+Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant  [Volume Two]
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+by U. S. Grant
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+October, 1997  [Etext #1068]
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+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+by U. S. Grant
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+
+PREFACE.  [To both volumes]
+
+"Man proposes and God disposes."  There are but few important
+events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.
+
+Although frequently urged by friends to write my memoirs I had
+determined never to do so, nor to write anything for
+publication.  At the age of nearly sixty-two I received an
+injury from a fall, which confined me closely to the house while
+it did not apparently affect my general health.  This made study
+a pleasant pastime.  Shortly after, the rascality of a business
+partner developed itself by the announcement of a failure.  This
+was followed soon after by universal depression of all
+securities, which seemed to threaten the extinction of a good
+part of the income still retained, and for which I am indebted
+to the kindly act of friends.  At this juncture the editor of
+the Century Magazine asked me to write a few articles for him. I
+consented for the money it gave me; for at that moment I was
+living upon borrowed money.  The work I found congenial, and I
+determined to continue it.  The event is an important one for
+me, for good or evil; I hope for the former.
+
+In preparing these volumes for the public, I have entered upon
+the task with the sincere desire to avoid doing injustice to any
+one, whether on the National or Confederate side, other than the
+unavoidable injustice of not making mention often where special
+mention is due.  There must be many errors of omission in this
+work, because the subject is too large to be treated of in two
+volumes in such way as to do justice to all the officers and men
+engaged.  There were thousands of instances, during the
+rebellion, of individual, company, regimental and brigade deeds
+of heroism which deserve special mention and are not here
+alluded to.  The troops engaged in them will have to look to the
+detailed reports of their individual commanders for the full
+history of those deeds.
+
+The first volume, as well as a portion of the second, was
+written before I had reason to suppose I was in a critical
+condition of health.  Later I was reduced almost to the point of
+death, and it became impossible for me to attend to anything for
+weeks.  I have, however, somewhat regained my strength, and am
+able, often, to devote as many hours a day as a person should
+devote to such work.  I would have more hope of satisfying the
+expectation of the public if I could have allowed myself more
+time.  I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest
+son, F. D. Grant, assisted by his brothers, to verify from the
+records every statement of fact given.  The comments are my own,
+and show how I saw the matters treated of whether others saw them
+in the same light or not.
+
+With these remarks I present these volumes to the public, asking
+no favor but hoping they will meet the approval of the reader.
+
+U.  S.  GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, July 1, 1885.
+
+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW
+JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO
+NASHVILLE--VISITING KNOXVILLE--CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST
+TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE
+ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
+LINCOLN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+SHERMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+CHAPTER L.
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT--LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK--REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG
+--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON
+RAILROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK
+ROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT
+TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT
+FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS
+THE ENEMY.
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION-- CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+APPENDIX
+
+
+
+Begin Volume Two
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI-- ANDREW
+JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+The reply (to my telegram of October 16, 1863, from Cairo,
+announcing my arrival at that point) came on the morning of the
+17th, directing me to proceed immediately to the Galt House,
+Louisville, where I would meet an officer of the War Department
+with my instructions.  I left Cairo within an hour or two after
+the receipt of this dispatch, going by rail via Indianapolis.
+Just as the train I was on was starting out of the depot at
+Indianapolis a messenger came running up to stop it, saying the
+Secretary of War was coming into the station and wanted to see
+me.
+
+I had never met Mr. Stanton up to that time, though we had held
+frequent conversations over the wires the year before, when I
+was in Tennessee.  Occasionally at night he would order the
+wires between the War Department and my headquarters to be
+connected, and we would hold a conversation for an hour or
+two.  On this occasion the Secretary was accompanied by Governor
+Brough of Ohio, whom I had never met, though he and my father had
+been old acquaintances.  Mr. Stanton dismissed the special train
+that had brought him to Indianapolis, and accompanied me to
+Louisville.
+
+Up to this time no hint had been given me of what was wanted
+after I left Vicksburg, except the suggestion in one of
+Halleck's dispatches that I had better go to Nashville and
+superintend the operation of troops sent to relieve Rosecrans.
+Soon after we started the Secretary handed me two orders, saying
+that I might take my choice of them.  The two were identical in
+all but one particular.  Both created the "Military Division of
+Mississippi," (giving me the command) composed of the
+Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, and
+all the territory from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi River
+north of Banks's command in the south-west.  One order left the
+department commanders as they were, while the other relieved
+Rosecrans and assigned Thomas to his place.  I accepted the
+latter.  We reached Louisville after night and, if I remember
+rightly, in a cold, drizzling rain.  The Secretary of War told
+me afterwards that he caught a cold on that occasion from which
+he never expected to recover.  He never did.
+
+A day was spent in Louisville, the Secretary giving me the
+military news at the capital and talking about the
+disappointment at the results of some of the campaigns.  By the
+evening of the day after our arrival all matters of discussion
+seemed exhausted, and I left the hotel to spend the evening
+away, both Mrs. Grant (who was with me) and myself having
+relatives living in Louisville.  In the course of the evening
+Mr. Stanton received a dispatch from Mr. C. A. Dana, then in
+Chattanooga, informing him that unless prevented Rosecrans would
+retreat, and advising peremptory orders against his doing so.
+
+As stated before, after the fall of Vicksburg I urged strongly
+upon the government the propriety of a movement against
+Mobile.  General Rosecrans had been at Murfreesboro', Tennessee,
+with a large and well-equipped army from early in the year 1863,
+with Bragg confronting him with a force quite equal to his own
+at first, considering it was on the defensive.  But after the
+investment of Vicksburg Bragg's army was largely depleted to
+strengthen Johnston, in Mississippi, who was being reinforced to
+raise the siege.  I frequently wrote General Halleck suggesting
+that Rosecrans should move against Bragg.  By so doing he would
+either detain the latter's troops where they were or lay
+Chattanooga open to capture.  General Halleck strongly approved
+the suggestion, and finally wrote me that he had repeatedly
+ordered Rosecrans to advance, but that the latter had constantly
+failed to comply with the order, and at last, after having held a
+council of war, had replied in effect that it was a military
+maxim "not to fight two decisive battles at the same time."  If
+true, the maxim was not applicable in this case.  It would be
+bad to be defeated in two decisive battles fought the same day,
+but it would not be bad to win them.  I, however, was fighting
+no battle, and the siege of Vicksburg had drawn from Rosecrans'
+front so many of the enemy that his chances of victory were much
+greater than they would be if he waited until the siege was over,
+when these troops could be returned.  Rosecrans was ordered to
+move against the army that was detaching troops to raise the
+siege.  Finally he did move, on the 24th of June, but ten days
+afterwards Vicksburg surrendered, and the troops sent from Bragg
+were free to return.
+
+It was at this time that I recommended to the general-in-chief
+the movement against Mobile.  I knew the peril the Army of the
+Cumberland was in, being depleted continually, not only by
+ordinary casualties, but also by having to detach troops to hold
+its constantly extending line over which to draw supplies, while
+the enemy in front was as constantly being strengthened.  Mobile
+was important to the enemy, and in the absence of a threatening
+force was guarded by little else than artillery.  If threatened
+by land and from the water at the same time the prize would fall
+easily, or troops would have to be sent to its defence.  Those
+troops would necessarily come from Bragg.  My judgment was
+overruled, and the troops under my command were dissipated over
+other parts of the country where it was thought they could
+render the most service.
+
+Soon it was discovered in Washington that Rosecrans was in
+trouble and required assistance.  The emergency was now too
+immediate to allow us to give this assistance by making an
+attack in rear of Bragg upon Mobile.  It was therefore necessary
+to reinforce directly, and troops were sent from every available
+point.
+
+Rosecrans had very skilfully manoeuvred Bragg south of the
+Tennessee River, and through and beyond Chattanooga. If he had
+stopped and intrenched, and made himself strong there, all would
+have been right and the mistake of not moving earlier partially
+compensated.  But he pushed on, with his forces very much
+scattered, until Bragg's troops from Mississippi began to join
+him.  Then Bragg took the initiative.  Rosecrans had to fall
+back in turn, and was able to get his army together at
+Chickamauga, some miles south-east of Chattanooga, before the
+main battle was brought on.  The battle was fought on the 19th
+and 20th of September, and Rosecrans was badly defeated, with a
+heavy loss in artillery and some sixteen thousand men killed,
+wounded and captured.  The corps under Major-General George H.
+Thomas stood its ground, while Rosecrans, with Crittenden and
+McCook, returned to Chattanooga. Thomas returned also, but
+later, and with his troops in good order.  Bragg followed and
+took possession of Missionary Ridge, overlooking Chattanooga. He
+also occupied Lookout Mountain, west of the town, which Rosecrans
+had abandoned, and with it his control of the river and the river
+road as far back as Bridgeport.  The National troops were now
+strongly intrenched in Chattanooga Valley, with the Tennessee
+River behind them and the enemy occupying commanding heights to
+the east and west, with a strong line across the valley from
+mountain to mountain, and with Chattanooga Creek, for a large
+part of the way, in front of their line.
+
+On the 29th Halleck telegraphed me the above results, and
+directed all the forces that could be spared from my department
+to be sent to Rosecrans.  Long before this dispatch was received
+Sherman was on his way, and McPherson was moving east with most
+of the garrison of Vicksburg.
+
+A retreat at that time would have been a terrible disaster.  It
+would not only have been the loss of a most important strategic
+position to us, but it would have been attended with the loss of
+all the artillery still left with the Army of the Cumberland and
+the annihilation of that army itself, either by capture or
+demoralization.
+
+All supplies for Rosecrans had to be brought from Nashville. The
+railroad between this base and the army was in possession of the
+government up to Bridgeport, the point at which the road crosses
+to the south side of the Tennessee River; but Bragg, holding
+Lookout and Raccoon mountains west of Chattanooga, commanded the
+railroad, the river and the shortest and best wagon-roads, both
+south and north of the Tennessee, between Chattanooga and
+Bridgeport.  The distance between these two places is but
+twenty-six miles by rail, but owing to the position of Bragg,
+all supplies for Rosecrans had to be hauled by a circuitous
+route north of the river and over a mountainous country,
+increasing the distance to over sixty miles.
+
+This country afforded but little food for his animals, nearly
+ten thousand of which had already starved, and not enough were
+left to draw a single piece of artillery or even the ambulances
+to convey the sick.  The men had been on half rations of hard
+bread for a considerable time, with but few other supplies
+except beef driven from Nashville across the country.  The
+region along the road became so exhausted of food for the cattle
+that by the time they reached Chattanooga they were much in the
+condition of the few animals left alive there--"on the lift."
+Indeed, the beef was so poor that the soldiers were in the habit
+of saying, with a faint facetiousness, that they were living on
+"half rations of hard bread and BEEF DRIED ON THE HOOF."
+
+Nothing could be transported but food, and the troops were
+without sufficient shoes or other clothing suitable for the
+advancing season.  What they had was well worn.  The fuel within
+the Federal lines was exhausted, even to the stumps of trees.
+There were no teams to draw it from the opposite bank, where it
+was abundant.  The only way of supplying fuel, for some time
+before my arrival, had been to cut trees on the north bank of
+the river at a considerable distance up the stream, form rafts
+of it and float it down with the current, effecting a landing on
+the south side within our lines by the use of paddles or poles.
+It would then be carried on the shoulders of the men to their
+camps.
+
+If a retreat had occurred at this time it is not probable that
+any of the army would have reached the railroad as an organized
+body, if followed by the enemy.
+
+On the receipt of Mr. Dana's dispatch Mr. Stanton sent for me.
+Finding that I was out he became nervous and excited, inquiring
+of every person he met, including guests of the house, whether
+they knew where I was, and bidding them find me and send me to
+him at once.  About eleven o'clock I returned to the hotel, and
+on my way, when near the house, every person met was a messenger
+from the Secretary, apparently partaking of his impatience to see
+me.  I hastened to the room of the Secretary and found him pacing
+the floor rapidly in his dressing-gown.  Saying that the retreat
+must be prevented, he showed me the dispatch.  I immediately
+wrote an order assuming command of the Military Division of the
+Mississippi, and telegraphed it to General Rosecrans.  I then
+telegraphed to him the order from Washington assigning Thomas to
+the command of the Army of the Cumberland; and to Thomas that he
+must hold Chattanooga at all hazards, informing him at the same
+time that I would be at the front as soon as possible.  A prompt
+reply was received from Thomas, saying, "We will hold the town
+till we starve."  I appreciated the force of this dispatch later
+when I witnessed the condition of affairs which prompted it.  It
+looked, indeed, as if but two courses were open:  one to starve,
+the other to surrender or be captured.
+
+On the morning of the 20th of October I started, with my staff,
+and proceeded as far as Nashville.  At that time it was not
+prudent to travel beyond that point by night, so I remained in
+Nashville until the next morning.  Here I met for the first time
+Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee.  He delivered a
+speech of welcome.  His composure showed that it was by no means
+his maiden effort.  It was long, and I was in torture while he
+was delivering it, fearing something would be expected from me
+in response.  I was relieved, however, the people assembled
+having apparently heard enough.  At all events they commenced a
+general hand-shaking, which, although trying where there is so
+much of it, was a great relief to me in this emergency.
+
+From Nashville I telegraphed to Burnside, who was then at
+Knoxville, that important points in his department ought to be
+fortified, so that they could be held with the least number of
+men; to Admiral Porter at Cairo, that Sherman's advance had
+passed Eastport, Mississippi, that rations were probably on
+their way from St. Louis by boat for supplying his army, and
+requesting him to send a gunboat to convoy them; and to Thomas,
+suggesting that large parties should be put at work on the
+wagon-road then in use back to Bridgeport.
+
+On the morning of the 21st we took the train for the front,
+reaching Stevenson Alabama, after dark.  Rosecrans was there on
+his way north.  He came into my car and we held a brief
+interview, in which he described very clearly the situation at
+Chattanooga, and made some excellent suggestions as to what
+should be done.  My only wonder was that he had not carried them
+out.  We then proceeded to Bridgeport, where we stopped for the
+night.  From here we took horses and made our way by Jasper and
+over Waldron's Ridge to Chattanooga. There had been much rain,
+and the roads were almost impassable from mud, knee-deep in
+places, and from wash-outs on the mountain sides.  I had been on
+crutches since the time of my fall in New Orleans, and had to be
+carried over places where it was not safe to cross on
+horseback.  The roads were strewn with the debris of broken
+wagons and the carcasses of thousands of starved mules and
+horses.  At Jasper, some ten or twelve miles from Bridgeport,
+there was a halt.  General O. O. Howard had his headquarters
+there.  From this point I telegraphed Burnside to make every
+effort to secure five hundred rounds of ammunition for his
+artillery and small-arms.  We stopped for the night at a little
+hamlet some ten or twelve miles farther on.  The next day we
+reached Chattanooga a little before dark.  I went directly to
+General Thomas's headquarters, and remaining there a few days,
+until I could establish my own.
+
+During the evening most of the general officers called in to pay
+their respects and to talk about the condition of affairs.  They
+pointed out on the map the line, marked with a red or blue
+pencil, which Rosecrans had contemplated falling back upon.  If
+any of them had approved the move they did not say so to me.  I
+found General W. F. Smith occupying the position of chief
+engineer of the Army of the Cumberland.  I had known Smith as a
+cadet at West Point, but had no recollection of having met him
+after my graduation, in 1843, up to this time.  He explained the
+situation of the two armies and the topography of the country so
+plainly that I could see it without an inspection.  I found that
+he had established a saw-mill on the banks of the river, by
+utilizing an old engine found in the neighborhood; and, by
+rafting logs from the north side of the river above, had got out
+the lumber and completed pontoons and roadway plank for a second
+bridge, one flying bridge being there already.  He was also
+rapidly getting out the materials and constructing the boats for
+a third bridge.  In addition to this he had far under way a
+steamer for plying between Chattanooga and Bridgeport whenever
+we might get possession of the river.  This boat consisted of a
+scow, made of the plank sawed out at the mill, housed in, and a
+stern wheel attached which was propelled by a second engine
+taken from some shop or factory.
+
+I telegraphed to Washington this night, notifying General
+Halleck of my arrival, and asking to have General Sherman
+assigned to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+headquarters in the field.  The request was at once complied
+with.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+The next day, the 24th, I started out to make a personal
+inspection, taking Thomas and Smith with me, besides most of the
+members of my personal staff.  We crossed to the north side of
+the river, and, moving to the north of detached spurs of hills,
+reached the Tennessee at Brown's Ferry, some three miles below
+Lookout Mountain, unobserved by the enemy.  Here we left our
+horses back from the river and approached the water on foot.
+There was a picket station of the enemy on the opposite side, of
+about twenty men, in full view, and we were within easy range.
+They did not fire upon us nor seem to be disturbed by our
+presence.  They must have seen that we were all commissioned
+officers.  But, I suppose, they looked upon the garrison of
+Chattanooga as prisoners of war, feeding or starving themselves,
+and thought it would be inhuman to kill any of them except in
+self-defence.
+
+That night I issued orders for opening the route to
+Bridgeport--a cracker line, as the soldiers appropriately termed
+it.  They had been so long on short rations that my first thought
+was the establishment of a line over which food might reach them.
+
+Chattanooga is on the south bank of the Tennessee, where that
+river runs nearly due west.  It is at the northern end of a
+valley five or six miles in width, through which Chattanooga
+Creek runs.  To the east of the valley is Missionary Ridge,
+rising from five to eight hundred feet above the creek and
+terminating somewhat abruptly a half mile or more before
+reaching the Tennessee.  On the west of the valley is Lookout
+Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet above-tide water.  Just below
+the town the Tennessee makes a turn to the south and runs to the
+base of Lookout Mountain, leaving no level ground between the
+mountain and river.  The Memphis and Charleston Railroad passes
+this point, where the mountain stands nearly perpendicular. East
+of Missionary Ridge flows the South Chickamauga River; west of
+Lookout Mountain is Lookout Creek; and west of that, Raccoon
+Mountains.  Lookout Mountain, at its northern end, rises almost
+perpendicularly for some distance, then breaks off in a gentle
+slope of cultivated fields to near the summit, where it ends in
+a palisade thirty or more feet in height.  On the gently sloping
+ground, between the upper and lower palisades, there is a single
+farmhouse, which is reached by a wagon-road from the valley east.
+
+The intrenched line of the enemy commenced on the north end of
+Missionary Ridge and extended along the crest for some distance
+south, thence across Chattanooga valley to Lookout Mountain.
+Lookout Mountain was also fortified and held by the enemy, who
+also kept troops in Lookout valley west, and on Raccoon
+Mountain, with pickets extending down the river so as to command
+the road on the north bank and render it useless to us.  In
+addition to this there was an intrenched line in Chattanooga
+valley extending from the river east of the town to Lookout
+Mountain, to make the investment complete.  Besides the
+fortifications on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of
+the hill, with occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the
+front.  The enemy's pickets extended out into the valley towards
+the town, so far that the pickets of the two armies could
+converse.  At one point they were separated only by the narrow
+creek which gives its name to the valley and town, and from
+which both sides drew water.  The Union lines were shorter than
+those of the enemy.
+
+Thus the enemy, with a vastly superior force, was strongly
+fortified to the east, south, and west, and commanded the river
+below.  Practically, the Army of the Cumberland was besieged.
+The enemy had stopped with his cavalry north of the river the
+passing of a train loaded with ammunition and medical
+supplies.  The Union army was short of both, not having
+ammunition enough for a day's fighting.
+
+General Halleck had, long before my coming into this new field,
+ordered parts of the 11th and 12th corps, commanded respectively
+by Generals Howard and Slocum, Hooker in command of the whole,
+from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce Rosecrans.  It would
+have been folly to send them to Chattanooga to help eat up the
+few rations left there.  They were consequently left on the
+railroad, where supplies could be brought to them.  Before my
+arrival, Thomas ordered their concentration at Bridgeport.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been so instrumental in preparing for
+the move which I was now about to make, and so clear in his
+judgment about the manner of making it, that I deemed it but
+just to him that he should have command of the troops detailed
+to execute the design, although he was then acting as a staff
+officer and was not in command of troops.
+
+On the 24th of October, after my return to Chattanooga, the
+following details were made:  General Hooker, who was now at
+Bridgeport, was ordered to cross to the south side of the
+Tennessee and march up by Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Brown's
+Ferry.  General Palmer, with a division of the 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland, was ordered to move down the river on the
+north side, by a back road, until opposite Whitesides, then
+cross and hold the road in Hooker's rear after he had passed.
+Four thousand men were at the same time detailed to act under
+General Smith directly from Chattanooga. Eighteen hundred of
+them, under General Hazen, were to take sixty pontoon boats, and
+under cover of night float by the pickets of the enemy at the
+north base of Lookout, down to Brown's Ferry, then land on the
+south side and capture or drive away the pickets at that
+point.  Smith was to march with the remainder of the detail,
+also under cover of night, by the north bank of the river to
+Brown's Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the
+bridge as soon as the crossing was secured.
+
+On the 26th, Hooker crossed the river at Bridgeport and
+commenced his eastward march.  At three o'clock on the morning
+of the 27th, Hazen moved into the stream with his sixty pontoons
+and eighteen hundred brave and well-equipped men.  Smith started
+enough in advance to be near the river when Hazen should
+arrive.  There are a number of detached spurs of hills north of
+the river at Chattanooga, back of which is a good road parallel
+to the stream, sheltered from the view from the top of
+Lookout.  It was over this road Smith marched.  At five o'clock
+Hazen landed at Brown's Ferry, surprised the picket guard, and
+captured most of it.  By seven o'clock the whole of Smith's
+force was ferried over and in possession of a height commanding
+the ferry.  This was speedily fortified, while a detail was
+laying the pontoon bridge.  By ten o'clock the bridge was laid,
+and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley, was fortified and
+connected with the rest of the army.  The two bridges over the
+Tennessee River--a flying one at Chattanooga and the new one at
+Brown's Ferry--with the road north of the river, covered from
+both the fire and the view of the enemy, made the connection
+complete.  Hooker found but slight obstacles in his way, and on
+the afternoon of the 28th emerged into Lookout valley at
+Wauhatchie.  Howard marched on to Brown's Ferry, while Geary,
+who commanded a division in the 12th corps, stopped three miles
+south.  The pickets of the enemy on the river below were now cut
+off, and soon came in and surrendered.
+
+The river was now opened to us from Lookout valley to
+Bridgeport.  Between Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry the
+Tennessee runs through a narrow gorge in the mountains, which
+contracts the stream so much as to increase the current beyond
+the capacity of an ordinary steamer to stem it.  To get up these
+rapids, steamers must be cordelled; that is, pulled up by ropes
+from the shore.  But there is no difficulty in navigating the
+stream from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry.  The latter point is
+only eight miles from Chattanooga and connected with it by a
+good wagon-road, which runs through a low pass in the Raccoon
+Mountains on the south side of the river to Brown's Ferry,
+thence on the north side to the river opposite Chattanooga.
+There were several steamers at Bridgeport, and abundance of
+forage, clothing and provisions.
+
+On the way to Chattanooga I had telegraphed back to Nashville
+for a good supply of vegetables and small rations, which the
+troops had been so long deprived of.  Hooker had brought with
+him from the east a full supply of land transportation.  His
+animals had not been subjected to hard work on bad roads without
+forage, but were in good condition.  In five days from my arrival
+in Chattanooga the way was open to Bridgeport and, with the aid
+of steamers and Hooker's teams, in a week the troops were
+receiving full rations.  It is hard for any one not an
+eye-witness to realize the relief this brought.  The men were
+soon reclothed and also well fed, an abundance of ammunition was
+brought up, and a cheerfulness prevailed not before enjoyed in
+many weeks.  Neither officers nor men looked upon themselves any
+longer as doomed.  The weak and languid appearance of the troops,
+so visible before, disappeared at once.  I do not know what the
+effect was on the other side, but assume it must have been
+correspondingly depressing.  Mr. Davis had visited Bragg but a
+short time before, and must have perceived our condition to be
+about as Bragg described it in his subsequent report.  "These
+dispositions," he said, "faithfully sustained, insured the
+enemy's speedy evacuation of Chattanooga for want of food and
+forage.  Possessed of the shortest route to his depot, and the
+one by which reinforcements must reach him, we held him at our
+mercy, and his destruction was only a question of time."  But
+the dispositions were not "faithfully sustained," and I doubt
+not but thousands of men engaged in trying to "sustain" them now
+rejoice that they were not.  There was no time during the
+rebellion when I did not think, and often say, that the South
+was more to be benefited by its defeat than the North.  The
+latter had the people, the institutions, and the territory to
+make a great and prosperous nation.  The former was burdened
+with an institution abhorrent to all civilized people not
+brought up under it, and one which degraded labor, kept it in
+ignorance, and enervated the governing class.  With the outside
+world at war with this institution, they could not have extended
+their territory.  The labor of the country was not skilled, nor
+allowed to become so.  The whites could not toil without
+becoming degraded, and those who did were denominated "poor
+white trash."  The system of labor would have soon exhausted the
+soil and left the people poor.  The non-slaveholders would have
+left the country, and the small slaveholder must have sold out
+to his more fortunate neighbor.  Soon the slaves would have
+outnumbered the masters, and, not being in sympathy with them,
+would have risen in their might and exterminated them.  The war
+was expensive to the South as well as to the North, both in
+blood and treasure, but it was worth all it cost.
+
+The enemy was surprised by the movements which secured to us a
+line of supplies.  He appreciated its importance, and hastened
+to try to recover the line from us.  His strength on Lookout
+Mountain was not equal to Hooker's command in the valley
+below.  From Missionary Ridge he had to march twice the distance
+we had from Chattanooga, in order to reach Lookout Valley; but on
+the night of the 28th and 29th an attack was made on Geary at
+Wauhatchie by Longstreet's corps.  When the battle commenced,
+Hooker ordered Howard up from Brown's Ferry.  He had three miles
+to march to reach Geary.  On his way he was fired upon by rebel
+troops from a foot-hill to the left of the road and from which
+the road was commanded.  Howard turned to the left, charged up
+the hill and captured it before the enemy had time to intrench,
+taking many prisoners.  Leaving sufficient men to hold this
+height, he pushed on to reinforce Geary.  Before he got up,
+Geary had been engaged for about three hours against a vastly
+superior force.  The night was so dark that the men could not
+distinguish one from another except by the light of the flashes
+of their muskets.  In the darkness and uproar Hooker's teamsters
+became frightened and deserted their teams.  The mules also
+became frightened, and breaking loose from their fastenings
+stampeded directly towards the enemy.  The latter, no doubt,
+took this for a charge, and stampeded in turn.  By four o'clock
+in the morning the battle had entirely ceased, and our "cracker
+line" was never afterward disturbed.
+
+In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man
+killed and four or five wounded.  The enemy lost most of his
+pickets at the ferry, captured.  In the night engagement of the
+28th-9th Hooker lost 416 killed and wounded.  I never knew the
+loss of the enemy, but our troops buried over one hundred and
+fifty of his dead and captured more than a hundred.
+
+After we had secured the opening of a line over which to bring
+our supplies to the army, I made a personal inspection to see
+the situation of the pickets of the two armies.  As I have
+stated, Chattanooga Creek comes down the centre of the valley to
+within a mile or such a matter of the town of Chattanooga, then
+bears off westerly, then north-westerly, and enters the
+Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain.  This creek,
+from its mouth up to where it bears off west, lay between the
+two lines of pickets, and the guards of both armies drew their
+water from the same stream.  As I would be under short-range
+fire and in an open country, I took nobody with me, except, I
+believe, a bugler, who stayed some distance to the rear.  I rode
+from our right around to our left.  When I came to the camp of
+the picket guard of our side, I heard the call, "Turn out the
+guard for the commanding general."  I replied, "Never mind the
+guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their tents.
+Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek,
+were the guards of the Confederate pickets.  The sentinel on
+their post called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for
+the commanding general," and, I believe, added, "General
+Grant."  Their line in a moment front-faced to the north, facing
+me, and gave a salute, which I returned.
+
+The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets
+of the two armies.  At one place there was a tree which had
+fallen across the stream, and which was used by the soldiers of
+both armies in drawing water for their camps.  General
+Longstreet's corps was stationed there at the time, and wore
+blue of a little different shade from our uniform.  Seeing a
+soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced
+conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to.  He
+was very polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged
+to General Longstreet's corps.  I asked him a few questions--but
+not with a view of gaining any particular information--all of
+which he answered, and I rode off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+Having got the Army of the Cumberland in a comfortable position,
+I now began to look after the remainder of my new command.
+Burnside was in about as desperate a condition as the Army of
+the Cumberland had been, only he was not yet besieged.  He was a
+hundred miles from the nearest possible base, Big South Fork of
+the Cumberland River, and much farther from any railroad we had
+possession of.  The roads back were over mountains, and all
+supplies along the line had long since been exhausted.  His
+animals, too, had been starved, and their carcasses lined the
+road from Cumberland Gap, and far back towards Lexington, Ky.
+East Tennessee still furnished supplies of beef, bread and
+forage, but it did not supply ammunition, clothing, medical
+supplies, or small rations, such as coffee, sugar, salt and rice.
+
+Sherman had started from Memphis for Corinth on the 11th of
+October.  His instructions required him to repair the road in
+his rear in order to bring up supplies.  The distance was about
+three hundred and thirty miles through a hostile country.  His
+entire command could not have maintained the road if it had been
+completed.  The bridges had all been destroyed by the enemy, and
+much other damage done.  A hostile community lived along the
+road; guerilla bands infested the country, and more or less of
+the cavalry of the enemy was still in the West.  Often Sherman's
+work was destroyed as soon as completed, and he only a short
+distance away.
+
+The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee River
+at Eastport, Mississippi.  Knowing the difficulty Sherman would
+have to supply himself from Memphis, I had previously ordered
+supplies sent from St. Louis on small steamers, to be convoyed
+by the navy, to meet him at Eastport.  These he got.  I now
+ordered him to discontinue his work of repairing roads and to
+move on with his whole force to Stevenson, Alabama, without
+delay.  This order was borne to Sherman by a messenger, who
+paddled down the Tennessee in a canoe and floated over Muscle
+Shoals; it was delivered at Iuka on the 27th.  In this Sherman
+was notified that the rebels were moving a force towards
+Cleveland, East Tennessee, and might be going to Nashville, in
+which event his troops were in the best position to beat them
+there.  Sherman, with his characteristic promptness, abandoned
+the work he was engaged upon and pushed on at once.  On the 1st
+of November he crossed the Tennessee at Eastport, and that day
+was in Florence, Alabama, with the head of column, while his
+troops were still crossing at Eastport, with Blair bringing up
+the rear.
+
+Sherman's force made an additional army, with cavalry,
+artillery, and trains, all to be supplied by the single track
+road from Nashville.  All indications pointed also to the
+probable necessity of supplying Burnside's command in East
+Tennessee, twenty-five thousand more, by the same route.  A
+single track could not do this.  I gave, therefore, an order to
+Sherman to halt General G. M. Dodge's command, of about eight
+thousand men, at Athens, and subsequently directed the latter to
+arrange his troops along the railroad from Decatur north towards
+Nashville, and to rebuild that road.  The road from Nashville to
+Decatur passes over a broken country, cut up with innumerable
+streams, many of them of considerable width, and with valleys
+far below the road-bed.  All the bridges over these had been
+destroyed, and the rails taken up and twisted by the enemy.  All
+the cars and locomotives not carried off had been destroyed as
+effectually as they knew how to destroy them.  All bridges and
+culverts had been destroyed between Nashville and Decatur, and
+thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Charleston and the
+Nashville and Chattanooga roads unite.  The rebuilding of this
+road would give us two roads as far as Stevenson over which to
+supply the army.  From Bridgeport, a short distance farther
+east, the river supplements the road.
+
+General Dodge, besides being a most capable soldier, was an
+experienced railroad builder.  He had no tools to work with
+except those of the pioneers--axes, picks, and spades.  With
+these he was able to intrench his men and protect them against
+surprises by small parties of the enemy.  As he had no base of
+supplies until the road could be completed back to Nashville,
+the first matter to consider after protecting his men was the
+getting in of food and forage from the surrounding country.  He
+had his men and teams bring in all the grain they could find, or
+all they needed, and all the cattle for beef, and such other food
+as could be found.  Millers were detailed from the ranks to run
+the mills along the line of the army.  When these were not near
+enough to the troops for protection they were taken down and
+moved up to the line of the road.  Blacksmith shops, with all
+the iron and steel found in them, were moved up in like
+manner.  Blacksmiths were detailed and set to work making the
+tools necessary in railroad and bridge building.  Axemen were
+put to work getting out timber for bridges and cutting fuel for
+locomotives when the road should be completed.  Car-builders
+were set to work repairing the locomotives and cars.  Thus every
+branch of railroad building, making tools to work with, and
+supplying the workmen with food, was all going on at once, and
+without the aid of a mechanic or laborer except what the command
+itself furnished.  But rails and cars the men could not make
+without material, and there was not enough rolling stock to keep
+the road we already had worked to its full capacity.  There were
+no rails except those in use.  To supply these deficiencies I
+ordered eight of the ten engines General McPherson had at
+Vicksburg to be sent to Nashville, and all the cars he had
+except ten.  I also ordered the troops in West Tennessee to
+points on the river and on the Memphis and Charleston road, and
+ordered the cars, locomotives and rails from all the railroads
+except the Memphis and Charleston to Nashville.  The military
+manager of railroads also was directed to furnish more rolling
+stock and, as far as he could, bridge material.  General Dodge
+had the work assigned him finished within forty days after
+receiving his orders.  The number of bridges to rebuild was one
+hundred and eighty-two, many of them over deep and wide chasms;
+the length of road repaired was one hundred and two miles.
+
+The enemy's troops, which it was thought were either moving
+against Burnside or were going to Nashville, went no farther
+than Cleveland.  Their presence there, however, alarmed the
+authorities at Washington, and, on account of our helpless
+condition at Chattanooga, caused me much uneasiness.  Dispatches
+were constantly coming, urging me to do something for Burnside's
+relief; calling attention to the importance of holding East
+Tennessee; saying the President was much concerned for the
+protection of the loyal people in that section, etc.  We had not
+at Chattanooga animals to pull a single piece of artillery, much
+less a supply train.  Reinforcements could not help Burnside,
+because he had neither supplies nor ammunition sufficient for
+them; hardly, indeed, bread and meat for the men he had.  There
+was no relief possible for him except by expelling the enemy
+from Missionary Ridge and about Chattanooga.
+
+On the 4th of November Longstreet left our front with about
+fifteen thousand troops, besides Wheeler's cavalry, five
+thousand more, to go against Burnside.  The situation seemed
+desperate, and was more aggravating because nothing could be
+done until Sherman should get up.  The authorities at Washington
+were now more than ever anxious for the safety of Burnside's
+army, and plied me with dispatches faster than ever, urging that
+something should be done for his relief.  On the 7th, before
+Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I ordered
+Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to force
+the return of the troops that had gone up the valley.  I
+directed him to take mules, officers' horses, or animals
+wherever he could get them to move the necessary artillery.  But
+he persisted in the declaration that he could not move a single
+piece of artillery, and could not see how he could possibly
+comply with the order.  Nothing was left to be done but to
+answer Washington dispatches as best I could; urge Sherman
+forward, although he was making every effort to get forward, and
+encourage Burnside to hold on, assuring him that in a short time
+he should be relieved.  All of Burnside's dispatches showed the
+greatest confidence in his ability to hold his position as long
+as his ammunition held out.  He even suggested the propriety of
+abandoning the territory he held south and west of Knoxville, so
+as to draw the enemy farther from his base and make it more
+difficult for him to get back to Chattanooga when the battle
+should begin.  Longstreet had a railroad as far as Loudon; but
+from there to Knoxville he had to rely on wagon trains.
+Burnside's suggestion, therefore, was a good one, and it was
+adopted.  On the 14th I telegraphed him:
+
+"Sherman's advance has reached Bridgeport.  His whole force will
+be ready to move from there by Tuesday at farthest.  If you can
+hold Longstreet in check until he gets up, or by skirmishing and
+falling back can avoid serious loss to yourself and gain time, I
+will be able to force the enemy back from here and place a force
+between Longstreet and Bragg that must inevitably make the former
+take to the mountain-passes by every available road, to get to
+his supplies.  Sherman would have been here before this but for
+high water in Elk River driving him some thirty miles up that
+river to cross."
+
+And again later in the day, indicating my plans for his relief,
+as follows:
+
+"Your dispatch and Dana's just received.  Being there, you can
+tell better how to resist Longstreet's attack than I can
+direct.  With your showing you had better give up Kingston at
+the last moment and save the most productive part of your
+possessions.  Every arrangement is now made to throw Sherman's
+force across the river, just at and below the mouth of
+Chickamauga Creek, as soon as it arrives.  Thomas will attack on
+his left at the same time, and together it is expected to carry
+Missionary Ridge, and from there push a force on to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton.  Hooker will at the same time
+attack, and, if he can, carry Lookout Mountain.  The enemy now
+seems to be looking for an attack on his left flank.  This
+favors us.  To further confirm this, Sherman's advance division
+will march direct from Whiteside to Trenton.  The remainder of
+his force will pass over a new road just made from Whiteside to
+Kelly's Ferry, thus being concealed from the enemy, and leave
+him to suppose the whole force is going up Lookout Valley.
+Sherman's advance has only just reached Bridgeport.  The rear
+will only reach there on the 16th.  This will bring it to the
+19th as the earliest day for making the combined movement as
+desired.  Inform me if you think you can sustain yourself until
+this time.  I can hardly conceive of the enemy breaking through
+at Kingston and pushing for Kentucky.  If they should, however,
+a new problem would be left for solution.  Thomas has ordered a
+division of cavalry to the vicinity of Sparta. I will ascertain
+if they have started, and inform you.  It will be entirely out
+of the question to send you ten thousand men, not because they
+cannot be spared, but how would they be fed after they got even
+one day east from here?"
+
+Longstreet, for some reason or other, stopped at Loudon until
+the 13th.  That being the terminus of his railroad
+communications, it is probable he was directed to remain there
+awaiting orders.  He was in a position threatening Knoxville,
+and at the same time where he could be brought back speedily to
+Chattanooga. The day after Longstreet left Loudon, Sherman
+reached Bridgeport in person and proceeded on to see me that
+evening, the 14th, and reached Chattanooga the next day.
+
+My orders for battle were all prepared in advance of Sherman's
+arrival (*15), except the dates, which could not be fixed while
+troops to be engaged were so far away.  The possession of
+Lookout Mountain was of no special advantage to us now.  Hooker
+was instructed to send Howard's corps to the north side of the
+Tennessee, thence up behind the hills on the north side, and to
+go into camp opposite Chattanooga; with the remainder of the
+command, Hooker was, at a time to be afterwards appointed, to
+ascend the western slope between the upper and lower palisades,
+and so get into Chattanooga valley.
+
+The plan of battle was for Sherman to attack the enemy's right
+flank, form a line across it, extend our left over South
+Chickamauga River so as to threaten or hold the railroad in
+Bragg's rear, and thus force him either to weaken his lines
+elsewhere or lose his connection with his base at Chickamauga
+Station.  Hooker was to perform like service on our right.  His
+problem was to get from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley in
+the most expeditious way possible; cross the latter valley
+rapidly to Rossville, south of Bragg's line on Missionary Ridge,
+form line there across the ridge facing north, with his right
+flank extended to Chickamauga Valley east of the ridge, thus
+threatening the enemy's rear on that flank and compelling him to
+reinforce this also.  Thomas, with the Army of the Cumberland,
+occupied the centre, and was to assault while the enemy was
+engaged with most of his forces on his two flanks.
+
+To carry out this plan, Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at
+Brown's Ferry and move east of Chattanooga to a point opposite
+the north end of Mission Ridge, and to place his command back of
+the foot-hills out of sight of the enemy on the ridge.  There are
+two streams called Chickamauga emptying into the Tennessee River
+east of Chattanooga--North Chickamauga, taking its rise in
+Tennessee, flowing south, and emptying into the river some seven
+or eight miles east; while the South Chickamauga, which takes its
+rise in Georgia, flows northward, and empties into the Tennessee
+some three or four miles above the town.  There were now one
+hundred and sixteen pontoons in the North Chickamauga River,
+their presence there being unknown to the enemy.
+
+At night a division was to be marched up to that point, and at
+two o'clock in the morning moved down with the current, thirty
+men in each boat.  A few were to land east of the mouth of the
+South Chickamauga, capture the pickets there, and then lay a
+bridge connecting the two banks of the river.  The rest were to
+land on the south side of the Tennessee, where Missionary Ridge
+would strike it if prolonged, and a sufficient number of men to
+man the boats were to push to the north side to ferry over the
+main body of Sherman's command while those left on the south
+side intrenched themselves.  Thomas was to move out from his
+lines facing the ridge, leaving enough of Palmer's corps to
+guard against an attack down the valley.  Lookout Valley being
+of no present value to us, and being untenable by the enemy if
+we should secure Missionary Ridge, Hooker's orders were
+changed.  His revised orders brought him to Chattanooga by the
+established route north of the Tennessee.  He was then to move
+out to the right to Rossville.
+
+Hooker's position in Lookout Valley was absolutely essential to
+us so long as Chattanooga was besieged.  It was the key to our
+line for supplying the army.  But it was not essential after the
+enemy was dispersed from our front, or even after the battle for
+this purpose was begun.  Hooker's orders, therefore, were
+designed to get his force past Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga
+Valley, and up to Missionary Ridge.  By crossing the north face
+of Lookout the troops would come into Chattanooga Valley in rear
+of the line held by the enemy across the valley, and would
+necessarily force its evacuation.  Orders were accordingly given
+to march by this route.  But days before the battle began the
+advantages as well as the disadvantages of this plan of action
+were all considered.  The passage over the mountain was a
+difficult one to make in the face of an enemy.  It might consume
+so much time as to lose us the use of the troops engaged in it at
+other points where they were more wanted.  After reaching
+Chattanooga Valley, the creek of the same name, quite a
+formidable stream to get an army over, had to be crossed.  I was
+perfectly willing that the enemy should keep Lookout Mountain
+until we got through with the troops on Missionary Ridge.  By
+marching Hooker to the north side of the river, thence up the
+stream, and recrossing at the town, he could be got in position
+at any named time; when in this new position, he would have
+Chattanooga Creek behind him, and the attack on Missionary Ridge
+would unquestionably cause the evacuation by the enemy of his
+line across the valley and on Lookout Mountain.  Hooker's order
+was changed accordingly.  As explained elsewhere, the original
+order had to be reverted to, because of a flood in the river
+rendering the bridge at Brown's Ferry unsafe for the passage of
+troops at the exact juncture when it was wanted to bring all the
+troops together against Missionary Ridge.
+
+The next day after Sherman's arrival I took him, with Generals
+Thomas and Smith and other officers, to the north side of the
+river, and showed them the ground over which Sherman had to
+march, and pointed out generally what he was expected to do.  I,
+as well as the authorities in Washington, was still in a great
+state of anxiety for Burnside's safety.  Burnside himself, I
+believe, was the only one who did not share in this anxiety.
+Nothing could be done for him, however, until Sherman's troops
+were up.  As soon, therefore, as the inspection was over,
+Sherman started for Bridgeport to hasten matters, rowing a boat
+himself, I believe, from Kelly's Ferry.  Sherman had left
+Bridgeport the night of the 14th, reached Chattanooga the
+evening of the 15th, made the above-described inspection on the
+morning of the 16th, and started back the same evening to hurry
+up his command, fully appreciating the importance of time.
+
+His march was conducted with as much expedition as the roads and
+season would admit of.  By the 20th he was himself at Brown's
+Ferry with the head of column, but many of his troops were far
+behind, and one division (Ewing's) was at Trenton, sent that way
+to create the impression that Lookout was to be taken from the
+south.  Sherman received his orders at the ferry, and was asked
+if he could not be ready for the assault the following
+morning.  News had been received that the battle had been
+commenced at Knoxville.  Burnside had been cut off from
+telegraphic communications.  The President, the Secretary of
+War, and General Halleck, were in an agony of suspense.  My
+suspense was also great, but more endurable, because I was where
+I could soon do something to relieve the situation.  It was
+impossible to get Sherman's troops up for the next day.  I then
+asked him if they could not be got up to make the assault on the
+morning of the 22d, and ordered Thomas to move on that date.  But
+the elements were against us.  It rained all the 20th and 21st.
+The river rose so rapidly that it was difficult to keep the
+pontoons in place.
+
+General Orlando B. Willcox, a division commander under Burnside,
+was at this time occupying a position farther up the valley than
+Knoxville--about Maynardville--and was still in telegraphic
+communication with the North.  A dispatch was received from him
+saying that he was threatened from the east.  The following was
+sent in reply:
+
+"If you can communicate with General Burnside, say to him that
+our attack on Bragg will commence in the morning.  If
+successful, such a move will be made as I think will relieve
+East Tennessee, if he can hold out.  Longstreet passing through
+our lines to Kentucky need not cause alarm.  He would find the
+country so bare that he would lose his transportation and
+artillery before reaching Kentucky, and would meet such a force
+before he got through, that he could not return."
+
+Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as
+fast as his troops could be got up.  The crossing had to be
+effected in full view of the enemy on the top of Lookout
+Mountain.  Once over, however, the troops soon disappeared
+behind the detached hill on the north side, and would not come
+to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain or
+Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike
+the bank of the river.  But when Sherman's advance reached a
+point opposite the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be
+remembered, had been concealed behind the hills on the north
+side, took up his line of march to join the troops on the south
+side.  His crossing was in full view both from Missionary Ridge
+and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of course supposed these
+troops to be Sherman's.  This enabled Sherman to get to his
+assigned position without discovery.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage--rains
+falling so heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the
+river at Brown's Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of
+the bridge; news coming of a battle raging at Knoxville; of
+Willcox being threatened by a force from the east--a letter was
+received from Bragg which contained these words:  "As there may
+still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I deem it proper to
+notify you that prudence would dictate their early withdrawal."
+Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to
+deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was.  On
+the 22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg
+was leaving our front, and on that day Buckner's division was
+sent to reinforce Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division
+started to follow but was recalled.  The object of Bragg's
+letter, no doubt, was in some way to detain me until Knoxville
+could be captured, and his troops there be returned to
+Chattanooga.
+
+During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats,
+completed, one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to
+and placed in North Chickamauga. The material for the roadway
+over these was deposited out of view of the enemy within a few
+hundred yards of the bank of the Tennessee, where the north end
+of the bridge was to rest.
+
+Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress
+in Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations
+for his relief.  I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with
+the Army of the Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on
+the 24th.
+
+The position occupied by the Army of the Cumberland had been
+made very strong for defence during the months it had been
+besieged.  The line was about a mile from the town, and extended
+from Citico Creek, a small stream running near the base of
+Missionary Ridge and emptying into the Tennessee about two miles
+below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on the left, to
+Chattanooga Creek on the right.  All commanding points on the
+line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery.  The
+important elevations within the line had all been carefully
+fortified and supplied with a proper armament.  Among the
+elevations so fortified was one to the east of the town, named
+Fort Wood.  It owed its importance chiefly to the fact that it
+lay between the town and Missionary Ridge, where most of the
+strength of the enemy was.  Fort Wood had in it twenty-two
+pieces of artillery, most of which would reach the nearer points
+of the enemy's line.  On the morning of the 23d Thomas, according
+to instructions, moved Granger's corps of two divisions, Sheridan
+and T. J. Wood commanding, to the foot of Fort Wood, and formed
+them into line as if going on parade, Sheridan on the right,
+Wood to the left, extending to or near Citico Creek.  Palmer,
+commanding the 14th corps, held that part of our line facing
+south and southwest.  He supported Sheridan with one division
+(Baird's), while his other division under Johnson remained in
+the trenches, under arms, ready to be moved to any point.
+Howard's corps was moved in rear of the centre.  The picket
+lines were within a few hundred yards of each other.  At two
+o'clock in the afternoon all were ready to advance.  By this
+time the clouds had lifted so that the enemy could see from his
+elevated position all that was going on.  The signal for advance
+was given by a booming of cannon from Fort Wood and other points
+on the line.  The rebel pickets were soon driven back upon the
+main guards, which occupied minor and detached heights between
+the main ridge and our lines.  These too were carried before
+halting, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their
+advance guards.  But it was not without loss on both sides. This
+movement secured to us a line fully a mile in advance of the one
+we occupied in the morning, and the one which the enemy had
+occupied up to this time.  The fortifications were rapidly
+turned to face the other way.  During the following night they
+were made strong.  We lost in this preliminary action about
+eleven hundred killed and wounded, while the enemy probably lost
+quite as heavily, including the prisoners that were captured.
+With the exception of the firing of artillery, kept up from
+Missionary Ridge and Fort Wood until night closed in, this ended
+the fighting for the first day.
+
+The advantage was greatly on our side now, and if I could only
+have been assured that Burnside could hold out ten days longer I
+should have rested more easily.  But we were doing the best we
+could for him and the cause.
+
+By the night of the 23d Sherman's command was in a position to
+move, though one division (Osterhaus's) had not yet crossed the
+river at Brown's Ferry.  The continuous rise in the Tennessee
+had rendered it impossible to keep the bridge at that point in
+condition for troops to cross; but I was determined to move that
+night even without this division.  Orders were sent to Osterhaus
+accordingly to report to Hooker, if he could not cross by eight
+o'clock on the morning of the 24th.  Because of the break in the
+bridge, Hooker's orders were again changed, but this time only
+back to those first given to him.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been assigned to duty as Chief Engineer
+of the Military Division.  To him were given the general
+direction of moving troops by the boats from North Chickamauga,
+laying the bridge after they reached their position, and
+generally all the duties pertaining to his office of chief
+engineer.  During the night General Morgan L. Smith's division
+was marched to the point where the pontoons were, and the
+brigade of Giles A. Smith was selected for the delicate duty of
+manning the boats and surprising the enemy's pickets on the
+south bank of the river.  During this night also General J. M.
+Brannan, chief of artillery, moved forty pieces of artillery,
+belonging to the Army of the Cumberland, and placed them on the
+north side of the river so as to command the ground opposite, to
+aid in protecting the approach to the point where the south end
+of the bridge was to rest.  He had to use Sherman's artillery
+horses for this purpose, Thomas having none.
+
+At two o'clock in the morning, November 24th, Giles A. Smith
+pushed out from the North Chickamauga with his one hundred and
+sixteen boats, each loaded with thirty brave and well-armed
+men.  The boats with their precious freight dropped down quietly
+with the current to avoid attracting the attention of any one who
+could convey information to the enemy, until arriving near the
+mouth of South Chickamauga. Here a few boats were landed, the
+troops debarked, and a rush was made upon the picket guard known
+to be at that point.  The guard were surprised, and twenty of
+their number captured.  The remainder of the troops effected a
+landing at the point where the bridge was to start, with equally
+good results.  The work of ferrying over Sherman's command from
+the north side of the Tennessee was at once commenced, using the
+pontoons for the purpose.  A steamer was also brought up from the
+town to assist.  The rest of M. L. Smith's division came first,
+then the division of John E. Smith.  The troops as they landed
+were put to work intrenching their position.  By daylight the
+two entire divisions were over, and well covered by the works
+they had built.
+
+The work of laying the bridge, on which to cross the artillery
+and cavalry, was now begun.  The ferrying over the infantry was
+continued with the steamer and the pontoons, taking the
+pontoons, however, as fast as they were wanted to put in their
+place in the bridge.  By a little past noon the bridge was
+completed, as well as one over the South Chickamauga connecting
+the troops left on that side with their comrades below, and all
+the infantry and artillery were on the south bank of the
+Tennessee.
+
+Sherman at once formed his troops for assault on Missionary
+Ridge.  By one o'clock he started with M. L. Smith on his left,
+keeping nearly the course of Chickamauga River; J. E. Smith next
+to the right and a little to the rear; and Ewing still farther to
+the right and also a little to the rear of J. E. Smith's command,
+in column, ready to deploy to the right if an enemy should come
+from that direction.  A good skirmish line preceded each of
+these columns.  Soon the foot of the hill was reached; the
+skirmishers pushed directly up, followed closely by their
+supports.  By half-past three Sherman was in possession of the
+height without having sustained much loss.  A brigade from each
+division was now brought up, and artillery was dragged to the
+top of the hill by hand.  The enemy did not seem to be aware of
+this movement until the top of the hill was gained.  There had
+been a drizzling rain during the day, and the clouds were so low
+that Lookout Mountain and the top of Missionary Ridge were
+obscured from the view of persons in the valley.  But now the
+enemy opened fire upon their assailants, and made several
+attempts with their skirmishers to drive them away, but without
+avail.  Later in the day a more determined attack was made, but
+this, too, failed, and Sherman was left to fortify what he had
+gained.
+
+Sherman's cavalry took up its line of march soon after the
+bridge was completed, and by half-past three the whole of it was
+over both bridges and on its way to strike the enemy's
+communications at Chickamauga Station.  All of Sherman's command
+was now south of the Tennessee.  During the afternoon General
+Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and carried from the field.
+
+Thomas having done on the 23d what was expected of him on the
+24th, there was nothing for him to do this day except to
+strengthen his position.  Howard, however, effected a crossing
+of Citico Creek and a junction with Sherman, and was directed to
+report to him.  With two or three regiments of his command he
+moved in the morning along the banks of the Tennessee, and
+reached the point where the bridge was being laid.  He went out
+on the bridge as far as it was completed from the south end, and
+saw Sherman superintending the work from the north side and
+moving himself south as fast as an additional boat was put in
+and the roadway put upon it.  Howard reported to his new chief
+across the chasm between them, which was now narrow and in a few
+minutes closed.
+
+While these operations were going on to the east of Chattanooga,
+Hooker was engaged on the west.  He had three divisions:
+Osterhaus's, of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee; Geary's,
+12th corps, Army of the Potomac; and Cruft's, 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland.  Geary was on the right at Wauhatchie, Cruft
+at the centre, and Osterhaus near Brown's Ferry.  These troops
+were all west of Lookout Creek.  The enemy had the east bank of
+the creek strongly picketed and intrenched, and three brigades
+of troops in the rear to reinforce them if attacked.  These
+brigades occupied the summit of the mountain.  General Carter L.
+Stevenson was in command of the whole.  Why any troops, except
+artillery with a small infantry guard, were kept on the
+mountain-top, I do not see.  A hundred men could have held the
+summit--which is a palisade for more than thirty feet
+down--against the assault of any number of men from the position
+Hooker occupied.
+
+The side of Lookout Mountain confronting Hooker's command was
+rugged, heavily timbered, and full of chasms, making it
+difficult to advance with troops, even in the absence of an
+opposing force.  Farther up, the ground becomes more even and
+level, and was in cultivation.  On the east side the slope is
+much more gradual, and a good wagon road, zigzagging up it,
+connects the town of Chattanooga with the summit.
+
+Early on the morning of the 24th Hooker moved Geary's division,
+supported by a brigade of Cruft's, up Lookout Creek, to effect a
+crossing.  The remainder of Cruft's division was to seize the
+bridge over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad.
+Osterhaus was to move up to the bridge and cross it.  The bridge
+was seized by Gross's brigade after a slight skirmish with the
+pickets guarding it.  This attracted the enemy so that Geary's
+movement farther up was not observed.  A heavy mist obscured him
+from the view of the troops on the top of the mountain.  He
+crossed the creek almost unobserved, and captured the picket of
+over forty men on guard near by.  He then commenced ascending
+the mountain directly in his front.  By this time the enemy was
+seen coming down from their camps on the mountain slope, and
+filing into their rifle-pits to contest the crossing of the
+bridge.  By eleven o'clock the bridge was complete.  Osterhaus
+was up, and after some sharp skirmishing the enemy was driven
+away with considerable loss in killed and captured.
+
+While the operations at the bridge were progressing, Geary was
+pushing up the hill over great obstacles, resisted by the enemy
+directly in his front, and in face of the guns on top of the
+mountain.  The enemy, seeing their left flank and rear menaced,
+gave way, and were followed by Cruft and Osterhaus.  Soon these
+were up abreast of Geary, and the whole command pushed up the
+hill, driving the enemy in advance.  By noon Geary had gained
+the open ground on the north slope of the mountain, with his
+right close up to the base of the upper palisade, but there were
+strong fortifications in his front.  The rest of the command
+coming up, a line was formed from the base of the upper palisade
+to the mouth of Chattanooga Creek.
+
+Thomas and I were on the top of Orchard Knob.  Hooker's advance
+now made our line a continuous one.  It was in full view,
+extending from the Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed,
+up Chickamauga River to the base of Mission Ridge, over the top
+of the north end of the ridge to Chattanooga Valley, then along
+parallel to the ridge a mile or more, across the valley to the
+mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the slope of Lookout
+Mountain to the foot of the upper palisade.  The day was hazy,
+so that Hooker's operations were not visible to us except at
+moments when the clouds would rise.  But the sound of his
+artillery and musketry was heard incessantly.  The enemy on his
+front was partially fortified, but was soon driven out of his
+works.  During the afternoon the clouds, which had so obscured
+the top of Lookout all day as to hide whatever was going on from
+the view of those below, settled down and made it so dark where
+Hooker was as to stop operations for the time.  At four o'clock
+Hooker reported his position as impregnable.  By a little after
+five direct communication was established, and a brigade of
+troops was sent from Chattanooga to reinforce him.  These troops
+had to cross Chattanooga Creek and met with some opposition, but
+soon overcame it, and by night the commander, General Carlin,
+reported to Hooker and was assigned to his left.  I now
+telegraphed to Washington:  "The fight to-day progressed
+favorably.  Sherman carried the end of Missionary Ridge, and his
+right is now at the tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga Creek.
+Troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the mountain,
+and now hold the eastern slope and a point high up.  Hooker
+reports two thousand prisoners taken, besides which a small
+number have fallen into our hands from Missionary Ridge."  The
+next day the President replied:  "Your dispatches as to fighting
+on Monday and Tuesday are here.  Well done.  Many thanks to
+all.  Remember Burnside."  And Halleck also telegraphed:  "I
+congratulate you on the success thus far of your plans.  I fear
+that Burnside is hard pushed, and that any further delay may
+prove fatal.  I know you will do all in your power to relieve
+him."
+
+The division of Jefferson C. Davis, Army of the Cumberland, had
+been sent to the North Chickamauga to guard the pontoons as they
+were deposited in the river, and to prevent all ingress or egress
+of citizens.  On the night of the 24th his division, having
+crossed with Sherman, occupied our extreme left from the upper
+bridge over the plain to the north base of Missionary Ridge.
+Firing continued to a late hour in the night, but it was not
+connected with an assault at any point.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+At twelve o'clock at night, when all was quiet, I began to give
+orders for the next day, and sent a dispatch to Willcox to
+encourage Burnside.  Sherman was directed to attack at
+daylight.  Hooker was ordered to move at the same hour, and
+endeavor to intercept the enemy's retreat if he still remained;
+if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville and operate
+against the left and rear of the force on Missionary Ridge.
+Thomas was not to move until Hooker had reached Missionary
+Ridge.  As I was with him on Orchard Knob, he would not move
+without further orders from me.
+
+The morning of the 25th opened clear and bright, and the whole
+field was in full view from the top of Orchard Knob.  It
+remained so all day.  Bragg's headquarters were in full view,
+and officers--presumably staff officers--could be seen coming
+and going constantly.
+
+The point of ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was
+almost disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the enemy. A
+low pass, over which there is a wagon road crossing the hill, and
+near which there is a railroad tunnel, intervenes between the two
+hills.  The problem now was to get to the main ridge. The enemy
+was fortified on the point; and back farther, where the ground
+was still higher, was a second fortification commanding the
+first.  Sherman was out as soon as it was light enough to see,
+and by sunrise his command was in motion.  Three brigades held
+the hill already gained.  Morgan L. Smith moved along the east
+base of Missionary Ridge; Loomis along the west base, supported
+by two brigades of John E. Smith's division; and Corse with his
+brigade was between the two, moving directly towards the hill to
+be captured.  The ridge is steep and heavily wooded on the east
+side, where M. L. Smith's troops were advancing, but cleared and
+with a more gentle slope on the west side.  The troops advanced
+rapidly and carried the extreme end of the rebel works.  Morgan
+L. Smith advanced to a point which cut the enemy off from the
+railroad bridge and the means of bringing up supplies by rail
+from Chickamauga Station, where the main depot was located.  The
+enemy made brave and strenuous efforts to drive our troops from
+the position we had gained, but without success.  The contest
+lasted for two hours.  Corse, a brave and efficient commander,
+was badly wounded in this assault.  Sherman now threatened both
+Bragg's flank and his stores, and made it necessary for him to
+weaken other points of his line to strengthen his right.  From
+the position I occupied I could see column after column of
+Bragg's forces moving against Sherman.  Every Confederate gun
+that could be brought to bear upon the Union forces was
+concentrated upon him.  J. E. Smith, with two brigades, charged
+up the west side of the ridge to the support of Corse's command,
+over open ground and in the face of a heavy fire of both
+artillery and musketry, and reached the very parapet of the
+enemy.  He lay here for a time, but the enemy coming with a
+heavy force upon his right flank, he was compelled to fall back,
+followed by the foe.  A few hundred yards brought Smith's troops
+into a wood, where they were speedily reformed, when they
+charged and drove the attacking party back to his intrenchments.
+
+Seeing the advance, repulse, and second advance of J. E. Smith
+from the position I occupied, I directed Thomas to send a
+division to reinforce him.  Baird's division was accordingly
+sent from the right of Orchard Knob.  It had to march a
+considerable distance directly under the eye of the enemy to
+reach its position.  Bragg at once commenced massing in the same
+direction.  This was what I wanted.  But it had now got to be
+late in the afternoon, and I had expected before this to see
+Hooker crossing the ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville and
+compelling Bragg to mass in that direction also.
+
+The enemy had evacuated Lookout Mountain during the night, as I
+expected he would.  In crossing the valley he burned the bridge
+over Chattanooga Creek, and did all he could to obstruct the
+roads behind him.  Hooker was off bright and early, with no
+obstructions in his front but distance and the destruction above
+named.  He was detained four hours crossing Chattanooga Creek,
+and thus was lost the immediate advantage I expected from his
+forces.  His reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it was
+to be the signal for Thomas's assault of the ridge.  But
+Sherman's condition was getting so critical that the assault for
+his relief could not be delayed any longer.
+
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions had been lying under arms from
+early morning, ready to move the instant the signal was given. I
+now directed Thomas to order the charge at once (*16). I watched
+eagerly to see the effect, and became impatient at last that
+there was no indication of any charge being made.  The centre of
+the line which was to make the charge was near where Thomas and I
+stood, but concealed from view by an intervening forest.  Turning
+to Thomas to inquire what caused the delay, I was surprised to
+see Thomas J. Wood, one of the division commanders who was to
+make the charge, standing talking to him.  I spoke to General
+Wood, asking him why he did not charge as ordered an hour
+before.  He replied very promptly that this was the first he had
+heard of it, but that he had been ready all day to move at a
+moment's notice.  I told him to make the charge at once.  He was
+off in a moment, and in an incredibly short time loud cheering
+was heard, and he and Sheridan were driving the enemy's advance
+before them towards Missionary Ridge.  The Confederates were
+strongly intrenched on the crest of the ridge in front of us,
+and had a second line half-way down and another at the base. 
+Our men drove the troops in front of the lower line of
+rifle-pits so rapidly, and followed them so closely, that rebel
+and Union troops went over the first line of works almost at the
+same time.  Many rebels were captured and sent to the rear under
+the fire of their own friends higher up the hill.  Those that
+were not captured retreated, and were pursued.  The retreating
+hordes being between friends and pursuers caused the enemy to
+fire high to avoid killing their own men.  In fact, on that
+occasion the Union soldier nearest the enemy was in the safest
+position.  Without awaiting further orders or stopping to
+reform, on our troops went to the second line of works; over
+that and on for the crest--thus effectually carrying out my
+orders of the 18th for the battle and of the 24th (*17) for this
+charge.
+
+I watched their progress with intense interest.  The fire along
+the rebel line was terrific.  Cannon and musket balls filled the
+air:  but the damage done was in small proportion to the
+ammunition expended.  The pursuit continued until the crest was
+reached, and soon our men were seen climbing over the
+Confederate barriers at different points in front of both
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions.  The retreat of the enemy along
+most of his line was precipitate and the panic so great that
+Bragg and his officers lost all control over their men.  Many
+were captured, and thousands threw away their arms in their
+flight.
+
+Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga River
+at a point above where the enemy crossed.  He met some
+resistance from troops occupying a second hill in rear of
+Missionary Ridge, probably to cover the retreat of the main body
+and of the artillery and trains.  It was now getting dark, but
+Sheridan, without halting on that account pushed his men forward
+up this second hill slowly and without attracting the attention
+of the men placed to defend it, while he detached to the right
+and left to surround the position.  The enemy discovered the
+movement before these dispositions were complete, and beat a
+hasty retreat, leaving artillery, wagon trains, and many
+prisoners in our hands.  To Sheridan's prompt movement the Army
+of the Cumberland, and the nation, are indebted for the bulk of
+the capture of prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day.
+Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way would not
+have been accomplished.
+
+While the advance up Mission Ridge was going forward, General
+Thomas with staff, General Gordon Granger, commander of the
+corps making the assault, and myself and staff occupied Orchard
+Knob, from which the entire field could be observed.  The moment
+the troops were seen going over the last line of rebel defences,
+I ordered Granger to join his command, and mounting my horse I
+rode to the front.  General Thomas left about the same time.
+Sheridan on the extreme right was already in pursuit of the
+enemy east of the ridge.  Wood, who commanded the division to
+the left of Sheridan, accompanied his men on horseback in the
+charge, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit.  To the left,
+in Baird's front where Bragg's troops had massed against
+Sherman, the resistance was more stubborn and the contest lasted
+longer.  I ordered Granger to follow the enemy with Wood's
+division, but he was so much excited, and kept up such a roar of
+musketry in the direction the enemy had taken, that by the time I
+could stop the firing the enemy had got well out of the way.  The
+enemy confronting Sherman, now seeing everything to their left
+giving way, fled also.  Sherman, however, was not aware of the
+extent of our success until after nightfall, when he received
+orders to pursue at daylight in the morning.
+
+As soon as Sherman discovered that the enemy had left his front
+he directed his reserves, Davis's division of the Army of the
+Cumberland, to push over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the
+Chickamauga, and to move forward to Chickamauga Station.  He
+ordered Howard to move up the stream some two miles to where
+there was an old bridge, repair it during the night, and follow
+Davis at four o'clock in the morning.  Morgan L. Smith was
+ordered to reconnoitre the tunnel to see if that was still
+held.  Nothing was found there but dead bodies of men of both
+armies.  The rest of Sherman's command was directed to follow
+Howard at daylight in the morning to get on to the railroad
+towards Graysville.
+
+Hooker, as stated, was detained at Chattanooga Creek by the
+destruction of the bridge at that point.  He got his troops
+over, with the exception of the artillery, by fording the stream
+at a little after three o'clock.  Leaving his artillery to follow
+when the bridge should be reconstructed, he pushed on with the
+remainder of his command.  At Rossville he came upon the flank
+of a division of the enemy, which soon commenced a retreat along
+the ridge.  This threw them on Palmer.  They could make but
+little resistance in the position they were caught in, and as
+many of them as could do so escaped.  Many, however, were
+captured.  Hooker's position during the night of the 25th was
+near Rossville, extending east of the ridge.  Palmer was on his
+left, on the road to Graysville.
+
+During the night I telegraphed to Willcox that Bragg had been
+defeated, and that immediate relief would be sent to Burnside if
+he could hold out; to Halleck I sent an announcement of our
+victory, and informed him that forces would be sent up the
+valley to relieve Burnside.
+
+Before the battle of Chattanooga opened I had taken measures for
+the relief of Burnside the moment the way should be clear. Thomas
+was directed to have the little steamer that had been built at
+Chattanooga loaded to its capacity with rations and
+ammunition.  Granger's corps was to move by the south bank of
+the Tennessee River to the mouth of the Holston, and up that to
+Knoxville accompanied by the boat.  In addition to the supplies
+transported by boat, the men were to carry forty rounds of
+ammunition in their cartridge-boxes, and four days' rations in
+haversacks.
+
+In the battle of Chattanooga, troops from the Army of the
+Potomac, from the Army of the Tennessee, and from the Army of
+the Cumberland participated.  In fact, the accidents growing out
+of the heavy rains and the sudden rise in the Tennessee River so
+mingled the troops that the organizations were not kept
+together, under their respective commanders, during the
+battle.  Hooker, on the right, had Geary's division of the 12th
+corps, Army of the Potomac; Osterhaus's division of the 15th
+corps, Army of the Tennessee; and Cruft's division of the Army
+of the Cumberland.  Sherman had three divisions of his own army,
+Howard's corps from the Army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C.
+Davis's division of the Army of the Cumberland.  There was no
+jealousy--hardly rivalry.  Indeed, I doubt whether officers or
+men took any note at the time of the fact of this intermingling
+of commands.  All saw a defiant foe surrounding them, and took
+it for granted that every move was intended to dislodge him, and
+it made no difference where the troops came from so that the end
+was accomplished.
+
+The victory at Chattanooga was won against great odds,
+considering the advantage the enemy had of position, and was
+accomplished more easily than was expected by reason of Bragg's
+making several grave mistakes:  first, in sending away his
+ablest corps commander with over twenty thousand troops; second,
+in sending away a division of troops on the eve of battle; third,
+in placing so much of a force on the plain in front of his
+impregnable position.
+
+It was known that Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Bragg on
+Missionary Ridge a short time before my reaching Chattanooga. It
+was reported and believed that he had come out to reconcile a
+serious difference between Bragg and Longstreet, and finding
+this difficult to do, planned the campaign against Knoxville, to
+be conducted by the latter general.  I had known both Bragg and
+Longstreet before the war, the latter very well.  We had been
+three years at West Point together, and, after my graduation,
+for a time in the same regiment.  Then we served together in the
+Mexican War.  I had known Bragg in Mexico, and met him
+occasionally subsequently.  I could well understand how there
+might be an irreconcilable difference between them.
+
+Bragg was a remarkably intelligent and well-informed man,
+professionally and otherwise.  He was also thoroughly upright.
+But he was possessed of an irascible temper, and was naturally
+disputatious.  A man of the highest moral character and the most
+correct habits, yet in the old army he was in frequent trouble.
+As a subordinate he was always on the lookout to catch his
+commanding officer infringing his prerogatives; as a post
+commander he was equally vigilant to detect the slightest
+neglect, even of the most trivial order.
+
+I have heard in the old army an anecdote very characteristic of
+Bragg.  On one occasion, when stationed at a post of several
+companies commanded by a field officer, he was himself
+commanding one of the companies and at the same time acting as
+post quartermaster and commissary.  He was first lieutenant at
+the time, but his captain was detached on other duty.  As
+commander of the company he made a requisition upon the
+quartermaster--himself--for something he wanted.  As
+quartermaster he declined to fill the requisition, and endorsed
+on the back of it his reasons for so doing.  As company
+commander he responded to this, urging that his requisition
+called for nothing but what he was entitled to, and that it was
+the duty of the quartermaster to fill it.  As quartermaster he
+still persisted that he was right.  In this condition of affairs
+Bragg referred the whole matter to the commanding officer of the
+post.  The latter, when he saw the nature of the matter
+referred, exclaimed:  "My God, Mr. Bragg, you have quarrelled
+with every officer in the army, and now you are quarrelling with
+yourself!"
+
+Longstreet was an entirely different man.  He was brave, honest,
+intelligent, a very capable soldier, subordinate to his
+superiors, just and kind to his subordinates, but jealous of his
+own rights, which he had the courage to maintain.  He was never
+on the lookout to detect a slight, but saw one as soon as
+anybody when intentionally given.
+
+It may be that Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for the
+reason stated, but because Mr. Davis had an exalted opinion of
+his own military genius, and thought he saw a chance of "killing
+two birds with one stone."  On several occasions during the war
+he came to the relief of the Union army by means of his SUPERIOR
+MILITARY GENIUS.
+
+I speak advisedly when I saw Mr. Davis prided himself on his
+military capacity.  He says so himself, virtually, in his answer
+to the notice of his nomination to the Confederate presidency.
+Some of his generals have said so in their writings since the
+downfall of the Confederacy.
+
+My recollection is that my first orders for the battle of
+Chattanooga were as fought.  Sherman was to get on Missionary
+Ridge, as he did; Hooker to cross the north end of Lookout
+Mountain, as he did, sweep across Chattanooga Valley and get
+across the south end of the ridge near Rossville.  When Hooker
+had secured that position the Army of the Cumberland was to
+assault in the centre.  Before Sherman arrived, however, the
+order was so changed as that Hooker was directed to come to
+Chattanooga by the north bank of the Tennessee River.  The
+waters in the river, owing to heavy rains, rose so fast that the
+bridge at Brown's Ferry could not be maintained in a condition to
+be used in crossing troops upon it.  For this reason Hooker's
+orders were changed by telegraph back to what they were
+originally.
+_____
+
+NOTE.--From this point on this volume was written (with the
+exception of the campaign in the Wilderness, which had been
+previously written) by General Grant, after his great illness in
+April, and the present arrangement of the subject-matter was made
+by him between the 10th and 18th of July, 1885.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE
+--VISITING KNOXVILLE-CIPHER CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+Chattanooga now being secure to the National troops beyond any
+doubt, I immediately turned my attention to relieving Knoxville,
+about the situation of which the President, in particular, was
+very anxious.  Prior to the battles, I had made preparations for
+sending troops to the relief of Burnside at the very earliest
+moment after securing Chattanooga. We had there two little
+steamers which had been built and fitted up from the remains of
+old boats and put in condition to run.  General Thomas was
+directed to have one of these boats loaded with rations and
+ammunition and move up the Tennessee River to the mouth of the
+Holston, keeping the boat all the time abreast of the troops.
+General Granger, with the 4th corps reinforced to make twenty
+thousand men, was to start the moment Missionary Ridge was
+carried, and under no circumstances were the troops to return to
+their old camps.  With the provisions carried, and the little
+that could be got in the country, it was supposed he could hold
+out until Longstreet was driven away, after which event East
+Tennessee would furnish abundance of food for Burnside's army
+and his own also.
+
+While following the enemy on the 26th, and again on the morning
+of the 27th, part of the time by the road to Ringgold, I
+directed Thomas, verbally, not to start Granger until he
+received further orders from me; advising him that I was going
+to the front to more fully see the situation.  I was not right
+sure but that Bragg's troops might be over their stampede by the
+time they reached Dalton.  In that case Bragg might think it well
+to take the road back to Cleveland, move thence towards
+Knoxville, and, uniting with Longstreet, make a sudden dash upon
+Burnside.
+
+When I arrived at Ringgold, however, on the 27th, I saw that the
+retreat was most earnest.  The enemy had been throwing away guns,
+caissons and small-arms, abandoning provisions, and, altogether,
+seemed to be moving like a disorganized mob, with the exception
+of Cleburne's division, which was acting as rear-guard to cover
+the retreat.
+
+When Hooker moved from Rossville toward Ringgold Palmer's
+division took the road to Graysville, and Sherman moved by the
+way of Chickamauga Station toward the same point.  As soon as I
+saw the situation at Ringgold I sent a staff officer back to
+Chattanooga to advise Thomas of the condition of affairs, and
+direct him by my orders to start Granger at once.  Feeling now
+that the troops were already on the march for the relief of
+Burnside I was in no hurry to get back, but stayed at Ringgold
+through the day to prepare for the return of our troops.
+
+Ringgold is in a valley in the mountains, situated between East
+Chickamauga Creek and Taylor's Ridge, and about twenty miles
+south-east from Chattanooga. I arrived just as the artillery
+that Hooker had left behind at Chattanooga Creek got up.  His
+men were attacking Cleburne's division, which had taken a strong
+position in the adjacent hills so as to cover the retreat of the
+Confederate army through a narrow gorge which presents itself at
+that point.  Just beyond the gorge the valley is narrow, and the
+creek so tortuous that it has to be crossed a great many times
+in the course of the first mile.  This attack was unfortunate,
+and cost us some men unnecessarily.  Hooker captured, however, 3
+pieces of artillery and 230 prisoners, and 130 rebel dead were
+left upon the field.
+
+I directed General Hooker to collect the flour and wheat in the
+neighboring mills for the use of the troops, and then to destroy
+the mills and all other property that could be of use to the
+enemy, but not to make any wanton destruction.
+
+At this point Sherman came up, having reached Graysville with
+his troops, where he found Palmer had preceded him.  Palmer had
+picked up many prisoners and much abandoned property on the
+route.  I went back in the evening to Graysville with Sherman,
+remained there over night and did not return to Chattanooga
+until the following night, the 29th.  I then found that Thomas
+had not yet started Granger, thus having lost a full day which I
+deemed of so much importance in determining the fate of
+Knoxville.  Thomas and Granger were aware that on the 23d of the
+month Burnside had telegraphed that his supplies would last for
+ten or twelve days and during that time he could hold out
+against Longstreet, but if not relieved within the time
+indicated he would be obliged to surrender or attempt to
+retreat.  To effect a retreat would have been an
+impossibility.  He was already very low in ammunition, and with
+an army pursuing he would not have been able to gather supplies.
+
+Finding that Granger had not only not started but was very
+reluctant to go, he having decided for himself that it was a
+very bad move to make, I sent word to General Sherman of the
+situation and directed him to march to the relief of
+Knoxville.  I also gave him the problem that we had to
+solve--that Burnside had now but four to six days supplies left,
+and that he must be relieved within that time.
+
+Sherman, fortunately, had not started on his return from
+Graysville, having sent out detachments on the railroad which
+runs from Dalton to Cleveland and Knoxville to thoroughly
+destroy that road, and these troops had not yet returned to
+camp.  I was very loath to send Sherman, because his men needed
+rest after their long march from Memphis and hard fighting at
+Chattanooga. But I had become satisfied that Burnside would not
+be rescued if his relief depended upon General Granger's
+movements.
+
+Sherman had left his camp on the north side of the Tennessee
+River, near Chattanooga, on the night of the 23d, the men having
+two days' cooked rations in their haversacks.  Expecting to be
+back in their tents by that time and to be engaged in battle
+while out, they took with them neither overcoats nor blankets.
+The weather was already cold, and at night they must have
+suffered more or less.  The two days' rations had already lasted
+them five days; and they were now to go through a country which
+had been run over so much by Confederate troops that there was
+but little probability of finding much food.  They did, however,
+succeed in capturing some flour.  They also found a good deal of
+bran in some of the mills, which the men made up into bread; and
+in this and other ways they eked out an existence until they
+could reach Knoxville.
+
+I was so very anxious that Burnside should get news of the steps
+being taken for his relief, and thus induce him to hold out a
+little longer if it became necessary, that I determined to send
+a message to him.  I therefore sent a member of my staff,
+Colonel J. H. Wilson, to get into Knoxville if he could report
+to Burnside the situation fully, and give him all the
+encouragement possible.  Mr. Charles A. Dana was at Chattanooga
+during the battle, and had been there even before I assumed
+command.  Mr. Dana volunteered to accompany Colonel Wilson, and
+did accompany him.  I put the information of what was being done
+for the relief of Knoxville into writing, and directed that in
+some way or other it must be secretly managed so as to have a
+copy of this fall into the hands of General Longstreet.  They
+made the trip safely; General Longstreet did learn of Sherman's
+coming in advance of his reaching there, and Burnside was
+prepared to hold out even for a longer time if it had been
+necessary.
+
+Burnside had stretched a boom across the Holston River to catch
+scows and flats as they floated down.  On these, by previous
+arrangements with the loyal people of East Tennessee, were
+placed flour and corn, with forage and provisions generally, and
+were thus secured for the use of the Union troops.  They also
+drove cattle into Knoxville by the east side, which was not
+covered by the enemy; so that when relief arrived Burnside had
+more provisions on hand than when he had last reported.
+
+Our total loss (not including Burnside's) in all these
+engagements amounted to 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330
+missing.  We captured 6,142 prisoners--about 50 per cent. more
+than the enemy reported for their total loss--40 pieces of
+artillery, 69 artillery carriages and caissons and over 7,000
+stands of small-arms.  The enemy's loss in arms was probably
+much greater than here reported, because we picked up a great
+many that were found abandoned.
+
+I had at Chattanooga, in round numbers, about 60,000 men.  Bragg
+had about half this number, but his position was supposed to be
+impregnable.  It was his own fault that he did not have more men
+present.  He had sent Longstreet away with his corps swelled by
+reinforcements up to over twenty thousand men, thus reducing his
+own force more than one-third and depriving himself of the
+presence of the ablest general of his command.  He did this,
+too, after our troops had opened a line of communication by way
+of Brown's and Kelly's ferries with Bridgeport, thus securing
+full rations and supplies of every kind; and also when he knew
+reinforcements were coming to me.  Knoxville was of no earthly
+use to him while Chattanooga was in our hands.  If he should
+capture Chattanooga, Knoxville with its garrison would have
+fallen into his hands without a struggle.  I have never been
+able to see the wisdom of this move.
+
+Then, too, after Sherman had arrived, and when Bragg knew that
+he was on the north side of the Tennessee River, he sent
+Buckner's division to reinforce Longstreet.  He also started
+another division a day later, but our attack having commenced
+before it reached Knoxville Bragg ordered it back.  It had got
+so far, however, that it could not return to Chattanooga in time
+to be of service there.  It is possible this latter blunder may
+have been made by Bragg having become confused as to what was
+going on on our side.  Sherman had, as already stated, crossed
+to the north side of the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, in
+full view of Bragg's troops from Lookout Mountain, a few days
+before the attack.  They then disappeared behind foot hills, and
+did not come to the view of the troops on Missionary Ridge until
+they met their assault.  Bragg knew it was Sherman's troops that
+had crossed, and, they being so long out of view, may have
+supposed that they had gone up the north bank of the Tennessee
+River to the relief of Knoxville and that Longstreet was
+therefore in danger.  But the first great blunder, detaching
+Longstreet, cannot be accounted for in any way I know of.  If he
+had captured Chattanooga, East Tennessee would have fallen
+without a struggle.  It would have been a victory for us to have
+got our army away from Chattanooga safely.  It was a manifold
+greater victory to drive away the besieging army; a still
+greater one to defeat that army in his chosen ground and nearly
+annihilate it.
+
+The probabilities are that our loss in killed was the heavier,
+as we were the attacking party.  The enemy reported his loss in
+killed at 361:  but as he reported his missing at 4,146, while
+we held over 6,000 of them as prisoners, and there must have
+been hundreds if not thousands who deserted, but little reliance
+can be placed on this report.  There was certainly great
+dissatisfaction with Bragg on the part of the soldiers for his
+harsh treatment of them, and a disposition to get away if they
+could.  Then, too, Chattanooga, following in the same half year
+with Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West, there was
+much the same feeling in the South at this time that there had
+been in the North the fall and winter before.  If the same
+license had been allowed the people and press in the South that
+was allowed in the North, Chattanooga would probably have been
+the last battle fought for the preservation of the Union.
+
+General William F. Smith's services in these battles had been
+such that I thought him eminently entitled to promotion.  I was
+aware that he had previously been named by the President for
+promotion to the grade of major-general, but that the Senate had
+rejected the nomination.  I was not aware of the reasons for this
+course, and therefore strongly recommended him for a
+major-generalcy.  My recommendation was heeded and the
+appointment made.
+
+Upon the raising of the siege of Knoxville I, of course,
+informed the authorities at Washington--the President and
+Secretary of War--of the fact, which caused great rejoicing
+there.  The President especially was rejoiced that Knoxville had
+been relieved (*18) without further bloodshed.  The safety of
+Burnside's army and the loyal people of East Tennessee had been
+the subject of much anxiety to the President for several months,
+during which time he was doing all he could to relieve the
+situation; sending a new commander (*19) with a few thousand
+troops by the way of Cumberland Gap, and telegraphing me daily,
+almost hourly, to "remember Burnside," "do something for
+Burnside," and other appeals of like tenor.  He saw no escape
+for East Tennessee until after our victory at Chattanooga. Even
+then he was afraid that Burnside might be out of ammunition, in
+a starving condition, or overpowered:  and his anxiety was still
+intense until he heard that Longstreet had been driven from the
+field.
+
+Burnside followed Longstreet only to Strawberry Plains, some
+twenty miles or more east, and then stopped, believing that
+Longstreet would leave the State.  The latter did not do so,
+however, but stopped only a short distance farther on and
+subsisted his army for the entire winter off East Tennessee.
+Foster now relieved Burnside.  Sherman made disposition of his
+troops along the Tennessee River in accordance with
+instructions.  I left Thomas in command at Chattanooga, and,
+about the 20th of December, moved my headquarters to Nashville,
+Tennessee.
+
+Nashville was the most central point from which to communicate
+with my entire military division, and also with the authorities
+at Washington.  While remaining at Chattanooga I was liable to
+have my telegraphic communications cut so as to throw me out of
+communication with both my command and Washington.
+
+Nothing occurred at Nashville worthy of mention during the
+winter, (*20) so I set myself to the task of having troops in
+positions from which they could move to advantage, and in
+collecting all necessary supplies so as to be ready to claim a
+due share of the enemy's attention upon the appearance of the
+first good weather in the spring.  I expected to retain the
+command I then had, and prepared myself for the campaign against
+Atlanta. I also had great hopes of having a campaign made against
+Mobile from the Gulf.  I expected after Atlanta fell to occupy
+that place permanently, and to cut off Lee's army from the West
+by way of the road running through Augusta to Atlanta and thence
+south-west.  I was preparing to hold Atlanta with a small
+garrison, and it was my expectation to push through to Mobile if
+that city was in our possession:  if not, to Savannah; and in
+this manner to get possession of the only east and west railroad
+that would then be left to the enemy.  But the spring campaign
+against Mobile was not made.
+
+The Army of the Ohio had been getting supplies over Cumberland
+Gap until their animals had nearly all starved.  I now
+determined to go myself to see if there was any possible chance
+of using that route in the spring, and if not to abandon it.
+Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter part of December by
+rail for Chattanooga. From Chattanooga I took one of the little
+steamers previously spoken of as having been built there, and,
+putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch
+with the Tennessee.  From that point the railroad had been
+repaired up to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains.  I
+went by rail therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for
+several days.  General John G. Foster was then commanding the
+Department of the Ohio.  It was an intensely cold winter, the
+thermometer being down as low as zero every morning for more
+than a week while I was at Knoxville and on my way from there on
+horseback to Lexington, Kentucky, the first point where I could
+reach rail to carry me back to my headquarters at Nashville.
+
+The road over Cumberland Gap, and back of it, was strewn with
+debris of broken wagons and dead animals, much as I had found it
+on my first trip to Chattanooga over Waldron's Ridge.  The road
+had been cut up to as great a depth as clay could be by mules
+and wagons, and in that condition frozen; so that the ride of
+six days from Strawberry Plains to Lexington over these holes
+and knobs in the road was a very cheerless one, and very
+disagreeable.
+
+I found a great many people at home along that route, both in
+Tennessee and Kentucky, and, almost universally, intensely
+loyal.  They would collect in little places where we would stop
+of evenings, to see me, generally hearing of my approach before
+we arrived.  The people naturally expected to see the commanding
+general the oldest person in the party.  I was then forty-one
+years of age, while my medical director was gray-haired and
+probably twelve or more years my senior.  The crowds would
+generally swarm around him, and thus give me an opportunity of
+quietly dismounting and getting into the house.  It also gave me
+an opportunity of hearing passing remarks from one spectator to
+another about their general.  Those remarks were apt to be more
+complimentary to the cause than to the appearance of the
+supposed general, owing to his being muffled up, and also owing
+to the travel-worn condition we were all in after a hard day's
+ride.  I was back in Nashville by the 13th of January, 1864.
+
+When I started on this trip it was necessary for me to have some
+person along who could turn dispatches into cipher, and who could
+also read the cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive
+daily and almost hourly.  Under the rules of the War Department
+at that time, Mr. Stanton had taken entire control of the matter
+of regulating the telegraph and determining how it should be
+used, and of saying who, and who alone, should have the
+ciphers.  The operators possessed of the ciphers, as well as the
+ciphers used, were practically independent of the commanders whom
+they were serving immediately under, and had to report to the War
+Department through General Stager all the dispatches which they
+received or forwarded.
+
+I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator back at
+Nashville, because that was the point at which all dispatches to
+me would come, to be forwarded from there.  As I have said, it
+was necessary for me also to have an operator during this
+inspection who had possession of this cipher to enable me to
+telegraph to my division and to the War Department without my
+dispatches being read by all the operators along the line of
+wires over which they were transmitted.  Accordingly I ordered
+the cipher operator to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B.
+Comstock, of the Corps of Engineers, whom I had selected as a
+wise and discreet man who certainly could be trusted with the
+cipher if the operator at my headquarters could.
+
+The operator refused point blank to turn over the key to Captain
+Comstock as directed by me, stating that his orders from the War
+Department were not to give it to anybody--the commanding
+general or any one else.  I told him I would see whether he
+would or not.  He said that if he did he would be punished.  I
+told him if he did not he most certainly would be punished.
+Finally, seeing that punishment was certain if he refused longer
+to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even if he was not
+protected altogether from the consequences of his disobedience
+to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.  When I
+returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion.  The operator
+had been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved.  I
+informed the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in
+charge of the telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be
+relieved, for he had only obeyed my orders.  It was absolutely
+necessary for me to have the cipher, and the man would most
+certainly have been punished if he had not delivered it; that
+they would have to punish me if they punished anybody, or words
+to that effect.
+
+This was about the only thing approaching a disagreeable
+difference between the Secretary of War and myself that occurred
+until the war was over, when we had another little spat.  Owing
+to his natural disposition to assume all power and control in
+all matters that he had anything whatever to do with, he boldly
+took command of the armies, and, while issuing no orders on the
+subject, prohibited any order from me going out of the
+adjutant-general's office until he had approved it.  This was
+done by directing the adjutant-general to hold any orders that
+came from me to be issued from the adjutant-general's office
+until he had examined them and given his approval.  He never
+disturbed himself, either, in examining my orders until it was
+entirely convenient for him; so that orders which I had prepared
+would often lie there three or four days before he would sanction
+them.  I remonstrated against this in writing, and the Secretary
+apologetically restored me to my rightful position of
+General-in-Chief of the Army.  But he soon lapsed again and took
+control much as before.
+
+After the relief of Knoxville Sherman had proposed to Burnside
+that he should go with him to drive Longstreet out of Tennessee;
+but Burnside assured him that with the troops which had been
+brought by Granger, and which were to be left, he would be amply
+prepared to dispose of Longstreet without availing himself of
+this offer.  As before stated Sherman's command had left their
+camps north of the Tennessee, near Chattanooga, with two days'
+rations in their haversacks, without coats or blankets, and
+without many wagons, expecting to return to their camps by the
+end of that time.  The weather was now cold and they were
+suffering, but still they were ready to make the further
+sacrifice, had it been required, for the good of the cause which
+had brought them into service.  Sherman, having accomplished the
+object for which he was sent, marched back leisurely to his old
+camp on the Tennessee River.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE
+--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE
+UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
+
+Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to
+distribute his forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north
+to Nashville; Sherman suggested that he be permitted to go back
+to Mississippi, to the limits of his own department and where
+most of his army still remained, for the purpose of clearing out
+what Confederates might still be left on the east bank of the
+Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our boats.  He
+expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the same
+thing on the west shore.  Of course I approved heartily.
+
+About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where
+Hurlbut commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered
+them collected and sent to Vicksburg.  He then went to Vicksburg
+and out to where McPherson was in command, and had him organize
+his surplus troops so as to give him about 20,000 men in all.
+
+Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian
+with his headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a
+considerable force of cavalry scattered west of him.  He
+determined, therefore, to move directly upon Meridian.
+
+I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to
+Sherman's department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman
+got to Memphis.  Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered
+him to reinforce Smith so as to give the latter a force of about
+7,000 with which to go against Forrest, who was then known to be
+south-east from Memphis.  Smith was ordered to move about the
+1st of February.
+
+While Sherman was waiting at Vicksburg for the arrival of
+Hurlbut with his surplus men, he sent out scouts to ascertain
+the position and strength of the enemy and to bring back all the
+information they could gather.  When these scouts returned it was
+through them that he got the information of General Polk's being
+at Meridian, and of the strength and disposition of his command.
+
+Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly
+well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very
+effective.  Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest,
+but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful
+experience such as Forrest's men had had.  The fact is, troops
+who have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their
+victories, improve upon what they were before to an extent that
+can hardly be counted by percentage.  The difference in result
+is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat.  This
+same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are
+officered, and for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest
+had carried on neither army could present a more effective
+officer than he was.
+
+Sherman got off on the 3d of February and moved out on his
+expedition, meeting with no opposition whatever until he crossed
+the Big Black, and with no great deal of opposition after that
+until he reached Jackson, Mississippi.  This latter place he
+reached on the 6th or 7th, Brandon on the 8th, and Morton on the
+9th.  Up to this time he moved in two columns to enable him to
+get a good supply of forage, etc., and expedite the march. Here,
+however, there were indications of the concentration of
+Confederate infantry, and he was obliged to keep his army close
+together.  He had no serious engagement; but he met some of the
+enemy who destroyed a few of his wagons about Decatur,
+Mississippi, where, by the way, Sherman himself came near being
+picked up.
+
+He entered Meridian on the 14th of the month, the enemy having
+retreated toward Demopolis, Alabama. He spent several days in
+Meridian in thoroughly destroying the railroad to the north and
+south, and also for the purpose of hearing from Sooy Smith, who
+he supposed had met Forrest before this time and he hoped had
+gained a decisive victory because of a superiority of numbers.
+Hearing nothing of him, however, he started on his return trip
+to Vicksburg.  There he learned that Smith, while waiting for a
+few of his men who had been ice-bound in the Ohio River, instead
+of getting off on the 1st as expected, had not left until the
+11th.  Smith did meet Forrest, but the result was decidedly in
+Forrest's favor.
+
+Sherman had written a letter to Banks, proposing a co-operative
+movement with him against Shreveport, subject to my approval.  I
+disapproved of Sherman's going himself, because I had other
+important work for him to do, but consented that he might send a
+few troops to the aid of Banks, though their time to remain
+absent must be limited.  We must have them for the spring
+campaign.  The trans-Mississippi movement proved abortive.
+
+My eldest son, who had accompanied me on the Vicksburg campaign
+and siege, had while there contracted disease, which grew worse,
+until he had grown so dangerously ill that on the 24th of January
+I obtained permission to go to St. Louis, where he was staying at
+the time, to see him, hardly expecting to find him alive on my
+arrival.  While I was permitted to go, I was not permitted to
+turn over my command to any one else, but was directed to keep
+the headquarters with me and to communicate regularly with all
+parts of my division and with Washington, just as though I had
+remained at Nashville.
+
+When I obtained this leave I was at Chattanooga, having gone
+there again to make preparations to have the troops of Thomas in
+the southern part of Tennessee co-operate with Sherman's movement
+in Mississippi.  I directed Thomas, and Logan who was at
+Scottsboro, Alabama, to keep up a threatening movement to the
+south against J. E. Johnston, who had again relieved Bragg, for
+the purpose of making him keep as many troops as possible there.
+
+I learned through Confederate sources that Johnston had already
+sent two divisions in the direction of Mobile, presumably to
+operate against Sherman, and two more divisions to Longstreet in
+East Tennessee.  Seeing that Johnston had depleted in this way, I
+directed Thomas to send at least ten thousand men, besides
+Stanley's division which was already to the east, into East
+Tennessee, and notified Schofield, who was now in command in
+East Tennessee, of this movement of troops into his department
+and also of the reinforcements Longstreet had received.  My
+object was to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee as a part
+of the preparations for my spring campaign.
+
+About this time General Foster, who had been in command of the
+Department of the Ohio after Burnside until Schofield relieved
+him (*21), advised me that he thought it would be a good thing
+to keep Longstreet just where he was; that he was perfectly
+quiet in East Tennessee, and if he was forced to leave there,
+his whole well-equipped army would be free to go to any place
+where it could effect the most for their cause.  I thought the
+advice was good, and, adopting that view, countermanded the
+orders for pursuit of Longstreet.
+
+On the 12th of February I ordered Thomas to take Dalton and hold
+it, if possible; and I directed him to move without delay.
+Finding that he had not moved, on the 17th I urged him again to
+start, telling him how important it was, that the object of the
+movement was to co-operate with Sherman, who was moving eastward
+and might be in danger.  Then again on the 21st, he not yet
+having started, I asked him if he could not start the next
+day.  He finally got off on the 22d or 23d.  The enemy fell back
+from his front without a battle, but took a new position quite as
+strong and farther to the rear.  Thomas reported that he could
+not go any farther, because it was impossible with his poor
+teams, nearly starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads
+were repaired.  He soon fell back.
+
+Schofield also had to return for the same reason.  He could not
+carry supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the
+supplies still left in the country.  Longstreet, in his retreat,
+would be moving towards his supplies, while our forces,
+following, would be receding from theirs.  On the 2d of March,
+however, I learned of Sherman's success, which eased my mind
+very much.  The next day, the 3d, I was ordered to Washington.
+
+The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army
+had passed through Congress and became a law on the 26th of
+February.  My nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st
+of March and confirmed the next day (the 2d).  I was ordered to
+Washington on the 3d to receive my commission, and started the
+day following that.  The commission was handed to me on the
+9th.  It was delivered to me at the Executive Mansion by
+President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest son,
+those of my staff who were with me and and a few other visitors.
+
+The President in presenting my commission read from a
+paper--stating, however, as a preliminary, and prior to the
+delivery of it, that he had drawn that up on paper, knowing my
+disinclination to speak in public, and handed me a copy in
+advance so that I might prepare a few lines of reply.  The
+President said:
+
+"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done,
+and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the
+existing great struggle, are now presented, with this commission
+constituting you lieutenant-general in the Army of the United
+States.  With this high honor, devolves upon you, also, a
+corresponding responsibility.  As the country herein trusts you,
+so, under God, it will sustain you.  I scarcely need to add,
+that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty
+personal concurrence."
+
+To this I replied:  "Mr. President, I accept the commission,
+with gratitude for the high honor conferred.  With the aid of
+the noble armies that have fought in so many fields for our
+common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint
+your expectations.  I feel the full weight of the
+responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know that if they
+are met, it will be due to those armies, and above all, to the
+favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."
+
+On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the
+Potomac at Brandy Station; then returned to Washington, and
+pushed west at once to make my arrangements for turning over the
+commands there and giving general directions for the preparations
+to be made for the spring campaign.
+
+It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even
+if I was made lieutenant-general; but when I got to Washington
+and saw the situation it was plain that here was the point for
+the commanding general to be.  No one else could, probably,
+resist the pressure that would be brought to bear upon him to
+desist from his own plans and pursue others.  I determined,
+therefore, before I started back to have Sherman advanced to my
+late position, McPherson to Sherman's in command of the
+department, and Logan to the command of McPherson's corps. These
+changes were all made on my recommendation and without
+hesitation.  My commission as lieutenant-general was given to me
+on the 9th of March, 1864.  On the following day, as already
+stated, I visited General Meade, commanding the Army of the
+Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy Station, north of the
+Rapidan.  I had known General Meade slightly in the Mexican war,
+but had not met him since until this visit.  I was a stranger to
+most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except the
+officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican
+war.  There had been some changes ordered in the organization of
+that army before my promotion.  One was the consolidation of five
+corps into three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of
+important commands.  Meade evidently thought that I might want
+to make still one more change not yet ordered.  He said to me
+that I might want an officer who had served with me in the West,
+mentioning Sherman specially, to take his place.  If so, he
+begged me not to hesitate about making the change.  He urged
+that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole
+nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand
+in the way of selecting the right men for all positions.  For
+himself, he would serve to the best of his ability wherever
+placed.  I assured him that I had no thought of substituting any
+one for him.  As to Sherman, he could not be spared from the
+West.
+
+This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade
+than did his great victory at Gettysburg the July before.  It is
+men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we
+may always expect the most efficient service.
+
+Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to
+him.  He was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous
+to my taking command of all the armies, was in supreme command
+of the Army of the Potomac--except from the authorities at
+Washington.  All other general officers occupying similar
+positions were independent in their commands so far as any one
+present with them was concerned.  I tried to make General
+Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been
+if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his
+command.  I therefore gave all orders for the movements of the
+Army of the Potomac to Meade to have them executed.  To avoid
+the necessity of having to give orders direct, I established my
+headquarters near his, unless there were reasons for locating
+them elsewhere.  This sometimes happened, and I had on occasions
+to give orders direct to the troops affected.  On the 11th I
+returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were
+published by the War Department placing me in command of all the
+armies.  I had left Washington the night before to return to my
+old command in the West and to meet Sherman whom I had
+telegraphed to join me in Nashville.
+
+Sherman assumed command of the military division of the
+Mississippi on the 18th of March, and we left Nashville together
+for Cincinnati.  I had Sherman accompany me that far on my way
+back to Washington so that we could talk over the matters about
+which I wanted to see him, without losing any more time from my
+new command than was necessary.  The first point which I wished
+to discuss was particularly about the co-operation of his
+command with mine when the spring campaign should commence.
+There were also other and minor points, minor as compared with
+the great importance of the question to be decided by sanguinary
+war--the restoration to duty of officers who had been relieved
+from important commands, namely McClellan, Burnside and Fremont
+in the East, and Buell, McCook, Negley and Crittenden in the
+West.
+
+Some time in the winter of 1863-64 I had been invited by the
+general-in-chief to give my views of the campaign I thought
+advisable for the command under me--now Sherman's.  General J.
+E. Johnston was defending Atlanta and the interior of Georgia
+with an army, the largest part of which was stationed at Dalton,
+about 38 miles south of Chattanooga. Dalton is at the junction of
+the railroad from Cleveland with the one from Chattanooga to
+Atlanta.
+
+There could have been no difference of opinion as to the first
+duty of the armies of the military division of the
+Mississippi.  Johnston's army was the first objective, and that
+important railroad centre, Atlanta, the second.  At the time I
+wrote General Halleck giving my views of the approaching
+campaign, and at the time I met General Sherman, it was expected
+that General Banks would be through with the campaign which he
+had been ordered upon before my appointment to the command of
+all the armies, and would be ready to co-operate with the armies
+east of the Mississippi, his part in the programme being to move
+upon Mobile by land while the navy would close the harbor and
+assist to the best of its ability. (*22) The plan therefore was
+for Sherman to attack Johnston and destroy his army if possible,
+to capture Atlanta and hold it, and with his troops and those of
+Banks to hold a line through to Mobile, or at least to hold
+Atlanta and command the railroad running east and west, and the
+troops from one or other of the armies to hold important points
+on the southern road, the only east and west road that would be
+left in the possession of the enemy.  This would cut the
+Confederacy in two again, as our gaining possession of the
+Mississippi River had done before.  Banks was not ready in time
+for the part assigned to him, and circumstances that could not
+be foreseen determined the campaign which was afterwards made,
+the success and grandeur of which has resounded throughout all
+lands.
+
+In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from
+important commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after
+those who had been removed in the West while I looked out for
+the rest.  I directed, however, that he should make no
+assignment until I could speak to the Secretary of War about the
+matter.  I shortly after recommended to the Secretary the
+assignment of General Buell to duty.  I received the assurance
+that duty would be offered to him; and afterwards the Secretary
+told me that he had offered Buell an assignment and that the
+latter had declined it, saying that it would be degradation to
+accept the assignment offered.  I understood afterwards that he
+refused to serve under either Sherman or Canby because he had
+ranked them both.  Both graduated before him and ranked him in
+the old army.  Sherman ranked him as a brigadier-general.  All
+of them ranked me in the old army, and Sherman and Buell did as
+brigadiers.  The worst excuse a soldier can make for declining
+service is that he once ranked the commander he is ordered to
+report to.
+
+On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th
+took up my headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles
+south of the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.
+
+Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the
+President, I never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital
+to receive my commission as lieutenant-general.  I knew him,
+however, very well and favorably from the accounts given by
+officers under me at the West who had known him all their
+lives.  I had also read the remarkable series of debates between
+Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were rival
+candidates for the United States Senate.  I was then a resident
+of Missouri, and by no means a "Lincoln man" in that contest;
+but I recognized then his great ability.
+
+In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me
+that he had never professed to be a military man or to know how
+campaigns should be conducted, and never wanted to interfere in
+them:  but that procrastination on the part of commanders, and
+the pressure from the people at the North and Congress, WHICH
+WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, forced him into issuing his series of
+"Military Orders"--one, two, three, etc.  He did not know but
+they were all wrong, and did know that some of them were.  All
+he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the
+responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance
+needed, pledging himself to use all the power of the government
+in rendering such assistance.  Assuring him that I would do the
+best I could with the means at hand, and avoid as far as
+possible annoying him or the War Department, our first interview
+ended.
+
+The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I
+knew him better.
+
+While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held
+conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being
+otherwise used.  He and General Halleck both cautioned me against
+giving the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so
+kind-hearted, so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that
+some friend would be sure to get from him all he knew.  I should
+have said that in our interview the President told me he did not
+want to know what I proposed to do.  But he submitted a plan of
+campaign of his own which he wanted me to hear and then do as I
+pleased about.  He brought out a map of Virginia on which he had
+evidently marked every position occupied by the Federal and
+Confederate armies up to that time.  He pointed out on the map
+two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the
+army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of
+these streams.  We would then have the Potomac to bring our
+supplies, and the tributaries would protect our flanks while we
+moved out.  I listened respectfully, but did not suggest that
+the same streams would protect Lee's flanks while he was
+shutting us up.
+
+I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to
+the Secretary of War or to General Halleck.
+
+March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated, at Culpeper, and
+the work of preparing for an early campaign commenced.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+When I assumed command of all the armies the situation was about
+this:  the Mississippi River was guarded from St. Louis to its
+mouth; the line of the Arkansas was held, thus giving us all the
+North-west north of that river.  A few points in Louisiana not
+remote from the river were held by the Federal troops, as was
+also the mouth of the Rio Grande.  East of the Mississippi we
+held substantially all north of the Memphis and Charleston
+Railroad as far east as Chattanooga, thence along the line of
+the Tennessee and Holston rivers, taking in nearly all of the
+State of Tennessee.  West Virginia was in our hands; and that
+part of old Virginia north of the Rapidan and east of the Blue
+Ridge we also held.  On the sea-coast we had Fortress Monroe and
+Norfolk in Virginia; Plymouth, Washington and New Berne in North
+Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris islands, Hilton Head, Port
+Royal and Fort Pulaski in South Carolina and Georgia;
+Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West and Pensacola in Florida.
+The balance of the Southern territory, an empire in extent, was
+still in the hands of the enemy.
+
+Sherman, who had succeeded me in the command of the military
+division of the Mississippi, commanded all the troops in the
+territory west of the Alleghanies and north of Natchez, with a
+large movable force about Chattanooga. His command was
+subdivided into four departments, but the commanders all
+reported to Sherman and were subject to his orders.  This
+arrangement, however, insured the better protection of all lines
+of communication through the acquired territory, for the reason
+that these different department commanders could act promptly in
+case of a sudden or unexpected raid within their respective
+jurisdictions without awaiting the orders of the division
+commander.
+
+In the East the opposing forces stood in substantially the same
+relations towards each other as three years before, or when the
+war began; they were both between the Federal and Confederate
+capitals.  It is true, footholds had been secured by us on the
+sea-coast, in Virginia and North Carolina, but, beyond that, no
+substantial advantage had been gained by either side.  Battles
+had been fought of as great severity as had ever been known in
+war, over ground from the James River and Chickahominy, near
+Richmond, to Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, with
+indecisive results, sometimes favorable to the National army,
+sometimes to the Confederate army; but in every instance, I
+believe, claimed as victories for the South by the Southern
+press if not by the Southern generals.  The Northern press, as a
+whole, did not discourage these claims; a portion of it always
+magnified rebel success and belittled ours, while another
+portion, most sincerely earnest in their desire for the
+preservation of the Union and the overwhelming success of the
+Federal armies, would nevertheless generally express
+dissatisfaction with whatever victories were gained because they
+were not more complete.
+
+That portion of the Army of the Potomac not engaged in guarding
+lines of communication was on the northern bank of the
+Rapidan.  The Army of Northern Virginia confronting it on the
+opposite bank of the same river, was strongly intrenched and
+commanded by the acknowledged ablest general in the Confederate
+army.  The country back to the James River is cut up with many
+streams, generally narrow, deep, and difficult to cross except
+where bridged.  The region is heavily timbered, and the roads
+narrow, and very bad after the least rain.  Such an enemy was
+not, of course, unprepared with adequate fortifications at
+convenient intervals all the way back to Richmond, so that when
+driven from one fortified position they would always have
+another farther to the rear to fall back into.
+
+To provision an army, campaigning against so formidable a foe
+through such a country, from wagons alone seemed almost
+impossible.  System and discipline were both essential to its
+accomplishment.
+
+The Union armies were now divided into nineteen departments,
+though four of them in the West had been concentrated into a
+single military division.  The Army of the Potomac was a
+separate command and had no territorial limits.  There were thus
+seventeen distinct commanders.  Before this time these various
+armies had acted separately and independently of each other,
+giving the enemy an opportunity often of depleting one command,
+not pressed, to reinforce another more actively engaged.  I
+determined to stop this.  To this end I regarded the Army of the
+Potomac as the centre, and all west to Memphis along the line
+described as our position at the time, and north of it, the
+right wing; the Army of the James, under General Butler, as the
+left wing, and all the troops south, as a force in rear of the
+enemy.  Some of these latter were occupying positions from which
+they could not render service proportionate to their numerical
+strength.  All such were depleted to the minimum necessary to
+hold their positions as a guard against blockade runners; where
+they could not do this their positions were abandoned
+altogether.  In this way ten thousand men were added to the Army
+of the James from South Carolina alone, with General Gillmore in
+command.  It was not contemplated that General Gillmore should
+leave his department; but as most of his troops were taken,
+presumably for active service, he asked to accompany them and
+was permitted to do so.  Officers and soldiers on furlough, of
+whom there were many thousands, were ordered to their proper
+commands; concentration was the order of the day, and to have it
+accomplished in time to advance at the earliest moment the roads
+would permit was the problem.
+
+As a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or to act in
+support of it, the 9th army corps, over twenty thousand strong,
+under General Burnside, had been rendezvoused at Annapolis,
+Maryland.  This was an admirable position for such a
+reinforcement.  The corps could be brought at the last moment as
+a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or it could be thrown
+on the sea-coast, south of Norfolk, in Virginia or North
+Carolina, to operate against Richmond from that direction.  In
+fact Burnside and the War Department both thought the 9th corps
+was intended for such an expedition up to the last moment.
+
+My general plan now was to concentrate all the force possible
+against the Confederate armies in the field.  There were but two
+such, as we have seen, east of the Mississippi River and facing
+north.  The Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee
+commanding, was on the south bank of the Rapidan, confronting
+the Army of the Potomac; the second, under General Joseph E.
+Johnston, was at Dalton, Georgia, opposed to Sherman who was
+still at Chattanooga. Beside these main armies the Confederates
+had to guard the Shenandoah Valley, a great storehouse to feed
+their armies from, and their line of communications from
+Richmond to Tennessee.  Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry
+general, was in the West with a large force; making a larger
+command necessary to hold what we had gained in Middle and West
+Tennessee.  We could not abandon any territory north of the line
+held by the enemy because it would lay the Northern States open
+to invasion.  But as the Army of the Potomac was the principal
+garrison for the protection of Washington even while it was
+moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of
+the James, guarded their special trusts when advancing from them
+as well as when remaining at them.  Better indeed, for they
+forced the enemy to guard his own lines and resources at a
+greater distance from ours, and with a greater force.  Little
+expeditions could not so well be sent out to destroy a bridge or
+tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a storehouse, or
+inflict other little annoyances.  Accordingly I arranged for a
+simultaneous movement all along the line.  Sherman was to move
+from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his
+objective points.(*23) Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was
+to move from the mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force
+and some artillery, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to be
+his objective.  Either the enemy would have to keep a large
+force to protect their communications, or see them destroyed and
+a large amount of forage and provision, which they so much
+needed, fall into our hands.  Sigel was in command in the Valley
+of Virginia. He was to advance up the valley, covering the North
+from an invasion through that channel as well while advancing as
+by remaining near Harper's Ferry.  Every mile he advanced also
+gave us possession of stores on which Lee relied.  Butler was to
+advance by the James River, having Richmond and Petersburg as his
+objective.
+
+Before the advance commenced I visited Butler at Fort Monroe.
+This was the first time I had ever met him.  Before giving him
+any order as to the part he was to play in the approaching
+campaign I invited his views.  They were very much such as I
+intended to direct, and as I did direct (*24), in writing,
+before leaving.
+
+General W. F. Smith, who had been promoted to the rank of
+major-general shortly after the battle of Chattanooga on my
+recommendation, had not yet been confirmed.  I found a decided
+prejudice against his confirmation by a majority of the Senate,
+but I insisted that his services had been such that he should be
+rewarded.  My wishes were now reluctantly complied with, and I
+assigned him to the command of one of the corps under General
+Butler.  I was not long in finding out that the objections to
+Smith's promotion were well founded.
+
+In one of my early interviews with the President I expressed my
+dissatisfaction with the little that had been accomplished by
+the cavalry so far in the war, and the belief that it was
+capable of accomplishing much more than it had done if under a
+thorough leader.  I said I wanted the very best man in the army
+for that command.  Halleck was present and spoke up, saying:
+"How would Sheridan do?"  I replied:  "The very man I want." 
+The President said I could have anybody I wanted.  Sheridan was
+telegraphed for that day, and on his arrival was assigned to the
+command of the cavalry corps with the Army of the Potomac.  This
+relieved General Alfred Pleasonton.  It was not a reflection on
+that officer, however, for I did not know but that he had been
+as efficient as any other cavalry commander.
+
+Banks in the Department of the Gulf was ordered to assemble all
+the troops he had at New Orleans in time to join in the general
+move, Mobile to be his objective.
+
+At this time I was not entirely decided as to whether I should
+move the Army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy, or
+by his left.  Each plan presented advantages. (*25)  If by his
+right--my left--the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries
+would furnish us an easy hauling distance of every position the
+army could occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee
+could, if he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a
+line rather interior to the one I would have to take in
+following.  A movement by his left--our right--would obviate
+this; but all that was done would have to be done with the
+supplies and ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting
+this latter plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of
+supplies possible to take with us was considered.  The country
+over which we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or
+forage that we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison consisted of a regiment of
+colored troops, infantry, and a detachment of Tennessee
+cavalry.  These troops fought bravely, but were overpowered.  I
+will leave Forrest in his dispatches to tell what he did with
+them.
+
+"The river was dyed," he says, "with the blood of the
+slaughtered for two hundred yards.  The approximate loss was
+upward of five hundred killed, but few of the officers
+escaping.  My loss was about twenty killed.  It is hoped that
+these facts will demonstrate to the Northern people that negro
+soldiers cannot cope with Southerners."  Subsequently Forrest
+made a report in which he left out the part which shocks
+humanity to read.
+
+At the East, also, the rebels were busy.  I had said to Halleck
+that Plymouth and Washington, North Carolina, were unnecessary
+to hold.  It would be better to have the garrisons engaged there
+added to Butler's command.  If success attended our arms both
+places, and others too, would fall into our hands naturally.
+These places had been occupied by Federal troops before I took
+command of the armies, and I knew that the Executive would be
+reluctant to abandon them, and therefore explained my views; but
+before my views were carried out the rebels captured the garrison
+at Plymouth.  I then ordered the abandonment of Washington, but
+directed the holding of New Berne at all hazards.  This was
+essential because New Berne was a port into which blockade
+runners could enter.
+
+General Banks had gone on an expedition up the Red River long
+before my promotion to general command.  I had opposed the
+movement strenuously, but acquiesced because it was the order of
+my superior at the time.  By direction of Halleck I had
+reinforced Banks with a corps of about ten thousand men from
+Sherman's command.  This reinforcement was wanted back badly
+before the forward movement commenced.  But Banks had got so far
+that it seemed best that he should take Shreveport on the Red
+River, and turn over the line of that river to Steele, who
+commanded in Arkansas, to hold instead of the line of the
+Arkansas.  Orders were given accordingly, and with the
+expectation that the campaign would be ended in time for Banks
+to return A. J. Smith's command to where it belonged and get
+back to New Orleans himself in time to execute his part in the
+general plan.  But the expedition was a failure.  Banks did not
+get back in time to take part in the programme as laid down. Nor
+was Smith returned until long after the movements of May, 1864,
+had been begun.  The services of forty thousand veteran troops,
+over and above the number required to hold all that was
+necessary in the Department of the Gulf, were thus paralyzed. It
+is but just to Banks, however, to say that his expedition was
+ordered from Washington and he was in no way responsible except
+for the conduct of it.  I make no criticism on this point.  He
+opposed the expedition.
+
+By the 27th of April spring had so far advanced as to justify me
+in fixing a day for the great move.  On that day Burnside left
+Annapolis to occupy Meade's position between Bull Run and the
+Rappahannock.  Meade was notified and directed to bring his
+troops forward to his advance.  On the following day Butler was
+notified of my intended advance on the 4th of May, and he was
+directed to move the night of the same day and get as far up the
+James River as possible by daylight, and push on from there to
+accomplish the task given him.  He was also notified that
+reinforcements were being collected in Washington City, which
+would be forwarded to him should the enemy fall back into the
+trenches at Richmond.  The same day Sherman was directed to get
+his forces up ready to advance on the 5th.  Sigel was in
+Winchester and was notified to move in conjunction with the
+others.
+
+The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the
+Rapidan to the James River that all the loss of life could have
+been obviated by moving the army there on transports.  Richmond
+was fortified and intrenched so perfectly that one man inside to
+defend was more than equal to five outside besieging or
+assaulting.  To get possession of Lee's army was the first great
+object.  With the capture of his army Richmond would necessarily
+follow.  It was better to fight him outside of his stronghold
+than in it.  If the Army of the Potomac had been moved bodily to
+the James River by water Lee could have moved a part of his
+forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to
+reinforce it, and with the balance moved on to Washington. Then,
+too, I ordered a move, simultaneous with that of the Army of the
+Potomac, up the James River by a formidable army already
+collected at the mouth of the river.
+
+While my headquarters were at Culpeper, from the 26th of March
+to the 4th of May, I generally visited Washington once a week to
+confer with the Secretary of War and President.  On the last
+occasion, a few days before moving, a circumstance occurred
+which came near postponing my part in the campaign altogether.
+Colonel John S. Mosby had for a long time been commanding a
+partisan corps, or regiment, which operated in the rear of the
+Army of the Potomac.  On my return to the field on this
+occasion, as the train approached Warrenton Junction, a heavy
+cloud of dust was seen to the east of the road as if made by a
+body of cavalry on a charge.  Arriving at the junction the train
+was stopped and inquiries made as to the cause of the dust. There
+was but one man at the station, and he informed us that Mosby had
+crossed a few minutes before at full speed in pursuit of Federal
+cavalry.  Had he seen our train coming, no doubt he would have
+let his prisoners escape to capture the train.  I was on a
+special train, if I remember correctly, without any guard.
+
+Since the close of the war I have come to know Colonel Mosby
+personally, and somewhat intimately.  He is a different man
+entirely from what I had supposed.  He is slender, not tall,
+wiry, and looks as if he could endure any amount of physical
+exercise.  He is able, and thoroughly honest and truthful. There
+were probably but few men in the South who could have commanded
+successfully a separate detachment in the rear of an opposing
+army, and so near the border of hostilities, as long as he did
+without losing his entire command.
+
+On this same visit to Washington I had my last interview with
+the President before reaching the James River.  He had of course
+become acquainted with the fact that a general movement had been
+ordered all along the line, and seemed to think it a new feature
+in war.  I explained to him that it was necessary to have a great
+number of troops to guard and hold the territory we had captured,
+and to prevent incursions into the Northern States.  These troops
+could perform this service just as well by advancing as by
+remaining still; and by advancing they would compel the enemy to
+keep detachments to hold them back, or else lay his own territory
+open to invasion.  His answer was:  "Oh, yes!  I see that.  As we
+say out West, if a man can't skin he must hold a leg while
+somebody else does."
+
+There was a certain incident connected with the Wilderness
+campaign of which it may not be out of place to speak; and to
+avoid a digression further on I will mention it here.
+
+A few days before my departure from Culpeper the Honorable E. B.
+Washburne visited me there, and remained with my headquarters for
+some distance south, through the battle in the Wilderness and, I
+think, to Spottsylvania. He was accompanied by a Mr. Swinton,
+whom he presented as a literary gentleman who wished to
+accompany the army with a view of writing a history of the war
+when it was over.  He assured me--and I have no doubt Swinton
+gave him the assurance--that he was not present as a
+correspondent of the press.  I expressed an entire willingness
+to have him (Swinton) accompany the army, and would have allowed
+him to do so as a correspondent, restricted, however, in the
+character of the information he could give.  We received
+Richmond papers with about as much regularity as if there had
+been no war, and knew that our papers were received with equal
+regularity by the Confederates.  It was desirable, therefore,
+that correspondents should not be privileged spies of the enemy
+within our lines.
+
+Probably Mr. Swinton expected to be an invited guest at my
+headquarters, and was disappointed that he was not asked to
+become so.  At all events he was not invited, and soon I found
+that he was corresponding with some paper (I have now forgotten
+which one), thus violating his word either expressed or
+implied.  He knew of the assurance Washburne had given as to the
+character of his mission.  I never saw the man from the day of
+our introduction to the present that I recollect.  He
+accompanied us, however, for a time at least.
+
+The second night after crossing the Rapidan (the night of the
+5th of May) Colonel W. R. Rowley, of my staff, was acting as
+night officer at my headquarters.  A short time before midnight
+I gave him verbal instructions for the night.  Three days later
+I read in a Richmond paper a verbatim report of these
+instructions.
+
+A few nights still later (after the first, and possibly after
+the second, day's fighting in the Wilderness) General Meade came
+to my tent for consultation, bringing with him some of his staff
+officers.  Both his staff and mine retired to the camp-fire some
+yards in front of the tent, thinking our conversation should be
+private.  There was a stump a little to one side, and between
+the front of the tent and camp-fire.  One of my staff, Colonel
+T. S. Bowers, saw what he took to be a man seated on the ground
+and leaning against the stump, listening to the conversation
+between Meade and myself.  He called the attention of Colonel
+Rowley to it.  The latter immediately took the man by the
+shoulder and asked him, in language more forcible than polite,
+what he was doing there.  The man proved to be Swinton, the
+"historian," and his replies to the question were evasive and
+unsatisfactory, and he was warned against further eaves-dropping.
+
+The next I heard of Mr. Swinton was at Cold Harbor.  General
+Meade came to my headquarters saying that General Burnside had
+arrested Swinton, who at some previous time had given great
+offence, and had ordered him to be shot that afternoon.  I
+promptly ordered the prisoner to be released, but that he must
+be expelled from the lines of the army not to return again on
+pain of punishment.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+The armies were now all ready to move for the accomplishment of
+a single object.  They were acting as a unit so far as such a
+thing was possible over such a vast field.  Lee, with the
+capital of the Confederacy, was the main end to which all were
+working.  Johnston, with Atlanta, was an important obstacle in
+the way of our accomplishing the result aimed at, and was
+therefore almost an independent objective.  It was of less
+importance only because the capture of Johnston and his army
+would not produce so immediate and decisive a result in closing
+the rebellion as would the possession of Richmond, Lee and his
+army.  All other troops were employed exclusively in support of
+these two movements.  This was the plan; and I will now endeavor
+to give, as concisely as I can, the method of its execution,
+outlining first the operations of minor detached but
+co-operative columns.
+
+As stated before, Banks failed to accomplish what he had been
+sent to do on the Red River, and eliminated the use of forty
+thousand veterans whose cooperation in the grand campaign had
+been expected--ten thousand with Sherman and thirty thousand
+against Mobile.
+
+Sigel's record is almost equally brief.  He moved out, it is
+true, according to programme; but just when I was hoping to hear
+of good work being done in the valley I received instead the
+following announcement from Halleck:  "Sigel is in full retreat
+on Strasburg.  He will do nothing but run; never did anything
+else."  The enemy had intercepted him about New Market and
+handled him roughly, leaving him short six guns, and some nine
+hundred men out of his six thousand.
+
+The plan had been for an advance of Sigel's forces in two
+columns.  Though the one under his immediate command failed
+ingloriously the other proved more fortunate.  Under Crook and
+Averell his western column advanced from the Gauley in West
+Virginia at the appointed time, and with more happy results.
+They reached the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin and
+destroyed a depot of supplies, besides tearing up several miles
+of road and burning the bridge over New River.  Having
+accomplished this they recrossed the Alleghanies to Meadow
+Bluffs and there awaited further orders.
+
+Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his command, except the
+cavalry and some artillery which moved up the south bank of the
+James River.  His steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and
+York River as if threatening the rear of Lee's army.  At
+midnight they turned back, and Butler by daylight was far up the
+James River.  He seized City Point and Bermuda Hundred early in
+the day, without loss and, no doubt, very much to the surprise
+of the enemy.
+
+This was the accomplishment of the first step contemplated in my
+instructions to Butler.  He was to act from here, looking to
+Richmond as his objective point.  I had given him to understand
+that I should aim to fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond
+if he would stand; but should Lee fall back into Richmond I
+would follow up and make a junction of the armies of the Potomac
+and the James on the James River.  He was directed to secure a
+footing as far up the south side of the river as he could at as
+early a date as possible.
+
+Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had begun
+intrenching, and on the 7th he sent out his cavalry from Suffolk
+to cut the Weldon Railroad.  He also sent out detachments to
+destroy the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, but no
+great success attended these latter efforts.  He made no great
+effort to establish himself on that road and neglected to attack
+Petersburg, which was almost defenceless.  About the 11th he
+advanced slowly until he reached the works at Drury's Bluff,
+about half way between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond.  In the
+mean time Beauregard had been gathering reinforcements.  On the
+16th he attacked Butler with great vigor, and with such success
+as to limit very materially the further usefulness of the Army
+of the James as a distinct factor in the campaign.  I afterward
+ordered a portion of it to join the Army of the Potomac, leaving
+a sufficient force with Butler to man his works, hold securely
+the footing he had already gained and maintain a threatening
+front toward the rear of the Confederate capital.
+
+The position which General Butler had chosen between the two
+rivers, the James and Appomattox, was one of great natural
+strength, one where a large area of ground might be thoroughly
+inclosed by means of a single intrenched line, and that a very
+short one in comparison with the extent of territory which it
+thoroughly protected.  His right was protected by the James
+River, his left by the Appomattox, and his rear by their
+junction--the two streams uniting near by.  The bends of the two
+streams shortened the line that had been chosen for
+intrenchments, while it increased the area which the line
+inclosed.
+
+Previous to ordering any troops from Butler I sent my chief
+engineer, General Barnard, from the Army of the Potomac to that
+of the James to inspect Butler's position and ascertain whether
+I could again safely make an order for General Butler's movement
+in co-operation with mine, now that I was getting so near
+Richmond; or, if I could not, whether his position was strong
+enough to justify me in withdrawing some of his troops and
+having them brought round by water to White House to join me and
+reinforce the Army of the Potomac.  General Barnard reported the
+position very strong for defensive purposes, and that I could do
+the latter with great security; but that General Butler could not
+move from where he was, in co-operation, to produce any effect.
+He said that the general occupied a place between the James and
+Appomattox rivers which was of great strength, and where with an
+inferior force he could hold it for an indefinite length of time
+against a superior; but that he could do nothing offensively.  I
+then asked him why Butler could not move out from his lines and
+push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to the rear and
+on the south side of Richmond.  He replied that it was
+impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line
+across the neck of land that General Butler had.  He then took
+out his pencil and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that
+the position was like a bottle and that Butler's line of
+intrenchments across the neck represented the cork; that the
+enemy had built an equally strong line immediately in front of
+him across the neck; and it was therefore as if Butler was in a
+bottle.  He was perfectly safe against an attack; but, as
+Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a
+small force could hold the cork in its place.  This struck me as
+being very expressive of his position, particularly when I saw
+the hasty sketch which General Barnard had drawn; and in making
+my subsequent report I used that expression without adding
+quotation marks, never thinking that anything had been said that
+would attract attention--as this did, very much to the annoyance,
+no doubt, of General Butler and, I know, very much to my own.  I
+found afterwards that this was mentioned in the notes of General
+Badeau's book, which, when they were shown to me, I asked to have
+stricken out; yet it was retained there, though against my
+wishes.
+
+I make this statement here because, although I have often made
+it before, it has never been in my power until now to place it
+where it will correct history; and I desire to rectify all
+injustice that I may have done to individuals, particularly to
+officers who were gallantly serving their country during the
+trying period of the war for the preservation of the Union.
+General Butler certainly gave his very earnest support to the
+war; and he gave his own best efforts personally to the
+suppression of the rebellion.
+
+The further operations of the Army of the James can best be
+treated of in connection with those of the Army of the Potomac,
+the two being so intimately associated and connected as to be
+substantially one body in which the individuality of the
+supporting wing is merged.
+
+Before giving the reader a summary of Sherman's great Atlanta
+campaign, which must conclude my description of the various
+co-operative movements preparatory to proceeding with that of
+the operations of the centre, I will briefly mention Sheridan's
+first raid upon Lee's communications which, though an incident
+of the operations on the main line and not specifically marked
+out in the original plan, attained in its brilliant execution
+and results all the proportions of an independent campaign.  By
+thus anticipating, in point of time, I will be able to more
+perfectly observe the continuity of events occurring in my
+immediate front when I shall have undertaken to describe our
+advance from the Rapidan.
+
+On the 8th of May, just after the battle of the Wilderness and
+when we were moving on Spottsylvania I directed Sheridan
+verbally to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac, pass around
+the left of Lee's army and attack his cavalry:  to cut the two
+roads--one running west through Gordonsville, Charlottesville
+and Lynchburg, the other to Richmond, and, when compelled to do
+so for want of forage and rations, to move on to the James River
+and draw these from Butler's supplies.  This move took him past
+the entire rear of Lee's army.  These orders were also given in
+writing through Meade.
+
+The object of this move was three-fold.  First, if successfully
+executed, and it was, he would annoy the enemy by cutting his
+line of supplies and telegraphic communications, and destroy or
+get for his own use supplies in store in the rear and coming
+up.  Second, he would draw the enemy's cavalry after him, and
+thus better protect our flanks, rear and trains than by
+remaining with the army.  Third, his absence would save the
+trains drawing his forage and other supplies from
+Fredericksburg, which had now become our base.  He started at
+daylight the next morning, and accomplished more than was
+expected.  It was sixteen days before he got back to the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+The course Sheridan took was directly to Richmond.  Before night
+Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, came on to the rear
+of his command.  But the advance kept on, crossed the North
+Anna, and at Beaver Dam, a station on the Virginia Central
+Railroad, recaptured four hundred Union prisoners on their way
+to Richmond, destroyed the road and used and destroyed a large
+amount of subsistence and medical stores.
+
+Stuart, seeing that our cavalry was pushing towards Richmond,
+abandoned the pursuit on the morning of the 10th and, by a
+detour and an exhausting march, interposed between Sheridan and
+Richmond at Yellow Tavern, only about six miles north of the
+city.  Sheridan destroyed the railroad and more supplies at
+Ashland, and on the 11th arrived in Stuart's front.  A severe
+engagement ensued in which the losses were heavy on both sides,
+but the rebels were beaten, their leader mortally wounded, and
+some guns and many prisoners were captured.
+
+Sheridan passed through the outer defences of Richmond, and
+could, no doubt, have passed through the inner ones.  But having
+no supports near he could not have remained.  After caring for
+his wounded he struck for the James River below the city, to
+communicate with Butler and to rest his men and horses as well
+as to get food and forage for them.
+
+He moved first between the Chickahominy and the James, but in
+the morning (the 12th) he was stopped by batteries at
+Mechanicsville.  He then turned to cross to the north side of
+the Chickahominy by Meadow Bridge.  He found this barred, and
+the defeated Confederate cavalry, reorganized, occupying the
+opposite side.  The panic created by his first entrance within
+the outer works of Richmond having subsided troops were sent out
+to attack his rear.
+
+He was now in a perilous position, one from which but few
+generals could have extricated themselves.  The defences of
+Richmond, manned, were to the right, the Chickahominy was to the
+left with no bridge remaining and the opposite bank guarded, to
+the rear was a force from Richmond.  This force was attacked and
+beaten by Wilson's and Gregg's divisions, while Sheridan turned
+to the left with the remaining division and hastily built a
+bridge over the Chickahominy under the fire of the enemy, forced
+a crossing and soon dispersed the Confederates he found there.
+The enemy was held back from the stream by the fire of the
+troops not engaged in bridge building.
+
+On the 13th Sheridan was at Bottom's Bridge, over the
+Chickahominy.  On the 14th he crossed this stream and on that
+day went into camp on the James River at Haxall's Landing.  He
+at once put himself into communication with General Butler, who
+directed all the supplies he wanted to be furnished.
+
+Sheridan had left the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, but
+did not know where either this or Lee's army was now.  Great
+caution therefore had to be exercised in getting back.  On the
+17th, after resting his command for three days, he started on
+his return.  He moved by the way of White House.  The bridge
+over the Pamunkey had been burned by the enemy, but a new one
+was speedily improvised and the cavalry crossed over it.  On the
+22d he was at Aylett's on the Matapony, where he learned the
+position of the two armies.  On the 24th he joined us on the
+march from North Anna to Cold Harbor, in the vicinity of
+Chesterfield.
+
+Sheridan in this memorable raid passed entirely around Lee's
+army:  encountered his cavalry in four engagements, and defeated
+them in all; recaptured four hundred Union prisoners and killed
+and captured many of the enemy; destroyed and used many supplies
+and munitions of war; destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph,
+and freed us from annoyance by the cavalry of the enemy for more
+than two weeks.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+After separating from Sherman in Cincinnati I went on to
+Washington, as already stated, while he returned to Nashville to
+assume the duties of his new command.  His military division was
+now composed of four departments and embraced all the territory
+west of the Alleghany Mountains and east of the Mississippi
+River, together with the State of Arkansas in the
+trans-Mississippi.  The most easterly of these was the
+Department of the Ohio, General Schofield commanding; the next
+was the Department of the Cumberland, General Thomas commanding;
+the third the Department of the Tennessee, General McPherson
+commanding; and General Steele still commanded the
+trans-Mississippi, or Department of Arkansas.  The last-named
+department was so far away that Sherman could not communicate
+with it very readily after starting on his spring campaign, and
+it was therefore soon transferred from his military division to
+that of the Gulf, where General Canby, who had relieved General
+Banks, was in command.
+
+The movements of the armies, as I have stated in a former
+chapter, were to be simultaneous, I fixing the day to start when
+the season should be far enough advanced, it was hoped, for the
+roads to be in a condition for the troops to march.
+
+General Sherman at once set himself to work preparing for the
+task which was assigned him to accomplish in the spring
+campaign.  McPherson lay at Huntsville with about twenty-four
+thousand men, guarding those points of Tennessee which were
+regarded as most worth holding; Thomas, with over sixty thousand
+men of the Army of the Cumberland, was at Chattanooga; and
+Schofield, with about fourteen thousand men, was at Knoxville.
+With these three armies, numbering about one hundred thousand
+men in all, Sherman was to move on the day fixed for the general
+advance, with a view of destroying Johnston's army and capturing
+Atlanta. He visited each of these commands to inform himself as
+to their condition, and it was found to be, speaking generally,
+good.
+
+One of the first matters to turn his attention to was that of
+getting, before the time arrived for starting, an accumulation
+of supplies forward to Chattanooga, sufficiently large to
+warrant a movement.  He found, when he got to that place, that
+the trains over the single-track railroad, which was frequently
+interrupted for a day or two at a time, were only sufficient to
+meet the daily wants of the troops without bringing forward any
+surplus of any kind.  He found, however, that trains were being
+used to transport all the beef cattle, horses for the cavalry,
+and even teams that were being brought to the front.  He at once
+changed all this, and required beef cattle, teams, cavalry
+horses, and everything that could travel, even the troops, to be
+marched, and used the road exclusively for transporting
+supplies.  In this way he was able to accumulate an abundance
+before the time finally fixed upon for the move, the 4th of May.
+
+As I have said already, Johnston was at Dalton, which was nearly
+one-fourth of the way between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The
+country is mountainous all the way to Atlanta, abounding in
+mountain streams, some of them of considerable volume.  Dalton
+is on ground where water drains towards Atlanta and into one of
+the main streams rising north-east from there and flowing
+south-west--this being the general direction which all the main
+streams of that section take, with smaller tributaries entering
+into them.  Johnston had been preparing himself for this
+campaign during the entire winter.  The best positions for
+defence had been selected all the way from Dalton back to
+Atlanta, and very strongly intrenched; so that, as he might be
+forced to fall back from one position, he would have another to
+fall into in his rear.  His position at Dalton was so very
+strongly intrenched that no doubt he expected, or at least
+hoped, to hold Sherman there and prevent him from getting any
+further.  With a less skilful general, and one disposed to take
+no risks, I have no doubt that he would have succeeded.
+
+Sherman's plan was to start Schofield, who was farthest back, a
+few days in advance from Knoxville, having him move on the
+direct road to Dalton.  Thomas was to move out to Ringgold.  It
+had been Sherman's intention to cross McPherson over the
+Tennessee River at Huntsville or Decatur, and move him south
+from there so as to have him come into the road running from
+Chattanooga to Atlanta a good distance to the rear of the point
+Johnston was occupying; but when that was contemplated it was
+hoped that McPherson alone would have troops enough to cope with
+Johnston, if the latter should move against him while unsupported
+by the balance of the army.  In this he was disappointed.  Two of
+McPherson's veteran divisions had re-enlisted on the express
+provision that they were to have a furlough.  This furlough had
+not yet expired, and they were not back.
+
+Then, again, Sherman had lent Banks two divisions under A. J.
+Smith, the winter before, to co-operate with the
+trans-Mississippi forces, and this with the express pledge that
+they should be back by a time specified, so as to be prepared
+for this very campaign.  It is hardly necessary to say they were
+not returned.  That department continued to absorb troops to no
+purpose to the end of the war.  This left McPherson so weak that
+the part of the plan above indicated had to be changed.  He was
+therefore brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a
+road to the right of Thomas--the two coming together about
+Dalton.  The three armies were abreast, all ready to start
+promptly on time.
+
+Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it
+was useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even
+to carry it by regular approaches was impracticable.  There was
+a narrowing up in the mountain, between the National and
+Confederate armies, through which a stream, a wagon road and a
+railroad ran.  Besides, the stream had been dammed so that the
+valley was a lake.  Through this gorge the troops would have to
+pass.  McPherson was therefore sent around by the right, to come
+out by the way of Snake Creek Gap into the rear of the enemy.
+This was a surprise to Johnston, and about the 13th he decided
+to abandon his position at Dalton.
+
+On the 15th there was very hard fighting about Resaca; but our
+cavalry having been sent around to the right got near the road
+in the enemy's rear.  Again Johnston fell back, our army
+pursuing.  The pursuit was continued to Kingston, which was
+reached on the 19th with very little fighting, except that
+Newton's division overtook the rear of Johnston's army and
+engaged it.  Sherman was now obliged to halt for the purpose of
+bringing up his railroad trains.  He was depending upon the
+railroad for all of his supplies, and as of course the railroad
+was wholly destroyed as Johnston fell back, it had to be
+rebuilt.  This work was pushed forward night and day, and caused
+much less delay than most persons would naturally expect in a
+mountainous country where there were so many bridges to be
+rebuilt.
+
+The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate
+skill, the enemy being flanked out of one position after another
+all the way there.  It is true this was not accomplished without
+a good deal of fighting--some of it very hard fighting, rising
+to the dignity of very important battles--neither were single
+positions gained in a day.  On the contrary, weeks were spent at
+some; and about Atlanta more than a month was consumed.
+
+It was the 23d of May before the road was finished up to the
+rear of Sherman's army and the pursuit renewed.  This pursuit
+brought him up to the vicinity of Allatoona. This place was very
+strongly intrenched, and naturally a very defensible position. An
+assault upon it was not thought of, but preparations were made to
+flank the enemy out of it.  This was done by sending a large
+force around our right, by the way of Dallas, to reach the rear
+of the enemy.  Before reaching there, however, they found the
+enemy fortified in their way, and there resulted hard fighting
+for about a week at a place called New Hope Church.  On the left
+our troops also were fortified, and as close up to the enemy as
+they could get.  They kept working still farther around to the
+left toward the railroad.  This was the case more particularly
+with the cavalry.  By the 4th of June Johnston found that he was
+being hemmed in so rapidly that he drew off and Allatoona was
+left in our possession.
+
+Allatoona, being an important place, was strongly intrenched for
+occupation by our troops before advancing farther, and made a
+secondary base of supplies.  The railroad was finished up to
+that point, the intrenchments completed, storehouses provided
+for food, and the army got in readiness for a further advance.
+The rains, however, were falling in such torrents that it was
+impossible to move the army by the side roads which they would
+have to move upon in order to turn Johnston out of his new
+position.
+
+While Sherman's army lay here, General F. P. Blair returned to
+it, bringing with him the two divisions of veterans who had been
+on furlough.
+
+Johnston had fallen back to Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain, where
+strong intrenchments awaited him.  At this latter place our
+troops made an assault upon the enemy's lines after having got
+their own lines up close to him, and failed, sustaining
+considerable loss.  But during the progress of the battle
+Schofield was gaining ground to the left; and the cavalry on his
+left were gaining still more toward the enemy's rear.  These
+operations were completed by the 3d of July, when it was found
+that Johnston had evacuated the place.  He was pursued at
+once.  Sherman had made every preparation to abandon the
+railroad, leaving a strong guard in his intrenchments.  He had
+intended, moving out with twenty days' rations and plenty of
+ammunition, to come in on the railroad again at the
+Chattahoochee River.  Johnston frustrated this plan by himself
+starting back as above stated.  This time he fell back to the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+About the 5th of July he was besieged again, Sherman getting
+easy possession of the Chattahoochee River both above and below
+him.  The enemy was again flanked out of his position, or so
+frightened by flanking movements that on the night of the 9th he
+fell back across the river.
+
+Here Johnston made a stand until the 17th, when Sherman's old
+tactics prevailed again and the final movement toward Atlanta
+began.  Johnston was now relieved of the command, and Hood
+superseded him.
+
+Johnston's tactics in this campaign do not seem to have met with
+much favor, either in the eyes of the administration at Richmond,
+or of the people of that section of the South in which he was
+commanding.  The very fact of a change of commanders being
+ordered under such circumstances was an indication of a change
+of policy, and that now they would become the aggressors--the
+very thing our troops wanted.
+
+For my own part, I think that Johnston's tactics were right.
+Anything that could have prolonged the war a year beyond the
+time that it did finally close, would probably have exhausted
+the North to such an extent that they might then have abandoned
+the contest and agreed to a separation.
+
+Atlanta was very strongly intrenched all the way around in a
+circle about a mile and a half outside of the city.  In addition
+to this, there were advanced intrenchments which had to be taken
+before a close siege could be commenced.
+
+Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy
+was about to assume the offensive.  On the 20th he came out and
+attacked the Army of the Cumberland most furiously.  Hooker's
+corps, and Newton's and Johnson's divisions were the principal
+ones engaged in this contest, which lasted more than an hour;
+but the Confederates were then forced to fall back inside their
+main lines.  The losses were quite heavy on both sides.  On this
+day General Gresham, since our Postmaster-General, was very badly
+wounded.  During the night Hood abandoned his outer lines, and
+our troops were advanced.  The investment had not been
+relinquished for a moment during the day.
+
+During the night of the 21st Hood moved out again, passing by
+our left flank, which was then in motion to get a position
+farther in rear of him, and a desperate battle ensued, which
+lasted most of the day of the 22d.  At first the battle went
+very much in favor of the Confederates, our troops being
+somewhat surprised.  While our troops were advancing they were
+struck in flank, and their flank was enveloped.  But they had
+become too thorough veterans to be thrown into irreparable
+confusion by an unexpected attack when off their guard, and soon
+they were in order and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now
+of knowing where their antagonist was.  The field of battle
+continued to expand until it embraced about seven miles of
+ground.  Finally, however, and before night, the enemy was
+driven back into the city (*26).
+
+It was during this battle that McPherson, while passing from one
+column to another, was instantly killed.  In his death the army
+lost one of its ablest, purest and best generals.
+
+Garrard had been sent out with his cavalry to get upon the
+railroad east of Atlanta and to cut it in the direction of
+Augusta. He was successful in this, and returned about the time
+of the battle.  Rousseau had also come up from Tennessee with a
+small division of cavalry, having crossed the Tennessee River
+about Decatur and made a raid into Alabama. Finally, when hard
+pressed, he had come in, striking the railroad in rear of
+Sherman, and reported to him about this time.
+
+The battle of the 22d is usually known as the Battle of Atlanta,
+although the city did not fall into our hands until the 2d of
+September.  Preparations went on, as before, to flank the enemy
+out of his position.  The work was tedious, and the lines that
+had to be maintained were very long.  Our troops were gradually
+worked around to the east until they struck the road between
+Decatur and Atlanta. These lines were strongly fortified, as
+were those to the north and west of the city--all as close up to
+the enemy's lines as practicable--in order to hold them with the
+smallest possible number of men, the design being to detach an
+army to move by our right and try to get upon the railroad down
+south of Atlanta.
+
+On the 27th the movement by the right flank commenced.  On the
+28th the enemy struck our right flank, General Logan commanding,
+with great vigor.  Logan intrenched himself hastily, and by that
+means was enabled to resist all assaults and inflict a great
+deal of damage upon the enemy.  These assaults were continued to
+the middle of the afternoon, and resumed once or twice still
+later in the day.  The enemy's losses in these unsuccessful
+assaults were fearful.
+
+During that evening the enemy in Logan's front withdrew into the
+town.  This now left Sherman's army close up to the Confederate
+lines, extending from a point directly east of the city around
+by the north and west of it for a distance of fully ten miles;
+the whole of this line being intrenched, and made stronger every
+day they remained there.
+
+In the latter part of July Sherman sent Stoneman to destroy the
+railroads to the south, about Macon.  He was then to go east
+and, if possible, release our prisoners about Andersonville.
+There were painful stories current at the time about the great
+hardships these prisoners had to endure in the way of general
+bad treatment, in the way in which they were housed, and in the
+way in which they were fed.  Great sympathy was felt for them;
+and it was thought that even if they could be turned loose upon
+the country it would be a great relief to them.  But the attempt
+proved a failure.  McCook, who commanded a small brigade, was
+first reported to have been captured; but he got back, having
+inflicted a good deal of damage upon the enemy.  He had also
+taken some prisoners; but encountering afterwards a largely
+superior force of the enemy he was obliged to drop his prisoners
+and get back as best he could with what men he had left.  He had
+lost several hundred men out of his small command.  On the 4th
+of August Colonel Adams, commanding a little brigade of about a
+thousand men, returned reporting Stoneman and all but himself as
+lost.  I myself had heard around Richmond of the capture of
+Stoneman, and had sent Sherman word, which he received.  The
+rumor was confirmed there, also, from other sources.  A few days
+after Colonel Adams's return Colonel Capron also got in with a
+small detachment and confirmed the report of the capture of
+Stoneman with something less than a thousand men.
+
+It seems that Stoneman, finding the escape of all his force was
+impossible, had made arrangements for the escape of two
+divisions.  He covered the movement of these divisions to the
+rear with a force of about seven hundred men, and at length
+surrendered himself and this detachment to the commanding
+Confederate.  In this raid, however, much damage was inflicted
+upon the enemy by the destruction of cars, locomotives, army
+wagons, manufactories of military supplies, etc.
+
+On the 4th and 5th Sherman endeavored to get upon the railroad
+to our right, where Schofield was in command, but these attempts
+failed utterly.  General Palmer was charged with being the cause
+of this failure, to a great extent, by both General Sherman and
+General Schofield; but I am not prepared to say this, although a
+question seems to have arisen with Palmer as to whether Schofield
+had any right to command him.  If he did raise this question
+while an action was going on, that act alone was exceedingly
+reprehensible.
+
+About the same time Wheeler got upon our railroad north of
+Resaca and destroyed it nearly up to Dalton.  This cut Sherman
+off from communication with the North for several days.  Sherman
+responded to this attack on his lines of communication by
+directing one upon theirs.
+
+Kilpatrick started on the night of the 18th of August to reach
+the Macon road about Jonesboro.  He succeeded in doing so,
+passed entirely around the Confederate lines of Atlanta, and was
+back again in his former position on our left by the 22d.  These
+little affairs, however, contributed but very little to the
+grand result.  They annoyed, it is true, but any damage thus
+done to a railroad by any cavalry expedition is soon repaired.
+
+Sherman made preparations for a repetition of his tactics; that
+is, for a flank movement with as large a force as could be got
+together to some point in the enemy's rear.  Sherman commenced
+this last movement on the 25th of August, and on the 1st of
+September was well up towards the railroad twenty miles south of
+Atlanta.  Here he found Hardee intrenched, ready to meet him.  A
+battle ensued, but he was unable to drive Hardee away before
+night set in.  Under cover of the night, however, Hardee left of
+his own accord.  That night Hood blew up his military works, such
+as he thought would be valuable in our hands, and decamped.
+
+The next morning at daylight General H. W. Slocum, who was
+commanding north of the city, moved in and took possession of
+Atlanta, and notified Sherman.  Sherman then moved deliberately
+back, taking three days to reach the city, and occupied a line
+extending from Decatur on the left to Atlanta in the centre,
+with his troops extending out of the city for some distance to
+the right.
+
+The campaign had lasted about four months, and was one of the
+most memorable in history.  There was but little if anything in
+the whole campaign, now that it is over, to criticise at all,
+and nothing to criticise severely.  It was creditable alike to
+the general who commanded and the army which had executed it.
+Sherman had on this campaign some bright, wide-awake division
+and brigade commanders whose alertness added a host to the
+efficiency of his command.
+
+The troops now went to work to make themselves comfortable, and
+to enjoy a little rest after their arduous campaign.  The city
+of Atlanta was turned into a military base.  The citizens were
+all compelled to leave.  Sherman also very wisely prohibited the
+assembling of the army of sutlers and traders who always follow
+in the wake of an army in the field, if permitted to do so, from
+trading with the citizens and getting the money of the soldiers
+for articles of but little use to them, and for which they are
+made to pay most exorbitant prices.  He limited the number of
+these traders to one for each of his three armies.
+
+The news of Sherman's success reached the North instantaneously,
+and set the country all aglow.  This was the first great
+political campaign for the Republicans in their canvass of
+1864.  It was followed later by Sheridan's campaign in the
+Shenandoah Valley; and these two campaigns probably had more
+effect in settling the election of the following November than
+all the speeches, all the bonfires, and all the parading with
+banners and bands of music in the North.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+Soon after midnight, May 3d-4th, the Army of the Potomac moved
+out from its position north Rapidan, to start upon that
+memorable campaign, destined to result in the capture of the
+Confederate capital and the army defending it.  This was not to
+be accomplished, however, without as desperate fighting as the
+world has ever witnessed; not to be consummated in a day, a
+week, a month, single season.  The losses inflicted, and
+endured, were destined to be severe; but the armies now
+confronting each other had already been in deadly conflict for a
+period of three years, with immense losses in killed, by death
+from sickness, captured and wounded; and neither had made any
+real progress accomplishing the final end.  It is true the
+Confederates had, so far, held their capital, and they claimed
+this to be their sole object.  But previously they had boldly
+proclaimed their intention to capture Philadelphia, New York,
+and the National Capital, and had made several attempts to do
+so, and once or twice had come fearfully near making their boast
+good--too near for complacent contemplation by the loyal North.
+They had also come near losing their own capital on at least one
+occasion.  So here was a stand-off.  The campaign now begun was
+destined to result in heavier losses, to both armies, in a given
+time, than any previously suffered; but the carnage was to be
+limited to a single year, and to accomplish all that had been
+anticipated or desired at the beginning in that time.  We had to
+have hard fighting to achieve this.  The two armies had been
+confronting each other so long, without any decisive result,
+that they hardly knew which could whip.
+
+Ten days' rations, with a supply of forage and ammunition were
+taken in wagons.  Beef cattle were driven with the trains, and
+butchered as wanted.  Three days rations in addition, in
+haversacks, and fifty rounds of cartridges, were carried on the
+person of each soldier.
+
+The country over which the army had to operate, from the Rapidan
+to the crossing of the James River, is rather flat, and is cut by
+numerous streams which make their way to the Chesapeake Bay.  The
+crossings of these streams by the army were generally made not
+far above tide-water, and where they formed a considerable obstacle
+to the rapid advance of troops even when the enemy did not
+appear in opposition.  The country roads were narrow and poor. 
+Most of the country is covered with a dense forest, in places,
+like the Wilderness and along the Chickahominy, almost
+impenetrable even for infantry except along the roads.  All
+bridges were naturally destroyed before the National troops came
+to them.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was composed of three infantry and one
+cavalry corps, commanded respectively by Generals W. S. Hancock,
+G. K. Warren, (*27) John Sedgwick and P. H. Sheridan.  The
+artillery was commanded by General Henry J. Hunt.  This arm was
+in such abundance that the fourth of it could not be used to
+advantage in such a country as we were destined to pass
+through.  The surplus was much in the way, taking up as it did
+so much of the narrow and bad roads, and consuming so much of
+the forage and other stores brought up by the trains.
+
+The 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was in advance on the
+right, and marched directly for Germania Ford, preceded by one
+division of cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson.  General
+Sedgwick followed Warren with the 6th corps.  Germania Ford was
+nine or ten miles below the right of Lee's line.  Hancock, with
+the 2d corps, moved by another road, farther east, directly upon
+Ely's Ford, six miles below Germania, preceded by Gregg's
+division of cavalry, and followed by the artillery.  Torbert's
+division of cavalry was left north of the Rapidan, for the time,
+to picket the river and prevent the enemy from crossing and
+getting into our rear.  The cavalry seized the two crossings
+before daylight, drove the enemy's pickets guarding them away,
+and by six o'clock A.M. had the pontoons laid ready for the
+crossing of the infantry and artillery.  This was undoubtedly a
+surprise to Lee.  The fact that the movement was unopposed
+proves this.
+
+Burnside, with the 9th corps, was left back at Warrenton,
+guarding the railroad from Bull Run forward to preserve control
+of it in case our crossing the Rapidan should be long delayed.
+He was instructed, however, to advance at once on receiving
+notice that the army had crossed; and a dispatch was sent to him
+a little after one P.M. giving the information that our crossing
+had been successful.
+
+The country was heavily wooded at all the points of crossing,
+particularly on the south side of the river.  The battle-field
+from the crossing of the Rapidan until the final movement from
+the Wilderness toward Spottsylvania was of the same character.
+There were some clearings and small farms within what might be
+termed the battle-field; but generally the country was covered
+with a dense forest.  The roads were narrow and bad.  All the
+conditions were favorable for defensive operations.
+
+There are two roads, good for that part of Virginia, running
+from Orange Court House to the battle-field.  The most southerly
+of these roads is known as the Orange Court House Plank Road, the
+northern one as the Orange Turnpike.  There are also roads from
+east of the battle-field running to Spottsylvania Court House,
+one from Chancellorsville, branching at Aldrich's; the western
+branch going by Piney Branch Church, Alsop's, thence by the
+Brock Road to Spottsylvania; the east branch goes by Gates's,
+thence to Spottsylvania.  The Brock Road runs from Germania Ford
+through the battle-field and on to the Court House.  As
+Spottsylvania is approached the country is cut up with numerous
+roads, some going to the town direct, and others crossing so as
+to connect the farms with roads going there.
+
+Lee's headquarters were at Orange Court House.  From there to
+Fredericksburg he had the use of the two roads above described
+running nearly parallel to the Wilderness.  This gave him
+unusual facilities, for that country, for concentrating his
+forces to his right.  These roads strike the road from Germania
+Ford in the Wilderness.
+
+As soon as the crossing of the infantry was assured, the cavalry
+pushed forward, Wilson's division by Wilderness Tavern to
+Parker's store, on the Orange Plank Road; Gregg to the left
+towards Chancellorsville.  Warren followed Wilson and reached
+the Wilderness Tavern by noon, took position there and
+intrenched.  Sedgwick followed Warren.  He was across the river
+and in camp on the south bank, on the right of Warren, by
+sundown.  Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved parallel with Warren
+and camped about six miles east of him.  Before night all the
+troops, and by the evening of the 5th the trains of more than
+four thousand wagons, were safely on the south side of the river.
+
+There never was a corps better organized than was the
+quartermaster's corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864. With
+a wagon-train that would have extended from the Rapidan to
+Richmond, stretched along in single file and separated as the
+teams necessarily would be when moving, we could still carry
+only three days' forage and about ten to twelve days' rations,
+besides a supply of ammunition.  To overcome all difficulties,
+the chief quartermaster, General Rufus Ingalls, had marked on
+each wagon the corps badge with the division color and the
+number of the brigade.  At a glance, the particular brigade to
+which any wagon belonged could be told.  The wagons were also
+marked to note the contents:  if ammunition, whether for
+artillery or infantry; if forage, whether grain or hay; if
+rations, whether, bread, pork, beans, rice, sugar, coffee or
+whatever it might be.  Empty wagons were never allowed to follow
+the army or stay in camp.  As soon as a wagon was empty it would
+return to the base of supply for a load of precisely the same
+article that had been taken from it.  Empty trains were obliged
+to leave the road free for loaded ones.  Arriving near the army
+they would be parked in fields nearest to the brigades they
+belonged to.  Issues, except of ammunition, were made at night
+in all cases.  By this system the hauling of forage for the
+supply train was almost wholly dispensed with.  They consumed
+theirs at the depots.
+
+I left Culpeper Court House after all the troops had been put in
+motion, and passing rapidly to the front, crossed the Rapidan in
+advance of Sedgwick's corps; and established headquarters for
+the afternoon and night in a deserted house near the river.
+
+Orders had been given, long before this movement began, to cut
+down the baggage of officers and men to the lowest point
+possible.  Notwithstanding this I saw scattered along the road
+from Culpeper to Germania Ford wagon-loads of new blankets and
+overcoats, thrown away by the troops to lighten their knapsacks;
+an improvidence I had never witnessed before.
+
+Lee, while his pickets and signal corps must have discovered at
+a very early hour on the morning of the 4th of May, that the
+Army of the Potomac was moving, evidently did not learn until
+about one o'clock in the afternoon by what route we would
+confront his army.  This I judge from the fact that at 1.15
+P.M., an hour and a quarter after Warren had reached Old
+Wilderness Tavern, our officers took off rebel signals which,
+when translated, were seen to be an order to his troops to
+occupy their intrenchments at Mine Run.
+
+Here at night dispatches were received announcing that Sherman,
+Butler and Crook had moved according to programme.
+
+On discovering the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Lee
+ordered Hill, Ewell and Longstreet, each commanding corps, to
+move to the right to attack us, Hill on the Orange Plank Road,
+Longstreet to follow on the same road.  Longstreet was at this
+time--middle of the afternoon--at Gordonsville, twenty or more
+miles away.  Ewell was ordered by the Orange Pike.  He was near
+by and arrived some four miles east of Mine Run before
+bivouacking for the night.
+
+My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance
+on the morning of the 5th.  Warren was to move to Parker's
+store, and Wilson's cavalry--then at Parker's store--to move on
+to Craig's meeting-house.  Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in
+on his right.  The Army of the Potomac was facing to the west,
+though our advance was made to the south, except when facing the
+enemy.  Hancock was to move south-westward to join on the left of
+Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church.
+
+At six o'clock, before reaching Parker's store, Warren
+discovered the enemy.  He sent word back to this effect, and was
+ordered to halt and prepare to meet and attack him.  Wright, with
+his division of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered, by any road he
+could find, to join on to Warren's right, and Getty with his
+division, also of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered to move rapidly
+by Warren's rear and get on his left.  This was the speediest
+way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on both
+the Orange plank and turnpike roads.
+
+Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that
+the Army of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan.  By
+making a night march,  although some of his troops had to march
+forty miles to reach the river, he was crossing with the head of
+his column early on the morning of the 5th.  Meade moved his
+headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four miles south of
+the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the road.  I
+remained to hasten Burnside's crossing and to put him in
+position.  Burnside at this time was not under Meade's command,
+and was his senior in rank.  Getting information of the
+proximity of the enemy, I informed Meade, and without waiting to
+see Burnside, at once moved forward my headquarters to where
+Meade was.
+
+It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take
+the initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his
+intrenchments if we were not intrenched ourselves.  Warren had
+not yet reached the point where he was to halt, when he
+discovered the enemy near by.  Neither party had any advantage
+of position.  Warren was, therefore, ordered to attack as soon
+as he could prepare for it.  At nine o'clock Hancock was ordered
+to come up to the support of Getty.  He himself arrived at
+Getty's front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the
+rear.  Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards
+until relieved.  About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked
+with favorable though not decisive results.  Getty was somewhat
+isolated from Warren and was in a precarious condition for a
+time.  Wilson, with his division of cavalry, was farther south,
+and was cut off from the rest of the army.  At two o'clock
+Hancock's troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered
+to join Getty and attack the enemy.  But the heavy timber and
+narrow roads prevented him from getting into position for attack
+as promptly as he generally did when receiving such orders.  At
+four o'clock he again received his orders to attack, and General
+Getty received orders from Meade a few minutes later to attack
+whether Hancock was ready or not.  He met the enemy under Heth
+within a few hundred yards.
+
+Hancock immediately sent two divisions, commanded by Birney and
+Mott, and later two brigades, Carroll's and Owen's, to the
+support of Getty.  This was timely and saved Getty.  During the
+battle Getty and Carroll were wounded, but remained on the
+field.  One of Birney's most gallant brigade commanders
+--Alexander Hays--was killed.
+
+I had been at West Point with Hays for three years, and had
+served with him through the Mexican war, a portion of the time
+in the same regiment.  He was a most gallant officer, ready to
+lead his command wherever ordered.  With him it was "Come,
+boys," not "Go."
+
+Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the 2d division
+were sent to reinforce Hancock and Getty; but the density of the
+intervening forest was such that, there being no road to march
+upon, they did not get up with the head of column until night,
+and bivouacked where they were without getting into position.
+
+During the afternoon Sheridan sent Gregg's division of cavalry
+to Todd's Tavern in search of Wilson.  This was fortunate.  He
+found Wilson engaged with a superior force under General Rosser,
+supported by infantry, and falling back before it.  Together they
+were strong enough to turn the tables upon the enemy and
+themselves become aggressive.  They soon drove the rebel cavalry
+back beyond Corbin's Bridge.
+
+Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a
+close to it.  Neither side made any special progress.
+
+After the close of the battle of the 5th of May my orders were
+given for the following morning.  We knew Longstreet with 12,000
+men was on his way to join Hill's right, near the Brock Road, and
+might arrive during the night.  I was anxious that the rebels
+should not take the initiative in the morning, and therefore
+ordered Hancock to make an assault at 4.30 o'clock.  Meade asked
+to have the hour changed to six.  Deferring to his wishes as far
+as I was willing, the order was modified and five was fixed as
+the hour to move.
+
+Hancock had now fully one-half of the Army of the Potomac.
+Wadsworth with his division, which had arrived the night before,
+lay in a line perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the
+right of Hancock.  He was directed to move at the same time, and
+to attack Hill's left.
+
+Burnside, who was coming up with two divisions, was directed to
+get in between Warren and Wadsworth, and attack as soon as he
+could get in position to do so.  Sedgwick and Warren were to
+make attacks in their front, to detain as many of the enemy as
+they could and to take advantage of any attempt to reinforce
+Hill from that quarter.  Burnside was ordered if he should
+succeed in breaking the enemy's centre, to swing around to the
+left and envelop the right of Lee's army.  Hancock was informed
+of all the movements ordered.
+
+Burnside had three divisions, but one of them--a colored
+division--was sent to guard the wagon train, and he did not see
+it again until July.
+
+Lee was evidently very anxious that there should be no battle on
+his right until Longstreet got up.  This is evident from the fact
+that notwithstanding the early hour at which I had ordered the
+assault, both for the purpose of being the attacking party and
+to strike before Longstreet got up, Lee was ahead in his assault
+on our right.  His purpose was evident, but he failed.
+
+Hancock was ready to advance by the hour named, but learning in
+time that Longstreet was moving a part of his corps by the
+Catharpin Road, thus threatening his left flank, sent a division
+of infantry, commanded by General Barlow, with all his artillery,
+to cover the approaches by which Longstreet was expected.  This
+disposition was made in time to attack as ordered.  Hancock
+moved by the left of the Orange Plank Road, and Wadsworth by the
+right of it. The fighting was desperate for about an hour, when
+the enemy began to break up in great confusion.
+
+I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now,
+that if the country had been such that Hancock and his command
+could have seen the confusion and panic in the lines of the
+enemy, it would have been taken advantage of so effectually that
+Lee would not have made another stand outside of his Richmond
+defences.
+
+Gibbon commanded Hancock's left, and was ordered to attack, but
+was not able to accomplish much.
+
+On the morning of the 6th Sheridan was sent to connect with
+Hancock's left and attack the enemy's cavalry who were trying to
+get on our left and rear.  He met them at the intersection of the
+Furnace and Brock roads and at Todd's Tavern, and defeated them
+at both places.  Later he was attacked, and again the enemy was
+repulsed.
+
+Hancock heard the firing between Sheridan and Stuart, and
+thinking the enemy coming by that road, still further reinforced
+his position guarding the entrance to the Brock Road.  Another
+incident happened during the day to further induce Hancock to
+weaken his attacking column.  Word reached him that troops were
+seen moving towards him from the direction of Todd's Tavern, and
+Brooke's brigade was detached to meet this new enemy; but the
+troops approaching proved to be several hundred convalescents
+coming from Chancellorsville, by the road Hancock had advanced
+upon, to join their respective commands.  At 6.50 o'clock A.M.,
+Burnside, who had passed Wilderness Tavern at six o'clock, was
+ordered to send a division to the support of Hancock, but to
+continue with the remainder of his command in the execution of
+his previous order.  The difficulty of making a way through the
+dense forests prevented Burnside from getting up in time to be
+of any service on the forenoon of the sixth.
+
+Hancock followed Hill's retreating forces, in the morning, a
+mile or more.  He maintained this position until, along in the
+afternoon, Longstreet came upon him.  The retreating column of
+Hill meeting reinforcements that had not yet been engaged,
+became encouraged and returned with them.  They were enabled,
+from the density of the forest, to approach within a few hundred
+yards of our advance before being discovered.  Falling upon a
+brigade of Hancock's corps thrown to the advance, they swept it
+away almost instantly.  The enemy followed up his advantage and
+soon came upon Mott's division, which fell back in great
+confusion.  Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced
+position, but after holding it for a time, fell back into the
+position that he had held in the morning, which was strongly
+intrenched.  In this engagement the intrepid Wadsworth while
+trying to rally his men was mortally wounded and fell into the
+hands of the enemy.  The enemy followed up, but made no
+immediate attack.
+
+The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet
+seriously wounded in this engagement.  Longstreet had to leave
+the field, not to resume command for many weeks.  His loss was a
+severe one to Lee, and compensated in a great measure for the
+mishap, or misapprehensions, which had fallen to our lot during
+the day.
+
+After Longstreet's removal from the field Lee took command of
+his right in person.  He was not able, however, to rally his men
+to attack Hancock's position, and withdrew from our front for the
+purpose of reforming.  Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front
+of all remnants that might be left of Longstreet's or Hill's
+commands.  This brigade having been formed at right angles to
+the intrenchments held by Hancock's command, swept down the
+whole length of them from left to right.  A brigade of the enemy
+was encountered in this move; but it broke and disappeared
+without a contest.
+
+Firing was continued after this, but with less fury.  Burnside
+had not yet been able to get up to render any assistance.  But
+it was now only about nine in the morning, and he was getting
+into position on Hancock's right.
+
+At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left.  His line moved
+up to within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire.
+This status was maintained for about half an hour.  Then a part
+of Mott's division and Ward's brigade of Birney's division gave
+way and retired in disorder.  The enemy under R. H. Anderson
+took advantage of this and pushed through our line, planting
+their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on fire.  But
+owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but
+temporary.  Carroll, of Gibbon's division, moved at a double
+quick with his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting
+great loss.  Fighting had continued from five in the morning
+sometimes along the whole line, at other times only in places.
+The ground fought over had varied in width, but averaged
+three-quarters of a mile.  The killed, and many of the severely
+wounded, of both armies, lay within this belt where it was
+impossible to reach them.  The woods were set on fire by the
+bursting shells, and the conflagration raged.  The wounded who
+had not strength to move themselves were either suffocated or
+burned to death.  Finally the fire communicated with our
+breastworks, in places.  Being constructed of wood, they burned
+with great fury.  But the battle still raged, our men firing
+through the flames until it became too hot to remain longer.
+
+Lee was now in distress.  His men were in confusion, and his
+personal efforts failed to restore order.  These facts, however,
+were learned subsequently, or we would have taken advantage of
+his condition and no doubt gained a decisive success.  His
+troops were withdrawn now, but I revoked the order, which I had
+given previously to this assault, for Hancock to attack, because
+his troops had exhausted their ammunition and did not have time
+to replenish from the train, which was at some distance.
+
+Burnside, Sedgwick, and Warren had all kept up an assault during
+all this time; but their efforts had no other effect than to
+prevent the enemy from reinforcing his right from the troops in
+their front.
+
+I had, on the 5th, ordered all the bridges over the Rapidan to
+be taken up except one at Germania Ford.
+
+The troops on Sedgwick's right had been sent to inforce our
+left.  This left our right in danger of being turned, and us of
+being cut off from all present base of supplies.  Sedgwick had
+refused his right and intrenched it for protection against
+attack.  But late in the afternoon of the 6th Early came out
+from his lines in considerable force and got in upon Sedgwick's
+right, notwithstanding the precautions taken, and created
+considerable confusion.  Early captured several hundred
+prisoners, among them two general officers.  The defence,
+however, was vigorous; and night coming on, the enemy was thrown
+into as much confusion as our troops, engaged, were.  Early says
+in his Memoirs that if we had discovered the confusion in his
+lines we might have brought fresh troops to his great
+discomfort.  Many officers, who had not been attacked by Early,
+continued coming to my headquarters even after Sedgwick had
+rectified his lines a little farther to the rear, with news of
+the disaster, fully impressed with the idea that the enemy was
+pushing on and would soon be upon me.
+
+During the night all of Lee's army withdrew within their
+intrenchments.  On the morning of the 7th General Custer drove
+the enemy's cavalry from Catharpin Furnace to Todd's Tavern.
+Pickets and skirmishers were sent along our entire front to find
+the position of the enemy.  Some went as far as a mile and a half
+before finding him. But Lee showed no disposition to come out of
+his Works.  There was no battle during the day, and but little
+firing except in Warren's front; he being directed about noon to
+make a reconnoissance in force.  This drew some sharp firing, but
+there was no attempt on the part of Lee to drive him back.  This
+ended the Battle of the Wilderness.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent
+than that of the 5th and 6th of May.  Our victory consisted in
+having successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the
+face of an enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit. 
+We gained an advantage on the morning of the 6th, which, if it
+had been followed up, must have proven very decisive.  In the
+evening the enemy gained an advantage; but was speedily
+repulsed.  As we stood at the close, the two armies were
+relatively in about the same condition to meet each other as
+when the river divided them.  But the fact of having safely
+crossed was a victory.
+
+Our losses in the Wilderness were very severe.  Those of the
+Confederates must have been even more so; but I have no means of
+speaking with accuracy upon this point.  The Germania Ford bridge
+was transferred to Ely's Ford to facilitate the transportation of
+the wounded to Washington.
+
+It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things
+connected with all movements of the Army of the Potomac:  first,
+in every change of position or halt for the night, whether
+confronting the enemy or not, the moment arms were stacked the
+men intrenched themselves.  For this purpose they would build up
+piles of logs or rails if they could be found in their front, and
+dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on the timber.  Thus the
+digging they did counted in making a depression to stand in, and
+increased the elevation in front of them.  It was wonderful how
+quickly they could in this way construct defences of
+considerable strength.  When a halt was made with the view of
+assaulting the enemy, or in his presence, these would be
+strengthened or their positions changed under the direction of
+engineer officers.  The second was, the use made of the
+telegraph and signal corps.  Nothing could be more complete than
+the organization and discipline of this body of brave and
+intelligent men.  Insulated wires--insulated so that they would
+transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water--were
+wound upon reels, making about two hundred pounds weight of wire
+to each reel.  Two men and one mule were detailed to each
+reel.  The pack-saddle on which this was carried was provided
+with a rack like a sawbuck placed crosswise of the saddle, and
+raised above it so that the reel, with its wire, would revolve
+freely.  There was a wagon, supplied with a telegraph operator,
+battery and telegraph instruments for each division, each corps,
+each army, and one for my headquarters.  There were wagons also
+loaded with light poles, about the size and length of a wall
+tent pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold
+the wires up when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not
+run over them.  The mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades,
+and always kept with the command they were assigned to.  The
+operators were also assigned to particular headquarters, and
+never changed except by special orders.
+
+The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all
+the men connected with this branch of service would proceed to
+put up their wires.  A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be
+led to the rear of the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged
+to, and would be led in a line parallel thereto, while one man
+would hold an end of the wire and uncoil it as the mule was led
+off.  When he had walked the length of the wire the whole of it
+would be on the ground.  This would be done in rear of every
+brigade at the same time.  The ends of all the wires would then
+be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole
+army.  The men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all
+commence at once raising the wires with their telegraph poles.
+This was done by making a loop in the wire and putting it over
+the spike and raising the pole to a perpendicular position.  At
+intervals the wire would be attached to trees, or some other
+permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient at a place. In
+the absence of such a support two poles would have to be used, at
+intervals, placed at an angle so as to hold the wire firm in its
+place.  While this was being done the telegraph wagons would
+take their positions near where the headquarters they belonged
+to were to be established, and would connect with the wire. 
+Thus, in a few minutes longer time than it took a mule to walk
+the length of its coil, telegraphic communication would be
+effected between all the headquarters of the army.  No orders
+ever had to be given to establish the telegraph.
+
+The signal service was used on the march.  The men composing
+this corps were assigned to specified commands.  When movements
+were made, they would go in advance, or on the flanks, and seize
+upon high points of ground giving a commanding view of the
+country, if cleared, or would climb tall trees on the highest
+points if not cleared, and would denote, by signals, the
+positions of different parts of our own army, and often the
+movements of the enemy.  They would also take off the signals of
+the enemy and transmit them.  It would sometimes take too long a
+time to make translations of intercepted dispatches for us to
+receive any benefit from them.  But sometimes they gave useful
+information.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th I received news from Washington
+announcing that Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day,
+and that Butler had reached City Point safely and taken it by
+surprise on the 5th.  I had given orders for a movement by the
+left flank, fearing that Lee might move rapidly to Richmond to
+crush Butler before I could get there.
+
+My order for this movement was as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Make all preparations during the day for a night march to take
+position at Spottsylvania C. H. with one army corps, at Todd's
+Tavern with one, and another near the intersection of the Piney
+Branch and Spottsylvania road with the road from Alsop's to Old
+Court House.  If this move is made the trains should be thrown
+forward early in the morning to the Ny River.
+
+I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave
+Hancock where he is until Warren passes him.  He could then
+follow and become the right of the new line.  Burnside will move
+to Piney Branch Church.  Sedgwick can move along the pike to
+Chancellorsville and on to his destination.  Burnside will move
+on the plank road to the intersection of it with the Orange and
+Fredericksburg plank road, then follow Sedgwick to his place of
+destination.
+
+All vehicles should be got out of hearing of the enemy before
+the troops move, and then move off quietly.
+
+It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy
+attack on Hancock this afternoon.  In case they do we must be
+prepared to resist them, and follow up any success we may gain,
+with our whole force.  Such a result would necessarily modify
+these instructions.
+
+All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+During the 7th Sheridan had a fight with the rebel cavalry at
+Todd's Tavern, but routed them, thus opening the way for the
+troops that were to go by that route at night.  Soon after dark
+Warren withdrew from the front of the enemy, and was soon
+followed by Sedgwick.  Warren's march carried him immediately
+behind the works where Hancock's command lay on the Brock
+Road.  With my staff and a small escort of cavalry I preceded
+the troops.  Meade with his staff accompanied me.  The greatest
+enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's men as we passed by.  No
+doubt it was inspired by the fact that the movement was south.
+It indicated to them that they had passed through the "beginning
+of the end" in the battle just fought.  The cheering was so lusty
+that the enemy must have taken it for a night attack.  At all
+events it drew from him a furious fusillade of artillery and
+musketry, plainly heard but not felt by us.
+
+Meade and I rode in advance.  We had passed but a little way
+beyond our left when the road forked.  We looked to see, if we
+could, which road Sheridan had taken with his cavalry during the
+day.  It seemed to be the right-hand one, and accordingly we took
+it.  We had not gone far, however, when Colonel C. B. Comstock,
+of my staff, with the instinct of the engineer, suspecting that
+we were on a road that would lead us into the lines of the
+enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a rapid gallop
+and all alone.  In a few minutes he returned and reported that
+Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into
+his lines in a short distance.  We returned to the forks of the
+road, left a man to indicate the right road to the head of
+Warren's column when it should come up, and continued our
+journey to Todd's Tavern, where we arrived after midnight.
+
+My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold:  first, I did
+not want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush
+Butler before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between
+his army and Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into
+the open field.  But Lee, by accident, beat us to
+Spottsylvania.  Our wagon trains had been ordered easterly of
+the roads the troops were to march upon before the movement
+commenced.  Lee interpreted this as a semi-retreat of the Army
+of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his
+government.  Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps--now
+commanded by Anderson--to move in the morning (the 8th) to
+Spottsylvania.  But the woods being still on fire, Anderson
+could not go into bivouac, and marched directly on to his
+destination that night.  By this accident Lee got possession of
+Spottsylvania.  It is impossible to say now what would have been
+the result if Lee's orders had been obeyed as given; but it is
+certain that we would have been in Spottsylvania, and between
+him and his capital.  My belief is that there would have been a
+race between the two armies to see which could reach Richmond
+first, and the Army of the Potomac would have had the shorter
+line.  Thus, twice since crossing the Rapidan we came near
+closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned, from the
+Rapidan to the James River or Richmond.  The first failure was
+caused by our not following up the success gained over Hill's
+corps on the morning of the 6th, as before described:  the
+second, when fires caused by that battle drove Anderson to make
+a march during the night of the 7th-8th which he was ordered to
+commence on the morning of the 8th.  But accident often decides
+the fate of battle.
+
+Sheridan's cavalry had had considerable fighting during the
+afternoon of the 7th, lasting at Todd's Tavern until after
+night, with the field his at the close.  He issued the necessary
+orders for seizing Spottsylvania and holding the bridge over the
+Po River, which Lee's troops would have to cross to get to
+Spottsylvania.  But Meade changed Sheridan's orders to
+Merritt--who was holding the bridge--on his arrival at Todd's
+Tavern, and thereby left the road free for Anderson when he came
+up.  Wilson, who was ordered to seize the town, did so, with his
+division of cavalry; but he could not hold it against the
+Confederate corps which had not been detained at the crossing of
+the Po, as it would have been but for the unfortunate change in
+Merritt's orders.  Had he been permitted to execute the orders
+Sheridan gave him, he would have been guarding with two brigades
+of cavalry the bridge over the Po River which Anderson had to
+cross, and must have detained him long enough to enable Warren
+to reinforce Wilson and hold the town.
+
+Anderson soon intrenched himself--if indeed the intrenchments
+were not already made--immediately across Warren's front. Warren
+was not aware of his presence, but probably supposed it was the
+cavalry which Merritt had engaged earlier in the day. He
+assaulted at once, but was repulsed.  He soon organized his men,
+as they were not pursued by the enemy, and made a second attack,
+this time with his whole corps.  This time he succeeded in
+gaining a position immediately in the enemy's front, where he
+intrenched.  His right and left divisions--the former
+Crawford's, the latter Wadsworth's, now commanded by
+Cutler--drove the enemy back some distance.
+
+At this time my headquarters had been advanced to Piney Branch
+Church.  I was anxious to crush Anderson before Lee could get a
+force to his support.  To this end Sedgwick who was at Piney
+Branch Church, was ordered to Warren's support.  Hancock, who
+was at Todd's Tavern, was notified of Warren's engagement, and
+was directed to be in readiness to come up.  Burnside, who was
+with the wagon trains at Aldrich's on our extreme left, received
+the same instructions.  Sedgwick was slow in getting up for some
+reason--probably unavoidable, because he was never at fault when
+serious work was to be done--so that it was near night before the
+combined forces were ready to attack.  Even then all of
+Sedgwick's command did not get into the engagement.  Warren led
+the last assault, one division at a time, and of course it
+failed.
+
+Warren's difficulty was twofold:  when he received an order to
+do anything, it would at once occur to his mind how all the
+balance of the army should be engaged so as properly to
+co-operate with him.  His ideas were generally good, but he
+would forget that the person giving him orders had thought of
+others at the time he had of him.  In like manner, when he did
+get ready to execute an order, after giving most intelligent
+instructions to division commanders, he would go in with one
+division, holding the others in reserve until he could
+superintend their movements in person also, forgetting that
+division commanders could execute an order without his
+presence.  His difficulty was constitutional and beyond his
+control.  He was an officer of superior ability, quick
+perceptions, and personal courage to accomplish anything that
+could be done with a small command.
+
+Lee had ordered Hill's corps--now commanded by Early--to move by
+the very road we had marched upon.  This shows that even early in
+the morning of the 8th Lee had not yet become acquainted with my
+move, but still thought that the Army of the Potomac had gone to
+Fredericksburg.  Indeed, he informed the authorities at Richmond
+he had possession of Spottsylvania and was on my flank. Anderson
+was in possession of Spottsylvania, through no foresight of Lee,
+however.  Early only found that he had been following us when he
+ran against Hancock at Todd's Tavern.  His coming detained
+Hancock from the battle-field of Spottsylvania for that day; but
+he, in like manner, kept Early back and forced him to move by
+another route.
+
+Had I ordered the movement for the night of the 7th by my left
+flank, it would have put Hancock in the lead.  It would also
+have given us an hour or earlier start.  It took all that time
+for Warren to get the head of his column to the left of Hancock
+after he had got his troops out of their line confronting the
+enemy.  This hour, and Hancock's capacity to use his whole force
+when necessary, would, no doubt, have enabled him to crush
+Anderson before he could be reinforced.  But the movement made
+was tactical.  It kept the troops in mass against a possible
+assault by the enemy.  Our left occupied its intrenchments while
+the two corps to the right passed.  If an attack had been made by
+the enemy he would have found the 2d corps in position,
+fortified, and, practically, the 5th and 6th corps in position
+as reserves, until his entire front was passed.  By a left flank
+movement the army would have been scattered while still passing
+the front of the enemy, and before the extreme right had got by
+it would have been very much exposed.  Then, too, I had not yet
+learned the special qualifications of the different corps
+commanders.  At that time my judgment was that Warren was the
+man I would suggest to succeed Meade should anything happen to
+that gallant soldier to take him from the field.  As I have
+before said, Warren was a gallant soldier, an able man; and he
+was beside thoroughly imbued with the solemnity and importance
+of the duty he had to perform.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+The Mattapony River is formed by the junction of the Mat, the
+Ta, the Po and the Ny rivers, the last being the northernmost of
+the four.  It takes its rise about a mile south and a little east
+of the Wilderness Tavern.  The Po rises south-west of the place,
+but farther away.  Spottsylvania is on the ridge dividing these
+two streams, and where they are but a few miles apart.  The
+Brock Road reaches Spottsylvania without crossing either of
+these streams. Lee's army coming up by the Catharpin Road, had
+to cross the Po at Wooden Bridge.  Warren and Hancock came by
+the Brock Road.  Sedgwick crossed the Ny at Catharpin Furnace.
+Burnside coming by Aldrich's to Gates's house, had to cross the
+Ny near the enemy.  He found pickets at the bridge, but they
+were soon driven off by a brigade of Willcox's division, and the
+stream was crossed.  This brigade was furiously attacked; but the
+remainder of the division coming up, they were enabled to hold
+their position, and soon fortified it.
+
+About the time I received the news of this attack, word came
+from Hancock that Early had left his front.  He had been forced
+over to the Catharpin Road, crossing the Po at Corbin's and
+again at Wooden Bridge.  These are the bridges Sheridan had
+given orders to his cavalry to occupy on the 8th, while one
+division should occupy Spottsylvania.  These movements of the
+enemy gave me the idea that Lee was about to make the attempt to
+get to, or towards, Fredericksburg to cut off my supplies.  I
+made arrangements to attack his right and get between him and
+Richmond if he should try to execute this design.  If he had any
+such intention it was abandoned as soon as Burnside was
+established south of the Ny.
+
+The Po and the Ny are narrow little streams, but deep, with
+abrupt banks, and bordered by heavily wooded and marshy
+bottoms--at the time we were there--and difficult to cross
+except where bridged.  The country about was generally heavily
+timbered, but with occasional clearings.  It was a much better
+country to conduct a defensive campaign in than an offensive one.
+
+By noon of the 9th the position of the two armies was as
+follows:  Lee occupied a semicircle facing north, north-west and
+north-east, inclosing the town.  Anderson was on his left
+extending to the Po, Ewell came next, then Early.  Warren
+occupied our right, covering the Brock and other roads
+converging at Spottsylvania; Sedgwick was to his left and
+Burnside on our extreme left.  Hancock was yet back at Todd's
+Tavern, but as soon as it was known that Early had left
+Hancock's front the latter was ordered up to Warren's right.  He
+formed a line with three divisions on the hill overlooking the Po
+early in the afternoon, and was ordered to cross the Po and get
+on the enemy's flank.  The fourth division of Hancock's corps,
+Mott commanding, was left at Todd's when the corps first came
+up; but in the afternoon it was brought up and placed to the
+left of Sedgwick's--now Wright's--6th corps.  In the morning
+General Sedgwick had been killed near the right of his
+intrenchments by rebel sharpshooters.  His loss was a severe one
+to the Army of the Potomac and to the Nation.  General H. G.
+Wright succeeded him in the command of his corps.
+
+Hancock was now, nine P.M. of the 9th of May, across the left
+flank of Lee's army, but separated from it, and also from the
+remainder of Meade's army, by the Po River.  But for the
+lateness of the hour and the darkness of the night he would
+have attempted to cross the river again at Wooden Bridge, thus
+bringing himself on the same side with both friend and foe.
+
+The Po at the points where Hancock's corps crossed runs nearly
+due east. Just below his lower crossing--the troops crossed at
+three points--it turns due south, and after passing under Wooden
+Bridge soon resumes a more easterly direction.  During the night
+this corps built three bridges over the Po; but these were in
+rear.
+
+The position assumed by Hancock's corps forced Lee to reinforce
+his left during the night.  Accordingly on the morning of the
+10th, when Hancock renewed his effort to get over the Po to his
+front, he found himself confronted by some of Early's command,
+which had been brought from the extreme right of the enemy
+during the night.  He succeeded in effecting a crossing with one
+brigade, however, but finding the enemy intrenched in his front,
+no more were crossed.
+
+Hancock reconnoitred his front on the morning of the 10th, with
+the view of forcing a crossing, if it was found that an
+advantage could be gained.  The enemy was found strongly
+intrenched on the high ground overlooking the river, and
+commanding the Wooden Bridge with artillery.  Anderson's left
+rested on the Po, where it turns south; therefore, for Hancock
+to cross over--although it would bring him to the same side of
+the stream with the rest of the army--would still farther
+isolate him from it.  The stream would have to be crossed twice
+in the face of the enemy to unite with the main body.  The idea
+of crossing was therefore abandoned.
+
+Lee had weakened the other parts of his line to meet this
+movement of Hancock's, and I determined to take advantage of
+it.  Accordingly in the morning, orders were issued for an
+attack in the afternoon on the centre by Warren's and Wright's
+corps, Hancock to command all the attacking force.  Two of his
+divisions were brought to the north side of the Po.  Gibbon was
+placed to the right of Warren, and Birney in his rear as a
+reserve.  Barlow's division was left south of the stream, and
+Mott of the same corps was still to the left of Wright's
+corps.  Burnside was ordered to reconnoitre his front in force,
+and, if an opportunity presented, to attack with vigor.  The
+enemy seeing Barlow's division isolated from the rest of the
+army, came out and attacked with fury.  Barlow repulsed the
+assault with great slaughter, and with considerable loss to
+himself.  But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault.
+Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river
+crossings built by our troops, and covered the crossings.  The
+second assault was repulsed, again with severe loss to the
+enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn without further molestation.
+General T. G. Stevenson was killed in this move.
+
+Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place,
+there was a ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush,
+making it almost impenetrable by man.  The slopes on both sides
+were also covered with a heavy growth of timber.  Warren, before
+noon, reconnoitred his front twice, the first time with one and
+the second with two divisions.  He was repulsed on both
+occasions, but gained such information of the ground as to
+induce him to report recommending the assault.
+
+Wright also reconnoitred his front and gained a considerably
+advanced position from the one he started from.  He then
+organized a storming party, consisting of twelve regiments, and
+assigned Colonel Emory Upton, of the 121st New York Volunteers,
+to the command of it.  About four o'clock in the afternoon the
+assault was ordered, Warren's and Wright's corps, with Mott's
+division of Hancock's corps, to move simultaneously.  The
+movement was prompt, and in a few minutes the fiercest of
+struggles began.  The battle-field was so densely covered with
+forest that but little could be seen, by any one person, as to
+the progress made.  Meade and I occupied the best position we
+could get, in rear of Warren.
+
+Warren was repulsed with heavy loss, General J. C. Rice being
+among the killed.  He was not followed, however, by the enemy,
+and was thereby enabled to reorganize his command as soon as
+covered from the guns of the enemy.  To the left our success was
+decided, but the advantage was lost by the feeble action of
+Mott.  Upton with his assaulting party pushed forward and
+crossed the enemy's intrenchments.  Turning to the right and
+left he captured several guns and some hundreds of prisoners.
+Mott was ordered to his assistance but failed utterly.  So much
+time was lost in trying to get up the troops which were in the
+right position to reinforce, that I ordered Upton to withdraw;
+but the officers and men of his command were so averse to giving
+up the advantage they had gained that I withdrew the order.  To
+relieve them, I ordered a renewal of the assault.  By this time
+Hancock, who had gone with Birney's division to relieve Barlow,
+had returned, bringing the division with him.  His corps was now
+joined with Warren's and Wright's in this last assault.  It was
+gallantly made, many men getting up to, and over, the works of
+the enemy; but they were not able to hold them.  At night they
+were withdrawn.  Upton brought his prisoners with him, but the
+guns he had captured he was obliged to abandon.  Upton had
+gained an important advantage, but a lack in others of the
+spirit and dash possessed by him lost it to us.  Before leaving
+Washington I had been authorized to promote officers on the
+field for special acts of gallantry.  By this authority I
+conferred the rank of brigadier-general upon Upton on the spot,
+and this act was confirmed by the President.  Upton had been
+badly wounded in this fight.
+
+Burnside on the left had got up to within a few hundred yards of
+Spottsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right.  He
+was not aware of the importance of the advantage he had gained,
+and I, being with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did
+not know of it at the time.  He had gained his position with but
+little fighting, and almost without loss.  Burnside's position
+now separated him widely from Wright's corps, the corps nearest
+to him.  At night he was ordered to join on to this.  This
+brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an important
+advantage.  I attach no blame to Burnside for this, but I do to
+myself for not having had a staff officer with him to report to
+me his position.
+
+The enemy had not dared to come out of his line at any point to
+follow up his advantage, except in the single instance of his
+attack on Barlow.  Then he was twice repulsed with heavy loss,
+though he had an entire corps against two brigades.  Barlow took
+up his bridges in the presence of this force.
+
+On the 11th there was no battle and but little firing; none
+except by Mott who made a reconnoissance to ascertain if there
+was a weak point in the enemy's line.
+
+I wrote the following letter to General Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 11, 1864--8.3O A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+We have now ended the 6th day of very hard fighting.  The result
+up to this time is much in our favor.  But our losses have been
+heavy as well as those of the enemy.  We have lost to this time
+eleven general officers killed, wounded and missing, and
+probably twenty thousand men.  I think the loss of the enemy
+must be greater--we having taken over four thousand prisoners in
+battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except a few
+stragglers.  I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons
+for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and purpose to
+fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
+
+The arrival of reinforcements here will be very encouraging to
+the men, and I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and
+in as great numbers.  My object in having them sent to Belle
+Plain was to use them as an escort to our supply trains.  If it
+is more convenient to send them out by train to march from the
+railroad to Belle Plain or Fredericksburg, send them so.
+
+I am satisfied the enemy are very shaky, and are only kept up to
+the mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers,
+and by keeping them intrenched in every position they take.
+
+Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's
+army being detached for the defence of Richmond.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+And also, I received information, through the War Department,
+from General Butler that his cavalry under Kautz had cut the
+railroad south of Petersburg, separating Beauregard from
+Richmond, and had whipped Hill, killing, wounding and capturing
+many.  Also that he was intrenched, and could maintain
+himself.  On this same day came news from Sheridan to the effect
+that he had destroyed ten miles of the railroad and telegraph
+between Lee and Richmond, one and a half million rations, and
+most of the medical stores for his army.
+
+On the 8th I had directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose from
+the Army of the Potomac and pass around the left of Lee's army
+and attack his cavalry and communications, which was
+successfully executed in the manner I have already described.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT-LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK-REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+In the reconnoissance made by Mott on the 11th, a salient was
+discovered at the right centre. I determined that an assault
+should be made at that point. (*28) Accordingly in the afternoon
+Hancock was ordered to move his command by the rear of Warren and
+Wright, under cover of night, to Wright's left, and there form it
+for an assault at four o'clock the next morning.  The night was
+dark, it rained heavily, and the road was difficult, so that it
+was midnight when he reached the point where he was to halt.  It
+took most of the night to get the men in position for their
+advance in the morning.  The men got but little rest.  Burnside
+was ordered to attack (*29) on the left of the salient at the
+same hour.  I sent two of my staff officers to impress upon him
+the importance of pushing forward vigorously.  Hancock was
+notified of this.  Warren and Wright were ordered to hold
+themselves in readiness to join in the assault if circumstances
+made it advisable.  I occupied a central position most
+convenient for receiving information from all points.  Hancock
+put Barlow on his left, in double column, and Birney to his
+right.  Mott followed Birney, and Gibbon was held in reserve.
+
+The morning of the 12th opened foggy, delaying the start more
+than half an hour.
+
+The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy,
+was ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred
+yards of the enemy's intrenchments.  In front of Birney there
+was also a marsh to cross.  But, notwithstanding all these
+difficulties, the troops pushed on in quick time without firing
+a gun, and when within four or five hundred yards of the enemy's
+line broke out in loud cheers, and with a rush went up to and
+over the breastworks.  Barlow and Birney entered almost
+simultaneously.  Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took
+place.  The men of the two sides were too close together to
+fire, but used their guns as clubs.  The hand conflict was soon
+over.  Hancock's corps captured some four thousand prisoners
+among them a division and a brigade commander twenty or more
+guns with their horses, caissons, and ammunition, several
+thousand stand of arms, and many colors.  Hancock, as soon as
+the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the enemy
+against him and advanced inside the rebel lines.  About six
+o'clock I ordered Warren's corps to the support of Hancock's.
+Burnside, on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to
+the very parapet of the enemy.  Potter, commanding one of his
+divisions, got over but was not able to remain there.  However,
+he inflicted a heavy loss upon the enemy; but not without loss
+in return.
+
+This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to
+leave us in full possession of.  He made the most strenuous
+efforts to regain the position he had lost.  Troops were brought
+up from his left and attacked Hancock furiously.  Hancock was
+forced to fall back:  but he did so slowly, with his face to the
+enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss, until behind the breastworks
+he had captured.  These he turned, facing them the other way, and
+continued to hold.  Wright was ordered up to reinforce Hancock,
+and arrived by six o'clock.  He was wounded soon after coming up
+but did not relinquish the command of his corps, although the
+fighting lasted until one o'clock the next morning.  At eight
+o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making
+his dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and
+with emphasis.  At eleven o'clock I gave Meade written orders to
+relieve Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly. 
+Hancock placed batteries on high ground in his rear, which he
+used against the enemy, firing over the heads of his own troops.
+
+Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive
+nature, but negatively a great deal.  He kept Lee from
+reinforcing his centre from that quarter.  If the 5th corps, or
+rather if Warren, had been as prompt as Wright was with the 6th
+corps, better results might have been obtained.
+
+Lee massed heavily from his left flank on the broken point of
+his line.  Five times during the day he assaulted furiously, but
+without dislodging our troops from their new position.  His
+losses must have been fearful.  Sometimes the belligerents would
+be separated by but a few feet.  In one place a tree, eighteen
+inches in diameter, was cut entirely down by musket balls.  All
+the trees between the lines were very much cut to pieces by
+artillery and musketry.  It was three o'clock next morning
+before the fighting ceased.  Some of our troops had then been
+twenty hours under fire.  In this engagement we did not lose a
+single organization, not even a company.  The enemy lost one
+division with its commander, one brigade and one regiment, with
+heavy losses elsewhere.(*30)  Our losses were heavy, but, as
+stated, no whole company was captured.  At night Lee took a
+position in rear of his former one, and by the following morning
+he was strongly intrenched in it.
+
+Warren's corps was now temporarily broken up, Cutler's division
+sent to Wright, and Griffin's to Hancock.  Meade ordered his
+chief of staff, General Humphreys, to remain with Warren and the
+remaining division, and authorized him to give it orders in his
+name.
+
+During the day I was passing along the line from wing to wing
+continuously.  About the centre stood a house which proved to be
+occupied by an old lady and her daughter.  She showed such
+unmistakable signs of being strongly Union that I stopped.  She
+said she had not seen a Union flag for so long a time that it
+did her heart good to look upon it again.  She said her husband
+and son, being, Union men, had had to leave early in the war,
+and were now somewhere in the Union army, if alive.  She was
+without food or nearly so, so I ordered rations issued to her,
+and promised to find out if I could where the husband and son
+were.
+
+There was no fighting on the 13th, further than a little
+skirmishing between Mott's division and the enemy.  I was afraid
+that Lee might be moving out, and I did not want him to go
+without my knowing it. The indications were that he was moving,
+but it was found that he was only taking his new position back
+from the salient that had been captured.  Our dead were buried
+this day.  Mott's division was reduced to a brigade, and
+assigned to Birney's division.
+
+During this day I wrote to Washington recommending Sherman and
+Meade (*31) for promotion to the grade of Major-General in the
+regular army; Hancock for Brigadier-General; Wright, Gibbon and
+Humphreys to be Major-Generals of Volunteers; and Upton and
+Carroll to be Brigadiers.  Upton had already been named as such,
+but the appointment had to be confirmed by the Senate on the
+nomination of the President.
+
+The night of the 13th Warren and Wright were moved by the rear
+to the left of Burnside.  The night was very dark and it rained
+heavily, the roads were so bad that the troops had to cut trees
+and corduroy the road a part of the way, to get through.  It was
+midnight before they got to the point where they were to halt,
+and daylight before the troops could be organized to advance to
+their position in line.  They gained their position in line,
+however, without any fighting, except a little in Wright's
+front.  Here Upton had to contend for an elevation which we
+wanted and which the enemy was not disposed to yield.  Upton
+first drove the enemy, and was then repulsed in turn.  Ayres
+coming to his support with his brigade (of Griffin's division,
+Warren's corps), the position was secured and fortified.  There
+was no more battle during the 14th.  This brought our line east
+of the Court House and running north and south and facing west.
+
+During the night of the 14th-15th Lee moved to cover this new
+front.  This left Hancock without an enemy confronting him.  He
+was brought to the rear of our new centre, ready to be moved in
+any direction he might be wanted.
+
+On the 15th news came from Butler and Averill.  The former
+reported the capture of the outer works at Drury's Bluff, on the
+James River, and that his cavalry had cut the railroad and
+telegraph south of Richmond on the Danville road:  and the
+latter, the destruction of a depot of supplies at Dublin, West
+Virginia, and the breaking of New River Bridge on the Virginia
+and Tennessee Railroad.  The next day news came from Sherman and
+Sheridan.  Sherman had forced Johnston out of Dalton, Georgia,
+and was following him south.  The report from Sheridan embraced
+his operations up to his passing the outer defences of
+Richmond.  The prospect must now have been dismal in Richmond.
+The road and telegraph were cut between the capital and Lee. The
+roads and wires were cut in every direction from the rebel
+capital.  Temporarily that city was cut off from all
+communication with the outside except by courier.  This
+condition of affairs, however, was of but short duration.
+
+I wrote Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 16, 1864, 8 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.:
+
+We have had five days almost constant rain without any prospect
+yet of it clearing up.  The roads have now become so impassable
+that ambulances with wounded men can no longer run between here
+and Fredericksburg.  All offensive operations necessarily cease
+until we can have twenty-four hours of dry weather.  The army is
+in the best of spirits, and feel the greatest confidence of
+ultimate success.
+        *        *        *        *        *        * You can
+assure the President and Secretary of War that the elements
+alone have suspended hostilities, and that it is in no manner
+due to weakness or exhaustion on our part.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the
+17th.  But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night
+march back to their old positions, and to make an assault at
+four o'clock in the morning.  Lee got troops back in time to
+protect his old line, so the assault was unsuccessful.  On this
+day (18th) the news was almost as discouraging to us as it had
+been two days before in the rebel capital.  As stated above,
+Hancock's and Wright's corps had made an unsuccessful assault.
+News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly, and
+was retreating down the valley.  Not two hours before, I had sent
+the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to
+stop supplies coming from there to Lee.  I asked at once that
+Sigel might be relieved, and some one else put in his place.
+Hunter's name was suggested, and I heartily approved.  Further
+news from Butler reported him driven from Drury's Bluff, but
+still in possession of the Petersburg road.  Banks had been
+defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in his place.
+This change of commander was not on my suggestion.  All this
+news was very discouraging.  All of it must have been known by
+the enemy before it was by me.  In fact, the good news (for the
+enemy) must have been known to him at the moment I thought he
+was in despair, and his anguish had been already relieved when
+we were enjoying his supposed discomfiture, But this was no time
+for repining.  I immediately gave orders for a movement by the
+left flank, on towards Richmond, to commence on the night of the
+19th.  I also asked Halleck to secure the cooperation of the navy
+in changing our base of supplies from Fredericksburg to Port
+Royal, on the Rappahannock.
+
+Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six
+thousand raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler,
+just arrived.  They had not yet joined their command, Hancock's
+corps, but were on our right.  This corps had been brought to
+the rear of the centre, ready to move in any direction.  Lee,
+probably suspecting some move on my part, and seeing our right
+entirely abandoned, moved Ewell's corps about five o'clock in
+the afternoon, with Early's as a reserve, to attack us in that
+quarter.  Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been
+halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching's
+brigade of Warren's corps.  Tyler received the attack with his
+raw troops, and they maintained their position, until
+reinforced, in a manner worthy of veterans.
+
+Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the
+soldier to do it without waiting to make dispositions.  Birney
+was thrown to Tyler's right and Crawford to his left, with
+Gibbon as a reserve; and Ewell was whirled back speedily and
+with heavy loss.
+
+Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell's flank and in his rear,
+to cut him off from his intrenchments.  But his efforts were so
+feeble that under the cover of night Ewell got back with only
+the loss of a few hundred prisoners, besides his killed and
+wounded.  The army being engaged until after dark, I rescinded
+the order for the march by our left flank that night.
+
+As soon as it was discovered that the enemy were coming out to
+attack, I naturally supposed they would detach a force to
+destroy our trains.  The withdrawal of Hancock from the right
+uncovered one road from Spottsylvania to Fredericksburg over
+which trains drew our supplies.  This was guarded by a division
+of colored troops, commanded by General Ferrero, belonging to
+Burnside's corps.  Ferrero was therefore promptly notified, and
+ordered to throw his cavalry pickets out to the south and be
+prepared to meet the enemy if he should come; if he had to
+retreat to do so towards Fredericksburg.  The enemy did detach
+as expected, and captured twenty-five or thirty wagons which,
+however, were soon retaken.
+
+In consequence of the disasters that had befallen us in the past
+few days, Lee could be reinforced largely, and I had no doubt he
+would be.  Beauregard had come up from the south with troops to
+guard the Confederate capital when it was in danger.  Butler
+being driven back, most of the troops could be sent to Lee. Hoke
+was no longer needed in North Carolina; and Sigel's troops having
+gone back to Cedar Creek, whipped, many troops could be spared
+from the valley.
+
+The Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles convinced me that we
+had more artillery than could ever be brought into action at any
+one time.  It occupied much of the road in marching, and taxed
+the trains in bringing up forage.  Artillery is very useful when
+it can be brought into action, but it is a very burdensome luxury
+where it cannot be used.  Before leaving Spottsylvania,
+therefore, I sent back to the defences of Washington over one
+hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and caissons.  This
+relieved the roads over which we were to march of more than two
+hundred six-horse teams, and still left us more artillery than
+could be advantageously used.  In fact, before reaching the
+James River I again reduced the artillery with the army largely.
+
+I believed that, if one corps of the army was exposed on the
+road to Richmond, and at a distance from the main army, Lee
+would endeavor to attack the exposed corps before reinforcements
+could come up; in which case the main army could follow Lee up
+and attack him before he had time to intrench.  So I issued the
+following orders:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., VA.,
+May 18, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Before daylight to-morrow morning I propose to draw Hancock and
+Burnside from the position they now hold, and put Burnside to
+the left of Wright.  Wright and Burnside should then force their
+way up as close to the enemy as they can get without a general
+engagement, or with a general engagement if the enemy will come
+out of their works to fight, and intrench.  Hancock should march
+and take up a position as if in support of the two left corps.
+To-morrow night, at twelve or one o'clock, he will be moved
+south-east with all his force and as much cavalry as can be
+given to him, to get as far towards Richmond on the line of the
+Fredericksburg Railroad as he can make, fighting the enemy in
+whatever force he can find him.  If the enemy make a general
+move to meet this, they will be followed by the other three
+corps of the army, and attacked, if possible, before time is
+given to intrench.
+
+Suitable directions will at once be given for all trains and
+surplus artillery to conform to this movement.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+On the 20th, Lee showing no signs of coming out of his lines,
+orders were renewed for a left-flank movement, to commence after
+night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+We were now to operate in a different country from any we had
+before seen in Virginia.  The roads were wide and good, and the
+country well cultivated.  No men were seen except those bearing
+arms, even the black man having been sent away.  The country,
+however, was new to us, and we had neither guides nor maps to
+tell us where the roads were, or where they led to.  Engineer
+and staff officers were put to the dangerous duty of supplying
+the place of both maps and guides.  By reconnoitring they were
+enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army
+corps.  Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in
+that direction which would not separate the army too widely.
+
+Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's
+Station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to
+Bowling Green and Milford.  He was at Milford by the night of
+the 21st.  Here he met a detachment of Pickett's division coming
+from Richmond to reinforce Lee.  They were speedily driven away,
+and several hundred captured.  Warren followed on the morning of
+the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that night without
+molestation.  Burnside and Wright were retained at Spottsylvania
+to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to hold
+Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start
+enough to interpose between him and Richmond.
+
+Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either
+by attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the
+Telegraph Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or
+even Hancock's alone, before reinforcements could come up.  But
+he did not avail himself of either opportunity.  He seemed
+really to be misled as to my designs; but moved by his interior
+line--the Telegraph Road--to make sure of keeping between his
+capital and the Army of the Potomac.  He never again had such an
+opportunity of dealing a heavy blow.
+
+The evening of the 21st Burnside, 9th corps, moved out followed
+by Wright, 6th corps.  Burnside was to take the Telegraph Road;
+but finding Stanard's Ford, over the Po, fortified and guarded,
+he turned east to the road taken by Hancock and Warren without
+an attempt to dislodge the enemy.  The night of the 21st I had
+my headquarters near the 6th corps, at Guiney's Station, and the
+enemy's cavalry was between us and Hancock.  There was a slight
+attack on Burnside's and Wright's corps as they moved out of
+their lines; but it was easily repulsed.  The object probably
+was only to make sure that we were not leaving a force to follow
+upon the rear of the Confederates.
+
+By the morning of the 22d Burnside and Wright were at Guiney's
+Station.  Hancock's corps had now been marching and fighting
+continuously for several days, not having had rest even at night
+much of the time.  They were, therefore, permitted to rest during
+the 22d.  But Warren was pushed to Harris's Store, directly west
+of Milford, and connected with it by a good road, and Burnside
+was sent to New Bethel Church.  Wright's corps was still back at
+Guiney's Station.
+
+I issued the following order for the movement of the troops the
+next day:
+
+
+NEW BETHEL, VA., May 22, 1864
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Direct corps commanders to hold their troops in readiness to
+march at five A.M. to-morrow.  At that hour each command will
+send out cavalry and infantry on all roads to their front
+leading south, and ascertain, if possible, where the enemy is.
+If beyond the South Anna, the 5th and 6th corps will march to
+the forks of the road, where one branch leads to Beaver Dam
+Station, the other to Jericho Bridge, then south by roads
+reaching the Anna, as near to and east of Hawkins Creek as they
+can be found.
+
+The 2d corps will move to Chesterfield Ford.  The 9th corps will
+be directed to move at the same time to Jericho Bridge.  The map
+only shows two roads for the four corps to march upon, but, no
+doubt, by the use of plantation roads, and pressing in guides,
+others can be found, to give one for each corps.
+
+The troops will follow their respective reconnoitring parties.
+The trains will be moved at the same time to Milford Station.
+
+Headquarters will follow the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Warren's corps was moved from Harris's Store to Jericho Ford,
+Wright's following.  Warren arrived at the ford early in the
+afternoon, and by five o'clock effected a crossing under the
+protection of sharpshooters.  The men had to wade in water up to
+their waists.  As soon as enough troops were over to guard the
+ford, pontoons were laid and the artillery and the rest of the
+troops crossed.  The line formed was almost perpendicular to the
+course of the river--Crawford on the left, next to the river,
+Griffin in the centre, and Cutler on the right.  Lee was found
+intrenched along the front of their line.  The whole of Hill's
+corps was sent against Warren's right before it had got in
+position.  A brigade of Cutler's division was driven back, the
+enemy following, but assistance coming up the enemy was in turn
+driven back into his trenches with heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, with about five hundred prisoners left in our hands. By
+night Wright's corps was up ready to reinforce Warren.
+
+On the 23d Hancock's corps was moved to the wooden bridge which
+spans the North Anna River just west of where the Fredericksburg
+Railroad crosses.  It was near night when the troops arrived.
+They found the bridge guarded, with troops intrenched, on the
+north side.  Hancock sent two brigades, Egan's and Pierce's, to
+the right and left, and when properly disposed they charged
+simultaneously.  The bridge was carried quickly, the enemy
+retreating over it so hastily that many were shoved into the
+river, and some of them were drowned.  Several hundred prisoners
+were captured.  The hour was so late that Hancock did not cross
+until next morning.
+
+Burnside's corps was moved by a middle road running between
+those described above, and which strikes the North Anna at Ox
+Ford, midway between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford.  The hour
+of its arrival was too late to cross that night.
+
+On the 24th Hancock's corps crossed to the south side of the
+river without opposition, and formed line facing nearly west.
+The railroad in rear was taken possession of and destroyed as
+far as possible.  Wright's corps crossed at Jericho early the
+same day, and took position to the right of Warren's corps,
+extending south of the Virginia Central Railroad.  This road was
+torn up for a considerable distance to the rear (west), the ties
+burned, and the rails bent and twisted by heating them over the
+burning ties.  It was found, however, that Burnside's corps
+could not cross at Ox Ford.  Lee had taken a position with his
+centre on the river at this point, with the two wings thrown
+back, his line making an acute angle where it overlooked the
+river.
+
+Before the exact position of the whole of Lee's line was
+accurately known, I directed Hancock and Warren each to send a
+brigade to Ox Ford by the south side of the river.  They found
+the enemy too strong to justify a serious attack.  A third ford
+was found between Ox Ford and Jericho.  Burnside was directed to
+cross a division over this ford, and to send one division to
+Hancock.  Crittenden was crossed by this newly-discovered ford,
+and formed up the river to connect with Crawford's left.  Potter
+joined Hancock by way of the wooden bridge.  Crittenden had a
+severe engagement with some of Hill's corps on his crossing the
+river, and lost heavily.  When joined to Warren's corps he was
+no further molested.  Burnside still guarded Ox Ford from the
+north side.
+
+Lee now had his entire army south of the North Anna.  Our lines
+covered his front, with the six miles separating the two wings
+guarded by but a single division.  To get from one wing to the
+other the river would have to be crossed twice.  Lee could
+reinforce any part of his line from all points of it in a very
+short march; or could concentrate the whole of it wherever he
+might choose to assault.  We were, for the time, practically two
+armies besieging.
+
+Lee had been reinforced, and was being reinforced, largely.
+About this time the very troops whose coming I had predicted,
+had arrived or were coming in.  Pickett with a full division
+from Richmond was up; Hoke from North Carolina had come with a
+brigade; and Breckinridge was there:  in all probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men.  But he did not attempt to drive us
+from the field.
+
+On the 22d or 23d I received dispatches from Washington saying
+that Sherman had taken Kingston, crossed the Etowah River and
+was advancing into Georgia.
+
+I was seated at the time on the porch of a fine plantation house
+waiting for Burnside's corps to pass.  Meade and his staff,
+besides my own staff, were with me.  The lady of the house, a
+Mrs. Tyler, and an elderly lady, were present.  Burnside seeing
+us, came up on the porch, his big spurs and saber rattling as he
+walked.  He touched his hat politely to the ladies, and remarked
+that he supposed they had never seen so many "live Yankees"
+before in their lives.  The elderly lady spoke up promptly
+saying, "Oh yes, I have; many more."  "Where?" said Burnside.
+"In Richmond."  Prisoners, of course, was understood.
+
+I read my dispatch aloud, when it was received.  This threw the
+younger lady into tears. I found the information she had
+received (and I suppose it was the information generally in
+circulation through the South) was that Lee was driving us from
+the State in the most demoralized condition and that in the
+South-west our troops were but little better than prisoners of
+war.  Seeing our troops moving south was ocular proof that a
+part of her information was incorrect, and she asked me if my
+news from Sherman was true.  I assured her that there was no
+doubt about it.  I left a guard to protect the house from
+intrusion until the troops should have all passed, and assured
+her that if her husband was in hiding she could bring him in and
+he should be protected also.  But I presume he was in the
+Confederate army.
+
+On the 25th I gave orders, through Halleck, to Hunter, who had
+relieved Sigel, to move up the Valley of Virginia, cross over
+the Blue Ridge to Charlottesville and go as far as Lynchburg if
+possible, living upon the country and cutting the railroads and
+canal as he went.  After doing this he could find his way back
+to his base, or join me.
+
+On the same day news was received that Lee was falling back,on
+Richmond.  This proved not to be true.  But we could do nothing
+where we were unless Lee would assume the offensive. I
+determined, therefore, to draw out of our present position and
+make one more effort to get between him and Richmond.  I had no
+expectation now, however, of succeeding in this; but I did
+expect to hold him far enough west to enable me to reach the
+James River high up.  Sheridan was now again with the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+On the 26th I informed the government at Washington of the
+position of the two armies; of the reinforcements the enemy had
+received; of the move I proposed to make (*32); and directed
+that our base of supplies should be shifted to White House, on
+the Pamunkey.  The wagon train and guards moved directly from
+Port Royal to White House.  Supplies moved around by water,
+guarded by the navy.  Orders had previously been sent, through
+Halleck, for Butler to send Smith's corps to White House.  This
+order was repeated on the 25th, with directions that they should
+be landed on the north side of the Pamunkey, and marched until
+they joined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+It was a delicate move to get the right wing of the Army of the
+Potomac from its position south of the North Anna in the
+presence of the enemy.  To accomplish it, I issued the following
+order:
+
+
+QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+MAJOR GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Direct Generals Warren and Wright to withdraw all their teams
+and artillery, not in position, to the north side of the river
+to-morrow.  Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far
+on the road to Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting
+attention to the fact.  Send with it Wright's best division or
+division under his ablest commander.  Have their places filled
+up in the line so if possible the enemy will not notice their
+withdrawal.  Send the cavalry to-morrow afternoon, or as much of
+it as you may deem necessary, to watch and seize, if they can,
+Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's Ford, and to remain on one or
+other side of the river at these points until the infantry and
+artillery all pass.  As soon as it is dark to-morrow night start
+the division which you withdraw first from Wright's corps to make
+a forced march to Hanover Town, taking with them no teams to
+impede their march.  At the same time this division starts
+commence withdrawing all of the 5th and 6th corps from the south
+side of the river, and march them for the same place.  The two
+divisions of the 9th corps not now with Hancock, may be moved
+down the north bank of the river where they will be handy to
+support Hancock if necessary, or will be that much on their road
+to follow the 5th and 6th corps.  Hancock should hold his command
+in readiness to follow as soon as the way is clear for him.
+To-morrow it will leave nothing for him to do, but as soon as he
+can he should get all his teams and spare artillery on the road
+or roads which he will have to take.  As soon as the troops
+reach Hanover Town they should get possession of all the
+crossings they can in that neighborhood.  I think it would be
+well to make a heavy cavalry demonstration on the enemy's left,
+to-morrow afternoon, also.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Wilson's division of cavalry was brought up from the left and
+moved by our right south to Little River.  Here he manoeuvred to
+give the impression that we were going to attack the left flank
+of Lee's army.
+
+Under cover of night our right wing was withdrawn to the north
+side of the river, Lee being completely deceived by Wilson's
+feint.  On the afternoon of the 26th Sheridan moved, sending
+Gregg's and Torbert's cavalry to Taylor's and Littlepage's fords
+towards Hanover.  As soon as it was dark both divisions moved
+quietly to Hanover Ferry, leaving small guards behind to keep up
+the impression that crossings were to be attempted in the
+morning.  Sheridan was followed by a division of infantry under
+General Russell.  On the morning of the 27th the crossing was
+effected with but little loss, the enemy losing thirty or forty,
+taken prisoners.  Thus a position was secured south of the
+Pamunkey.
+
+Russell stopped at the crossing while the cavalry pushed on to
+Hanover Town.  Here Barringer's, formerly Gordon's, brigade of
+rebel cavalry was encountered, but it was speedily driven away.
+
+Warren's and Wright's corps were moved by the rear of Burnside's
+and Hancock's corps.  When out of the way these latter corps
+followed, leaving pickets confronting the enemy.  Wilson's
+cavalry followed last, watching all the fords until everything
+had recrossed; then taking up the pontoons and destroying other
+bridges, became the rear-guard.
+
+Two roads were traversed by the troops in this move.  The one
+nearest to and north of the North Anna and Pamunkey was taken by
+Wright, followed by Hancock.  Warren, followed by Burnside, moved
+by a road farther north, and longer.  The trains moved by a road
+still farther north, and had to travel a still greater
+distance.  All the troops that had crossed the Pamunkey on the
+morning of the 27th remained quiet during the rest of the day,
+while the troops north of that stream marched to reach the
+crossing that had been secured for them.
+
+Lee had evidently been deceived by our movement from North Anna;
+for on the morning of the 27th he telegraphed to Richmond: 
+"Enemy crossed to north side, and cavalry and infantry crossed
+at Hanover Town."  The troops that had then crossed left his
+front the night of the 25th.
+
+The country we were now in was a difficult one to move troops
+over.  The streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes
+spreading out into swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of
+trees and underbrush.  The banks were generally low and marshy,
+making the streams difficult to approach except where there were
+roads and bridges.
+
+Hanover Town is about twenty miles from Richmond.  There are two
+roads leading there; the most direct and shortest one crossing
+the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, near the Virginia Central
+Railroad, the second going by New and Old Cold Harbor.  A few
+miles out from Hanover Town there is a third road by way of
+Mechanicsville to Richmond.  New Cold Harbor was important to us
+because while there we both covered the roads back to White House
+(where our supplies came from), and the roads south-east over
+which we would have to pass to get to the James River below the
+Richmond defences.
+
+On the morning of the 28th the army made an early start, and by
+noon all had crossed except Burnside's corps.  This was left on
+the north side temporarily to guard the large wagon train.  A
+line was at once formed extending south from the river, Wright's
+corps on the right, Hancock's in the centre, and Warren's on the
+left, ready to meet the enemy if he should come.
+
+At the same time Sheridan was directed to reconnoitre towards
+Mechanicsville to find Lee's position.  At Hawes' Shop, just
+where the middle road leaves the direct road to Richmond, he
+encountered the Confederate cavalry dismounted and partially
+intrenched.  Gregg attacked with his division, but was unable to
+move the enemy.  In the evening Custer came up with a brigade.
+The attack was now renewed, the cavalry dismounting and charging
+as infantry.  This time the assault was successful, both sides
+losing a considerable number of men.  But our troops had to bury
+the dead, and found that more Confederate than Union soldiers had
+been killed.  The position was easily held, because our infantry
+was near.
+
+On the 29th a reconnoissance was made in force, to find the
+position of Lee.  Wright's corps pushed to Hanover Court
+House.  Hancock's corps pushed toward Totopotomoy Creek;
+Warren's corps to the left on the Shady Grove Church Road, while
+Burnside was held in reserve. Our advance was pushed forward
+three miles on the left with but little fighting.  There was now
+an appearance of a movement past our left flank, and Sheridan was
+sent to meet it.
+
+On the 30th Hancock moved to the Totopotomoy, where he found the
+enemy strongly fortified.  Wright was moved to the right of
+Hancock's corps, and Burnside was brought forward and crossed,
+taking position to the left of Hancock.  Warren moved up near
+Huntley Corners on the Shady Grove Church Road.  There was some
+skirmishing along the centre, and in the evening Early attacked
+Warren with some vigor, driving him back at first, and
+threatening to turn our left flank.  As the best means of
+reinforcing the left, Hancock was ordered to attack in his
+front.  He carried and held the rifle-pits.  While this was
+going on Warren got his men up, repulsed Early, and drove him
+more than a mile.
+
+On this day I wrote to Halleck ordering all the pontoons in
+Washington to be sent to City Point.
+
+In the evening news was received of the arrival of Smith with
+his corps at White House.  I notified Meade, in writing, as
+follows:
+
+
+NEAR HAWES' SHOP, VA.,
+6.40 P.M., May 30, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+General Smith will debark his force at the White House tonight
+and start up the south bank of the Pamunkey at an early hour,
+probably at 3 A.M. in the morning.  It is not improbable that
+the enemy, being aware of Smith's movement, will be feeling to
+get on our left flank for the purpose of cutting him off, or by
+a dash to crush him and get back before we are aware of it.
+Sheridan ought to be notified to watch the enemy's movements
+well out towards Cold Harbor, and also on the Mechanicsville
+road.  Wright should be got well massed on Hancock's right, so
+that, if it becomes necessary, he can take the place of the
+latter readily whilst troops are being thrown east of the
+Totopotomoy if necessary.
+
+I want Sheridan to send a cavalry force of at least half a
+brigade, if not a whole brigade, at 5 A.M. in the morning, to
+communicate with Smith and to return with him.  I will send
+orders for Smith by the messenger you send to Sheridan with his
+orders.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+I also notified Smith of his danger, and the precautions that
+would be taken to protect him.
+
+The night of the 30th Lee's position was substantially from
+Atlee's Station on the Virginia Central Railroad south and east
+to the vicinity of Cold Harbor.  Ours was:  The left of Warren's
+corps was on the Shady Grove Road, extending to the
+Mechanicsville Road and about three miles south of the
+Totopotomoy.  Burnside to his right, then Hancock, and Wright on
+the extreme right, extending towards Hanover Court House, six
+miles south-east of it.  Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry
+was watching our left front towards Cold Harbor.  Wilson with
+his division on our right was sent to get on the Virginia
+Central Railroad and destroy it as far back as possible.  He got
+possession of Hanover Court House the next day after a skirmish
+with Young's cavalry brigade.  The enemy attacked Sheridan's
+pickets, but reinforcements were sent up and the attack was
+speedily repulsed and the enemy followed some distance towards
+Cold Harbor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE--RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+On the 31st Sheridan advanced to near Old Cold Harbor.  He found
+it intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry.  A hard fight
+ensued but the place was carried.  The enemy well knew the
+importance of Cold Harbor to us, and seemed determined that we
+should not hold it.  He returned with such a large force that
+Sheridan was about withdrawing without making any effort to hold
+it against such odds; but about the time he commenced the
+evacuation he received orders to hold the place at all hazards,
+until reinforcements could be sent to him.  He speedily turned
+the rebel works to face against them and placed his men in
+position for defence.  Night came on before the enemy was ready
+for assault.
+
+Wright's corps was ordered early in the evening to march
+directly to Cold Harbor passing by the rear of the army.  It was
+expected to arrive by daylight or before; but the night was dark
+and the distance great, so that it was nine o'clock the 1st of
+June before it reached its destination.  Before the arrival of
+Wright the enemy had made two assaults on Sheridan, both of
+which were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy.  Wright's
+corps coming up, there was no further assault on Cold Harbor.
+
+Smith, who was coming up from White House, was also directed to
+march directly to Cold Harbor, and was expected early on the
+morning of the 1st of June; but by some blunder the order which
+reached Smith directed him to Newcastle instead of Cold
+Harbor.  Through this blunder Smith did not reach his
+destination until three o'clock in the afternoon, and then with
+tired and worn-out men from their long and dusty march.  He
+landed twelve thousand five hundred men from Butler's command,
+but a division was left at White House temporarily and many men
+had fallen out of ranks in their long march.
+
+Before the removal of Wright's corps from our right, after dark
+on the 31st, the two lines, Federal and Confederate, were so
+close together at that point that either side could detect
+directly any movement made by the other.  Finding at daylight
+that Wright had left his front, Lee evidently divined that he
+had gone to our left.  At all events, soon after light on the
+1st of June Anderson, who commanded the corps on Lee's left, was
+seen moving along Warren's front.  Warren was ordered to attack
+him vigorously in flank, while Wright was directed to move out
+and get on his front.  Warren fired his artillery at the enemy;
+but lost so much time in making ready that the enemy got by, and
+at three o'clock he reported the enemy was strongly intrenched in
+his front, and besides his lines were so long that he had no mass
+of troops to move with.  He seemed to have forgotten that lines
+in rear of an army hold themselves while their defenders are
+fighting in their front.  Wright reconnoitred some distance to
+his front:  but the enemy finding Old Cold Harbor already taken
+had halted and fortified some distance west.
+
+By six o'clock in the afternoon Wright and Smith were ready to
+make an assault.  In front of both the ground was clear for
+several hundred yards and then became wooded.  Both charged
+across this open space and into the wood, capturing and holding
+the first line of rifle-pits of the enemy, and also capturing
+seven or eight hundred prisoners.
+
+While this was going on, the enemy charged Warren three separate
+times with vigor, but were repulsed each time with loss.  There
+was no officer more capable, nor one more prompt in acting, than
+Warren when the enemy forced him to it.  There was also an attack
+upon Hancock's and Burnside's corps at the same time; but it was
+feeble and probably only intended to relieve Anderson who was
+being pressed by Wright and Smith.
+
+During the night the enemy made frequent attacks with the view
+of dispossessing us of the important position we had gained, but
+without effecting their object.
+
+Hancock was moved from his place in line during the night and
+ordered to the left of Wright.  I expected to take the offensive
+on the morning of the 2d, but the night was so dark, the heat and
+dust so excessive and the roads so intricate and hard to keep,
+that the head of column only reached Old Cold Harbor at six
+o'clock, but was in position at 7.30 A.M.  Preparations were
+made for an attack in the afternoon, but did not take place
+until the next morning.  Warren's corps was moved to the left to
+connect with Smith:  Hancock's corps was got into position to the
+left of Wright's, and Burnside was moved to Bethesda Church in
+reserve. While Warren and Burnside were making these changes the
+enemy came out several times and attacked them, capturing several
+hundred prisoners.  The attacks were repulsed, but not followed
+up as they should have been.  I was so annoyed at this that I
+directed Meade to instruct his corps commanders that they should
+seize all such opportunities when they occurred, and not wait for
+orders, all of our manoeuvres being made for the very purpose of
+getting the enemy out of his cover.
+
+On this day Wilson returned from his raid upon the Virginia
+Central Railroad, having damaged it considerably.  But, like
+ourselves, the rebels had become experts in repairing such
+damage.  Sherman, in his memoirs, relates an anecdote of his
+campaign to Atlanta that well illustrates this point.  The rebel
+cavalry lurking in his rear to burn bridges and obstruct his
+communications had become so disgusted at hearing trains go
+whistling by within a few hours after a bridge had been burned,
+that they proposed to try blowing up some of the tunnels.  One
+of them said, "No use, boys, Old Sherman carries duplicate
+tunnels with him, and will replace them as fast as you can blow
+them up; better save your powder."
+
+Sheridan was engaged reconnoitring the banks of the
+Chickahominy, to find crossings and the condition of the
+roads.  He reported favorably.
+
+During the night Lee moved his left up to make his line
+correspond to ours.  His lines extended now from the Totopotomoy
+to New Cold Harbor.  Mine from Bethesda Church by Old Cold Harbor
+to the Chickahominy, with a division of cavalry guarding our
+right.  An assault was ordered for the 3d, to be made mainly by
+the corps of Hancock, Wright and Smith; but Warren and Burnside
+were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to attack with
+great earnestness if he should either reinforce more threatened
+points by drawing from that quarter or if a favorable
+opportunity should present itself.
+
+The corps commanders were to select the points in their
+respective fronts where they would make their assaults.  The
+move was to commence at half-past four in the morning.  Hancock
+sent Barlow and Gibbon forward at the appointed hour, with
+Birney as a reserve.  Barlow pushed forward with great vigor,
+under a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, through
+thickets and swamps.  Notwithstanding all the resistance of the
+enemy and the natural obstructions to overcome, he carried a
+position occupied by the enemy outside their main line where the
+road makes a deep cut through a bank affording as good a shelter
+for troops as if it had been made for that purpose.  Three
+pieces of artillery had been captured here, and several hundred
+prisoners.  The guns were immediately turned against the men who
+had just been using them.  No (*33) assistance coming to him, he
+(Barlow) intrenched under fire and continued to hold his
+place.  Gibbon was not so fortunate in his front.  He found the
+ground over which he had to pass cut up with deep ravines, and a
+morass difficult to cross.  But his men struggled on until some
+of them got up to the very parapet covering the enemy.  Gibbon
+gained ground much nearer the enemy than that which he left, and
+here he intrenched and held fast.
+
+Wright's corps moving in two lines captured the outer rifle-pits
+in their front, but accomplished nothing more.  Smith's corps
+also gained the outer rifle-pits in its front.  The ground over
+which this corps (18th) had to move was the most exposed of any
+over which charges were made.  An open plain intervened between
+the contending forces at this point, which was exposed both to a
+direct and a cross fire.  Smith, however, finding a ravine
+running towards his front, sufficiently deep to protect men in
+it from cross fire, and somewhat from a direct fire, put
+Martindale's division in it, and with Brooks supporting him on
+the left and Devens on the right succeeded in gaining the
+outer--probably picket--rifle-pits.  Warren and Burnside also
+advanced and gained ground--which brought the whole army on one
+line.
+
+This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to
+compensate:  but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence
+sufficiently to induce him to take the offensive.  In fact,
+nowhere after the battle of the Wilderness did Lee show any
+disposition to leave his defences far behind him.
+
+Fighting was substantially over by half-past seven in the
+morning.  At eleven o'clock I started to visit all the corps
+commanders to see for myself the different positions gained and
+to get their opinion of the practicability of doing anything
+more in their respective fronts.
+
+Hancock gave the opinion that in his front the enemy was too
+strong to make any further assault promise success.  Wright
+thought he could gain the lines of the enemy, but it would
+require the cooperation of Hancock's and Smith's corps.  Smith
+thought a lodgment possible, but was not sanguine:  Burnside
+thought something could be done in his front, but Warren
+differed.  I concluded, therefore to make no more assaults, and
+a little after twelve directed in the following letter that all
+offensive action should cease.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864.-12.30 P.M.
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in
+case an assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of
+farther advance for the present.  Hold our most advanced
+positions and strengthen them.  Whilst on the defensive our line
+may be contracted from the right if practicable.
+
+Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and
+advances made to advantageous positions by regular approaches.
+To aid the expedition under General Hunter it is necessary that
+we should detain all the army now with Lee until the former gets
+well on his way to Lynchburg.  To do this effectually it will be
+better to keep the enemy out of the intrenchments of Richmond
+than to have them go back there.
+
+Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy
+should break through General Smith's lines, and all should be
+ready to resist an assault.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The remainder of the day was spent in strengthening the line we
+now held.  By night we were as strong against Lee as he was
+against us.
+
+During the night the enemy quitted our right front, abandoning
+some of their wounded, and without burying their dead.  These we
+were able to care for.  But there were many dead and wounded men
+between the lines of the contending forces, which were now close
+together, who could not be cared for without a cessation of
+hostilities.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 5, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R.  E. LEE,
+Commanding Confederate Army.
+
+It is reported to me that there are wounded men, probably of
+both armies, now lying exposed and suffering between the lines
+occupied respectively by the two armies.  Humanity would dictate
+that some provision should be made to provide against such
+hardships.  I would propose, therefore, that hereafter, when no
+battle is raging, either party be authorized to send to any
+point between the pickets or skirmish lines, unarmed men bearing
+litters to pick up their dead or wounded, without being fired
+upon by the other party.  Any other method, equally fair to both
+parties, you may propose for meeting the end desired will be
+accepted by me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied that he feared such an arrangement would lead to
+misunderstanding, and proposed that in future, when either party
+wished to remove their dead and wounded, a flag of truce be
+sent.  I answered this immediately by saying:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+"Your communication of yesterday's date is received.  I will
+send immediately, as you propose, to collect the dead and
+wounded between the lines of the two armies, and will also
+instruct that you be allowed to do the same.  I propose that the
+time for doing this be between the hours of 12 M. and 3 P.M.
+to-day.  I will direct all parties going out to bear a white
+flag, and not to attempt to go beyond where we have dead or
+wounded, and not beyond or on ground occupied by your troops.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's response was that he could not consent to the burial of
+the dead and removal of the wounded in the way I proposed, but
+when either party desired such permission it should be asked for
+by flag of truce and he had directed that any parties I may have
+sent out, as mentioned in my letter, to be turned back.  I
+answered:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA, June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE.
+Commanding Army, N. Va.
+
+The knowledge that wounded men are now suffering from want of
+attention, between the two armies, compels me to ask a
+suspension of hostilities for sufficient time to collect them
+in, say two hours.  Permit me to say that the hours you may fix
+upon for this will be agreeable to me, and the same privilege
+will be extended to such parties as you may wish to send out on
+the same duty without further application.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee acceded to this; but delays in transmitting the
+correspondence brought it to the 7th of June--forty-eight hours
+after it commenced--before parties were got out to collect the
+men left upon the field.  In the meantime all but two of the
+wounded had died.  And I wrote to Lee:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864.
+10.30 A.M.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+I regret that your note of seven P.M. yesterday should have been
+received at the nearest corps headquarters, to where it was
+delivered, after the hour which had been given for the removal
+of the dead and wounded had expired; 10.45 P.M. was the hour at
+which it was received at corps headquarters, and between eleven
+and twelve it reached my headquarters.  As a consequence, it was
+not understood by.the troops of this army that there was a
+cessation of hostilities for the purpose of collecting the dead
+and wounded, and none were collected.  Two officers and six men
+of the 8th and 25th North Carolina Regts., who were out in
+search of the bodies of officers of their respective regiments,
+were captured and brought into our lines, owing to this want of
+understanding.  I regret this, but will state that as soon as I
+learned the fact, I directed that they should not be held as
+prisoners, but must be returned to their commands.  These
+officers and men having been carelessly brought through our
+lines to the rear have not determined whether they will be sent
+back the way they came, or whether they will be sent by some
+other route.
+
+Regretting that all my efforts for alleviating the sufferings of
+wounded men left upon the battle-field have been rendered
+nugatory, I remain, &c.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was
+ever made.  I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d
+of May, 1863, at Vicksburg.  At Cold Harbor no advantage
+whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we
+sustained.  Indeed, the advantages other than those of relative
+losses, were on the Confederate side.  Before that, the Army of
+Northern Virginia seemed to have acquired a wholesome regard for
+the courage, endurance, and soldierly qualities generally of the
+Army of the Potomac.  They no longer wanted to fight them "one
+Confederate to five Yanks."  Indeed, they seemed to have given
+up any idea of gaining any advantage of their antagonist in the
+open field.  They had come to much prefer breastworks in their
+front to the Army of the Potomac.  This charge seemed to revive
+their hopes temporarily; but it was of short duration.  The
+effect upon the Army of the Potomac was the reverse.  When we
+reached the James River, however, all effects of the battle of
+Cold Harbor seemed to have disappeared.
+
+There was more justification for the assault at Vicksburg.  We
+were in a Southern climate, at the beginning of the hot
+season.  The Army of the Tennessee had won five successive
+victories over the garrison of Vicksburg in the three preceding
+weeks.  They had driven a portion of that army from Port Gibson
+with considerable loss, after having flanked them out of their
+stronghold at Grand Gulf.  They had attacked another portion of
+the same army at Raymond, more than fifty miles farther in the
+interior of the State, and driven them back into Jackson with
+great loss in killed, wounded, captured and missing, besides
+loss of large and small arms:  they had captured the capital of
+the State of Mississippi, with a large amount of materials of
+war and manufactures.  Only a few days before, they had beaten
+the enemy then penned up in the town first at Champion's Hill,
+next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him a loss of
+fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from
+returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition.  The
+Army of the Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat
+their antagonist under any circumstances.  There was no telling
+how long a regular siege might last.  As I have stated, it was
+the beginning of the hot season in a Southern climate.  There
+was no telling what the casualties might be among Northern
+troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface water
+filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun.  If
+Vicksburg could have been carried in May, it would not only have
+saved the army the risk it ran of a greater danger than from the
+bullets of the enemy, but it would have given us a splendid
+army, well equipped and officered, to operate elsewhere with.
+These are reasons justifying the assault.  The only benefit we
+gained--and it was a slight one for so great a sacrifice--was
+that the men worked cheerfully in the trenches after that, being
+satisfied with digging the enemy out.  Had the assault not been
+made, I have no doubt that the majority of those engaged in the
+siege of Vicksburg would have believed that had we assaulted it
+would have proven successful, and would have saved life, health
+and comfort.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+Lee's position was now so near Richmond, and the intervening
+swamps of the Chickahominy so great an obstacle to the movement
+of troops in the face of an enemy, that I determined to make my
+next left flank move carry the Army of the Potomac south of the
+James River. (*34)  Preparations for this were promptly
+commenced. The move was a hazardous one to make:  the
+Chickahominy River, with its marshy and heavily timbered
+approaches, had to be crossed; all the bridges over it east of
+Lee were destroyed; the enemy had a shorter line and better
+roads to travel on to confront me in crossing; more than fifty
+miles intervened between me and Butler, by the roads I should
+have to travel, with both the James and the Chickahominy
+unbridged to cross; and last, the Army of the Potomac had to be
+got out of a position but a few hundred yards from the enemy at
+the widest place.  Lee, if he did not choose to follow me,
+might, with his shorter distance to travel and his bridges over
+the Chickahominy and the James, move rapidly on Butler and crush
+him before the army with me could come to his relief.  Then too
+he might spare troops enough to send against Hunter who was
+approaching Lynchburg, living upon the country he passed
+through, and without ammunition further than what he carried
+with him.
+
+But the move had to be made, and I relied upon Lee's not seeing
+my danger as I saw it.  Besides we had armies on both sides of
+the James River and not far from the Confederate capital.  I
+knew that its safety would be a matter of the first
+consideration with the executive, legislative and judicial
+branches of the so-called Confederate government, if it was not
+with the military commanders.  But I took all the precaution I
+knew of to guard against all dangers.
+
+Sheridan was sent with two divisions, to communicate with Hunter
+and to break up the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River
+Canal, on the 7th of June, taking instructions to Hunter to come
+back with him (*35).  Hunter was also informed by way of
+Washington and the Valley that Sheridan was on the way to meet
+him.  The canal and Central Road, and the regions penetrated by
+them, were of vast importance to the enemy, furnishing and
+carrying a large per cent. of all the supplies for the Army of
+Northern Virginia and the people of Richmond.  Before Sheridan
+got off on the 7th news was received from Hunter reporting his
+advance to Staunton and successful engagement with the enemy
+near that place on the 5th, in which the Confederate commander,
+W. S. Jones, was killed.  On the 4th of June the enemy having
+withdrawn his left corps, Burnside on our right was moved up
+between Warren and Smith.  On the 5th Birney returned to
+Hancock, which extended his left now to the Chickahominy, and
+Warren was withdrawn to Cold Harbor.  Wright was directed to
+send two divisions to the left to extend down the banks of that
+stream to Bottom's Bridge.  The cavalry extended still farther
+east to Jones's Bridge.
+
+On the 7th Abercrombie--who was in command at White House, and
+who had been in command at our base of supplies in all the
+changes made from the start--was ordered to take up the iron
+from the York River Railroad and put it on boats, and to be in
+readiness to move by water to City Point.
+
+On the 8th Meade was directed to fortify a line down the bank
+overlooking the Chickahominy, under cover of which the army
+could move.
+
+On the 9th Abercrombie was directed to send all organized troops
+arriving at White House, without debarking from their transports,
+to report to Butler.  Halleck was at this time instructed to send
+all reinforcements to City Point.
+
+On the 11th I wrote:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. B. F. BUTLER,
+Commanding Department of Va. and N. C.
+
+The movement to transfer this army to the south side of the
+James River will commence after dark to-morrow night.  Col.
+Comstock, of my staff, was sent specially to ascertain what was
+necessary to make your position secure in the interval during
+which the enemy might use most of his force against you, and
+also, to ascertain what point on the river we should reach to
+effect a crossing if it should not be practicable to reach this
+side of the river at Bermuda Hundred.  Colonel Comstock has not
+yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as definite as
+I would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being
+so short in which to get word to you, I must do the best I
+can.  Colonel Dent goes to the Chickahominy to take to you the
+18th corps.  The corps will leave its position in the trenches
+as early in the evening, tomorrow, as possible, and make a
+forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it should reach
+by ten A.M. the following morning.  This corps numbers now
+15,300 men.  They take with them neither wagons nor artillery;
+these latter marching with the balance of the army to the James
+River.  The remainder of the army will cross the Chickahominy at
+Long Bridge and at Jones's, and strike the river at the most
+practicable crossing below City Point.
+
+I directed several days ago that all reinforcements for the army
+should be sent to you.  I am not advised of the number that may
+have gone, but suppose you have received from six to ten
+thousand.  General Smith will also reach you as soon as the
+enemy could, going by the way of Richmond.
+
+The balance of the force will not be more than one day behind,
+unless detained by the whole of Lee's army, in which case you
+will be strong enough.
+
+I wish you would direct the proper staff officers, your
+chief-engineer and your chief-quartermaster, to commence at once
+the collection of all the means in their reach for crossing the
+army on its arrival.  If there is a point below City Point where
+a pontoon bridge can be thrown, have it laid.
+
+Expecting the arrival of the 18th corps by Monday night, if you
+deem it practicable from the force you have to seize and hold
+Petersburg, you may prepare to start, on the arrival of troops
+to hold your present lines.  I do not want Petersburg visited,
+however, unless it is held, nor an attempt to take it, unless
+you feel a reasonable degree of confidence of success.  If you
+should go there, I think troops should take nothing with them
+except what they can carry, depending upon supplies being sent
+after the place is secured.  If Colonel Dent should not succeed
+in securing the requisite amount of transportation for the 18th
+corps before reaching you, please have the balance supplied.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--On reflection I will send the 18th corps by way of White
+House.  The distance which they will have to march will be
+enough shorter to enable them to reach you about the same time,
+and the uncertainty of navigation on the Chickahominy will be
+avoided.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL G. G. MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Colonel Comstock, who visited the James River for the purpose of
+ascertaining the best point below Bermuda Hundred to which to
+march the army has not yet returned.  It is now getting so late,
+however, that all preparations may be made for the move to-morrow
+night without waiting longer.
+
+The movement will be made as heretofore agreed upon, that is,
+the 18th corps make a rapid march with the infantry alone, their
+wagons and artillery accompanying the balance of the army to
+Cole's Landing or Ferry, and there embark for City Point, losing
+no time for rest until they reach the latter point.
+
+The 5th corps will seize Long Bridge and move out on the Long
+Bridge Road to its junction with Quaker Road, or until stopped
+by the enemy.
+
+The other three corps will follow in such order as you may
+direct, one of them crossing at Long Bridge, and two at Jones's
+Bridge.  After the crossing is effected, the most practicable
+roads will be taken to reach about Fort Powhattan.  Of course,
+this is supposing the enemy makes no opposition to our
+advance.  The 5th corps, after securing the passage of the
+balance of the army, will join or follow in rear of the corps
+which crosses the same bridge with themselves.  The wagon trains
+should be kept well east of the troops, and if a crossing can be
+found, or made lower down than Jones's they should take it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--In view of the long march to reach Cole's Landing, and
+the uncertainty of being able to embark a large number of men
+there, the direction of the 18th corps may be changed to White
+House.  They should be directed to load up transports, and start
+them as fast as loaded without waiting for the whole corps or
+even whole divisions to go together.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers
+of the 11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving
+east.  This, with the news of Hunter's successful engagement
+near Staunton, was no doubt known to Lee before it was to me.
+Then Sheridan leaving with two divisions of cavalry, looked
+indeed threatening, both to Lee's communications and supplies.
+Much of his cavalry was sent after Sheridan, and Early with
+Ewell's entire corps was sent to the Valley.  Supplies were
+growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to draw
+them were in our hands.  People from outside began to pour into
+Richmond to help eat up the little on hand.  Consternation
+reigned there.
+
+On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House,
+not to stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once
+for City Point, leaving his trains and artillery to move by land.
+
+Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a
+crossing by wading and floundering through the water and mud,
+leaving their horses behind, and drove away the cavalry
+pickets.  A pontoon bridge was speedily thrown across, over
+which the remainder of the army soon passed and pushed out for a
+mile or two to watch and detain any advance that might be made
+from the other side.  Warren followed the cavalry, and by the
+morning of the 13th had his whole corps over.  Hancock followed
+Warren.  Burnside took the road to Jones's Bridge, followed by
+Wright.  Ferrero's division, with the wagon train, moved farther
+east, by Window Shades and Cole's Ferry, our rear being covered
+by cavalry.
+
+It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond. These
+might run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before
+they could be sunk or captured by our navy.  General Butler had,
+in advance, loaded some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as
+to obstruct the channel in an emergency.  On the 13th I sent
+orders to have these sunk as high up the river as we could guard
+them, and prevent their removal by the enemy.
+
+As soon as Warren's corps was over the Chickahominy it marched
+out and joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond
+while the army passed.  No attempt was made by the enemy to
+impede our march, however, but Warren and Wilson reported the
+enemy strongly fortified in their front.  By the evening of the
+13th Hancock's corps was at Charles City Court House on the
+James River.  Burnside's and Wright's corps were on the
+Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren's corps and
+the cavalry still covering the army.  The material for a pontoon
+bridge was already at hand and the work of laying it was
+commenced immediately, under the superintendence of
+Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the engineer brigade.  On
+the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced, Hancock in
+advance, using both the bridge and boats.
+
+When the Wilderness campaign commenced the Army of the Potomac,
+including Burnside's --which was a separate command until the
+24th of May when it was incorporated with the main
+army--numbered about 116,000 men.  During the progress of the
+campaign about 40,000 reinforcements were received.  At the
+crossing of the James River June 14th-l5th the army numbered
+about 115,000.  Besides the ordinary losses incident to a
+campaign of six weeks' nearly constant fighting or skirmishing,
+about one-half of the artillery was sent back to Washington, and
+many men were discharged by reason of the expiration of their
+term of service.* In estimating our strength every enlisted man
+and every commissioned officer present is included, no matter
+how employed; in bands, sick in field hospitals, hospital
+attendants, company cooks and all.  Operating in an enemy's
+country, and being supplied always from a distant base, large
+detachments had at all times to be sent from the front, not only
+to guard the base of supplies and the roads to it, but all the
+roads leading to our flanks and rear.  We were also operating in
+a country unknown to us, and without competent guides or maps
+showing the roads accurately.
+
+The manner of estimating numbers in the two armies differs
+materially.  In the Confederate army often only bayonets are
+taken into account, never, I believe, do they estimate more than
+are handling the guns of the artillery and armed with muskets
+(*36) or carbines.  Generally the latter are far enough away to
+be excluded from the count in any one field.  Officers and
+details of enlisted men are not included.  In the Northern
+armies the estimate is most liberal, taking in all connected
+with the army and drawing pay.
+
+Estimated in the same manner as ours, Lee had not less than
+80,000 men at the start.  His reinforcements were about equal to
+ours during the campaign, deducting the discharged men and those
+sent back.  He was on the defensive, and in a country in which
+every stream, every road, every obstacle to the movement of
+troops and every natural defence was familiar to him and his
+army.  The citizens were all friendly to him and his cause, and
+could and did furnish him with accurate reports of our every
+move.  Rear guards were not necessary for him, and having always
+a railroad at his back, large wagon trains were not required. All
+circumstances considered we did not have any advantage in
+numbers.
+
+General Lee, who had led the Army of Northern Virginia in all
+these contests, was a very highly estimated man in the
+Confederate army and States, and filled also a very high place
+in the estimation of the people and press of the Northern
+States.  His praise was sounded throughout the entire North
+after every action he was engaged in:  the number of his forces
+was always lowered and that of the National forces
+exaggerated.  He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult
+of approach to his subordinates.  To be extolled by the entire
+press of the South after every engagement, and by a portion of
+the press North with equal vehemence, was calculated to give him
+the entire confidence of his troops and to make him feared by his
+antagonists.  It was not an uncommon thing for my staff-officers
+to hear from Eastern officers, "Well, Grant has never met Bobby
+Lee yet."  There were good and true officers who believe now
+that the Army of Northern Virginia was superior to the Army of
+the Potomac man to man.  I do not believe so, except as the
+advantages spoken of above made them so.  Before the end I
+believe the difference was the other way.  The Army of Northern
+Virginia became despondent and saw the end.  It did not please
+them.  The National army saw the same thing, and were encouraged
+by it.
+
+The advance of the Army of the Potomac reached the James on the
+14th of June.  Preparations were at once commenced for laying
+the pontoon bridges and crossing the river.  As already stated,
+I had previously ordered General Butler to have two vessels
+loaded with stone and carried up the river to a point above that
+occupied by our gunboats, where the channel was narrow, and sunk
+there so as to obstruct the passage and prevent Confederate
+gunboats from coming down the river.  Butler had had these boats
+filled and put in position, but had not had them sunk before my
+arrival.  I ordered this done, and also directed that he should
+turn over all material and boats not then in use in the river to
+be used in ferrying the troops across.
+
+I then, on the 14th, took a steamer and ran up to Bermuda
+Hundred to see General Butler for the purpose of directing a
+movement against Petersburg, while our troops of the Army of the
+Potomac were crossing.
+
+I had sent General W. F. Smith back from Cold Harbor by the way
+of White House, thence on steamers to City Point for the purpose
+of giving General Butler more troops with which to accomplish
+this result.  General Butler was ordered to send Smith with his
+troops reinforced, as far as that could be conveniently done,
+from other parts of the Army of the James.  He gave Smith about
+six thousand reinforcements, including some twenty-five hundred
+cavalry under Kautz, and about thirty-five hundred colored
+infantry under Hinks.
+
+The distance which Smith had to move to reach the enemy's lines
+was about six miles, and the Confederate advance line of works
+was but two miles outside of Petersburg.  Smith was to move
+under cover of night, up close to the enemy's works, and assault
+as soon as he could after daylight.  I believed then, and still
+believe, that Petersburg could have been easily captured at that
+time.  It only had about 2,500 men in the defences besides some
+irregular troops, consisting of citizens and employees in the
+city who took up arms in case of emergency.  Smith started as
+proposed, but his advance encountered a rebel force intrenched
+between City Point and their lines outside of Petersburg.  This
+position he carried, with some loss to the enemy; but there was
+so much delay that it was daylight before his troops really got
+off from there.  While there I informed General Butler that
+Hancock's corps would cross the river and move to Petersburg to
+support Smith in case the latter was successful, and that I
+could reinforce there more rapidly than Lee could reinforce from
+his position.
+
+I returned down the river to where the troops of the Army of the
+Potomac now were, communicated to General Meade, in writing, the
+directions I had given to General Butler and directed him
+(Meade) to cross Hancock's corps over under cover of night, and
+push them forward in the morning to Petersburg; halting them,
+however, at a designated point until they could hear from
+Smith.  I also informed General Meade that I had ordered rations
+from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to
+issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was
+absolutely necessary.  The rations did not reach him, however,
+and Hancock, while he got all his corps over during the night,
+remained until half-past ten in the hope of receiving them.  He
+then moved without them, and on the road received a note from
+General W. F. Smith, asking him to come on.  This seems to be
+the first information that General Hancock had received of the
+fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything
+particular was expected of him.  Otherwise he would have been
+there by four o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the
+forenoon of the 15th, and spent the day until after seven
+o'clock in the evening in reconnoitering what appeared to be
+empty works.  The enemy's line consisted of redans occupying
+commanding positions, with rifle-pits connecting them.  To the
+east side of Petersburg, from the Appomattox back, there were
+thirteen of these redans extending a distance of several miles,
+probably three.  If they had been properly manned they could
+have held out against any force that could have attacked them,
+at least until reinforcements could have got up from the north
+of Richmond.
+
+Smith assaulted with the colored troops, and with success.  By
+nine o'clock at night he was in possession of five of these
+redans and, of course, of the connecting lines of rifle-pits.
+All of them contained artillery, which fell into our hands.
+Hancock came up and proposed to take any part assigned to him;
+and Smith asked him to relieve his men who were in the trenches.
+
+Next morning, the 16th, Hancock himself was in command, and
+captured another redan.  Meade came up in the afternoon and
+succeeded Hancock, who had to be relieved, temporarily, from the
+command of his corps on account of the breaking out afresh of the
+wound he had received at Gettysburg.  During the day Meade
+assaulted and carried one more redan to his right and two to his
+left.  In all this we lost very heavily.  The works were not
+strongly manned, but they all had guns in them which fell into
+our hands, together with the men who were handling them in the
+effort to repel these assaults.
+
+Up to this time Beauregard, who had commanded south of Richmond,
+had received no reinforcements, except Hoke's division from
+Drury's Bluff,(*37) which had arrived on the morning of the
+16th; though he had urged the authorities very strongly to send
+them, believing, as he did, that Petersburg would be a valuable
+prize which we might seek.
+
+During the 17th the fighting was very severe and the losses
+heavy; and at night our troops occupied about the same position
+they had occupied in the morning, except that they held a redan
+which had been captured by Potter during the day.  During the
+night, however, Beauregard fell back to the line which had been
+already selected, and commenced fortifying it.  Our troops
+advanced on the 18th to the line which he had abandoned, and
+found that the Confederate loss had been very severe, many of
+the enemy's dead still remaining in the ditches and in front of
+them.
+
+Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the
+18th.  He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he
+had been in the habit of doing in all the engagements in which
+he had previously been engaged.  He had several times been
+recommended for a brigadier-generalcy for gallant and
+meritorious conduct.  On this occasion, however, I promoted him
+on the spot, and forwarded a copy of my order to the War
+Department, asking that my act might be confirmed and
+Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without
+any delay.  This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious
+officer received partial justice at the hands of his government,
+which he had served so faithfully and so well.
+
+If General Hancock's orders of the 15th had been communicated to
+him, that officer, with his usual promptness, would undoubtedly
+have been upon the ground around Petersburg as early as four
+o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th.  The days were long and it
+would have given him considerable time before night.  I do not
+think there is any doubt that Petersburg itself could have been
+carried without much loss; or, at least, if protected by inner
+detached works, that a line could have been established very
+much in rear of the one then occupied by the enemy.  This would
+have given us control of both the Weldon and South Side
+railroads.  This would also have saved an immense amount of hard
+fighting which had to be done from the 15th to the 18th, and
+would have given us greatly the advantage in the long siege
+which ensued.
+
+I now ordered the troops to be put under cover and allowed some
+of the rest which they had so long needed.  They remained quiet,
+except that there was more or less firing every day, until the
+22d, when General Meade ordered an advance towards the Weldon
+Railroad.  We were very anxious to get to that road, and even
+round to the South Side Railroad if possible.
+
+Meade moved Hancock's corps, now commanded by Birney, to the
+left, with a view to at least force the enemy to stay within the
+limits of his own line.  General Wright, with the 6th corps, was
+ordered by a road farther south, to march directly for the
+Weldon road.  The enemy passed in between these two corps and
+attacked vigorously, and with very serious results to the
+National troops, who were then withdrawn from their advanced
+position.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was given the investment of Petersburg,
+while the Army of the James held Bermuda Hundred and all the
+ground we possessed north of the James River.  The 9th corps,
+Burnside's, was placed upon the right at Petersburg; the 5th,
+Warren's, next; the 2d, Birney's, next; then the 6th, Wright's,
+broken off to the left and south.  Thus began the siege of
+Petersburg.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY 'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE
+WELDON RAILROAD.
+
+On the 7th of June, while at Cold Harbor, I had as already
+indicated sent Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry to destroy
+as much as he could of the Virginia Central Railroad.  General
+Hunter had been operating up the Shenandoah Valley with some
+success, having fought a battle near Staunton where he captured
+a great many prisoners, besides killing and wounding a good many
+men.  After the battle he formed a junction at Staunton with
+Averell and Crook, who had come up from the Kanawha, or Gauley
+River.  It was supposed, therefore, that General Hunter would be
+about Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time Sheridan could get
+there, doing on the way the damage that he was sent to do.
+
+I gave Sheridan instructions to have Hunter, in case he should
+meet him about Charlottesville, join and return with him to the
+Army of the Potomac.  Lee, hearing of Hunter's success in the
+valley, started Breckinridge out for its defence at once.
+Learning later of Sheridan's going with two divisions, he also
+sent Hampton with two divisions of cavalry, his own and
+Fitz-Hugh Lee's.
+
+Sheridan moved to the north side of the North Anna to get out
+west, and learned of the movement of these troops to the south
+side of the same stream almost as soon as they had started. He
+pushed on to get to Trevilian Station to commence his
+destruction at that point.  On the night of the 10th he
+bivouacked some six or seven miles east of Trevilian, while
+Fitz-Hugh Lee was the same night at Trevilian Station and
+Hampton but a few miles away.
+
+During the night Hampton ordered an advance on Sheridan, hoping,
+no doubt, to surprise and very badly cripple him.  Sheridan,
+however, by a counter move sent Custer on a rapid march to get
+between the two divisions of the enemy and into their rear. This
+he did successfully, so that at daylight, when the assault was
+made, the enemy found himself at the same time resisted in front
+and attacked in rear, and broke in some confusion.  The losses
+were probably very light on both sides in killed and wounded,
+but Sheridan got away with some five hundred prisoners and sent
+them to City Point.
+
+During that day, the 11th, Sheridan moved into Trevilian
+Station, and the following day proceeded to tear up the road
+east and west.  There was considerable fighting during the whole
+of the day, but the work of destruction went on.  In the
+meantime, at night, the enemy had taken possession of the
+crossing which Sheridan had proposed to take to go north when he
+left Trevilian.  Sheridan learned, however, from some of the
+prisoners he had captured here, that General Hunter was about
+Lynchburg, and therefore that there was no use of his going on
+to Charlottesville with a view to meet him.
+
+Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his
+way north and farther east, coming around by the north side of
+White House, and arriving there on the 21st.  Here he found an
+abundance of forage for his animals, food for his men, and
+security while resting.  He had been obliged to leave about
+ninety of his own men in the field-hospital which he had
+established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our
+troops were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a
+store of supplies.  Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it
+up; which he did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an
+immense wagon train with him.  All these were over the James
+River by the 26th of the month, and Sheridan ready to follow.
+
+In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson's division on a raid to
+destroy the Weldon and South Side roads.  Now that Sheridan was
+safe and Hampton free to return to Richmond with his cavalry,
+Wilson's position became precarious.  Meade therefore, on the
+27th, ordered Sheridan over the river to make a demonstration in
+favor of Wilson.  Wilson got back, though not without severe
+loss, having struck both roads, but the damage done was soon
+repaired.
+
+After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg
+until late in July.  The time, however, was spent in
+strengthening the intrenchments and making our position
+generally more secure against a sudden attack.  In the meantime
+I had to look after other portions of my command, where things
+had not been going on so favorably, always, as I could have
+wished.
+
+General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the
+Shenandoah Valley immediately took up the offensive.  He met the
+enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and defeated him.  On the
+8th he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton,
+from which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington,
+which he reached and invested on the 16th.  Up to this time he
+was very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with
+him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a
+hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg.
+The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories had
+been very great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter,
+General Lee sent Early with his corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on the 17th and
+18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give
+battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately, this want
+of ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by
+the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up the Ohio
+River, returning to Harper's Ferry by way of the Baltimore and
+Ohio Railroad.  A long time was consumed in making this
+movement.  Meantime the valley was left open to Early's troops,
+and others in that quarter; and Washington also was uncovered.
+Early took advantage of this condition of affairs and moved on
+Washington.
+
+In the absence of Hunter, General Lew Wallace, with headquarters
+at Baltimore, commanded the department in which the Shenandoah
+lay.  His surplus of troops with which to move against the enemy
+was small in number.  Most of these were raw and, consequently,
+very much inferior to our veterans and to the veterans which
+Early had with him; but the situation of Washington was
+precarious, and Wallace moved with commendable promptitude to
+meet the enemy at the Monocacy.  He could hardly have expected
+to defeat him badly, but he hoped to cripple and delay him until
+Washington could be put into a state of preparation for his
+reception.  I had previously ordered General Meade to send a
+division to Baltimore for the purpose of adding to the defences
+of Washington, and he had sent Ricketts's division of the 6th
+corps (Wright's), which arrived in Baltimore on the 8th of
+July.  Finding that Wallace had gone to the front with his
+command, Ricketts immediately took the cars and followed him to
+the Monocacy with his entire division.  They met the enemy and,
+as might have been expected, were defeated; but they succeeded
+in stopping him for the day on which the battle took place.  The
+next morning Early started on his march to the capital of the
+Nation, arriving before it on the 11th.
+
+Learning of the gravity of the situation I had directed General
+Meade to also order Wright with the rest of his corps directly
+to Washington for the relief of that place, and the latter
+reached there the very day that Early arrived before it.  The
+19th corps, which had been stationed in Louisiana, having been
+ordered up to reinforce the armies about Richmond, had about
+this time arrived at Fortress Monroe, on their way to join us. I
+diverted them from that point to Washington, which place they
+reached, almost simultaneously with Wright, on the 11th.  The
+19th corps was commanded by Major-General Emory.
+
+Early made his reconnoissance with a view of attacking on the
+following morning, the 12th; but the next morning he found our
+intrenchments, which were very strong, fully manned.  He at once
+commenced to retreat, Wright following.  There is no telling how
+much this result was contributed to by General Lew Wallace's
+leading what might well be considered almost a forlorn hope.  If
+Early had been but one day earlier he might have entered the
+capital before the arrival of the reinforcements I had sent.
+Whether the delay caused by the battle amounted to a day or not,
+General Wallace contributed on this occasion, by the defeat of
+the troops under him a greater benefit to the cause than often
+falls to the lot of a commander of an equal force to render by
+means of a victory.
+
+Farther west also the troubles were threatening.  Some time
+before, Forrest had met Sturgis in command of some of our
+cavalry in Mississippi and handled him very roughly, gaining a
+very great victory over him.  This left Forrest free to go
+almost where he pleased, and to cut the roads in rear of Sherman
+who was then advancing.  Sherman was abundantly able to look
+after the army that he was immediately with, and all of his
+military division so long as he could communicate with it; but
+it was my place to see that he had the means with which to hold
+his rear.  Two divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to
+Banks in Louisiana some months before.  Sherman ordered these
+back, with directions to attack Forrest.  Smith met and defeated
+him very badly.  I then directed that Smith should hang to
+Forrest and not let him go; and to prevent by all means his
+getting upon the Memphis and Nashville Railroad.  Sherman had
+anticipated me in this matter, and given the same orders in
+substance; but receiving my directions for this order to Smith,
+he repeated it.
+
+On the 25th of June General Burnside had commenced running a
+mine from about the centre of his front under the Confederate
+works confronting him.  He was induced to do this by Colonel
+Pleasants, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was
+mostly composed of miners, and who was himself a practical
+miner.  Burnside had submitted the scheme to Meade and myself,
+and we both approved of it, as a means of keeping the men
+occupied.  His position was very favorable for carrying on this
+work, but not so favorable for the operations to follow its
+completion.  The position of the two lines at that point were
+only about a hundred yards apart with a comparatively deep
+ravine intervening.  In the bottom of this ravine the work
+commenced.  The position was unfavorable in this particular:
+that the enemy's line at that point was re-entering, so that its
+front was commanded by their own lines both to the right and
+left.  Then, too, the ground was sloping upward back of the
+Confederate line for a considerable distance, and it was
+presumable that the enemy had, at least, a detached work on this
+highest point.  The work progressed, and on the 23d of July the
+mine was finished ready for charging; but I had this work of
+charging deferred until we were ready for it.
+
+On the 17th of July several deserters came in and said that
+there was great consternation in Richmond, and that Lee was
+coming out to make an attack upon us the object being to put us
+on the defensive so that he might detach troops to go to Georgia
+where the army Sherman was operating against was said to be in
+great trouble.  I put the army commanders, Meade and Butler, on
+the lookout, but the attack was not made.
+
+I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way
+of offensive movement myself, having in view something of the
+same object that Lee had had.  Wright's and Emory's corps were
+in Washington, and with this reduction of my force Lee might
+very readily have spared some troops from the defences to send
+West.  I had other objects in view, however, besides keeping Lee
+where he was.  The mine was constructed and ready to be exploded,
+and I wanted to take that occasion to carry Petersburg if I
+could.  It was the object, therefore, to get as many of Lee's
+troops away from the south side of the James River as
+possible.  Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement
+with Hancock's corps and Sheridan's cavalry to the north side by
+the way of Deep Bottom, where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid.
+The plan, in the main, was to let the cavalry cut loose and,
+joining with Kautz's cavalry of the Army of the James, get by
+Lee's lines and destroy as much as they could of the Virginia
+Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was to
+move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat
+back when they should have got through with their work.  We were
+successful in drawing the enemy's troops to the north side of the
+James as I expected.  The mine was ordered to be charged, and the
+morning of the 30th of July was the time fixed for its
+explosion.  I gave Meade minute orders (*38) on the 24th
+directing how I wanted the assault conducted, which orders he
+amplified into general instructions for the guidance of the
+troops that were to be engaged.
+
+Meade's instructions, which I, of course, approved most
+heartily, were all that I can see now was necessary.  The only
+further precaution which he could have taken, and which he could
+not foresee, would have been to have different men to execute
+them.
+
+The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from
+where it entered the ground to the point where it was under the
+enemy's works, and with a cross gallery of something over eighty
+feet running under their lines.  Eight chambers had been left,
+requiring a ton of powder each to charge them.  All was ready by
+the time I had prescribed; and on the 29th Hancock and Sheridan
+were brought back near the James River with their troops.  Under
+cover of night they started to recross the bridge at Deep Bottom,
+and to march directly for that part of our lines in front of the
+mine.
+
+Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient
+number of men and concentrate the balance on the right next to
+Burnside's corps, while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps,
+temporarily under Meade, was to form in the rear of Burnside to
+support him when he went in.  All were to clear off the parapets
+and the _abatis_ in their front so as to leave the space as open
+as possible, and be able to charge the moment the mine had been
+sprung and Burnside had taken possession.  Burnside's corps was
+not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the
+hill, supported on the right and left by Ord's and Warren's
+corps.
+
+Warren and Ord fulfilled their instructions perfectly so far as
+making ready was concerned.  Burnside seemed to have paid no
+attention whatever to the instructions, and left all the
+obstruction in his own front for his troops to get over in the
+best way they could.  The four divisions of his corps were
+commanded by Generals Potter, Willcox, Ledlie and Ferrero.  The
+last was a colored division; and Burnside selected it to make
+the assault.  Meade interfered with this.  Burnside then took
+Ledlie's division--a worse selection than the first could have
+been.  In fact, Potter and Willcox were the only division
+commanders Burnside had who were equal to the occasion.  Ledlie
+besides being otherwise inefficient, proved also to possess
+disqualification less common among soldiers.
+
+There was some delay about the explosion of the mine so that it
+did not go off until about five o'clock in the morning.  When it
+did explode it was very successful, making a crater twenty feet
+deep and something like a hundred feet in length.  Instantly one
+hundred and ten cannon and fifty mortars, which had been placed
+in the most commanding positions covering the ground to the
+right and left of where the troops were to enter the enemy's
+lines, commenced playing.  Ledlie's division marched into the
+crater immediately on the explosion, but most of the men stopped
+there in the absence of any one to give directions; their
+commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they
+started.  There was some delay on the left and right in
+advancing, but some of the troops did get in and turn to the
+right and left, carrying the rifle-pits as I expected they would
+do.
+
+There had been great consternation in Petersburg, as we were
+well aware, about a rumored mine that we were going to
+explode.  They knew we were mining, and they had failed to cut
+our mine off by countermining, though Beauregard had taken the
+precaution to run up a line of intrenchments to the rear of that
+part of their line fronting where they could see that our men
+were at work.  We had learned through deserters who had come in
+that the people had very wild rumors about what was going on on
+our side.  They said that we had undermined the whole of
+Petersburg; that they were resting upon a slumbering volcano and
+did not know at what moment they might expect an eruption.  I
+somewhat based my calculations upon this state of feeling, and
+expected that when the mine was exploded the troops to the right
+and left would flee in all directions, and that our troops, if
+they moved promptly, could get in and strengthen themselves
+before the enemy had come to a realization of the true
+situation.  It was just as I expected it would be.  We could see
+the men running without any apparent object except to get away.
+It was half an hour before musketry firing, to amount to
+anything, was opened upon our men in the crater.  It was an hour
+before the enemy got artillery up to play upon them; and it was
+nine o'clock before Lee got up reinforcements from his right to
+join in expelling our troops.
+
+The effort was a stupendous failure.  It cost us about four
+thousand men, mostly, however, captured; and all due to
+inefficiency on the part of the corps commander and the
+incompetency of the division commander who was sent to lead the
+assault.
+
+After being fully assured of the failure of the mine, and
+finding that most of that part of Lee's army which had been
+drawn north of the James River were still there, I gave Meade
+directions to send a corps of infantry and the cavalry next
+morning, before Lee could get his forces back, to destroy
+fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon Railroad.  But misfortunes
+never come singly.  I learned during that same afternoon that
+Wright's pursuit of Early was feeble because of the constant and
+contrary orders he had been receiving from Washington, while I
+was cut off from immediate communication by reason of our cable
+across Chesapeake Bay being broken.  Early, however, was not
+aware of the fact that Wright was not pursuing until he had
+reached Strasburg.  Finding that he was not pursued he turned
+back to Winchester, where Crook was stationed with a small
+force, and drove him out.  He then pushed north until he had
+reached the Potomac, then he sent McCausland across to
+Chambersburg, Pa., to destroy that town.  Chambersburg was a
+purely defenceless town with no garrison whatever, and no
+fortifications; yet McCausland, under Early's orders, burned the
+place and left about three hundred families houseless.  This
+occurred on the 30th of July.  I rescinded my orders for the
+troops to go out to destroy the Weldon Railroad, and directed
+them to embark for Washington City.  After burning Chambersburg
+McCausland retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley and
+driven into Virginia.
+
+The Shenandoah Valley was very important to the Confederates,
+because it was the principal storehouse they now had for feeding
+their armies about Richmond.  It was well known that they would
+make a desperate struggle to maintain it.  It had been the
+source of a great deal of trouble to us heretofore to guard that
+outlet to the north, partly because of the incompetency of some
+of the commanders, but chiefly because of interference from
+Washington.
+
+It seemed to be the policy of General Halleck and Secretary
+Stanton to keep any force sent there, in pursuit of the invading
+army, moving right and left so as to keep between the enemy and
+our capital; and, generally speaking, they pursued this policy
+until all knowledge of the whereabouts of the enemy was lost.
+They were left, therefore, free to supply themselves with
+horses, beef cattle, and such provisions as they could carry
+away from Western Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I determined to
+put a stop to this.  I started Sheridan at once for that field
+of operation, and on the following day sent another division of
+his cavalry.
+
+I had previously asked to have Sheridan assigned to that
+command, but Mr. Stanton objected, on the ground that he was too
+young for so important a command.  On the 1st of August when I
+sent reinforcements for the protection of Washington, I sent the
+following orders:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+
+August 1, 1864, 11.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington D. C.
+
+I am sending General Sheridan for temporary duty whilst the
+enemy is being expelled from the border.  Unless General Hunter
+is in the field in person, I want Sheridan put in command of all
+the troops in the field, with instructions to put himself south
+of the enemy and follow him to the death.  Wherever the enemy
+goes let our troops go also.  Once started up the valley they
+ought to be followed until we get possession of the Virginia
+Central Railroad.  If General Hunter is in the field, give
+Sheridan direct command of the 6th corps and cavalry division.
+All the cavalry, I presume, will reach Washington in the course
+of to-morrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The President in some way or other got to see this dispatch of
+mine directing certain instructions to be given to the
+commanders in the field, operating against Early, and sent me
+the following very characteristic dispatch:
+
+
+OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
+WAR DEPARTMENT,
+WASHINGTON, D. C., August 3, 1864.
+
+Cypher. 6 P.M.,
+
+LT. GENERAL GRANT,
+City Point, Va.
+
+I have seen your despatch in which you say, "I want Sheridan put
+in command of all the troops in the field, with instructions to
+put himself south of the enemy, and follow him to the death.
+Wherever the enemy goes, let our troops go also."  This, I
+think, is exactly right, as to how our forces should move.  But
+please look over the despatches you may have received from here,
+even since you made that order, and discover, if you can, that
+there is any idea in the head of any one here, of "putting our
+army south of the enemy," or of "following him to the death" in
+any direction.  I repeat to you it will neither be done nor
+attempted unless you watch it every day, and hour, and force it.
+
+A. LINCOLN.
+
+
+I replied to this that "I would start in two hours for
+Washington," and soon got off, going directly to the Monocacy
+without stopping at Washington on my way.  I found General
+Hunter's army encamped there, scattered over the fields along
+the banks of the Monocacy, with many hundreds of cars and
+locomotives, belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which
+he had taken the precaution to bring back and collect at that
+point.  I asked the general where the enemy was.  He replied
+that he did not know.  He said the fact was, that he was so
+embarrassed with orders from Washington moving him first to the
+right and then to the left that he had lost all trace of the
+enemy.
+
+I then told the general that I would find out where the enemy
+was, and at once ordered steam got up and trains made up, giving
+directions to push for Halltown, some four miles above Harper's
+Ferry, in the Shenandoah Valley.  The cavalry and the wagon
+trains were to march, but all the troops that could be
+transported by the cars were to go in that way.  I knew that the
+valley was of such importance to the enemy that, no matter how
+much he was scattered at that time, he would in a very short
+time be found in front of our troops moving south.
+
+I then wrote out General Hunter's instructions. (*39)  I told
+him that Sheridan was in Washington, and still another division
+was on its way; and suggested that he establish the headquarters
+of the department at any point that would suit him best,
+Cumberland, Baltimore, or elsewhere, and give Sheridan command
+of the troops in the field.  The general replied to this, that
+he thought he had better be relieved entirely.  He said that
+General Halleck seemed so much to distrust his fitness for the
+position he was in that he thought somebody else ought to be
+there.  He did not want, in any way, to embarrass the cause;
+thus showing a patriotism that was none too common in the
+army.  There were not many major-generals who would voluntarily
+have asked to have the command of a department taken from them
+on the supposition that for some particular reason, or for any
+reason, the service would be better performed.  I told him,
+"very well then," and telegraphed at once for Sheridan to come
+to the Monocacy, and suggested that I would wait and meet him
+there.
+
+Sheridan came at once by special train, but reached there after
+the troops were all off.  I went to the station and remained
+there until he arrived.  Myself and one or two of my staff were
+about all the Union people, except General Hunter and his staff,
+who were left at the Monocacy when Sheridan arrived.  I hastily
+told Sheridan what had been done and what I wanted him to do,
+giving him, at the same time, the written instructions which had
+been prepared for General Hunter and directed to that officer.
+
+Sheridan now had about 30,000 men to move with, 8,000 of them
+being cavalry.  Early had about the same number, but the
+superior ability of the National commander over the Confederate
+commander was so great that all the latter's advantage of being
+on the defensive was more than counterbalanced by this
+circumstance.  As I had predicted, Early was soon found in front
+of Sheridan in the valley, and Pennsylvania and Maryland were
+speedily freed from the invaders.  The importance of the valley
+was so great to the Confederates that Lee reinforced Early, but
+not to the extent that we thought and feared he would.
+
+To prevent as much as possible these reinforcements from being
+sent out from Richmond, I had to do something to compel Lee to
+retain his forces about his capital.  I therefore gave orders
+for another move to the north side of the James River, to
+threaten Richmond.  Hancock's corps, part of the 10th corps
+under Birney, and Gregg's division of cavalry were crossed to
+the north side of the James during the night of the 13th-14th of
+August.  A threatening position was maintained for a number of
+days, with more or less skirmishing, and some tolerably hard
+fighting; although it was my object and my instructions that
+anything like a battle should be avoided, unless opportunities
+should present themselves which would insure great success.
+General Meade was left in command of the few troops around
+Petersburg, strongly intrenched; and was instructed to keep a
+close watch upon the enemy in that quarter, and himself to take
+advantage of any weakening that might occur through an effort on
+the part of the enemy to reinforce the north side.  There was no
+particular victory gained on either side; but during that time
+no more reinforcements were sent to the valley.
+
+I informed Sheridan of what had been done to prevent
+reinforcements being sent from Richmond against him, and also
+that the efforts we had made had proven that one of the
+divisions which we supposed had gone to the valley was still at
+Richmond, because we had captured six or seven hundred prisoners
+from that division, each of its four brigades having contributed
+to our list of captures.  I also informed him that but one
+division had gone, and it was possible that I should be able to
+prevent the going of any more.
+
+To add to my embarrassment at this time Sherman, who was now
+near Atlanta, wanted reinforcements.  He was perfectly willing
+to take the raw troops then being raised in the North-west,
+saying that he could teach them more soldiering in one day among
+his troops than they would learn in a week in a camp of
+instruction.  I therefore asked that all troops in camps of
+instruction in the North-west be sent to him.  Sherman also
+wanted to be assured that no Eastern troops were moving out
+against him.  I informed him of what I had done and assured him
+that I would hold all the troops there that it was possible for
+me to hold, and that up to that time none had gone.  I also
+informed him that his real danger was from Kirby Smith, who
+commanded the trans-Mississippi Department.  If Smith should
+escape Steele, and get across the Mississippi River, he might
+move against him.  I had, therefore, asked to have an expedition
+ready to move from New Orleans against Mobile in case Kirby Smith
+should get across.  This would have a tendency to draw him to the
+defence of that place, instead of going against Sherman.
+
+Right in the midst of all these embarrassments Halleck informed
+me that there was an organized scheme on foot in the North to
+resist the draft, and suggested that it might become necessary
+to draw troops from the field to put it down.  He also advised
+taking in sail, and not going too fast.
+
+The troops were withdrawn from the north side of the James River
+on the night of the 20th.  Before they were withdrawn, however,
+and while most of Lee's force was on that side of the river,
+Warren had been sent with most of the 5th corps to capture the
+Weldon Railroad.  He took up his line of march well back to the
+rear, south of the enemy, while the troops remaining in the
+trenches extended so as to cover that part of the line which he
+had vacated by moving out.  From our left, near the old line, it
+was about three miles to the Weldon Railroad.  A division was
+ordered from the right of the Petersburg line to reinforce
+Warren, while a division was brought back from the north side of
+the James River to take its place.
+
+This road was very important to the enemy.  The limits from
+which his supplies had been drawn were already very much
+contracted, and I knew that he must fight desperately to protect
+it.  Warren carried the road, though with heavy loss on both
+sides.  He fortified his new position, and our trenches were
+then extended from the left of our main line to connect with his
+new one.  Lee made repeated attempts to dislodge Warren's corps,
+but without success, and with heavy loss.
+
+As soon as Warren was fortified and reinforcements reached him,
+troops were sent south to destroy the bridges on the Weldon
+Railroad; and with such success that the enemy had to draw in
+wagons, for a distance of about thirty miles, all the supplies
+they got thereafter from that source.  It was on the 21st that
+Lee seemed to have given up the Weldon Railroad as having been
+lost to him; but along about the 24th or 25th he made renewed
+attempts to recapture it; again he failed and with very heavy
+losses to him as compared with ours.
+
+On the night of the 20th our troops on the north side of the
+James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg were sent south to
+destroy the Weldon Railroad.  They were attacked on the 25th at
+Reams's Station, and after desperate fighting a part of our line
+gave way, losing five pieces of artillery.  But the Weldon
+Railroad never went out of our possession from the 18th of
+August to the close of the war.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a
+large force that regarded this road of so much importance that
+they could afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman
+just getting through to Atlanta with great losses of men from
+casualties, discharges and detachments left along as guards to
+occupy and hold the road in rear of him; Washington threatened
+but a short time before, and now Early being strengthened in the
+valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt.  It kept me pretty
+active in looking after all these points.
+
+On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the
+Shenandoah Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg.  On the 12th
+I learned that Lee had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two
+divisions of infantry and a considerable cavalry force to
+strengthen Early.  It was important that Sheridan should be
+informed of this, so I sent the information to Washington by
+telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to get
+the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the
+information.  The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed
+through with great energy and reached Sheridan just in time. The
+officer went through by way of Snicker's Gap, escorted by some
+cavalry.  He found Sheridan just making his preparations to
+attack Early in his chosen position.  Now, however, he was
+thrown back on the defensive.
+
+On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in
+the Shenandoah Valley.  My purpose was to have him attack Early,
+or drive him out of the valley and destroy that source of
+supplies for Lee's army.  I knew it was impossible for me to get
+orders through Washington to Sheridan to make a move, because
+they would be stopped there and such orders as Halleck's caution
+(and that of the Secretary of War) would suggest would be given
+instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to mine.  I
+therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly through
+to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper's Ferry, and waited
+there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance
+to inform him where to meet me.
+
+When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the
+positions of his army and that of the enemy.  He at once drew
+one out of his side pocket, showing all roads and streams, and
+the camps of the two armies.  He said that if he had permission
+he would move so and so (pointing out how) against the
+Confederates, and that he could "whip them."  Before starting I
+had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had
+brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so
+positive in his views and so confident of success, I said
+nothing about this and did not take it out of my pocket.
+
+Sheridan's wagon trains were kept at Harper's Ferry, where all
+of his stores were.  By keeping the teams at that place, their
+forage did not have to be hauled to them.  As supplies of
+ammunition, provisions and rations for the men were wanted,
+trains would be made up to deliver the stores to the
+commissaries and quartermasters encamped at Winchester.  Knowing
+that he, in making preparations to move at a given day, would
+have to bring up wagons trains from Harper's Ferry, I asked him
+if he could be ready to get off by the following Tuesday.  This
+was on Friday.  "O Yes," he said, he "could be off before
+daylight on Monday."  I told him then to make the attack at that
+time and according to his own plan; and I immediately started to
+return to the army about Richmond.  After visiting Baltimore and
+Burlington, New Jersey, I arrived at City Point on the 19th.
+
+On the way out to Harper's Ferry I had met Mr. Robert Garrett,
+President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  He seemed very
+anxious to know when workmen might be put upon the road again so
+as to make repairs and put it in shape for running.  It was a
+large piece of property to have standing idle.  I told him I
+could not answer then positively but would try and inform him
+before a great while.  On my return Mr. Garrett met me again with
+the same and I told him I thought that by the Wednesday he might
+send his workmen out on his road.  I gave him no further
+information however, and he had no suspicion of how I expected
+to have the road cleared for his workmen.
+
+Sheridan moved at the time he had fixed upon.  He met Early at the
+crossing of Opequon Creek, a most decisive victory--one which
+the country.  Early had invited this attack himself by his bad
+generalship and made the victory easy.  He had sent G. T.
+Anderson's division east of the Blue Ridge before I went to Harper's
+Ferry; and about the time I arrived there he started other
+divisions (leaving but two in their camps) to march to
+Martinsburg for the purpose destroying the Baltimore and Ohio
+Railroad at that point.  Early here learned that I had been with
+Sheridan and, supposing there was some movement on foot, started
+back as soon as he got the information.  But his forces were
+separated and, as I have said, he was very badly defeated.  He
+fell back to Fisher's Hill, Sheridan following.
+
+The valley is narrow at that point, and Early made another stand
+there, behind works which extended across.  But Sheridan turned
+both his flanks and again sent him speeding up the valley,
+following in hot pursuit.  The pursuit was continued up the
+valley to Mount Jackson and New Market.  Sheridan captured about
+eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen guns.  The houses which he
+passed all along the route were found to be filled with Early's
+wounded, and the country swarmed with his deserters.  Finally,
+on the 25th, Early turned from the valley eastward, leaving
+Sheridan at Harrisonburg in undisputed possession.
+
+Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be
+accomplished.  Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering
+in the crops, cattle, and everything in the upper part of the
+valley required by our troops; and especially taking what might
+be of use to the enemy.  What he could not take away he
+destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to come back
+there.  I congratulated Sheridan upon his recent great victory
+and had a salute of a hundred guns fired in honor of it, the
+guns being aimed at the enemy around Petersburg.  I also
+notified the other commanders throughout the country, who also
+fired salutes in honor of his victory.
+
+I had reason to believe that the administration was a little
+afraid to have a decisive battle at that time, for fear it might
+go against us and have a bad effect on the November elections.
+The convention which had met and made its nomination of the
+Democratic candidate for the presidency had declared the war a
+failure.  Treason was talked as boldly in Chicago at that
+convention as ever been in Charleston.  It was a question
+whether the government would then have had the power to make
+arrests and punish those who talked treason.  But this decisive
+victory was the most effective campaign argument made in the
+canvass.
+
+Sheridan, in his pursuit, got beyond where they could hear from
+him in Washington, and the President became very much frightened
+about him.  He was afraid that the hot pursuit had been a little
+like that of General Cass was said to have been, in one of our
+Indian wars, when he was an officer of army.  Cass was pursuing
+the Indians so closely that the first thing he knew he found
+himself in front, and the Indians pursuing him.  The President
+was afraid that Sheridan had got on the other side of Early and
+that Early was in behind him.  He was afraid that Sheridan was
+getting so far away that reinforcements would be sent out from
+Richmond to enable Early to beat him.  I replied to the
+President that I had taken steps to prevent Lee from sending
+reinforcements to Early, by attacking the former where he was.
+
+On the 28th of September, to retain Lee in his position, I sent
+Ord with the 18th corps and Birney with the 10th corps to make
+an advance on Richmond, to threaten it.  Ord moved with the left
+wing up to Chaffin's Bluff; Birney with the 10th corps took a
+road farther north; while Kautz with the cavalry took the Darby
+road, still farther to the north.  They got across the river by
+the next morning, and made an effort to surprise the enemy.  In
+that, however, they were unsuccessful.
+
+The enemy's lines were very strong and very intricate.
+Stannard's division of the 18th corps with General Burnham's
+brigade leading, tried an assault against Fort Harrison and
+captured it with sixteen guns and a good many prisoners. Burnham
+was killed in the assault.  Colonel Stevens who succeeded him was
+badly wounded; and his successor also fell in the same way.  Some
+works to the right and left were also carried with the guns in
+them--six in number--and a few more prisoners.  Birney's troops
+to the right captured the enemy's intrenched picket-lines, but
+were unsuccessful in their efforts upon the main line.
+
+Our troops fortified their new position, bringing Fort Harrison
+into the new line and extending it to the river.  This brought
+us pretty close to the enemy on the north side of the James, and
+the two opposing lines maintained their relative positions to the
+close of the siege.
+
+In the afternoon a further attempt was made to advance, but it
+failed.  Ord fell badly wounded, and had to be relieved; the
+command devolved upon General Heckman, and later General Weitzel
+was assigned to the command of the 18th corps.  During the night
+Lee reinforced his troops about Fort Gilmer, which was at the
+right of Fort Harrison, by eight additional brigades from
+Petersburg, and attempted to retake the works which we had
+captured by concentrating ten brigades against them.  All their
+efforts failed, their attacks being all repulsed with very heavy
+loss.  In one of these assaults upon us General Stannard, a
+gallant officer who was defending Fort Harrison, lost an arm.
+Our casualties during these operations amounted to 394 killed,
+I,554 wounded and 324 missing.
+
+Whilst this was going on General Meade was instructed to keep up
+an appearance of moving troops to our extreme left.  Parke and
+Warren were kept with two divisions, each under arms, ready to
+move leaving their enclosed batteries manned, with a scattering
+line on the other intrenchments.  The object of this was to
+prevent reinforcements from going to the north side of the
+river.  Meade was instructed to watch the enemy closely and, if
+Lee weakened his lines, to make an attack.
+
+On the 30th these troops moved out, under Warren, and captured
+an advanced intrenched camp at Peeble's farm, driving the enemy
+back to the main line.  Our troops followed and made an attack
+in the hope of carrying the enemy's main line; but in this they
+were unsuccessful and lost a large number of men, mostly
+captured.  The number of killed and wounded was not large.  The
+next day our troops advanced again and established themselves,
+intrenching a new line about a mile in front of the enemy.  This
+advanced Warren's position on the Weldon Railroad very
+considerably.
+
+Sheridan having driven the enemy out of the valley, and taken
+the productions of the valley so that instead of going there for
+supplies the enemy would have to bring his provisions with him if
+he again entered it, recommended a reduction of his own force,
+the surplus to be sent where it could be of more use.  I
+approved of his suggestion, and ordered him to send Wright's
+corps back to the James River.  I further directed him to repair
+the railroad up the Shenandoah Valley towards the advanced
+position which we would hold with a small force.  The troops
+were to be sent to Washington by the way of Culpeper, in order
+to watch the east side of the Blue Ridge, and prevent the enemy
+from getting into the rear of Sheridan while he was still doing
+his work of destruction.
+
+The valley was so very important, however, to the Confederate
+army that, contrary to our expectations, they determined to make
+one more strike, and save it if possible before the supplies
+should be all destroyed.  Reinforcements were sent therefore to
+Early, and this before any of our troops had been withdrawn.
+Early prepared to strike Sheridan at Harrisonburg; but the
+latter had not remained there.
+
+On the 6th of October Sheridan commenced retiring down the
+valley, taking or destroying all the food and forage and driving
+the cattle before him, Early following.  At Fisher's Hill
+Sheridan turned his cavalry back on that of Early, which, under
+the lead of Rosser, was pursuing closely, and routed it most
+completely, capturing eleven guns and a large number of
+prisoners.  Sheridan lost only about sixty men.  His cavalry
+pursued the enemy back some twenty-five miles.  On the 10th of
+October the march down the valley was again resumed, Early again
+following.
+
+I now ordered Sheridan to halt, and to improve the opportunity
+if afforded by the enemy's having been sufficiently weakened, to
+move back again and cut the James River Canal and Virginia
+Central Railroad.  But this order had to go through Washington
+where it was intercepted; and when Sheridan received what
+purported to be a statement of what I wanted him to do it was
+something entirely different.  Halleck informed Sheridan that it
+was my wish for him to hold a forward position as a base from
+which to act against Charlottesville and Gordonsville; that he
+should fortify this position and provision it.
+
+Sheridan objected to this most decidedly; and I was impelled to
+telegraph him, on the 14th, as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+October 14, 1864.--12.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,
+Cedar Creek, Va.
+
+What I want is for you to threaten the Virginia Central Railroad
+and canal in the manner your judgment tells you is best, holding
+yourself ready to advance, if the enemy draw off their forces.
+If you make the enemy hold a force equal to your own for the
+protection of those thoroughfares, it will accomplish nearly as
+much as their destruction.  If you cannot do this, then the next
+best thing to do is to send here all the force you can.  I deem a
+good cavalry force necessary for your offensive, as well as
+defensive operations.  You need not therefore send here more
+than one division of cavalry.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sheridan having been summoned to Washington City, started on the
+15th leaving Wright in command.  His army was then at Cedar
+Creek, some twenty miles south of Winchester.  The next morning
+while at Front Royal, Sheridan received a dispatch from Wright,
+saying that a dispatch from Longstreet to Early had been
+intercepted.  It directed the latter to be ready to move and to
+crush Sheridan as soon as he, Longstreet, arrived.  On the
+receipt of this news Sheridan ordered the cavalry up the valley
+to join Wright.
+
+On the 18th of October Early was ready to move, and during the
+night succeeded in getting his troops in the rear of our left
+flank, which fled precipitately and in great confusion down the
+valley, losing eighteen pieces of artillery and a thousand or
+more prisoners.  The right under General Getty maintained a firm
+and steady front, falling back to Middletown where it took a
+position and made a stand.  The cavalry went to the rear, seized
+the roads leading to Winchester and held them for the use of our
+troops in falling back, General Wright having ordered a retreat
+back to that place.
+
+Sheridan having left Washington on the 18th, reached Winchester
+that night.  The following morning he started to join his
+command.  He had scarcely got out of town, when he met his men
+returning in panic from the front and also heard heavy firing to
+the south.  He immediately ordered the cavalry at Winchester to
+be deployed across the valley to stop the stragglers.  Leaving
+members of his staff to take care of Winchester and the public
+property there, he set out with a small escort directly for the
+scene of battle.  As he met the fugitives he ordered them to
+turn back, reminding them that they were going the wrong way.
+His presence soon restored confidence.  Finding themselves worse
+frightened than hurt the men did halt and turn back.  Many of
+those who had run ten miles got back in time to redeem their
+reputation as gallant soldiers before night.
+
+When Sheridan got to the front he found Getty and Custer still
+holding their ground firmly between the Confederates and our
+retreating troops.  Everything in the rear was now ordered up.
+Sheridan at once proceeded to intrench his position; and he
+awaited an assault from the enemy.  This was made with vigor,
+and was directed principally against Emory's corps, which had
+sustained the principal loss in the first attack.  By one
+o'clock the attack was repulsed.  Early was so badly damaged
+that he seemed disinclined to make another attack, but went to
+work to intrench himself with a view to holding the position he
+had already gained.  He thought, no doubt, that Sheridan would
+be glad enough to leave him unmolested; but in this he was
+mistaken.
+
+About the middle of the afternoon Sheridan advanced.  He sent
+his cavalry by both flanks, and they penetrated to the enemy's
+rear.  The contest was close for a time, but at length the left
+of the enemy broke, and disintegration along the whole line soon
+followed.  Early tried to rally his men, but they were followed
+so closely that they had to give way very quickly every time
+they attempted to make a stand.  Our cavalry, having pushed on
+and got in the rear of the Confederates, captured twenty-four
+pieces of artillery, besides retaking what had been lost in the
+morning.  This victory pretty much closed the campaigning in the
+Valley of Virginia.  All the Confederate troops were sent back to
+Richmond with the exception of one division of infantry and a
+little cavalry.  Wright's corps was ordered back to the Army of
+the Potomac, and two other divisions were withdrawn from the
+valley.  Early had lost more men in killed, wounded and captured
+in the valley than Sheridan had commanded from first to last.
+
+On more than one occasion in these engagements General R. B.
+Hayes, who succeeded me as President of the United States, bore
+a very honorable part.  His conduct on the field was marked by
+conspicuous gallantry as well as the display of qualities of a
+higher order than that of mere personal daring.  This might well
+have been expected of one who could write at the time he is said
+to have done so:  "Any officer fit for duty who at this crisis
+would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress,
+ought to be scalped."  Having entered the army as a Major of
+Volunteers at the beginning of the war, General Hayes attained
+by meritorious service the rank of Brevet Major-General before
+its close.
+
+On the north side of the James River the enemy attacked Kautz's
+cavalry on the 7th of October, and drove it back with heavy loss
+in killed, wounded and prisoners, and the loss of all the
+artillery.  This was followed up by an attack on our intrenched
+infantry line, but was repulsed with severe slaughter.  On the
+13th a reconnoissance was sent out by General Butler, with a
+view to drive the enemy from some new works he was constructing,
+which resulted in heavy loss to us.
+
+On the 24th I ordered General Meade to attempt to get possession
+of the South Side Railroad, and for that purpose to advance on
+the 27th.  The attempt proved a failure, however, the most
+advanced of our troops not getting nearer than within six miles
+of the point aimed for.  Seeing the impossibility of its
+accomplishment I ordered the troops to withdraw, and they were
+all back in their former positions the next day.
+
+Butler, by my directions, also made a demonstration on the north
+side of the James River in order to support this move, by
+detaining there the Confederate troops who were on that side. He
+succeeded in this, but failed of further results by not marching
+past the enemy's left before turning in on the Darby road and by
+reason of simply coming up against their lines in place.
+
+This closed active operations around Richmond for the winter. Of
+course there was frequent skirmishing between pickets, but no
+serious battle was fought near either Petersburg or Richmond. 
+It would prolong this work to give a detailed account of all
+that took place from day to day around Petersburg and at other
+parts of my command, and it would not interest the general
+reader if given.  All these details can be found by the military
+student in a series of books published by the Scribners, Badeau's
+history of my campaigns, and also in the publications of the War
+Department, including both the National and Confederate reports.
+
+In the latter part of November General Hancock was relieved from
+the command of the 2d corps by the Secretary of War and ordered
+to Washington, to organize and command a corps of veteran troops
+to be designated the 1st corps.  It was expected that this would
+give him a large command to co-operate with in the spring.  It
+was my expectation, at the time, that in the final operations
+Hancock should move either up the valley, or else east of the
+Blue Ridge to Lynchburg; the idea being to make the spring
+campaign the close of the war.  I expected, with Sherman coming
+up from the South, Meade south of Petersburg and around
+Richmond, and Thomas's command in Tennessee with depots of
+supplies established in the eastern part of that State, to move
+from the direction of Washington or the valley towards
+Lynchburg.  We would then have Lee so surrounded that his
+supplies would be cut off entirely, making it impossible for him
+to support his army.
+
+General Humphreys, chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac,
+was assigned to the command of the 2d corps, to succeed Hancock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+Let us now return to the operations in the military division of
+the Mississippi, and accompany Sherman in his march to the sea.
+
+The possession of Atlanta by us narrowed the territory of the
+enemy very materially and cut off one of his two remaining lines
+of roads from east to west.
+
+A short time after the fall of Atlanta Mr. Davis visited
+Palmetto and Macon and made speeches at each place.  He spoke at
+Palmetto on the 20th of September, and at Macon on the 22d. 
+Inasmuch as he had relieved Johnston and appointed Hood, and
+Hood had immediately taken the initiative, it is natural to
+suppose that Mr. Davis was disappointed with General Johnston's
+policy.  My own judgment is that Johnston acted very wisely:  he
+husbanded his men and saved as much of his territory as he could,
+without fighting decisive battles in which all might be lost.  As
+Sherman advanced, as I have show, his army became spread out,
+until, if this had been continued, it would have been easy to
+destroy it in detail.  I know that both Sherman and I were
+rejoiced when we heard of the change.  Hood was unquestionably a
+brave, gallant soldier and not destitute of ability; but
+unfortunately his policy was to fight the enemy wherever he saw
+him, without thinking much of the consequences of defeat.
+
+In his speeches Mr. Davis denounced Governor Brown, of Georgia,
+and General Johnston in unmeasured terms, even insinuating that
+their loyalty to the Southern cause was doubtful.  So far as
+General Johnston is concerned, I think Davis did him a great
+injustice in this particular.  I had know the general before the
+war and strongly believed it would be impossible for him to
+accept a high commission for the purpose of betraying the cause
+he had espoused.  There, as I have said, I think that his policy
+was the best one that could have been pursued by the whole
+South-- protract the war, which was all that was necessary to
+enable them to gain recognition in the end.  The North was
+already growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with
+this difference.  In the North the people governed, and could
+stop hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies.  The
+South was a military camp, controlled absolutely by the
+government with soldiers to back it, and the war could have been
+protracted, no matter to what extent the discontent reached, up
+to the point of open mutiny of the soldiers themselves.  Mr.
+Davis's speeches were frank appeals to the people of Georgia and
+that portion of the South to come to their relief.  He tried to
+assure his frightened hearers that the Yankees were rapidly
+digging their own graves; that measures were already being taken
+to cut them off from supplies from the North; and that with a
+force in front, and cut off from the rear, they must soon starve
+in the midst of a hostile people.  Papers containing reports of
+these speeches immediately reached the Northern States, and they
+were republished.  Of course, that caused no alarm so long as
+telegraphic communication was kept up with Sherman.
+
+When Hood was forced to retreat from Atlanta he moved to the
+south-west and was followed by a portion of Sherman's army.  He
+soon appeared upon the railroad in Sherman's rear, and with his
+whole army began destroying the road.  At the same time also the
+work was begun in Tennessee and Kentucky which Mr. Davis had
+assured his hearers at Palmetto and Macon would take place.  He
+ordered Forrest (about the ablest cavalry general in the South)
+north for this purpose; and Forrest and Wheeler carried out
+their orders with more or less destruction, occasionally picking
+up a garrison.  Forrest indeed performed the very remarkable feat
+of capturing, with cavalry, two gunboats and a number of
+transports, something the accomplishment of which is very hard
+to account for.  Hood's army had been weakened by Governor
+Brown's withdrawing the Georgia State troops for the purpose of
+gathering in the season's crops for the use of the people and
+for the use of the army.  This not only depleted Hood's forces
+but it served a most excellent purpose in gathering in supplies
+of food and forage for the use of our army in its subsequent
+march.  Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go
+himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was
+clearly demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it
+would be impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave
+him any force whatever with which to take the offensive.  Had
+that plan been adhered to, very large reinforcements would have
+been necessary; and Mr. Davis's prediction of the destruction of
+the army would have been realized, or else Sherman would have
+been obliged to make a successful retreat, which Mr. Davis said
+in his speeches would prove more disastrous than Napoleon's
+retreat from Moscow.
+
+These speeches of Mr. Davis were not long in reaching Sherman. 
+He took advantage of the information they gave, and made all the
+preparation possible for him to make to meet what now became
+expected, attempts to break his communications.  Something else
+had to be done:  and to Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind
+the idea was not long in dawning upon him, not only that
+something else had to be done, but what that something else
+should be.
+
+On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 10, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN,
+Atlanta, Georgia.
+
+So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations
+can be made, it is desirable that another campaign should be
+commenced.  We want to keep the enemy constantly pressed to the
+end of the war.  If we give him no peace whilst the war lasts,
+the end cannot be distant.  Now that we have all of Mobile Bay
+that is valuable, I do not know but it will be the best move to
+transfer Canby's troops to act upon Savannah, whilst you move on
+Augusta. I should like to hear from you, however, in this matter.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sherman replied promptly:
+
+"If I could be sure of finding provisions and ammunition at
+Augusta, or Columbus, Georgia, I can march to Milledgeville, and
+compel Hood to give up Augusta or Macon, and then turn on the
+other.  * * * If you can manage to take the Savannah River as
+high up as Augusta, or the Chattahoochee as far up as Columbus,
+I can sweep the whole State of Georgia."
+
+On the 12th I sent a special messenger, one of my own staff,
+with a letter inviting Sherman's views about the next campaign.
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 12, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Division of the Mississippi.
+
+I send Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, of my staff, with this. 
+Colonel Porter will explain to you the exact condition of
+affairs here better than I can do in the limits of a letter. 
+Although I feel myself strong enough for offensive operations, I
+am holding on quietly to get advantage of recruits and
+convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly.  My lines
+are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom north of
+the James across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the
+James, and south of the Appomattox to the Weldon Road.  This
+line is very strongly fortified, and can be held with
+comparatively few men, but from its great length takes many in
+the aggregate.  I propose, when I do move, to extend my left so
+as to control what is known as the South Side, or Lynchburg and
+Petersburg Road, then if possible to keep the Danville Road
+cut.  At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force
+of from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington.
+
+The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort
+Fisher, and hold that point.  At the same time a large naval
+fleet will be assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the
+batteries as they did at Mobile.  This will give us the same
+control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now have of the
+harbor of Mobile. What you are to do with the forces at your
+command, I do not see. The difficulties of supplying your army,
+except when you are constantly moving, beyond where you are, I
+plainly see.  If it had not been for Price's movements Canby
+would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile.  From your
+command on the Mississippi an equal number could have been
+taken.  With these forces my idea would have been to divide
+them, sending one half to Mobile and the other half to
+Savannah.  You could then move as proposed in your telegram, so
+as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally.  Whichever was
+abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new base of
+supplies.  My object now in sending a staff officer is not so
+much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and
+have plans matured by the time everything can be got ready.  It
+will probably be the 5th of October before any of the plans
+herein indicated will be executed.
+
+If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward
+and I will approve them. * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+This reached Sherman on September 20th.
+
+On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that
+Hood's troops were in his rear.  He had provided against this by
+sending a division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome,
+Georgia, which was in the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood
+would fall back in the direction from which he had come to reach
+the railroad.  At the same time Sherman and Hood kept up a
+correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners, the
+treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged
+between hostile commanders in the field.  On the 27th of
+September I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+September 27, 1864--10.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN:
+
+I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western
+States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders
+from you.  * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and
+afterwards to Nashville, with another division (Morgan's) of the
+advanced army.  Sherman then suggested that, when he was
+prepared, his movements should take place against Milledgeville
+and then to Savannah.  His expectation at that time was, to make
+this movement as soon as he could get up his supplies.  Hood was
+moving in his own country, and was moving light so that he could
+make two miles to Sherman's one.  He depended upon the country to
+gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays.
+
+As I have said, until this unexpected state of affairs happened,
+Mobile had been looked upon as the objective point of Sherman's
+army.  It had been a favorite move of mine from 1862, when I
+first suggested to the then commander-in-chief that the troops
+in Louisiana, instead of frittering away their time in the
+trans- Mississippi, should move against Mobile.  I recommended
+this from time to time until I came into command of the army,
+the last of March 1864.  Having the power in my own hands, I now
+ordered the concentration of supplies, stores and troops, in the
+department of the Gulf about New Orleans, with a view to a move
+against Mobile, in support of, and in conjunction with, the
+other armies operating in the field.  Before I came into
+command, these troops had been scattered over the
+trans-Mississippi department in such a way that they could not
+be, or were not, gotten back in time to take any part in the
+original movement; hence the consideration, which had caused
+Mobile to be selected as the objective point for Sherman's army
+to find his next base of supplies after having cut loose from
+Atlanta, no longer existed.
+
+General G. M. Dodge, an exceedingly efficient officer, having
+been badly wounded, had to leave the army about the first of
+October. He was in command of two divisions of the 16th corps,
+consolidated into one.  Sherman then divided his army into the
+right and left wings the right commanded by General O. O. Howard
+and the left by General Slocum.  General Dodge's two divisions
+were assigned, one to each of these wings.  Howard's command
+embraced the 15th and 17th corps, and Slocum's the 14th and 20th
+corps, commanded by Generals Jeff. C. Davis and A. S. Williams.
+Generals Logan and Blair commanded the two corps composing the
+right wing.  About this time they left to take part in the
+presidential election, which took place that year, leaving their
+corps to Osterhaus and Ransom.  I have no doubt that their
+leaving was at the earnest solicitation of the War Department. 
+General Blair got back in time to resume his command and to
+proceed with it throughout the march to the sea and back to the
+grand review at Washington.  General Logan did not return to his
+command until after it reached Savannah.
+
+Logan felt very much aggrieved at the transfer of General Howard
+from that portion of the Army of the Potomac which was then with
+the Western Army, to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+with which army General Logan had served from the battle of
+Belmont to the fall of Atlanta--having passed successively
+through all grades from colonel commanding a regiment to general
+commanding a brigade, division and army corps, until upon the
+death of McPherson the command of the entire Army of the
+Tennessee devolved upon him in the midst of a hotly contested
+battle.  He conceived that he had done his full duty as
+commander in that engagement; and I can bear testimony, from
+personal observation, that he had proved himself fully equal to
+all the lower positions which he had occupied as a soldier.  I
+will not pretend to question the motive which actuated Sherman
+in taking an officer from another army to supersede General
+Logan.  I have no doubt, whatever, that he did this for what he
+considered would be to the good of the service, which was more
+important than that the personal feelings of any individual
+should not be aggrieved; though I doubt whether he had an
+officer with him who could have filled the place as Logan would
+have done.  Differences of opinion must exist between the best
+of friends as to policies in war, and of judgment as to men's
+fitness.  The officer who has the command, however, should be
+allowed to judge of the fitness of the officers under him,
+unless he is very manifestly wrong.
+
+Sherman's army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty
+thousand effective men.  All weak men had been left to hold the
+rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and
+hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever
+trod the earth; better than any European soldiers, because they
+not only worked like a machine but the machine thought. 
+European armies know very little what they are fighting for, and
+care less. Included in these sixty thousand troops, there were
+two small divisions of cavalry, numbering altogether about four
+thousand men.  Hood had about thirty-five to forty thousand men,
+independent of Forrest, whose forces were operating in Tennessee
+and Kentucky, as Mr. Davis had promised they should.  This part
+of Mr. Davis's military plan was admirable, and promised the
+best results of anything he could have done, according to my
+judgment. I say this because I have criticised his military
+judgment in the removal of Johnston, and also in the appointment
+of Hood.  I am aware, however, that there was high feeling
+existing at that time between Davis and his subordinate, whom I
+regarded as one of his ablest lieutenants.
+
+On the 5th of October the railroad back from Atlanta was again
+very badly broken, Hood having got on the track with his army.
+Sherman saw after night, from a high point, the road burning for
+miles.  The defence of the railroad by our troops was very
+gallant, but they could not hold points between their intrenched
+positions against Hood's whole army; in fact they made no attempt
+to do so; but generally the intrenched positions were held, as
+well as important bridges, and store located at them. 
+Allatoona, for instance, was defended by a small force of men
+under the command of General Corse, one of the very able and
+efficient volunteer officers produced by the war.  He, with a
+small force, was cut off from the remainder of the National army
+and was attacked with great vigor by many times his own number.
+Sherman from his high position could see the battle raging, with
+the Confederate troops between him and his subordinate.  He sent
+men, of course, to raise the temporary siege, but the time that
+would be necessarily consumed in reaching Corse, would be so
+great that all occupying the intrenchments might be dead.  Corse
+was a man who would never surrender.  From a high position some
+of Sherman's signal corps discovered a signal flag waving from a
+hole in the block house at Allatoona.  It was from Corse.  He had
+been shot through the face, but he signalled to his chief a
+message which left no doubt of his determination to hold his
+post at all hazards.  It was at this point probably, that
+Sherman first realized that with the forces at his disposal, the
+keeping open of his line of communication with the North would be
+impossible if he expected to retain any force with which to
+operate offensively beyond Atlanta.  He proposed, therefore, to
+destroy the roads back to Chattanooga, when all ready to move,
+and leave the latter place garrisoned.  Yet, before abandoning
+the railroad, it was necessary that he should repair damages
+already done, and hold the road until he could get forward such
+supplies, ordnance stores and small rations, as he wanted to
+carry with him on his proposed march, and to return to the north
+his surplus artillery; his object being to move light and to have
+no more artillery than could be used to advantage on the field.
+
+Sherman thought Hood would follow him, though he proposed to
+prepare for the contingency of the latter moving the other way
+while he was moving south, by making Thomas strong enough to
+hold Tennessee and Kentucky.  I, myself, was thoroughly
+satisfied that Hood would go north, as he did.  On the 2d of
+November I telegraphed Sherman authorizing him definitely to
+move according to the plan he had proposed:  that is, cutting
+loose from his base, giving up Atlanta and the railroad back to
+Chattanooga.  To strengthen Thomas he sent Stanley (4th corps)
+back, and also ordered Schofield, commanding the Army of the
+Ohio, twelve thousand strong, to report to him.  In addition to
+this, A. J. Smith, who, with two divisions of Sherman's army,
+was in Missouri aiding Rosecrans in driving the enemy from that
+State, was under orders to return to Thomas and, under the most
+unfavorable circumstances, might be expected to arrive there
+long before Hood could reach Nashville.
+
+In addition to this, the new levies of troops that were being
+raised in the  North-west went to Thomas as rapidly as enrolled
+and equipped.  Thomas, without any of these additions spoken of,
+had a garrison at Chattanooga which had been strengthened by one
+division and garrisons at Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur,
+Murfreesboro, and Florence.  There were already with him in
+Nashville ten thousand soldiers in round numbers, and many
+thousands of employees in the quartermaster's and other
+departments who could be put in the intrenchments in front of
+Nashville, for its defence.  Also, Wilson was there with ten
+thousand dismounted cavalrymen, who were being equipped for the
+field.  Thomas had at this time about forty-five thousand men
+without any of the reinforcements here above enumerated.  These
+reinforcements gave him  altogether about seventy thousand men,
+without counting what might be added by the new levies already
+spoken of.
+
+About this time Beauregard arrived upon the field, not to
+supersede Hood in command, but to take general charge over the
+entire district in which Hood and Sherman were, or might be,
+operating.  He made the most frantic appeals to the citizens for
+assistance to be rendered in every way:  by sending
+reinforcements, by destroying supplies on the line of march of
+the invaders, by destroying the bridges over which they would
+have to cross, and by, in every way, obstructing the roads to
+their front. But it was hard to convince the people of the
+propriety of destroying supplies which were so much needed by
+themselves, and each one hoped that his own possessions might
+escape.
+
+Hood soon started north, and went into camp near Decatur,
+Alabama, where he remained until the 29th of October, but
+without making an attack on the garrison of that place.
+
+The Tennessee River was patrolled by gunboats, from Muscle
+Shoals east; and, also, below the second shoals out to the Ohio
+River.  These, with the troops that might be concentrated from
+the garrisons along the river at any point where Hood might
+choose to attempt to cross, made it impossible for him to cross
+the Tennessee at any place where it was navigable.  But Muscle
+Shoals is not navigable, and below them again is another shoal
+which also obstructs navigation.  Hood therefore moved down to a
+point nearly opposite Florence, Alabama, crossed over and
+remained there for some time, collecting supplies of food,
+forage and ammunition. All of these had to come from a
+considerable distance south, because the region in which he was
+then situated was mountainous, with small valleys which produced
+but little, and what they had produced had long since been
+exhausted.  On the 1st of November I suggested to Sherman, and
+also asked his views thereon, the propriety of destroying Hood
+before he started on his campaign.
+
+On the 2d of November, as stated, I approved definitely his
+making his proposed campaign through Georgia, leaving Hood
+behind to the tender mercy of Thomas and the troops in his
+command.  Sherman fixed the 10th of November as the day of
+starting.
+
+Sherman started on that day to get back to Atlanta, and on the
+15th the real march to the sea commenced.  The right wing, under
+Howard, and the cavalry went to Jonesboro, Milledgeville, then
+the capital of Georgia, being Sherman's objective or stopping
+place on the way to Savannah.  The left wing moved to Stone
+Mountain, along roads much farther east than those taken by the
+right wing. Slocum was in command, and threatened Augusta as the
+point to which he was moving, but he was to turn off and meet the
+right wing at Milledgeville.
+
+Atlanta was destroyed so far as to render it worthless for
+military purposes before starting, Sherman himself remaining
+over a day to superintend the work, and see that it was well
+done. Sherman's orders for this campaign were perfect.  Before
+starting, he had sent back all sick, disabled and weak men,
+retaining nothing but the hardy, well-inured soldiers to
+accompany him on his long march in prospect.  His artillery was
+reduced to sixty-five guns. The ammunition carried with them was
+two hundred rounds for musket and gun.  Small rations were taken
+in a small wagon train, which was loaded to its capacity for
+rapid movement.  The army was expected to live on the country,
+and to always keep the wagons full of forage and provisions
+against a possible delay of a few days.
+
+The troops, both of the right and left wings, made most of their
+advance along the line of railroads, which they destroyed.  The
+method adopted to perform this work, was to burn and destroy all
+the bridges and culverts, and for a long distance, at places, to
+tear up the track and bend the rails.  Soldiers to do this
+rapidly would form a line along one side of the road with
+crowbars and poles, place these under the rails and, hoisting
+all at once, turn over many rods of road at one time.  The ties
+would then be placed in piles, and the rails, as they were
+loosened, would be carried and put across these log heaps.  When
+a sufficient number of rails were placed upon a pile of ties it
+would be set on fire.  This would heat the rails very much more
+in the middle, that being over the main part of the fire, than
+at the ends, so that they would naturally bend of their own
+weight; but the soldiers, to increase the damage, would take
+tongs and, one or two men at each end of the rail, carry it with
+force against the nearest tree and twist it around, thus leaving
+rails forming bands to ornament the forest trees of Georgia. 
+All this work was going on at the same time, there being a
+sufficient number of men detailed for that purpose. Some piled
+the logs and built the fire; some put the rails upon the fire;
+while others would bend those that were sufficiently heated: so
+that, by the time the last bit of road was torn up, that it was
+designed to destroy at a certain place, the rails previously
+taken up were already destroyed.
+
+The organization for supplying the army was very complete.  Each
+brigade furnished a company to gather supplies of forage and
+provisions for the command to which they belonged.  Strict
+injunctions were issued against pillaging, or otherwise
+unnecessarily annoying the people; but everything in shape of
+food for man and forage for beast was taken.  The supplies were
+turned over to the brigade commissary and quartermaster, and
+were issued by them to their respective commands precisely the
+same as if they had been purchased.  The captures consisted
+largely of cattle, sheep, poultry, some bacon, cornmeal, often
+molasses, and occasionally coffee or other small rations.
+
+The skill of these men, called by themselves and the army
+"bummers," in collecting their loads and getting back to their
+respective commands, was marvellous.  When they started out in
+the morning, they were always on foot; but scarcely one of them
+returned in the evening without being mounted on a horse or
+mule. These would be turned in for the general use of the army,
+and the next day these men would start out afoot and return
+again in the evening mounted.
+
+Many of the exploits of these men would fall under the head of
+romance; indeed, I am afraid that in telling some of their
+experiences, the romance got the better of the truth upon which
+the story was founded, and that, in the way many of these
+anecdotes are told, very little of the foundation is left.  I
+suspect that most of them consist chiefly of the fiction added
+to make the stories better.  In one instance it was reported
+that a few men of Sherman's army passed a house where they
+discovered some chickens under the dwelling.  They immediately
+proceeded to capture them, to add to the army's supplies.  The
+lady of the house, who happened to be at home, made piteous
+appeals to have these spared, saying they were a few she had put
+away to save by permission of other parties who had preceded and
+who had taken all the others that she had.  The soldiers seemed
+moved at her appeal; but looking at the chickens again they were
+tempted and one of them replied:  "The rebellion must be
+suppressed if it takes the last chicken in the Confederacy," and
+proceeded to appropriate the last one.
+
+Another anecdote characteristic of these times has been told. 
+The South, prior to the rebellion, kept bloodhounds to pursue
+runaway slaves who took refuge in the neighboring swamps, and
+also to hunt convicts.  Orders were issued to kill all these
+animals as they were met with.  On one occasion a soldier picked
+up a poodle, the favorite pet of its mistress, and was carrying
+it off to execution when the lady made a strong appeal to him to
+spare it. The soldier replied, "Madam, our orders are to kill
+every bloodhound."  "But this is not a bloodhound," said the
+lady.  "Well, madam, we cannot tell what it will grow into if we
+leave it behind," said the soldier as he went off with it.
+
+Notwithstanding these anecdotes, and the necessary hardship they
+would seem to imply, I do not believe there was much
+unwarrantable pillaging considering that we were in the enemy's
+territory and without any supplies except such as the country
+afforded.
+
+On the 23d Sherman, with the left wing, reached Milledgeville.
+The right wing was not far off:  but proceeded on its way
+towards Savannah destroying the road as it went.  The troops at
+Milledgeville remained over a day to destroy factories,
+buildings used for military purposes, etc., before resuming its
+march.
+
+The governor, who had been almost defying Mr. Davis before this,
+now fled precipitately, as did the legislature of the State and
+all the State officers.  The governor, Sherman says, was careful
+to carry away even his garden vegetables, while he left the
+archives of the State to fall into our hands.  The only military
+force that was opposed to Sherman's forward march was the Georgia
+militia, a division under the command of General G. W. Smith, and
+a battalion under Harry Wayne.  Neither the quality of the forces
+nor their numbers was sufficient to even retard the progress of
+Sherman's army.
+
+The people at the South became so frantic at this time at the
+successful invasion of Georgia that they took the cadets from
+the military college and added them to the ranks of the
+militia.  They even liberated the State convicts under promise
+from them that they would serve in the army.  I have but little
+doubt that the worst acts that were attributed to Sherman's army
+were committed by these convicts, and by other Southern people
+who ought to have been under sentence - such people as could be
+found in every community, North and South - who took advantage of
+their country being invaded to commit crime.  They were in but
+little danger of detection, or of arrest even if detected.
+
+The Southern papers in commenting upon Sherman's movements
+pictured him as in the most deplorable condition:  stating that
+his men were starving, that they were demoralized and wandering
+about almost without object, aiming only to reach the sea coast
+and get under the protection of our navy.  These papers got to
+the North and had more or less effect upon the minds of the
+people, causing much distress to all loyal persons particularly
+to those who had husbands, sons or brothers with Sherman.  Mr.
+Lincoln seeing these accounts, had a letter written asking me if
+I could give him anything that he could say to the loyal people
+that would comfort them.  I told him there was not the slightest
+occasion for alarm; that with 60,000 such men as Sherman had with
+him, such a commanding officer as he was could not be cut off in
+the open country.  He might possibly be prevented from reaching
+the point he had started out to reach, but he would get through
+somewhere and would finally get to his chosen destination:  and
+even if worst came to worst he could return North.  I heard
+afterwards of Mr. Lincoln's saying, to those who would inquire
+of him as to what he thought about the safety of Sherman's army,
+that Sherman was all right:  "Grant says they are safe with such
+a general, and that if they cannot get out where they want to,
+they can crawl back by the hole they went in at."
+
+While at Milledgeville the soldiers met at the State House,
+organized a legislature, and proceeded to business precisely as
+if they were the legislative body belonging to the State of
+Georgia. The debates were exciting, and were upon the subject of
+the situation the South was in at that time, particularly the
+State of Georgia.  They went so far as to repeal, after a
+spirited and acrimonious debate, the ordinance of secession.
+
+The next day (24th) Sherman continued his march, going by the
+way of Waynesboro and Louisville, Millen being the next
+objective and where the two columns (the right and left wings)
+were to meet.  The left wing moved to the left of the direct
+road, and the cavalry still farther off so as to make it look as
+though Augusta was the point they were aiming for.  They moved on
+all the roads they could find leading in that direction.  The
+cavalry was sent to make a rapid march in hope of surprising
+Millen before the Union prisoners could be carried away; but
+they failed in this.
+
+The distance from Milledgeville to Millen was about one hundred
+miles.  At this point Wheeler, who had been ordered from
+Tennessee, arrived and swelled the numbers and efficiency of the
+troops confronting Sherman.  Hardee, a native of Georgia, also
+came, but brought no troops with him.  It was intended that he
+should raise as large an army as possible with which to
+intercept Sherman's march.  He did succeed in raising some
+troops, and with these and those under the command of Wheeler
+and Wayne, had an army sufficient to cause some annoyance but no
+great detention. Our cavalry and Wheeler's had a pretty severe
+engagement, in which Wheeler was driven towards Augusta, thus
+giving the idea that Sherman was probably making for that point.
+
+Millen was reached on the 3d of December, and the march was
+resumed the following day for Savannah, the final objective.
+Bragg had now been sent to Augusta with some troops.  Wade
+Hampton was there also trying to raise cavalry sufficient to
+destroy Sherman's army.  If he ever raised a force it was too
+late to do the work expected of it.  Hardee's whole force
+probably numbered less than ten thousand men.
+
+From Millen to Savannah the country is sandy and poor, and
+affords but very little forage other than rice straw, which was
+then growing.  This answered a very good purpose as forage, and
+the rice grain was an addition to the soldier's rations.  No
+further resistance worthy of note was met with, until within a
+few miles of Savannah.  This place was found to be intrenched
+and garrisoned.  Sherman proceeded at once on his arrival to
+invest the place, and found that the enemy had placed torpedoes
+in the ground, which were to explode when stepped on by man or
+beast. One of these exploded under an officer's horse, blowing
+the animal to pieces and tearing one of the legs of the officer
+so badly that it had to be amputated.  Sherman at once ordered
+his prisoners to the front, moving them in a compact body in
+advance, to either explode the torpedoes or dig them up.  No
+further explosion took place.
+
+On the 10th of December the siege of Savannah commenced. Sherman
+then, before proceeding any further with operations for the
+capture of the place, started with some troops to open
+communication with our fleet, which he expected to find in the
+lower harbor or as near by as the forts of the enemy would
+permit. In marching to the coast he encountered Fort McAllister,
+which it was necessary to reduce before the supplies he might
+find on shipboard could be made available.  Fort McAllister was
+soon captured by an assault made by General Hazen's division.
+Communication was then established with the fleet.  The capture
+of Savannah then only occupied a few days, and involved no great
+loss of life.  The garrison, however, as we shall see, was
+enabled to escape by crossing the river and moving eastward.
+
+When Sherman had opened communication with the fleet he found
+there a steamer, which I had forwarded to him, carrying the
+accumulated mails for his army, also supplies which I supposed
+he would be in need of.  General J. G. Foster, who commanded all
+the troops south of North Carolina on the Atlantic sea-board,
+visited General Sherman before he had opened communication with
+the fleet, with the view of ascertaining what assistance he
+could be to him.  Foster returned immediately to his own
+headquarters at Hilton Head, for the purpose of sending Sherman
+siege guns, and also if he should find he had them to spare,
+supplies of clothing, hard bread, etc., thinking that these
+articles might not be found outside.  The mail on the steamer
+which I sent down, had been collected by Colonel A. H. Markland
+of the Post Office Department, who went in charge of it.  On
+this same vessel I sent an officer of my staff (Lieutenant Dunn)
+with the following letter to General Sherman:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 3, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Armies near Savannah, Ga.
+
+The little information gleaned from the Southern press,
+indicating no great obstacle to your progress, I have directed
+your mails (which had been previously collected at Baltimore by
+Colonel Markland, Special Agent of the Post Office Department)
+to be sent as far as the blockading squadron off Savannah, to be
+forwarded to you as soon as heard from on the coast.
+
+Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain
+from congratulating you and those under your command, until
+bottom has been struck.  I have never had a fear, however, for
+the result.
+
+Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made
+here. The enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented
+from detaching against you.  I think not one man has gone from
+here, except some twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted
+cavalry.  Bragg has gone from Wilmington.  I am trying to take
+advantage of his absence to get possession of that place.  Owing
+to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are making
+to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do
+not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this
+expedition off.  I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th,
+and that Bragg will not have started back by that time.
+
+In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like
+directions for future action, but will state a general idea I
+have, and will get your views after you have established
+yourself on the sea-coast. With your veteran army I hope to get
+control of the only two through routes from east to west
+possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta.  The
+condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by
+holding any other port to the east of Savannah and
+Branchville.  If Wilmington falls, a force from there can
+co-operate with you.
+
+Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood
+close upon him.  Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the
+roads except the main one leading to Chattanooga.  Part of this
+falling back was undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have
+been.  It did not look so, however, to me.  In my opinion,
+Thomas far outnumbers Hood in infantry.  In cavalry, Hood has
+the advantage in morale and numbers.  I hope yet that Hood will
+be badly crippled if not destroyed.  The general news you will
+learn from the papers better than I could give it.
+
+After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that
+there is likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I
+will run down the coast to see you.  If you desire it, I will
+ask Mrs. Sherman to go with me.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General
+
+
+I quote this letter because it gives the reader a full knowledge
+of the events of that period.
+
+Sherman now (the 15th) returned to Savannah to complete its
+investment and insure the surrender of the garrison.  The
+country about Savannah is low and marshy, and the city was well
+intrenched from the river above to the river below; and assaults
+could not be made except along a comparatively narrow causeway.
+For this reason assaults must have resulted in serious
+destruction of life to the Union troops, with the chance of
+failing altogether. Sherman therefore decided upon a complete
+investment of the place.  When he believed this investment
+completed, he summoned the garrison to surrender.  General
+Hardee, who was in command, replied in substance that the
+condition of affairs was not such as Sherman had described.  He
+said he was in full communication with his department and was
+receiving supplies constantly.
+
+Hardee, however, was cut off entirely from all communication
+with the west side of the river, and by the river itself to the
+north and south.  On the South Carolina side the country was all
+rice fields, through which it would have been impossible to bring
+supplies so that Hardee had no possible communication with the
+outside world except by a dilapidated plank road starting from
+the west bank of the river.  Sherman, receiving this reply,
+proceeded in person to a point on the coast, where General
+Foster had troops stationed under General Hatch, for the purpose
+of making arrangements with the latter officer to go through by
+one of the numerous channels running inland along that part of
+the coast of South Carolina, to the plank road which General
+Hardee still possessed, and thus to cut him off from the last
+means he had of getting supplies, if not of communication.
+
+While arranging for this movement, and before the attempt to
+execute the plan had been commenced, Sherman received
+information through one of his staff officers that the enemy had
+evacuated Savannah the night before.  This was the night of the
+21st of December.  Before evacuating the place Hardee had blown
+up the navy yard.  Some iron-clads had been destroyed, as well
+as other property that might have been valuable to us; but he
+left an immense amount of stores untouched, consisting of
+cotton, railroad cars, workshops, numerous pieces of artillery,
+and several thousand stands of small arms.
+
+A little incident occurred, soon after the fall of Savannah,
+which Sherman relates in his Memoirs, and which is worthy of
+repetition. Savannah was one of the points where blockade
+runners entered. Shortly after the city fell into our
+possession, a blockade runner came sailing up serenely, not
+doubting but the Confederates were still in possession.  It was
+not molested, and the captain did not find out his mistake until
+he had tied up and gone to the Custom House, where he found a new
+occupant of the building, and made a less profitable disposition
+of his vessel and cargo than he had expected.
+
+As there was some discussion as to the authorship of Sherman's
+march to the sea, by critics of his book when it appeared before
+the public, I want to state here that no question upon that
+subject was ever raised between General Sherman and myself.
+Circumstances made the plan on which Sherman expected to act
+impracticable, as as commander of the forces he necessarily had
+to devise a new on which would give more promise of success:
+consequently he recommended the destruction of the railroad back
+to Chattanooga, and that he should be authorized then to move, as
+he did, from Atlanta forward.  His suggestions were finally
+approved, although they did not immediately find favor in
+Washington.  Even when it came to the time of starting, the
+greatest apprehension, as to the propriety of the campaign he
+was about commence, filled the mind of the President, induced no
+doubt by his advisers.  This went so far as to  move the
+President to ask me to suspend Sherman's march for a day or two
+until I could think the matter over.  My recollection is, though
+I find no record to show it, that out of deference to the
+President's wish I did send a dispatch to Sherman asking him to
+wait a day or two, or else the connections between us were
+already cut so that I could not do so.  However this may be, the
+question of who devised the plan of march from Atlanta to
+Savannah is easily answered:  it was clearly Sherman, and to him
+also belongs the credit of its brilliant execution.  It was
+hardly possible that any one else than those on the spot could
+have devised a new plan of campaign to supersede one that did
+not promise success. (*40)
+
+I was in favor of Sherman's plan from the time it was first
+submitted to me.  My chief of staff, however, was very bitterly
+opposed to it and, as I learned subsequently, finding that he
+could not move me, he appealed to the authorities at Washington
+to stop it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE.
+
+As we have seen, Hood succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River
+between Muscle Shoals and the lower shoals at the end of
+October, 1864.  Thomas sent Schofield with the 4th and 23d
+corps, together with three brigades of Wilson's cavalry to
+Pulaski to watch him.  On the 17th of November Hood started and
+moved in such a manner as to avoid Schofield, thereby turning
+his position.  Hood had with him three infantry corps, commanded
+respectively by Stephen D. Lee, Stewart and Cheatham.  These,
+with his cavalry, numbered about forty-five thousand men.
+Schofield had, of all arms, about thirty thousand.  Thomas's
+orders were, therefore, for Schofield to watch the movements of
+the enemy, but not to fight a battle if he could avoid it; but
+to fall back in case of an advance on Nashville, and to fight
+the enemy, as he fell back, so as to retard the enemy's
+movements until he could be reinforced by Thomas himself.  As
+soon as Schofield saw this movement of Hood's, he sent his
+trains to the rear, but did not fall back himself until the
+21st, and then only to Columbia.  At Columbia there was a slight
+skirmish but no battle.  From this place Schofield then retreated
+to Franklin.  He had sent his wagons in advance, and Stanley had
+gone with them with two divisions to protect them.  Cheatham's
+corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went into camp
+at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th.
+
+Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring
+Hill, where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without
+molestation, though within half a mile of where the Confederates
+were encamped.  On the morning of the 30th he had arrived at
+Franklin.
+
+Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an
+attack the same day.  The fight was very desperate and
+sanguinary.  The Confederate generals led their men in the
+repeated charges, and the loss among them was of unusual
+proportions.  This fighting continued with great severity until
+long after the night closed in, when the Confederates drew
+off.  General Stanley, who commanded two divisions of the Union
+troops, and whose troops bore the brunt of the battle, was
+wounded in the fight, but maintained his position.
+
+The enemy's loss at Franklin, according to Thomas's report, was
+1,750 buried upon the field by our troops, 3,800 in the
+hospital, and 702 prisoners besides.  Schofield's loss, as
+officially reported, was 189 killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104
+captured and missing.
+
+Thomas made no effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, as it
+seemed to me at the time he should have done, and fight out the
+battle there.  He simply ordered Schofield to continue his
+retreat to Nashville, which the latter did during that night and
+the next day.
+
+Thomas, in the meantime, was making his preparations to receive
+Hood.  The road to Chattanooga was still well guarded with
+strong garrisons at Murfreesboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport and
+Chattanooga.  Thomas had previously given up Decatur and had
+been reinforced by A. J. Smith's two divisions just returned
+from Missouri.  He also had Steedman's division and R. S.
+Granger's, which he had drawn from the front.  His
+quartermaster's men, about ten thousand in number, had been
+organized and armed under the command of the chief
+quartermaster, General J. L. Donaldson, and placed in the
+fortifications under the general supervision of General Z. B.
+Tower, of the United States Engineers.
+
+Hood was allowed to move upon Nashville, and to invest that
+place almost without interference.  Thomas was strongly
+fortified in his position, so that he would have been safe
+against the attack of Hood.  He had troops enough even to
+annihilate him in the open field.  To me his delay was
+unaccountable--sitting there and permitting himself to be
+invested, so that, in the end, to raise the siege he would have
+to fight the enemy strongly posted behind fortifications.  It is
+true the weather was very bad.  The rain was falling and freezing
+as it fell, so that the ground was covered with a sheet of ice,
+that made it very difficult to move.  But I was afraid that the
+enemy would find means of moving, elude Thomas and manage to get
+north of the Cumberland River.  If he did this, I apprehended
+most serious results from the campaign in the North, and was
+afraid we might even have to send troops from the East to head
+him off if he got there, General Thomas's movements being always
+so deliberate and so slow, though effective in defence.
+
+I consequently urged Thomas in frequent dispatches sent from
+City Point(*41) to make the attack at once.  The country was
+alarmed, the administration was alarmed, and I was alarmed lest
+the very thing would take place which I have just described that
+is, Hood would get north.  It was all without avail further than
+to elicit dispatches from Thomas saying that he was getting
+ready to move as soon as he could, that he was making
+preparations, etc.  At last I had to say to General Thomas that
+I should be obliged to remove him unless he acted promptly.  He
+replied that he was very sorry, but he would move as soon as he
+could.
+
+General Logan happening to visit City Point about that time, and
+knowing him as a prompt, gallant and efficient officer, I gave
+him an order to proceed to Nashville to relieve Thomas.  I
+directed him, however, not to deliver the order or publish it
+until he reached there, and if Thomas had moved, then not to
+deliver it at all, but communicate with me by telegraph.  After
+Logan started, in thinking over the situation, I became
+restless, and concluded to go myself.  I went as far as
+Washington City, when a dispatch was received from General
+Thomas announcing his readiness at last to move, and designating
+the time of his movement.  I concluded to wait until that time.
+He did move, and was successful from the start.  This was on the
+15th of December.  General Logan was at Louisville at the time
+this movement was made, and telegraphed the fact to Washington,
+and proceeded no farther himself.
+
+The battle during the 15th was severe, but favorable to the
+Union troops, and continued until night closed in upon the
+combat.  The next day the battle was renewed.  After a
+successful assault upon Hood's men in their intrenchments the
+enemy fled in disorder, routed and broken, leaving their dead,
+their artillery and small arms in great numbers on the field,
+besides the wounded that were captured.  Our cavalry had fought
+on foot as infantry, and had not their horses with them; so that
+they were not ready to join in the pursuit the moment the enemy
+retreated.  They sent back, however, for their horses, and
+endeavored to get to Franklin ahead of Hood's broken army by the
+Granny White Road, but too much time was consumed in getting
+started.  They had got but a few miles beyond the scene of the
+battle when they found the enemy's cavalry dismounted and behind
+intrenchments covering the road on which they were advancing.
+Here another battle ensued, our men dismounting and fighting on
+foot, in which the Confederates were again routed and driven in
+great disorder.  Our cavalry then went into bivouac, and renewed
+the pursuit on the following morning.  They were too late.  The
+enemy already had possession of Franklin, and was beyond them.
+It now became a chase in which the Confederates had the lead.
+
+Our troops continued the pursuit to within a few miles of
+Columbia, where they found the rebels had destroyed the railroad
+bridge as well as all other bridges over Duck River.  The heavy
+rains of a few days before had swelled the stream into a mad
+torrent, impassable except on bridges.  Unfortunately, either
+through a mistake in the wording of the order or otherwise, the
+pontoon bridge which was to have been sent by rail out to
+Franklin, to be taken thence with the pursuing column, had gone
+toward Chattanooga.  There was, consequently, a delay of some
+four days in building bridges out of the remains of the old
+railroad bridge.  Of course Hood got such a start in this time
+that farther pursuit was useless, although it was continued for
+some distance, but without coming upon him again.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT-- CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+Up to January, 1865, the enemy occupied Fort Fisher, at the
+mouth of Cape Fear River and below the City of Wilmington.  This
+port was of immense importance to the Confederates, because it
+formed their principal inlet for blockade runners by means of
+which they brought in from abroad such supplies and munitions of
+war as they could not produce at home.  It was equally important
+to us to get possession of it, not only because it was desirable
+to cut off their supplies so as to insure a speedy termination of
+the war, but also because foreign governments, particularly the
+British Government, were constantly threatening that unless ours
+could maintain the blockade of that coast they should cease to
+recognize any blockade.  For these reasons I determined, with
+the concurrence of the Navy Department, in December, to send an
+expedition against Fort Fisher for the purpose of capturing it.
+
+To show the difficulty experienced in maintaining the blockade,
+I will mention a circumstance that took place at Fort Fisher
+after its fall.  Two English blockade runners came in at
+night.  Their commanders, not supposing the fort had fallen,
+worked their way through all our fleet and got into the river
+unobserved.  They then signalled the fort, announcing their
+arrival.  There was a colored man in the fort who had been there
+before and who understood these signals.  He informed General
+Terry what reply he should make to have them come in, and Terry
+did as he advised.  The vessels came in, their officers entirely
+unconscious that they were falling into the hands of the Union
+forces.  Even after they were brought in to the fort they were
+entertained in conversation for some little time before
+suspecting that the Union troops were occupying the fort.  They
+were finally informed that their vessels and cargoes were prizes.
+
+I selected General Weitzel, of the Army of the James, to go with
+the expedition, but gave instructions through General Butler.  He
+commanded the department within whose geographical limits Fort
+Fisher was situated, as well as Beaufort and other points on
+that coast held by our troops; he was, therefore, entitled to
+the right of fitting out the expedition against Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler conceived the idea that if a steamer loaded
+heavily with powder could be run up to near the shore under the
+fort and exploded, it would create great havoc and make the
+capture an easy matter.  Admiral Porter, who was to command the
+naval squadron, seemed to fall in with the idea, and it was not
+disapproved of in Washington; the navy was therefore given the
+task of preparing the steamer for this purpose.  I had no
+confidence in the success of the scheme, and so expressed
+myself; but as no serious harm could come of the experiment, and
+the authorities at Washington seemed desirous to have it tried, I
+permitted it.  The steamer was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina,
+and was there loaded with powder and prepared for the part she
+was to play in the reduction of Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler chose to go in command of the expedition himself,
+and was all ready to sail by the 9th of December (1864).  Very
+heavy storms prevailed, however, at that time along that part of
+the sea-coast, and prevented him from getting off until the 13th
+or 14th.  His advance arrived off Fort Fisher on the 15th.  The
+naval force had been already assembled, or was assembling, but
+they were obliged to run into Beaufort for munitions, coal,
+etc.; then, too, the powder-boat was not yet fully prepared. The
+fleet was ready to proceed on the 18th; but Butler, who had
+remained outside from the 15th up to that time, now found
+himself out of coal, fresh water, etc., and had to put into
+Beaufort to replenish.  Another storm overtook him, and several
+days more were lost before the army and navy were both ready at
+the same time to co-operate.
+
+On the night of the 23d the powder-boat was towed in by a
+gunboat as near to the fort as it was safe to run.  She was then
+propelled by her own machinery to within about five hundred yards
+of the shore.  There the clockwork, which was to explode her
+within a certain length of time, was set and she was
+abandoned.  Everybody left, and even the vessels put out to sea
+to prevent the effect of the explosion upon them.  At two
+o'clock in the morning the explosion took place--and produced no
+more effect on the fort, or anything else on land, than the
+bursting of a boiler anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean would have
+done.  Indeed when the troops in Fort Fisher heard the explosion
+they supposed it was the bursting of a boiler in one of the
+Yankee gunboats.
+
+Fort Fisher was situated upon a low, flat peninsula north of
+Cape Fear River.  The soil is sandy.  Back a little the
+peninsula is very heavily wooded, and covered with fresh-water
+swamps.  The fort ran across this peninsula, about five hundred
+yards in width, and extended along the sea coast about thirteen
+hundred yards.  The fort had an armament of 21 guns and 3
+mortars on the land side, and 24 guns on the sea front.  At that
+time it was only garrisoned by four companies of infantry, one
+light battery and the gunners at the heavy guns less than seven
+hundred men with a reserve of less than a thousand men five
+miles up the peninsula.  General Whiting of the Confederate army
+was in command, and General Bragg was in command of the force at
+Wilmington.  Both commenced calling for reinforcements the
+moment they saw our troops landing.  The Governor of North
+Carolina called for everybody who could stand behind a parapet
+and shoot a gun, to join them.  In this way they got two or
+three hundred additional men into Fort Fisher; and Hoke's
+division, five or six thousand strong, was sent down from
+Richmond.  A few of these troops arrived the very day that
+Butler was ready to advance.
+
+On the 24th the fleet formed for an attack in arcs of concentric
+circles, their heavy iron-clads going in very close range, being
+nearest the shore, and leaving intervals or spaces so that the
+outer vessels could fire between them.  Porter was thus enabled
+to throw one hundred and fifteen shells per minute.  The damage
+done to the fort by these shells was very slight, only two or
+three cannon being disabled in the fort.  But the firing
+silenced all the guns by making it too hot for the men to
+maintain their positions about them and compelling them to seek
+shelter in the bomb-proofs.
+
+On the next day part of Butler's troops under General Adelbert
+Ames effected a landing out of range of the fort without
+difficulty.  This was accomplished under the protection of
+gunboats sent for the purpose, and under cover of a renewed
+attack upon the fort by the fleet.  They formed a line across
+the peninsula and advanced, part going north and part toward the
+fort, covering themselves as they did so.  Curtis pushed forward
+and came near to Fort Fisher, capturing the small garrison at
+what was called the Flag Pond Battery.  Weitzel accompanied him
+to within a half a mile of the works.  Here he saw that the fort
+had not been injured, and so reported to Butler, advising against
+an assault.  Ames, who had gone north in his advance, captured
+228 of the reserves.  These prisoners reported to Butler that
+sixteen hundred of Hoke's division of six thousand from Richmond
+had already arrived and the rest would soon be in his rear.
+
+Upon these reports Butler determined to withdraw his troops from
+the peninsula and return to the fleet.  At that time there had
+not been a man on our side injured except by one of the shells
+from the fleet.  Curtis had got within a few yards of the
+works.  Some of his men had snatched a flag from the parapet of
+the fort, and others had taken a horse from the inside of the
+stockade.  At night Butler informed Porter of his withdrawal,
+giving the reasons above stated, and announced his purpose as
+soon as his men could embark to start for Hampton Roads.  Porter
+represented to him that he had sent to Beaufort for more
+ammunition.  He could fire much faster than he had been doing,
+and would keep the enemy from showing himself until our men were
+within twenty yards of the fort, and he begged that Butler would
+leave some brave fellows like those who had snatched the flag
+from the parapet and taken the horse from the fort.
+
+Butler was unchangeable.  He got all his troops aboard, except
+Curtis's brigade, and started back.  In doing this, Butler made
+a fearful mistake.  My instructions to him, or to the officer
+who went in command of the expedition, were explicit in the
+statement that to effect a landing would be of itself a great
+victory, and if one should be effected, the foothold must not be
+relinquished; on the contrary, a regular siege of the fort must
+be commenced and, to guard against interference by reason of
+storms, supplies of provisions must be laid in as soon as they
+could be got on shore.  But General Butler seems to have lost
+sight of this part of his instructions, and was back at Fort
+Monroe on the 28th.
+
+I telegraphed to the President as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable
+failure.  Many of the troops are back here.  Delays and free
+talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move
+troops to Wilmington to defeat it.  After the expedition sailed
+from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather were squandered,
+during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself.
+Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Porter sent dispatches to the Navy Department in which he
+complained bitterly of having been abandoned by the army just
+when the fort was nearly in our possession, and begged that our
+troops might be sent back again to cooperate, but with a
+different commander.  As soon as I heard this I sent a messenger
+to Porter with a letter asking him to hold on.  I assured him
+that I fully sympathized with him in his disappointment, and
+that I would send the same troops back with a different
+commander, with some reinforcements to offset those which the
+enemy had received.  I told him it would take some little time
+to get transportation for the additional troops; but as soon as
+it could be had the men should be on their way to him, and there
+would be no delay on my part.  I selected A. H. Terry to command.
+
+It was the 6th of January before the transports could be got
+ready and the troops aboard.  They sailed from Fortress Monroe
+on that day.  The object and destination of the second
+expedition were at the time kept a secret to all except a few in
+the Navy Department and in the army to whom it was necessary to
+impart the information.  General Terry had not the slightest
+idea of where he was going or what he was to do.  He simply knew
+that he was going to sea and that he had his orders with him,
+which were to be opened when out at sea.
+
+He was instructed to communicate freely with Porter and have
+entire harmony between army and navy, because the work before
+them would require the best efforts of both arms of service.
+They arrived off Beaufort on the 8th. A heavy storm, however,
+prevented a landing at Forth Fisher until the 13th.  The navy
+prepared itself for attack about as before, and the same time
+assisted the army in landing, this time five miles away.  Only
+iron-clads fired at first; the object being to draw the fire of
+the enemy's guns so as to ascertain their positions. This object
+being accomplished, they then let in their shots thick and
+fast.  Very soon the guns were all silenced, and the fort showed
+evident signs of being much injured.
+
+Terry deployed his men across the peninsula as had been done
+before, and at two o'clock on the following morning was up
+within two miles of the fort with a respectable abatis in front
+of his line. His artillery was all landed on that day, the
+14th.  Again Curtis's brigade of Ame's division had the lead. By
+noon they had carried an unfinished work less than a half mile
+from the fort, and turned it so as to face the other way.
+
+Terry now saw Porter and arranged for an assault on the
+following day.  The two commanders arranged their signals so
+that they could communicate with each other from time to time as
+they might have occasion.  At day light the fleet commenced its
+firing.  The time agreed upon for the assault was the middle of
+the afternoon, and Ames who commanded the assaulting column
+moved at 3.30.  Porter landed a force of sailors and marines to
+move against the sea-front in co-operation with Ames's
+assault.  They were under Commander Breese of the navy.  These
+sailors and marines had worked their way up to within a couple
+of hundred yards of the fort before the assault.  The signal was
+given and the assault was made; but the poor sailors and marines
+were repulsed and very badly handled by the enemy, losing 280
+killed and wounded out of their number.
+
+Curtis's brigade charged successfully though met by a heavy
+fire, some of the men having to wade through the swamp up to
+their waists to reach the fort.  Many were wounded, of course,
+and some killed; but they soon reached the palisades.  These
+they cut away, and pushed on through.  The other troops then
+came up, Pennypacker's following Curtis, and Bell, who commanded
+the 3d brigade of Ames's division, following Pennypacker.  But
+the fort was not yet captured though the parapet was gained.
+
+The works were very extensive.  The large parapet around the
+work would have been but very little protection to those inside
+except when they were close up under it.  Traverses had,
+therefore, been run until really the work was a succession of
+small forts enclosed by a large one.  The rebels made a
+desperate effort to hold the fort, and had to be driven from
+these traverses one by one.  The fight continued till long after
+night.  Our troops gained first one traverse and then another,
+and by 10 o'clock at night the place was carried.  During this
+engagement the sailors, who had been repulsed in their assault
+on the bastion, rendered the best service they could by
+reinforcing Terry's northern line--thus enabling him to send a
+detachment to the assistance of Ames.  The fleet kept up a
+continuous fire upon that part of the fort which was still
+occupied by the enemy.  By means of signals they could be
+informed where to direct their shots.
+
+During the succeeding nights the enemy blew up Fort Caswell on
+the opposite side of Cape Fear River, and abandoned two
+extensive works on Smith's Island in the river.
+
+Our captures in all amounted to 169 guns, besides small-arms,
+with full supplies of ammunition, and 2,083 prisoners.  In
+addition to these, there were about 700 dead and wounded left
+there.  We had lost 110 killed and 536 wounded.
+
+In this assault on Fort Fisher, Bell, one of the brigade
+commanders, was killed, and two, Curtis and Pennypacker, were
+badly wounded.
+
+Secretary Stanton, who was on his way back from Savannah,
+arrived off Fort Fisher soon after it fell.  When he heard the
+good news he promoted all the officers of any considerable rank
+for their conspicuous gallantry.  Terry had been nominated for
+major-general, but had not been confirmed.  This confirmed him;
+and soon after I recommended him for a brigadier-generalcy in
+the regular army, and it was given to him for this victory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the
+North, distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to
+see him.  Among others who went was the Secretary of War, who
+seemed much pleased at the result of his campaign.  Mr. Draper,
+the collector of customs of New York, who was with Mr. Stanton's
+party, was put in charge of the public property that had been
+abandoned and captured.  Savannah was then turned over to
+General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his
+own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the
+future.  I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac
+(General Barnard) with letters to General Sherman.  He remained
+some time with the general, and when he returned brought back
+letters, one of which contained suggestions from Sherman as to
+what ought to be done in co-operation with him, when he should
+have started upon his march northward.
+
+I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea
+originally of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or
+even to North Carolina.  The season was bad, the roads impassable
+for anything except such an army as he had, and I should not have
+thought of ordering such a move.  I had, therefore, made
+preparations to collect transports to carry Sherman and his army
+around to the James River by water, and so informed him.  On
+receiving this letter he went to work immediately to prepare for
+the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to collect
+the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north
+through the Carolinas.  I was only too happy to approve this;
+for if successful, it promised every advantage.  His march
+through Georgia had thoroughly destroyed all lines of
+transportation in that State, and had completely cut the enemy
+off from all sources of supply to the west of it.  If North and
+South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as capacity for
+feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison at
+Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw
+supplies, to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and,
+although that section of the country was fertile, it was already
+well exhausted of both forage and food.  I approved Sherman's
+suggestion therefore at once.
+
+The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load
+the wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long
+distance.  Sherman would now have to march through a country
+furnishing fewer provisions than that he had previously been
+operating in during his march to the sea.  Besides, he was
+confronting, or marching toward, a force of the enemy vastly
+superior to any his troops had encountered on their previous
+march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now
+become of such vast importance to the very existence of the
+Confederate army, that the most desperate efforts were to be
+expected in order to save it.
+
+Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to
+start with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who
+commanded that part of the navy on the South Carolina and
+Georgia coast, and General Foster, commanding the troops, to
+take positions, and hold a few points on the sea coast, which he
+(Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of Charleston.
+
+This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea
+coast, in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop
+his onward progress.  He also wrote me a letter, making
+suggestions as to what he would like to have done in support of
+his movement farther north.  This letter was brought to City
+Point by General Barnard at a time when I happened to be going
+to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of January.  I
+cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate with
+Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than
+by giving my reply to this letter.
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+Jan. 21, 1865.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received
+at City Point, and read with interest.  Not having them with me,
+however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you
+on all points of recommendation.  As I arrived here at one P.M.,
+and must leave at six P.M., having in the meantime spent over
+three hours with the Secretary and General Halleck, I must be
+brief.  Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign
+into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis,
+Md., with his corps.  The advance (six thousand) will reach the
+seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as
+railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati.  The
+corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men.  I was induced to do
+this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off
+before spring.  His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness
+that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your
+campaigns.  The command of the advance of the pursuit was left
+to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far behind.  When Hood
+had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it,
+Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from
+whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He
+is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty,
+but he is not good on a pursuit.  He also reported his troops
+fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up.  This report and
+a determination to give the enemy no rest determined me to use
+his surplus troops elsewhere.
+
+Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to
+Selma under an energetic leader.  He has been telegraphed to, to
+know whether he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes
+he would select.  No reply is yet received.  Canby has been
+ordered to act offensively from the sea-coast to the interior,
+towards Montgomery and Selma.  Thomas's forces will move from
+the north at an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to
+Canby.  Without further reinforcements Canby will have a moving
+column of twenty thousand men.
+
+Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured.  We have a force
+there of eight thousand effective.  At New Bern about half the
+number.  It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also
+has fallen.  I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the
+17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort
+Caswell, and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington.
+
+If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there.  If not, he
+will be sent to New Bern.  In either event, all the surplus
+forces at the two points will move to the interior toward
+Goldsboro' in co-operation with your movements.  From either
+point, railroad communications can be run out, there being here
+abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads.
+
+There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army
+south.  Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you,
+if Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort
+Fisher having overtaken about two thousand.
+
+All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in
+communication with them.  They will be so instructed.  From
+about Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much
+more, or attempts to evacuate, will pitch in.  In the meantime,
+should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps
+of thirty thousand effective men to your support, from the
+troops about Richmond.
+
+To resume:  Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the
+Gulf.  A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it
+doubtful.  A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will
+co-operate with you from New Bern or Wilmington, or both.  You
+can call for reinforcements.
+
+This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will
+return with any message you may have for me.  If there is
+anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on
+ship-board, at any point on the sea-coast, ready for you, let me
+know it.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving
+him the news of the battle of Nashville.  He was much pleased at
+the result, although, like myself, he had been very much
+disappointed at Thomas for permitting Hood to cross the
+Tennessee River and nearly the whole State of Tennessee, and
+come to Nashville to be attacked there.  He, however, as I had
+done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.
+
+On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to
+Sherman and his army passed by Congress were approved.
+
+Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up,
+commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from
+the river, and taking up all obstructions.  He had then
+intrenched the city, so that it could be held by a small
+garrison.  By the middle of January all his work was done,
+except the accumulation of supplies to commence his movement
+with.
+
+He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going
+along by the river of the same name, and the other by roads
+farther east, threatening Charleston.  He commenced the advance
+by moving his right wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to
+Pocotaligo by water.  This column, in moving north, threatened
+Charleston, and, indeed, it was not determined at first that
+they would have a force visit Charleston.  South Carolina had
+done so much to prepare the public mind of the South for
+secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision
+of the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it,
+that there was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and
+also largely entertained by people of the South, that the State
+of South Carolina, and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in
+particular, ought to have a heavy hand laid upon them.  In fact,
+nothing but the decisive results that followed, deterred the
+radical portion of the people from condemning the movement,
+because Charleston had been left out.  To pass into the interior
+would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the city, and its
+possession by the navy and Foster's troops.  It is so situated
+between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have
+held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold
+out.  Sherman therefore passed it by.
+
+By the first of February all preparations were completed for the
+final march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective;
+Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or
+neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be
+determined upon.  The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the
+left from about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns
+taking a pretty direct route for Columbia.  The cavalry,
+however, were to threaten Charleston on the right, and Augusta
+on the left.
+
+On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which
+Sherman had received before starting out on his march.  We
+already had New Bern and had soon Wilmington, whose fall
+followed that of Fort Fisher; as did other points on the sea
+coast, where the National troops were now in readiness to
+co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed
+Fayetteville.
+
+On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New
+Orleans, to move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama,
+for the purpose of destroying roads, machine shops, etc.  On the
+8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the Valley of
+Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit
+and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg; and
+on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the
+roads would permit, saying:  "As soon as it is possible to
+travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching
+Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone.  From there you could
+destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be
+of no further use to the rebellion. * * * This additional raid,
+with one starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering
+about four or five thousand cavalry; one from Eastport,
+Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with
+about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter pushing
+for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large
+army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will
+be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I
+would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish
+this.  Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last."
+
+On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had
+received his orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was
+extremely anxious to hear of his being in Alabama.  I notified
+him, also, that I had sent Grierson to take command of his
+cavalry, he being a very efficient officer.  I further suggested
+that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, and if he was there, he
+would find him an officer of great courage and capacity whom it
+would be difficult to get by.  I still further informed him that
+Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into Mississippi
+on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter.  This
+force did not get off however.
+
+All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's
+march, the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the
+West from leaving there.  But neither Canby nor Thomas could be
+got off in time.  I had some time before depleted Thomas's army
+to reinforce Canby, for the reason that Thomas had failed to
+start an expedition which he had been ordered to send out, and
+to have the troops where they might do something.  Canby seemed
+to be equally deliberate in all of his movements.  I ordered him
+to go in person; but he prepared to send a detachment under
+another officer.  General Granger had got down to New Orleans,
+in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put him
+in command of troops.  In spite of this he asked the War
+Department to assign Granger to the command of a corps.
+
+Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the
+cause in that quarter, I said to Canby:  "I am in receipt of a
+dispatch * * * informing me that you have made requisitions for
+a construction corps and material to build seventy miles of
+railroad.  I have directed that none be sent.  Thomas's army has
+been depleted to send a force to you that they might be where
+they could act in winter, and at least detain the force the
+enemy had in the West.  If there had been any idea of repairing
+railroads, it could have been done much better from the North,
+where we already had the troops.  I expected your movements to
+be co-operative with Sherman's last.  This has now entirely
+failed.  I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly
+and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine
+shops, etc., not to build them.  Take Mobile and hold it, and
+push your forces to the interior--to Montgomery and to Selma.
+Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for
+carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such
+positions as can be supplied by water.  By this means alone you
+can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the
+interior can be kept broken."
+
+Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to
+render any service in the direction for which they were designed.
+
+The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's
+troops and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand
+men in all; but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as
+I was sure would be the case, to retard Sherman's movements.
+Everything possible was being done to raise troops in the
+South.  Lee dispatched against Sherman the troops which had been
+sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including those of the other
+defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, amounted, after
+deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, to
+fourteen thousand men.  After Thomas's victory at Nashville what
+remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as
+rapidly as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces;
+and, finally, General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest
+commanders of the South though not in favor with the
+administration (or at least with Mr. Davis), was put in command
+of all the troops in North and South Carolina.
+
+Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January,
+but before sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him
+down the coast to see the situation of affairs, as I could give
+fuller directions after being on the ground than I could very
+well have given without.  We soon returned, and the troops were
+sent by sea to Cape Fear River.  Both New Bern and Wilmington
+are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite at
+Goldsboro.  Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the
+mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to
+secure the Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad.  This column
+took their pontoon bridges with them, to enable them to cross
+over to the island south of the city of Wilmington.  A large
+body was sent by the north side to co-operate with them.  They
+succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of February.  I took the
+precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case he should be
+forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching North
+Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was
+liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected
+march.  I also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a
+great abundance, now that we were not operating the roads in
+Virginia.  The gauge of the North Carolina railroads being the
+same as the Virginia railroads had been altered too; these cars
+and locomotives were ready for use there without any change.
+
+On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to
+Thomas to move south to Alabama and Georgia.  (I had previously
+reduced his force by sending a portion of it to Terry.)  I
+directed in lieu of this movement, that he should send Stoneman
+through East Tennessee, and push him well down toward Columbia,
+South Carolina, in support of Sherman.  Thomas did not get
+Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I had supposed
+he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his being
+in Louisville, Kentucky.  I immediately changed the order, and
+directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg.  Finally, however,
+on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western
+end of South Carolina, creating some consternation.  I also
+ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and
+to destroy no more roads east of that.  I also directed him to
+concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable
+movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.
+
+Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah.
+Sherman's march was without much incident until he entered
+Columbia, on the 17th of February.  He was detained in his
+progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild
+the bridges.  There was constant skirmishing and fighting between
+the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the
+advance of the infantry.  Four days, also, were lost in making
+complete the destruction of the most important railroads south
+of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water,
+and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road.  A
+formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in
+the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton.  There
+was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high
+water in the stream.  Hampton left as Sherman approached, and
+the city was found to be on fire.
+
+There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in
+discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire.
+Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies
+it on the part of the Confederates.  One thing is certain:  as
+soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to
+extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the
+limited means at hand.  In any case, the example set by the
+Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town
+which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act
+of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible
+for the conflict then raging, not imperative.
+
+The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took
+possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the
+National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making
+terms for the protection of property, etc.  Sherman paid no
+attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took
+the town without making any conditions whatever with its
+citizens.  He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in
+extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were
+rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes.  When he
+left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to
+be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some
+arrangement could be made for their future supplies.  He
+remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings,
+workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were
+destroyed.  While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first
+time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting him,
+under the command of General Beauregard.
+
+Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster
+garrisoned the place.  Wilmington was captured on the 22d.
+Columbia and Cheraw farther north, were regarded as so secure
+from invasion that the wealthy people of Charleston and Augusta
+had sent much of their valuable property to these two points to
+be stored.  Among the goods sent there were valuable carpets,
+tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture.  I am afraid
+much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops.  There
+was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery,
+small-arms and fixed ammunition.  These, of course were among
+the articles destroyed.  While here, Sherman also learned of
+Johnston's restoration to command.  The latter was given, as
+already stated, all troops in North and South Carolina.  After
+the completion of the destruction of public property about
+Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his march and reached Cheraw
+without any special opposition and without incident to relate.
+The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed on the
+way.  Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on
+the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced
+straight for Fayetteville.  Hardee and Hampton were there, and
+barely escaped.  Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of
+March.  He had dispatched scouts from Cheraw with letters to
+General Terry, at Wilmington, asking him to send a steamer with
+some supplies of bread, clothing and other articles which he
+enumerated.  The scouts got through successfully, and a boat was
+sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had asked
+as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those
+stores did not contain clothing.
+
+Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for
+Goldsboro.  The march, now, had to be made with great caution,
+for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that
+still remained open to the enemy.  Besides, he was confronting
+all that he had had to confront in his previous march up to that
+point, reinforced by the garrisons along the road and by what
+remained of Hood's army.  Frantic appeals were made to the
+people to come in voluntarily and swell the ranks of our foe.  I
+presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all over 35,000
+or 40,000 men.  The people had grown tired of the war, and
+desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous
+than the voluntary accessions.
+
+There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between
+Johnston's troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at
+Bentonville on the 19th and 21st of March, but Johnston withdrew
+from the contest before the morning of the 22d.  Sherman's loss
+in these last engagements in killed, wounded, and missing, was
+about sixteen hundred.  Sherman's troops at last reached
+Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; and
+there his men were destined to have a long rest.  Schofield was
+there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to
+Wilmington.
+
+Sherman was no longer in danger.  He had Johnston confronting
+him; but with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers
+and morale.  He had Lee to the north of him with a force largely
+superior; but I was holding Lee with a still greater force, and
+had he made his escape and gotten down to reinforce Johnston,
+Sherman, with the reinforcements he now had from Schofield and
+Terry, would have been able to hold the Confederates at bay for
+an indefinite period.  He was near the sea-shore with his back
+to it, and our navy occupied the harbors.  He had a railroad to
+both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly
+protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country
+and deepen as they approach the sea.  Then, too, Sherman knew
+that if Lee should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and
+Johnson together would be crushed in one blow if they attempted
+to make a stand.  With the loss of their capital, it is doubtful
+whether Lee's army would have amounted to much as an army when it
+reached North Carolina.  Johnston's army was demoralized by
+constant defeat and would hardly have made an offensive
+movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on
+duty.  The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like
+their brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man
+is so brave that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as
+to discourage him and dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter
+how just he deems it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF
+WHITE OAK ROAD.
+
+On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the
+so-called Confederate States presented themselves on our lines
+around Petersburg, and were immediately conducted to my
+headquarters at City Point.  They proved to be Alexander H.
+Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, Judge Campbell,
+Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly United
+States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.
+
+It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at
+once conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River
+boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of
+passengers.  I at once communicated by telegraph with Washington
+and informed the Secretary of War and the President of the
+arrival of these commissioners and that their object was to
+negotiate terms of peace between he United States and, as they
+termed it, the Confederate Government.  I was instructed to
+retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom
+he would designate, should come to meet them.  They remained
+several days as guests on board the boat.  I saw them quite
+frequently, though I have no recollection of having had any
+conversation whatever with them on the subject of their
+mission.  It was something I had nothing to do with, and I
+therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject.  For
+my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit,
+that they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT.  There had
+been too great a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything
+of the kind.  As long as they remained there, however, our
+relations were pleasant and I found them all very agreeable
+gentlemen.  I directed the captain to furnish them with the best
+the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort in every
+way possible.  No guard was placed over them and no restriction
+was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked
+that they would not abuse the privileges extended to them.  They
+were permitted to leave the boat when they felt like it, and did
+so, coming up on the bank and visiting me at my headquarters.
+
+I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but
+knew them well by reputation and through their public services,
+and I had been a particular admirer of Mr. Stephens.  I had
+always supposed that he was a very small man, but when I saw him
+in the dusk of the evening I was very much surprised to find so
+large a man as he seemed to be.  When he got down on to the boat
+I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen overcoat, a
+manufacture that had been introduced into the South during the
+rebellion.  The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I
+had ever seen, even in Canada.  The overcoat extended nearly to
+his feet, and was so large that it gave him the appearance of
+being an average-sized man.  He took this off when he reached
+the cabin of the boat, and I was struck with the apparent change
+in size, in the coat and out of it.
+
+After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a
+dispatch from Washington, directing me to send the commissioners
+to Hampton Roads to meet the President and a member of the
+cabinet.  Mr. Lincoln met them there and had an interview of
+short duration.  It was not a great while after they met that
+the President visited me at City Point.  He spoke of his having
+met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there
+would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they
+would recognize, first:  that the Union as a whole must be
+forever preserved, and second:  that slavery must be abolished.
+If they were willing to concede these two points, then he was
+ready to enter into negotiations and was almost willing to hand
+them a blank sheet of paper with his signature attached for them
+to fill in the terms upon which they were willing to live with us
+in the Union and be one people.  He always showed a generous and
+kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I never heard him
+abuse an enemy.  Some of the cruel things said about President
+Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the
+heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful
+disposition and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he
+seemed glad to get away from the cares and anxieties of the
+capital.
+
+Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln.  It was on
+the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the
+peace commissioners at Hampton Roads.  After a little
+conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of
+Stephens's.  I replied that I had.  "Well," said he, "did you
+see him take it off?"  I said yes.  "Well," said he, "didn't you
+think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you
+did see?"  Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate
+General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate.  He
+repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens
+laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.
+
+The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace
+commissioners, passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for
+two or three little incidents.  On one occasion during this
+period, while I was visiting Washington City for the purpose of
+conferring with the administration, the enemy's cavalry under
+General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left and then going to
+the south, got in east of us.  Before their presence was known,
+they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were
+grazing in that section.  It was a fair capture, and they were
+sufficiently needed by the Confederates.  It was only
+retaliating for what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a
+time, when out of supplies taking what the Confederate army
+otherwise would have gotten.  As appears in this book, on one
+single occasion we captured five thousand head of cattle which
+were crossing the Mississippi River near Port Hudson on their
+way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in the East.
+
+One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the
+rebellion was the last few weeks before Petersburg.  I felt that
+the situation of the Confederate army was such that they would
+try to make an escape at the earliest practicable moment, and I
+was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to
+hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but a picket
+line.  He had his railroad by the way of Danville south, and I
+was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores and
+ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him
+for his immediate defence.  I knew he could move much more
+lightly and more rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start,
+he would leave me behind so that we would have the same army to
+fight again farther south and the war might be prolonged another
+year.
+
+I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it
+was possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where
+they were.  There is no doubt that Richmond would have been
+evacuated much sooner than it was, if it had not been that it
+was the capital of the so-called Confederacy, and the fact of
+evacuating the capital would, of course, have had a very
+demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army.  When it was
+evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once
+began to crumble and fade away.  Then, too, desertions were
+taking place, not only among those who were with General Lee in
+the neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole
+Confederacy.  I remember that in a conversation with me on one
+occasion long prior to this, General Butler remarked that the
+Confederates would find great difficulty in getting more men for
+their army; possibly adding, though I am not certain as to this,
+"unless they should arm the slave."
+
+The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied
+man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they
+had passed a law for the further conscription of boys from
+fourteen to eighteen, calling them the junior reserves, and men
+from forty-five to sixty to be called the senior reserves.  The
+latter were to hold the necessary points not in immediate
+danger, and especially those in the rear.  General Butler, in
+alluding to this conscription, remarked that they were thus
+"robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I
+afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.
+
+It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits
+they were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout
+the entire army, by desertions alone.  Then by casualties of
+war, sickness, and other natural causes, their losses were much
+heavier.  It was a mere question of arithmetic to calculate how
+long they could hold out while that rate of depletion was going
+on.  Of course long before their army would be thus reduced to
+nothing the army which we had in the field would have been able
+to capture theirs.  Then too I knew from the great number of
+desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so gallantly
+and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as
+earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which
+they were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent.  Many of
+them were making application to be sent North where they might
+get employment until the war was over, when they could return to
+their Southern homes.
+
+For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for
+the time to come when I could commence the spring campaign,
+which I thoroughly believed would close the war.
+
+There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and
+which detained me.  One was the fact that the winter had been
+one of heavy rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery
+and teams.  It was necessary to wait until they had dried
+sufficiently to enable us to move the wagon trains and artillery
+necessary to the efficiency of an army operating in the enemy's
+country.  The other consideration was that General Sheridan with
+the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was operating on the north
+side of the James River, having come down from the Shenandoah. It
+was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, and I was
+therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the
+James River.
+
+Let us now take account of what he was doing.
+
+On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan.  He had met Early
+between Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing
+nearly his entire command.  Early and some of his officers
+escaped by finding refuge in the neighboring houses or in the
+woods.
+
+On the 12th I heard from him again.  He had turned east, to come
+to White House.  He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because
+the rains had been so very heavy and the streams were so very
+much swollen.  He had a pontoon train with him, but it would not
+reach half way across some of the streams, at their then stage of
+water, which he would have to get over in going south as first
+ordered.
+
+I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the
+depot there open until he arrived.  We had intended to abandon
+it because the James River had now become our base of supplies.
+
+Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into
+two divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin.
+General Merritt was acting as chief of cavalry.  Sheridan moved
+very light, carrying only four days' provisions with him, with a
+larger supply of coffee, salt and other small rations, and a very
+little else besides ammunition.  They stopped at Charlottesville
+and commenced tearing up the railroad back toward Lynchburg.  He
+also sent a division along the James River Canal to destroy
+locks, culverts etc.  All mills and factories along the lines of
+march of his troops were destroyed also.
+
+Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a
+march to White House was now somewhat hazardous.  He determined
+therefore to fight his way along the railroad and canal till he
+was as near to Richmond as it was possible to get, or until
+attacked.  He did this, destroying the canal as far as
+Goochland, and the railroad to a point as near Richmond as he
+could get.  On the 10th he was at Columbia.  Negroes had joined
+his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they
+assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads
+and the canal.  His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when
+he started, because he had been able to find plenty of forage.
+He had captured most of Early's horses and picked up a good many
+others on the road.  When he reached Ashland he was assailed by
+the enemy in force.  He resisted their assault with part of his
+command, moved quickly across the South and North Anna, going
+north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.
+
+The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to
+the time he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was.
+Supplies had to be got up to him which would last him through a
+long march, as there would probably not be much to be obtained
+in the country through which he would pass.  I had to arrange,
+therefore, that he should start from where he was, in the
+neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the earliest day
+at which he supposed he could be ready.
+
+Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he
+could come up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined
+to move as soon as the roads and weather would admit of my doing
+so.  I had been tied down somewhat in the matter of fixing any
+time at my pleasure for starting, until Sheridan, who was on his
+way from the Shenandoah Valley to join me, should arrive, as both
+his presence and that of his cavalry were necessary to the
+execution of the plans which I had in mind.  However, having
+arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to
+make my plans.
+
+Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night
+before I was aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into
+North Carolina to join with Johnston in attempting to crush out
+Sherman, I had, as early as the 1st of the month of March, given
+instructions to the troops around Petersburg to keep a sharp
+lookout to see that such a movement should not escape their
+notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was undertaken.
+
+It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and
+General Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in
+and about and Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no
+longer tenable for them, and that they must get away as soon as
+possible.  They, too, were waiting for dry roads, or a condition
+of the roads which would make it possible to move.
+
+General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider
+opening to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater
+security than he would have in the way the two armies were
+situated, determined upon an assault upon the right of our lines
+around Petersburg.  The night of the 24th of March was fixed upon
+for this assault, and General Gordon was assigned to the
+execution of the plan.  The point between Fort Stedman and
+Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was
+selected as the point of his attack.  The attack was to be made
+at night, and the troops were to get possession of the higher
+ground in the rear where they supposed we had intrenchments,
+then sweep to the right and left, create a panic in the lines of
+our army, and force me to contract my lines.  Lee hoped this
+would detain me a few days longer and give him an opportunity of
+escape.  The plan was well conceived and the execution of it very
+well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our
+line.
+
+Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the
+point at which they were to make their charge, and got
+possession of our picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of
+the troops inside of our main line of intrenchments; this reduced
+the distance he would have to charge over to not much more than
+fifty yards.  For some time before the deserters had been coming
+in with great frequency, often bringing their arms with them, and
+this the Confederate general knew.  Taking advantage of this
+knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through
+to ours as if to desert.  When they got to our lines they at once
+took possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In
+the main line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great
+security.  This plan was to have been executed and much damage
+done before daylight; but the troops that were to reinforce
+Gordon had to be brought from the north side of the James River
+and, by some accident on the railroad on their way over, they
+were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to be
+nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.
+
+The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the
+enemy passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery
+No. 10.  Then turning to the right and left they captured the
+fort and the battery, with all the arms and troops in them.
+Continuing the charge, they also carried batteries Eleven and
+Twelve to our left, which they turned toward City Point.
+
+Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in
+his line cut him off from all communication with his
+headquarters.  Parke, however, commanding the 9th corps when
+this breach took place, telegraphed the facts to Meade's
+headquarters, and learning that the general was away, assumed
+command himself and with commendable promptitude made all
+preparations to drive the enemy back.  General Tidball gathered
+a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them in rear
+of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground
+between the lines very thoroughly.  Hartranft was soon out with
+his division, as also was Willcox.  Hartranft to the right of
+the breach headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly
+drove them back into Fort Stedman.  On the other side they were
+driven back into the intrenchments which they had captured, and
+batteries eleven and twelve were retaken by Willcox early in the
+morning.
+
+Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and
+batteries, and communication was once more established.  The
+artillery fire was kept up so continuously that it was
+impossible for the Confederates to retreat, and equally
+impossible for reinforcements to join them.  They all,
+therefore, fell captives into our hands.  This effort of Lee's
+cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing,
+wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.
+
+After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates,
+our troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched
+picket line, which they strengthened and held.  This, in turn,
+gave us but a short distance to charge over when our attack came
+to be made a few days later.
+
+The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack
+(24th of March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence
+on the 29th.  Ord, with three divisions of infantry and
+Mackenzie's cavalry, was to move in advance on the night of the
+27th, from the north side of the James River and take his place
+on our extreme left, thirty miles away.  He left Weitzel with
+the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda Hundred and
+the north of the James River.  The engineer brigade was to be
+left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about
+Petersburg. (*42)
+
+Ord was at his place promptly.  Humphreys and Warren were then
+on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps.  They were
+directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position
+in their places, to cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west
+toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from
+which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the
+Danville Railroad.  There was considerable fighting in taking up
+these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army
+of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses
+were quite severe.
+
+This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March.  His
+horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their
+shoes.  A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the
+animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for
+moving.  Immediately on General Sheridan's arrival at City Point
+I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided
+upon.  The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.
+
+After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked
+out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with
+him by himself--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a
+member of my staff.  In preparing his instructions I
+contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing
+Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and
+terminating the contest before separating from the enemy.  But
+the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the
+prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never
+terminate except by compromise.  Knowing that unless my plan
+proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous
+defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event
+he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of
+supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of
+the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the
+rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with
+Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces
+to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had
+received, to act in cooperation with the armies around
+Petersburg and Richmond.
+
+I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed
+somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut
+loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself
+between the two main armies of the enemy.  I said to him:
+"General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely
+as a blind;" and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore
+described.  I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to
+close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should
+go no farther.  His face at once brightened up, and slapping his
+hand on his leg he said:  "I am glad to hear it, and we can do
+it."
+
+Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks
+until he got further instructions from me.
+
+One day, after the movement I am about to describe had
+commenced, and when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far
+to the rear, south, Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters
+were then established, at Dabney's Mills.  He met some of my
+staff officers outside, and was highly jubilant over the
+prospects of success, giving reasons why he believed this would
+prove the final and successful effort.  Although my
+chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our
+position about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he
+asked Sheridan to come in to see me and say to me what he had
+been saying to them.  Sheridan felt a little modest about giving
+his advice where it had not been asked; so one of my staff came
+in and told me that Sheridan had what they considered important
+news, and suggested that I send for him.  I did so, and was glad
+to see the spirit of confidence with which he was imbued. Knowing
+as I did from experience, of what great value that feeling of
+confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a movement
+at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen after
+I had started out the roads were still very heavy.  Orders were
+given accordingly.
+
+Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having
+been a few days free from rain, the surface of the ground was
+dry, giving indications that the time had come when we could
+move.  On that date I moved out with all the army available
+after leaving sufficient force to hold the line about
+Petersburg.  It soon set in raining again however, and in a very
+short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and
+almost so for cavalry.  Sometimes a horse or mule would be
+standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot
+would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all
+his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of
+the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other
+southern States.  It became necessary therefore to build
+corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our
+artillery upon.  The army had become so accustomed to this kind
+of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very
+rapidly.  The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient
+progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan
+with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then
+come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus
+menacing the right of Lee's line.
+
+This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to
+the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right,
+or Five Forks.  The column moving detached from the army still in
+the trenches was, excluding the cavalry, very small.  The forces
+in the trenches were themselves extending to the left flank.
+Warren was on the extreme left when the extension began, but
+Humphreys was marched around later and thrown into line between
+him and Five Forks.
+
+My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get
+on the enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken
+their centre to protect their right so that an assault in the
+centre might be successfully made.  General Wright's corps had
+been designated to make this assault, which I intended to order
+as soon as information reached me of Sheridan's success.  He was
+to move under cover as close to the enemy as he could get.
+
+It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to
+be to get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville
+Railroad, as soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on
+the 29th.  These roads were so important to his very existence
+while he remained in Richmond and Petersburg, and of such vital
+importance to him even in case of retreat, that naturally he
+would make most strenuous efforts to defend them.  He did on the
+30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce Five Forks.  He
+also sent around to the right of his army some two or three other
+divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in
+readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on
+call.  He came over himself to superintend in person the defence
+of his right flank.
+
+Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the
+30th, and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks.  He
+had only his cavalry with him.  Soon encountering the rebel
+cavalry he met with a very stout resistance.  He gradually drove
+them back however until in the neighborhood of Five Forks.  Here
+he had to encounter other troops besides those he had been
+contending with, and was forced to give way.
+
+In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken
+place and stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie
+gradually and slowly, and asked me to send Wright's corps to his
+assistance.  I replied to him that it was impossible to send
+Wright's corps because that corps was already in line close up
+to the enemy, where we should want to assault when the proper
+time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but the 2d
+(Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left
+and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the
+left flank of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send
+Warren.
+
+Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that
+night (the 31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in
+communication with Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to
+him.  He was very slow in moving, some of his troops not
+starting until after 5 o'clock next morning.  When he did move
+it was done very deliberately, and on arriving at Gravelly Run
+he found the stream swollen from the recent rains so that he
+regarded it as not fordable.  Sheridan of course knew of his
+coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as
+possible, sent orders to him to hasten.  He was also hastened or
+at least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade.  He now
+felt that he could not cross that creek without bridges, and his
+orders were changed to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in
+flank or get in their rear; but he was so late in getting up that
+Sheridan determined to move forward without him.  However,
+Ayres's division of Warren's corps reached him in time to be in
+the fight all day, most of the time separated from the remainder
+of the 5th corps and fighting directly under Sheridan.
+
+Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the
+whole of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until
+late in the afternoon.  Griffin's division in backing to get out
+of the way of a severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching
+away from the fighting.  This did not continue long, however; the
+division was brought back and with Ayres's division did most
+excellent service during the day.  Crawford's division of the
+same corps had backed still farther off, and although orders
+were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was late before it
+finally got to where it could be of material assistance.  Once
+there it did very excellent service.
+
+Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little
+later, in advancing up to the point from which to make his
+designed assault upon Five Forks itself.  He was very impatient
+to make the assault and have it all over before night, because
+the ground he occupied would be untenable for him in bivouac
+during the night.  Unless the assault was made and was
+successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie
+Court-House, or even further than that for the night.
+
+It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get
+Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren.  He sent
+staff officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing
+that general to report to him, but they were unable to find
+him.  At all events Sheridan was unable to get that officer to
+him.  Finally he went himself.  He issued an order relieving
+Warren and assigning Griffin to the command of the 5th corps.
+The troops were then brought up and the assault successfully
+made.
+
+I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in
+the battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach
+Sheridan in time, that I was very much afraid that at the last
+moment he would fail Sheridan.  He was a man of fine
+intelligence, great earnestness, quick perception, and could
+make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, under
+difficulties where he was forced to act.  But I had before
+discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very
+prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just
+before us.  He could see every danger at a glance before he had
+encountered it.  He would not only make preparations to meet the
+danger which might occur, but he would inform his commanding
+officer what others should do while he was executing his move.
+
+I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his
+attention to these defects, and to say that as much as I liked
+General Warren, now was not a time when we could let our
+personal feelings for any one stand in the way of success; and
+if his removal was necessary to success, not to hesitate.  It
+was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed Warren.  I was
+very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still more that I
+had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another field
+of duty.
+
+It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the
+parapets of the enemy.  The two armies were mingled together
+there for a time in such manner that it was almost a question
+which one was going to demand the surrender of the other.  Soon,
+however, the enemy broke and ran in every direction; some six
+thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms in large
+quantities, falling into our hands.  The flying troops were
+pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under
+Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.
+
+This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when
+Sheridan halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of
+the part of the enemy's line which had been captured, returned,
+sending the 5th corps across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of
+Petersburg, and facing them toward it.  Merritt, with the
+cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of Five Forks.
+
+This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the
+1st of April.  I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and
+Parke at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d.  I also ordered
+the 2d corps, General Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army
+of the James, on the left, to hold themselves in readiness to
+take any advantage that could be taken from weakening in their
+front.
+
+I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day;
+in fact I had reported to him during the day and evening as I
+got news, because he was so much interested in the movements
+taking place that I wanted to relieve his mind as much as I
+could.  I notified Weitzel on the north side of the James River,
+directing him, also, to keep close up to the enemy, and take
+advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to promptly
+enter the city of Richmond.
+
+I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks
+as of so much importance that he would make a last desperate
+effort to retake it, risking everything upon the cast of a
+single die.  It was for this reason that I had ordered the
+assault to take place at once, as soon as I had received the
+news of the capture of Five Forks.  The corps commanders,
+however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not see
+to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But
+we kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the
+whole line including that north of the James River, until it was
+light enough to move, which was about a quarter to five in the
+morning.
+
+At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed,
+brushed the abatis from their front as they advanced under a
+heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and went without flinching
+directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves
+inside of the enemy's line.  Parke, who was on the right, swept
+down to the right and captured a very considerable length of
+line in that direction, but at that point the outer was so near
+the inner line which closely enveloped the city of Petersburg
+that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a very
+serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the
+defence of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in
+this.
+
+Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run,
+sweeping everything before him.  The enemy had traverses in rear
+of his captured line, under cover of which he made something of a
+stand, from one to another, as Wright moved on; but the latter
+met no serious obstacle.  As you proceed to the left the outer
+line becomes gradually much farther from the inner one, and
+along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly two miles apart.
+Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of
+artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of
+them.
+
+In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the
+instructions they had received, had succeeded by daylight, or
+very early in the morning, in capturing the intrenched
+picket-lines in their front; and before Wright got up to that
+point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of the enemy's
+intrenchments.  The second corps soon followed; and the outer
+works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops,
+never to be wrenched from them again.  When Wright reached
+Hatcher's Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side
+Railroad just outside of the city.
+
+My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills.  As soon as I
+received the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches
+announcing the fact to all points around the line, including the
+troops at Bermuda Hundred and those on the north side of the
+James, and to the President at City Point.  Further dispatches
+kept coming in, and as they did I sent the additional news to
+these points.  Finding at length that they were all in, I
+mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works.
+When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as
+Wright's three thousand prisoners were coming out.  I was soon
+joined inside by General Meade and his staff.
+
+Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost
+ground.  Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but
+repulsed every effort.  Before noon Longstreet was ordered up
+from the north side of the James River thus bringing the bulk of
+Lee's army around to the support of his extreme right.  As soon
+as I learned this I notified Weitzel and directed him to keep up
+close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, commanding the Bermuda
+Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they found any break
+to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this would
+separate Richmond and Petersburg.
+
+Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to
+Petersburg, coming in on our left.  This gave us a continuous
+line from the Appomattox River below the city to the same river
+above.  At eleven o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I
+reinforced Parke with two brigades from City Point.  With this
+additional force he completed his captured works for better
+defence, and built back from his right, so as to protect his
+flank.  He also carried in and made an abatis between himself
+and the enemy.  Lee brought additional troops and artillery
+against Parke even after this was done, and made several
+assaults with very heavy losses.
+
+The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to
+Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and
+Fort Whitworth.  We thought it had now become necessary to carry
+them by assault.  About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was
+assaulted by Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's),
+supported by two brigades from Ord's command.  The battle was
+desperate and the National troops were repulsed several times;
+but it was finally carried, and immediately the troops in Fort
+Whitworth evacuated the place.  The guns of Fort Gregg were
+turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding officer
+with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.
+
+I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan.  In
+moving to execute this order he came upon the enemy at the
+intersection of the White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road.  The
+enemy fell back to Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and
+were followed by Miles.  This position, naturally a strong and
+defensible one, was also strongly intrenched.  Sheridan now came
+up and Miles asked permission from him to make the assault, which
+Sheridan gave.  By this time Humphreys had got through the outer
+works in his front, and came up also and assumed command over
+Miles, who commanded a division in his corps.  I had sent an
+order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards
+Petersburg.  This order he now got, and started off, thus
+leaving Miles alone.  The latter made two assaults, both of
+which failed, and he had to fall back a few hundred yards.
+
+Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed
+Humphreys to send a division back to his relief.  He went
+himself.
+
+Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent
+Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate
+cavalry that had assembled there.  Merritt drove them north to
+the Appomattox River.  Sheridan then took the enemy at
+Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and
+the two together captured the place, with a large number of
+prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder,
+portions of three Confederate corps, to flight.  Sheridan
+followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was
+stopped.  Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he
+with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault.  I cannot
+explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to
+City Point that evening:
+
+
+BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG,
+April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M.
+
+COLONEL T. S. BOWERS,
+City Point.
+
+We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few
+hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to
+the river above.  Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of
+them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either
+designedly on their part or because they could not help it.
+Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them.  Miles's
+division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to
+Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met
+them, and at last accounts was engaged with them.  Not knowing
+whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was
+sent with another division from here.  The whole captures since
+the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve
+thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery.  I do not
+know the number of men and guns accurately however.  * * *  I
+think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the
+river above to the river below.  I ordered a bombardment to be
+commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an
+assault at six o'clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early
+in the morning.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY-- VISIT
+TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d
+and took a position under cover of a house which protected us
+from the enemy's musketry which was flying thick and fast
+there.  As we would occasionally look around the corner we could
+see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the
+bridge, packed with the Confederate army.  I did not have
+artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make
+his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit.  At all
+events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass
+of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.
+
+Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man
+came in who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of
+Northern Virginia.  He said that Lee had for some time been at
+work preparing a strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he
+would throw himself when forced out of Petersburg, and fight his
+final battle there; that he was actually at that time drawing his
+troops from Richmond, and falling back into this prepared work.
+This statement was made to General Meade and myself when we were
+together.  I had already given orders for the movement up the
+south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading off Lee;
+but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he
+thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move
+against Lee in his new position.  I knew that Lee was no fool,
+as he would have been to have put himself and his army between
+two formidable streams like the James and Appomattox rivers, and
+between two such armies as those of the Potomac and the James.
+Then these streams coming together as they did to the east of
+him, it would be only necessary to close up in the west to have
+him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or possibility of
+reinforcement.  It would only have been a question of days, and
+not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him
+by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to
+surrender his army.  Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war
+to deceive your antagonist.  My judgment was that Lee would
+necessarily have to evacuate Richmond, and that the only course
+for him to pursue would be to follow the Danville Road.
+Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that road south
+of Lee, and I told Meade this.  He suggested that if Lee was
+going that way we would follow him.  My reply was that we did
+not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut
+him off, and if he would only stay in the position he (Meade)
+believed him to be in at that time, I wanted nothing better;
+that when we got in possession of the Danville Railroad, at its
+crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still found him between
+the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward and close
+him up.  That we would then have all the advantage we could
+possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg,
+even if he remained in the position assigned him by the engineer
+officer.
+
+I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so
+as to start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning,
+supposing that Lee would be gone during the night.  During the
+night I strengthened Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.
+
+Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond,
+during the day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it
+would be impossible for him to hold out longer than night, if he
+could hold out that long.  Davis was at church when he received
+Lee's dispatch.  The congregation was dismissed with the notice
+that there would be no evening service.  The rebel government
+left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d.
+
+At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court
+House, his object being to get away, join Johnston if possible,
+and to try to crush Sherman before I could get there.  As soon
+as I was sure of this I notified Sheridan and directed him to
+move out on the Danville Railroad to the south side of the
+Appomattox River as speedily as possible.  He replied that he
+already had some of his command nine miles out.  I then ordered
+the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the
+same road in the morning.  Parke's corps followed by the same
+road, and the Army of the James was directed to follow the road
+which ran alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's
+Station, and to repair the railroad and telegraph as they
+proceeded.  That road was a 5 feet gauge, while our rolling
+stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; consequently the
+rail on one side of the track had to be taken up throughout the
+whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of our
+cars and locomotives.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some
+days.  I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only
+while I felt a strong conviction that the move was going to be
+successful, yet it might not prove so; and then I would have
+only added another to the many disappointments he had been
+suffering for the past three years.  But when we started out he
+saw that we were moving for a purpose, and bidding us Godspeed,
+remained there to hear the result.
+
+The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed
+Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I
+would await his arrival.  I had started all the troops out early
+in the morning, so that after the National army left Petersburg
+there was not a soul to be seen, not even an animal in the
+streets.  There was absolutely no one there, except my staff
+officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry.  We had
+selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until
+the President arrived.
+
+About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm
+congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and
+to the army which had accomplished it, was:  "Do you know,
+general, that I have had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days
+that you intended to do something like this."  Our movements
+having been successful up to this point, I no longer had any
+object in concealing from the President all my movements, and
+the objects I had in view.  He remained for some days near City
+Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by
+telegraph.
+
+Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join
+me at a fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's
+army.  I told him that I had been very anxious to have the
+Eastern armies vanquish their old enemy who had so long resisted
+all their repeated and gallant attempts to subdue them or drive
+them from their capital.  The Western armies had been in the
+main successful until they had conquered all the territory from
+the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and were
+now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking
+admittance.  I said to him that if the Western armies should be
+even upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the
+credit would be given to them for the capture, by politicians
+and non-combatants from the section of country which those
+troops hailed from.  It might lead to disagreeable bickerings
+between members of Congress of the East and those of the West in
+some of their debates.  Western members might be throwing it up
+to the members of the East that in the suppression of the
+rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to
+accomplish much in the way of contributing toward that end, but
+had to wait until the Western armies had conquered all the
+territory south and west of them, and then come on to help them
+capture the only army they had been engaged with.
+
+Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it
+before, because his anxiety was so great that he did not care
+where the aid came from so the work was done.
+
+The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four
+years' record in the suppression of the rebellion.  The army it
+had to fight was the protection to the capital of a people which
+was attempting to found a nation upon the territory of the United
+States.  Its loss would be the loss of the cause.  Every energy,
+therefore, was put forth by the Confederacy to protect and
+maintain their capital.  Everything else would go if it went.
+Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to maintain its
+position, no matter what territory was wrested from the South in
+another quarter.
+
+I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between
+the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has
+been none between the politicians.  Possibly I am the only one
+who thought of the liability of such a state of things in
+advance.
+
+When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his
+horse and started on his return to City Point, while I and my
+staff started to join the army, now a good many miles in
+advance.  Up to this time I had not received the report of the
+capture of Richmond.
+
+Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from
+General Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession
+of Richmond at about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day,
+the 3d, and that he had found the city on fire in two places.
+The city was in the most utter confusion.  The authorities had
+taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter,
+and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government
+had left, for the people to gather up.  The city had been
+deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any
+notice whatever that they were about to leave.  In fact, up to
+the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to
+believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere
+around Petersburg.
+
+Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in
+Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers
+in the town.  The city was on fire.  Our troops were directed to
+extinguish the flames, which they finally succeeded in doing.
+The fire had been started by some one connected with the
+retreating army.  All authorities deny that it was authorized,
+and I presume it was the work of excited men who were leaving
+what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it
+was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of
+their enemy.  Be that as it may, the National troops found the
+city in flames, and used every effort to extinguish them.
+
+The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them,
+were cut off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued
+by our cavalry so hotly and closely that they threw away
+caissons, ammunition, clothing, and almost everything to lighten
+their loads, and pushed along up the Appomattox River until
+finally they took water and crossed over.
+
+I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join
+the command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine
+miles out.  We had still time to march as much farther, and time
+was an object; but the roads were bad and the trains belonging to
+the advance corps had blocked up the road so that it was
+impossible to get on.  Then, again, our cavalry had struck some
+of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the orders were that
+the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever they
+appeared.  This caused further delay.
+
+General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which
+were left back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into
+bivouac and trying to get up some rations for them, and clearing
+out the road, so that when they did start they would be
+uninterrupted.  Humphreys, who was far ahead, was also out of
+rations.  They did not succeed in getting them up through the
+night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were so
+elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a
+victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations
+to running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them.  So
+the march was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.
+
+Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven
+them north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were
+forced to cross.
+
+On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations
+up from Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to
+meet him at Farmville.  This showed that Lee had already
+abandoned the idea of following the railroad down to Danville,
+but had determined to go farther west, by the way of
+Farmville.  I notified Sheridan of this and directed him to get
+possession of the road before the supplies could reach Lee.  He
+responded that he had already sent Crook's division to get upon
+the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face north
+and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought
+Crook must be there now.  The bulk of the army moved directly
+for Jetersville by two roads.
+
+After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that
+Crook was on the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to
+make a forced march with the Army of the Potomac, and to send
+Parke's corps across from the road they were on to the South
+Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the Army of the James and
+to protect the railroad which that army was repairing as it went
+along.
+
+Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph
+office, they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred
+thousand rations from Danville.  The dispatch had not been sent,
+but Sheridan sent a special messenger with it to Burkesville and
+had it forwarded from there.  In the meantime, however,
+dispatches from other sources had reached Danville, and they
+knew there that our army was on the line of the road; so that
+they sent no further supplies from that quarter.
+
+At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off
+between the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on
+and the Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in
+flank.  They picked up a great many prisoners and forced the
+abandonment of some property.
+
+Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his
+advance north of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect
+forage.  The country was very poor and afforded but very
+little.  His foragers scattered a great deal; many of them were
+picked up by our men, and many others never returned to the Army
+of Northern Virginia.
+
+Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of
+Jetersville, and Sheridan notified me of the situation.  I again
+ordered Meade up with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one
+corps of infantry with a little cavalry confronting Lee's entire
+army.  Meade, always prompt in obeying orders, now pushed forward
+with great energy, although he was himself sick and hardly able
+to be out of bed.  Humphreys moved at two, and Wright at three
+o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have said, the
+wagons being far in the rear.
+
+I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side
+Railroad.  On the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of
+the progress Meade was making, and suggested that he might now
+attack Lee.  We had now no other objective than the Confederate
+armies, and I was anxious to close the thing up at once.
+
+On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about
+ten miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I
+then received from Sheridan the following dispatch:
+
+"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and
+on this side of it.  General Davies, whom I sent out to
+Painesville on their right flank, has just captured six pieces
+of artillery and some wagons.  We can capture the Army of
+Northern Virginia if force enough can be thrown to this point,
+and then advance upon it.  My cavalry was at Burkesville
+yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last
+night.  General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person.  They
+are out of rations, or nearly so.  They were advancing up the
+railroad towards Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them
+at this point."
+
+It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to
+his provisions.
+
+Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards
+Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him.
+Davies found the movement had already commenced.  He attacked
+and drove away their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the
+west, capturing and burning 180 wagons.  He also captured five
+pieces of artillery.  The Confederate infantry then moved
+against him and probably would have handled him very roughly,
+but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of cavalry to follow
+Davies, and they came to his relief in time.  A sharp engagement
+took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the
+enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.
+
+Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the
+afternoon, but in advance of all his troops.  The head of
+Humphreys's corps followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan
+stationed the troops as they came up, at Meade's request, the
+latter still being very sick.  He extended two divisions of this
+corps off to the west of the road to the left of Griffin's corps,
+and one division to the right.  The cavalry by this time had also
+come up, and they were put still farther off to the left,
+Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the
+enemy intended to escape.  He wanted to attack, feeling that if
+time was given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented
+this, preferring to wait till his troops were all up.
+
+At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed
+to him by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he
+wished I was there myself.  The letter was dated Amelia Court
+House, April 5th, and signed by Colonel Taylor.  It was to his
+mother, and showed the demoralization of the Confederate army.
+Sheridan's note also gave me the information as here related of
+the movements of that day.  I received a second message from
+Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more emphatically the
+importance of my presence.  This was brought to me by a scout in
+gray uniform.  It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up in
+tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in.  This was a
+precaution taken so that if the scout should be captured he
+could take this tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into
+his mouth, chew it.  It would cause no surprise at all to see a
+Confederate soldier chewing tobacco.  It was nearly night when
+this letter was received.  I gave Ord directions to continue his
+march to Burkesville and there intrench himself for the night,
+and in the morning to move west to cut off all the roads between
+there and Farmville.
+
+I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of
+cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's
+army.  The distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being
+dark our progress was slow through the woods in the absence of
+direct roads.  However, we got to the outposts about ten o'clock
+in the evening, and after some little parley convinced the
+sentinels of our identity and were conducted in to where
+Sheridan was bivouacked.  We talked over the situation for some
+little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was
+trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to
+the right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of
+escaping us and putting us in rear of him.
+
+We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about
+midnight.  I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow
+the enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders
+would allow the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no
+doubt that Lee was moving right then.  Meade changed his orders
+at once.  They were now given for an advance on Amelia Court
+House, at an early hour in the morning, as the army then lay;
+that is, the infantry being across the railroad, most of it to
+the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out still farther
+to the left.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE
+--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.
+
+The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the
+south-west from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville
+Railroad bridge, and then trends north-westerly.  Sailor's
+Creek, an insignificant stream, running northward, empties into
+the Appomattox between the High Bridge and Jetersville.  Near
+the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to Lynchburg
+crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge.  The railroad
+runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles
+west, and from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of
+it.  The roads coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross
+the Appomattox River there on a bridge and run on the north
+side, leaving the Lynchburg and Petersburg Railroad well to the
+left.
+
+Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of
+all the roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to
+move upon, and never permitted the head of his columns to stop
+because of any fighting that might be going on in his rear.  In
+this way he came very near succeeding in getting to his
+provision trains and eluding us with at least part of his army.
+
+As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and
+our army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered
+them.  There was a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek
+was reached.  Our cavalry charged in upon a body of theirs which
+was escorting a wagon train in order to get it past our left.  A
+severe engagement ensued, in which we captured many prisoners,
+and many men also were killed and wounded.  There was as much
+gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in these little
+engagements as was displayed at any time during the war,
+notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.
+
+The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy
+engagement took place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry
+were all brought into action.  Our men on the right, as they
+were brought in against the enemy, came in on higher ground, and
+upon his flank, giving us every advantage to be derived from the
+lay of the country.  Our firing was also very much more rapid,
+because the enemy commenced his retreat westward and in firing
+as he retreated had to turn around every time he fired.  The
+enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded as in
+captures.  Some six general officers fell into our hands in this
+engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners.  This
+engagement was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the
+6th, and the retreat and pursuit were continued until nightfall,
+when the armies bivouacked upon the ground where the night had
+overtaken them.
+
+When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that
+morning, I ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme
+right, to be moved to the left past the whole army, to take the
+place of Griffin's, and ordered the latter at the same time to
+move by and place itself on the right.  The object of this
+movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, next to the
+cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously and
+so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.
+
+The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's
+direct command until after the surrender.
+
+Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads
+southward between Burkesville and the High Bridge.  On the
+morning of the 6th he sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry
+regiments with instructions to destroy High Bridge and to return
+rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he prepared himself to resist
+the enemy there.  Soon after Washburn had started Ord became a
+little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel Read, of his
+staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and bring
+him back.  Very shortly after this he heard that the head of
+Lee's column had got up to the road between him and where
+Washburn now was, and attempted to send reinforcements, but the
+reinforcements could not get through.  Read, however, had got
+through ahead of the enemy.  He rode on to Farmville and was on
+his way back again when he found his return cut off, and
+Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's army.  Read
+drew his men up into line of battle, his force now consisting of
+less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode along
+their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the
+same enthusiasm that he himself felt.  He then gave the order to
+charge.  This little band made several charges, of course
+unsuccessful ones, but inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than
+equal to their own entire number.  Colonel Read fell mortally
+wounded, and then Washburn; and at the close of the conflict
+nearly every officer of the command and most of the rank and
+file had been either killed or wounded.  The remainder then
+surrendered.  The Confederates took this to be only the advance
+of a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to
+intrench; so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked
+the progress of a strong detachment of the Confederate army.
+
+This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains
+following.  Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road
+bridge near the High Bridge, and attempted to destroy it.  He
+did set fire to it, but the flames had made but little headway
+when Humphreys came up with his corps and drove away the
+rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it was being
+burned up.  Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, and
+followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at
+Farmville with the one from Petersburg.  Here Lee held a
+position which was very strong, naturally, besides being
+intrenched.  Humphreys was alone, confronting him all through
+the day, and in a very hazardous position.  He put on a bold
+face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was not
+assaulted in return.
+
+Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's
+Court House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in
+between Griffin and the Appomattox.  Crook's division of cavalry
+and Wright's corps pushed on west of Farmville.  When the
+cavalry reached Farmville they found that some of the
+Confederates were in ahead of them, and had already got their
+trains of provisions back to that point; but our troops were in
+time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, although
+they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did
+not get them for some time.  These troops retreated to the north
+side of the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying
+the bridge after them.  Considerable fighting ensued there
+between Wright's corps and a portion of our cavalry and the
+Confederates, but finally the cavalry forded the stream and
+drove them away.  Wright built a foot-bridge for his men to
+march over on and then marched out to the junction of the roads
+to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night.  I had stopped
+the night before at Burkesville Junction.  Our troops were then
+pretty much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital
+there, and Ord's command was extended from that point towards
+Farmville.
+
+Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular
+army, who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one
+of the prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when
+we had got across the James River he knew their cause was lost,
+and it was the duty of their authorities to make the best terms
+they could while they still had a right to claim concessions.
+The authorities thought differently, however.  Now the cause was
+lost and they had no right to claim anything.  He said further,
+that for every man that was killed after this in the war
+somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little better
+than murder.  He was not sure that Lee would consent to
+surrender his army without being able to consult with the
+President, but he hoped he would.
+
+I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the
+day.  Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the
+south.  Meade was back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys
+confronting Lee as before stated.  After having gone into
+bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, Sheridan learned that
+seven trains of provisions and forage were at Appomattox, and
+determined to start at once and capture them; and a forced march
+was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could
+secure them.  He wrote me a note telling me this.  This fact,
+together with the incident related the night before by Dr.
+Smith, gave me the idea of opening correspondence with General
+Lee on the subject of the surrender of his army.  I therefore
+wrote to him on this day, as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+5 P.M., April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:
+
+
+April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I have received your note of this day.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+R. E. LEE,
+General.
+
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
+Commanding Armies of the U. S.
+
+
+This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving
+another letter and wrote him as follows:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking
+the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army
+of Northern Virginia is just received.  In reply I would say
+that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I
+would insist upon, namely:  that the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia
+will be received.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's army was rapidly crumbling.  Many of his soldiers had
+enlisted from that part of the State where they now were, and
+were continually dropping out of the ranks and going to their
+homes.  I know that I occupied a hotel almost destitute of
+furniture at Farmville, which had probably been used as a
+Confederate hospital.  The next morning when I came out I found
+a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and said that he
+was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel of a
+regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood.  He said
+that when he came along past home, he found that he was the only
+man of the regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped
+out, and now wanted to surrender himself.  I told him to stay
+there and he would not be molested.  That was one regiment which
+had been eliminated from Lee's force by this crumbling process.
+
+Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved
+with alacrity and without any straggling.  They began to see the
+end of what they had been fighting four years for.  Nothing
+seemed to fatigue them.  They were ready to move without rations
+and travel without rest until the end.  Straggling had entirely
+ceased, and every man was now a rival for the front.  The
+infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry could.
+
+Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of
+Appomattox Station, which is about five miles south-west of the
+Court House, to get west of the trains and destroy the roads to
+the rear.  They got there the night of the 8th, and succeeded
+partially; but some of the train men had just discovered the
+movement of our troops and succeeded in running off three of the
+trains.  The other four were held by Custer.
+
+The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning
+of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union
+soldiers near.  The Confederates were surprised to find our
+cavalry had possession of the trains.  However, they were
+desperate and at once assaulted, hoping to recover them.  In the
+melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one of the trains,
+but not in getting anything from it.  Custer then ordered the
+other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the
+fight continued.
+
+So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were
+engaged.  Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the
+rear, no doubt expecting they had nothing to meet but our
+cavalry.  But our infantry had pushed forward so rapidly that by
+the time the enemy got up they found Griffin's corps and the Army
+of the James confronting them.  A sharp engagement ensued, but
+Lee quickly set up a white flag.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of
+Lee.  I was suffering very severely with a sick headache, and
+stopped at a farmhouse on the road some distance in rear of the
+main body of the army.  I spent the night in bathing my feet in
+hot water and mustard, and putting mustard plasters on my wrists
+and the back part of my neck, hoping to be cured by morning.
+During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter of the
+8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following
+morning. (*43)  But it was for a different purpose from that of
+surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of yesterday is received.  As I have no authority to
+treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M.
+to-day could lead to no good.  I will state, however, General,
+that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole
+North entertains the same feeling.  The terms upon which peace
+can be had are well understood.  By the South laying down their
+arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands
+of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet
+destroyed.  Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be
+settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself,
+etc.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering
+with the headache, to get to the head of the column.  I was not
+more than two or three miles from Appomattox Court House at the
+time, but to go direct I would have to pass through Lee's army,
+or a portion of it.  I had therefore to move south in order to
+get upon a road coming up from another direction.
+
+When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I
+was in this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and
+consequently could not be communicated with immediately, and be
+informed of what Lee had done.  Lee, therefore, sent a flag to
+the rear to advise Meade and one to the front to Sheridan,
+saying that he had sent a message to me for the purpose of
+having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his army, and
+asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be
+communicated with.  As they had heard nothing of this until the
+fighting had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of
+these commanders hesitated very considerably about suspending
+hostilities at all.  They were afraid it was not in good faith,
+and we had the Army of Northern Virginia where it could not
+escape except by some deception.  They, however, finally
+consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours to give
+an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if
+possible.  It was found that, from the route I had taken, they
+would probably not be able to communicate with me and get an
+answer back within the time fixed unless the messenger should
+pass through the rebel lines.
+
+Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this
+message through his lines to me.
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in
+your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT
+Commanding U. S. Armies.
+
+
+When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick
+headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was
+cured.  I wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. Armies.
+
+Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received,
+in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and
+Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road.  I am at
+this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will
+push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice
+sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take
+place will meet me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his
+troops drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army
+near by.  They were very much excited, and expressed their view
+that this was all a ruse employed to enable the Confederates to
+get away.  They said they believed that Johnston was marching up
+from North Carolina now, and Lee was moving to join him; and they
+would whip the rebels where they now were in five minutes if I
+would only let them go in.  But I had no doubt about the good
+faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he was.  I
+found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court
+House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers,
+awaiting my arrival.  The head of his column was occupying a
+hill, on a portion of which was an apple orchard, beyond a
+little valley which separated it from that on the crest of which
+Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle to the south.
+
+Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I
+will give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.
+
+Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told
+until they are believed to be true.  The war of the rebellion
+was no exception to this rule, and the story of the apple tree
+is one of those fictions based on a slight foundation of fact.
+As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the
+hill occupied by the Confederate forces.  Running diagonally up
+the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, ran very near
+one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on that
+side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little
+embankment.  General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that
+when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this
+embankment with his feet in the road below and his back resting
+against the tree.  The story had no other foundation than
+that.  Like many other stories, it would be very good if it was
+only true.
+
+I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him
+in the Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference
+in our age and rank, that he would remember me, while I would
+more naturally remember him distinctly, because he was the chief
+of staff of General Scott in the Mexican War.
+
+When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the
+result that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough
+garb.  I was without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback
+on the field, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the
+shoulder straps of my rank to indicate to the army who I was.
+When I went into the house I found General Lee.  We greeted each
+other, and after shaking hands took our seats.  I had my staff
+with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the
+whole of the interview.
+
+What General Lee's feelings were I do not know.  As he was a man
+of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to
+say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come,
+or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it.
+Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my
+observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant
+on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed.  I felt
+like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who
+had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a
+cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for
+which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the
+least excuse.  I do not question, however, the sincerity of the
+great mass of those who were opposed to us.
+
+General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely
+new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely
+the sword which had been presented by the State of Virginia; at
+all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that
+would ordinarily be worn in the field.  In my rough traveling
+suit, the uniform of a private with the straps of a
+lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a
+man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of faultless form.
+But this was not a matter that I thought of until afterwards.
+
+We soon fell into a conversation about old army times.  He
+remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I
+told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly,
+but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about
+sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very
+likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be
+remembered by him after such a long interval.  Our conversation
+grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our
+meeting.  After the conversation had run on in this style for
+some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our
+meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the
+purpose of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his
+army.  I said that I meant merely that his army should lay down
+their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of
+the war unless duly and properly exchanged.  He said that he had
+so understood my letter.
+
+Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters
+foreign to the subject which had brought us together.  This
+continued for some little time, when General Lee again
+interrupted the course of the conversation by suggesting that
+the terms I proposed to give his army ought to be written out. I
+called to General Parker, secretary on my staff, for writing
+materials, and commenced writing out the following terms:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+
+Ap 19th, 1865.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Comd'g C. S. A.
+
+GEN:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of
+the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of
+N. Va. on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls of all the officers
+and men to be made in duplicate.  One copy to be given to an
+officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such
+officer or officers as you may designate.  The officers to give
+their individual paroles not to take up arms against the
+Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and
+each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the
+men of their commands.  The arms, artillery and public property
+to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer
+appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace the
+side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+Very respectfully,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lt. Gen.
+
+
+When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word
+that I should make use of in writing the terms.  I only knew
+what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that
+there could be no mistaking it.  As I wrote on, the thought
+occurred to me that the officers had their own private horses
+and effects, which were important to them, but of no value to
+us; also that it would be an unnecessary humiliation to call
+upon them to deliver their side arms.
+
+No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and
+myself, either about private property, side arms, or kindred
+subjects.  He appeared to have no objections to the terms first
+proposed; or if he had a point to make against them he wished to
+wait until they were in writing to make it.  When he read over
+that part of the terms about side arms, horses and private
+property of the officers, he remarked, with some feeling, I
+thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his army.
+
+Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked
+to me again that their army was organized a little differently
+from the army of the United States (still maintaining by
+implication that we were two countries); that in their army the
+cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses; and he asked
+if he was to understand that the men who so owned their horses
+were to be permitted to retain them.  I told him that as the
+terms were written they would not; that only the officers were
+permitted to take their private property.  He then, after
+reading over the terms a second time, remarked that that was
+clear.
+
+I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last
+battle of the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I
+took it that most of the men in the ranks were small farmers.
+The whole country had been so raided by the two armies that it
+was doubtful whether they would be able to put in a crop to
+carry themselves and their families through the next winter
+without the aid of the horses they were then riding.  The United
+States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the
+officers I left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to
+let every man of the Confederate army who claimed to own a horse
+or mule take the animal to his home.  Lee remarked again that
+this would have a happy effect.
+
+He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the
+terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted.  I
+will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the
+stipulations into effect.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union
+generals present were severally presented to General Lee.
+
+The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it
+back, this and much more that has been said about it is the
+purest romance.  The word sword or side arms was not mentioned
+by either of us until I wrote it in the terms.  There was no
+premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I
+wrote it down.  If I had happened to omit it, and General Lee
+had called my attention to it, I should have put it in the terms
+precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers
+retaining their horses.
+
+General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his
+leave, remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for
+want of food, and that they were without forage; that his men
+had been living for some days on parched corn exclusively, and
+that he would have to ask me for rations and forage.  I told him
+"certainly," and asked for how many men he wanted rations.  His
+answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I authorized him to
+send his own commissary and quartermaster to Appomattox Station,
+two or three miles away, where he could have, out of the trains
+we had stopped, all the provisions wanted.  As for forage, we
+had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.
+
+Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to
+carry into effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they
+should start for their homes--General Lee leaving Generals
+Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for them to confer with in
+order to facilitate this work.  Lee and I then separated as
+cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and all
+went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.
+
+Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as
+follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War,
+Washington.
+
+General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this
+afternoon on terms proposed by myself.  The accompanying
+additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men
+commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the
+victory.  I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped.  The
+Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult
+over their downfall.
+
+I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to
+putting a stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now
+deemed other useless outlay of money.  Before leaving, however,
+I thought I (*44) would like to see General Lee again; so next
+morning I rode out beyond our lines towards his headquarters,
+preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer carrying a white flag.
+
+Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me.  We
+had there between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very
+pleasant conversation of over half an hour, in the course of
+which Lee said to me that the South was a big country and that
+we might have to march over it three or four times before the
+war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do it as
+they could no longer resist us.  He expressed it as his earnest
+hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more
+loss and sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the
+result.  I then suggested to General Lee that there was not a
+man in the Confederacy whose influence with the soldiery and the
+whole people was as great as his, and that if he would now advise
+the surrender of all the armies I had no doubt his advice would
+be followed with alacrity.  But Lee said, that he could not do
+that without consulting the President first.  I knew there was
+no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of what was
+right.
+
+I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom
+seemed to have a great desire to go inside the Confederate
+lines.  They finally asked permission of Lee to do so for the
+purpose of seeing some of their old army friends, and the
+permission was granted.  They went over, had a very pleasant
+time with their old friends, and brought some of them back with
+them when they returned.
+
+When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I
+returned to the house of Mr. McLean.  Here the officers of both
+armies came in great numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as
+much as though they had been friends separated for a long time
+while fighting battles under the same flag.  For the time being
+it looked very much as if all thought of the war had escaped
+their minds.  After an hour pleasantly passed in this way I set
+out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort,
+for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by
+this time been repaired.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac
+and the James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale
+of the National troops had greatly improved.  There was no more
+straggling, no more rear guards.  The men who in former times
+had been falling back, were now, as I have already stated,
+striving to get to the front.  For the first time in four weary
+years they felt that they were now nearing the time when they
+could return to their homes with their country saved.  On the
+other hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly
+depressed.  Their despondency increased with each returning day,
+and especially after the battle of Sailor's Creek.  They threw
+away their arms in constantly increasing numbers, dropping out
+of the ranks and betaking themselves to the woods in the hope of
+reaching their homes.  I have already instanced the case of the
+entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met at
+Farmville.  As a result of these and other influences, when Lee
+finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356
+officers and men left to be paroled, and many of these were
+without arms.  It was probably this latter fact which gave rise
+to the statement sometimes made, North and South, that Lee
+surrendered a smaller number of men than what the official
+figures show.  As a matter of official record, and in addition
+to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March
+29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say
+nothing of Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing,
+during the series of desperate conflicts which marked his
+headlong and determined flight.  The same record shows the
+number of cannon, including those at Appomattox, to have been
+689 between the dates named.
+
+There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the
+number of troops engaged in every battle, or all important
+battles, fought between the sections, the South magnifying the
+number of Union troops engaged and belittling their own.
+Northern writers have fallen, in many instances, into the same
+error.  I have often heard gentlemen, who were thoroughly loyal
+to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South had made
+and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with
+their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the
+twelve four being colored slaves, non-combatants.  I will add to
+their argument.  We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who
+volunteered under great difficulty from the twelve million
+belonging to the South.
+
+But the South had rebelled against the National government.  It
+was not bound by any constitutional restrictions.  The whole
+South was a military camp.  The occupation of the colored people
+was to furnish supplies for the army.  Conscription was resorted
+to early, and embraced every male from the age of eighteen to
+forty-five, excluding only those physically unfit to serve in
+the field, and the necessary number of civil officers of State
+and intended National government.  The old and physically
+disabled furnished a good portion of these.  The slaves, the
+non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in
+the field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to
+age.  Children from the age of eight years could and did handle
+the hoe; they were not much older when they began to hold the
+plough.  The four million of colored non-combatants were equal
+to more than three times their number in the North, age for age
+and sex for sex, in supplying food from the soil to support
+armies.  Women did not work in the fields in the North, and
+children attended school.
+
+The arts of peace were carried on in the North.  Towns and
+cities grew during the war.  Inventions were made in all kinds
+of machinery to increase the products of a day's labor in the
+shop, and in the field.  In the South no opposition was allowed
+to the government which had been set up and which would have
+become real and respected if the rebellion had been
+successful.  No rear had to be protected.  All the troops in
+service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of
+ground threatened with invasion.  The press of the South, like
+the people who remained at home, were loyal to the Southern
+cause.
+
+In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented
+about the same appearance they do in time of peace.  The furnace
+was in blast, the shops were filled with workmen, the fields were
+cultivated, not only to supply the population of the North and
+the troops invading the South, but to ship abroad to pay a part
+of the expense of the war.  In the North the press was free up
+to the point of open treason.  The citizen could entertain his
+views and express them.  Troops were necessary in the Northern
+States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being
+released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by
+fire our Northern cities.  Plans were formed by Northern and
+Southern citizens to burn our cities, to poison the water
+supplying them, to spread infection by importing clothing from
+infected regions, to blow up our river and lake steamers
+--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives.  The
+copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel
+successes, and belittled those of the Union army.  It was, with
+a large following, an auxiliary to the Confederate army.  The
+North would have been much stronger with a hundred thousand of
+these men in the Confederate ranks and the rest of their kind
+thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment was in the South,
+than we were as the battle was fought.
+
+As I have said, the whole South was a military camp.  The
+colored people, four million in number, were submissive, and
+worked in the field and took care of the families while the
+able-bodied white men were at the front fighting for a cause
+destined to defeat.  The cause was popular, and was
+enthusiastically supported by the young men.  The conscription
+took all of them.  Before the war was over, further
+conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of
+age as junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty
+as senior reserves.  It would have been an offence, directly
+after the war, and perhaps it would be now, to ask any
+able-bodied man in the South, who was between the ages of
+fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, whether he had
+been in the Confederate army.  He would assert that he had, or
+account for his absence from the ranks.  Under such
+circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a
+superiority of force in every battle fought.  I know they did
+not.
+
+During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no
+military education, but possessed of courage and endurance,
+operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and
+Tennessee.  He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at
+home wherever he went.  The army operating against the South, on
+the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the
+North, from which all supplies had to come to the front.  Every
+foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient
+distances apart.  These guards could not render assistance beyond
+the points where stationed.  Morgan Was foot-loose and could
+operate where, his information--always correct--led him to
+believe he could do the greatest damage.  During the time he was
+operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several
+times the number he ever had under his command at any one
+time.  He destroyed many millions of property in addition.
+Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by
+him.  Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held
+from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for
+offensive operations.  It is safe to say that more than half the
+National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were
+on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their
+bearing arms.  Then, again, large forces were employed where no
+Confederate army confronted them.  I deem it safe to say that
+there were no large engagements where the National numbers
+compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment
+occupied by the enemy.
+
+While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to
+Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his
+flagship.  He found the people of that city in great
+consternation.  The leading citizens among the people who had
+remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should
+be done to relieve them from suspense.  General Weitzel was not
+then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring
+villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the
+conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the
+Confederate capital.  The President sent for him, and, on his
+arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral
+Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present.
+After this interview the President wrote an order in about these
+words, which I quote from memory:  "General Weitzel is authorized
+to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to
+meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the
+Confederate armies."
+
+Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out
+a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers.  This
+call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had
+contemplated, as he did not say the "Legislature of Virginia"
+but "the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia."
+Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the
+very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order
+authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body,
+and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer
+the spot than he was.
+
+This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton.  He was a man who never
+questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time
+what he wanted to do.  He was an able constitutional lawyer and
+jurist; but the Constitution was not an impediment to him while
+the war lasted.  In this latter particular I entirely agree with
+the view he evidently held.  The Constitution was not framed with
+a view to any such rebellion as that of 1861-5.  While it did not
+authorize rebellion it made no provision against it.  Yet the
+right to resist or suppress rebellion is as inherent as the
+right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an
+individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy.  The
+Constitution was therefore in abeyance for the time being, so
+far as it in any way affected the progress and termination of
+the war.
+
+Those in rebellion against the government of the United States
+were not restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other,
+except the acts of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted
+to the cause for which the South was then fighting.  It would be
+a hard case when one-third of a nation, united in rebellion
+against the national authority, is entirely untrammeled, that
+the other two-thirds, in their efforts to maintain the Union
+intact, should be restrained by a Constitution prepared by our
+ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the permanency of
+the confederation of the States.
+
+After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my
+staff and a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way
+to Washington.  The road from Burkesville back having been newly
+repaired and the ground being soft, the train got off the track
+frequently, and, as a result, it was after midnight of the
+second day when I reached City Point.  As soon as possible I
+took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.
+
+While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the
+necessary orders for the new state of affairs ; communicating
+with my different commanders of separate departments, bodies of
+troops, etc.  But by the 14th I was pretty well through with
+this work, so as to be able to visit my children, who were then
+in Burlington, New Jersey, attending school.  Mrs. Grant was
+with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by
+President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on
+the evening of that day.  I replied to the President's verbal
+invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would
+take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very
+anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get
+through my work during the day I should do so.  I did get
+through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending
+Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.
+
+At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on
+Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the
+Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they
+took the cars again.  When I reached the ferry, on the east side
+of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival
+there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of
+the President and Mr. Seward, and of the probable assassination
+of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and requesting my immediate
+return.
+
+It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that
+overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially
+the assassination of the President.  I knew his goodness of
+heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to
+have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the
+people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges
+of citizenship with equality among all.  I knew also the feeling
+that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation
+against the Southern people, and I feared that his course
+towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling
+citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a
+long while.  I felt that reconstruction had been set back, no
+telling how far.
+
+I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to
+Washington City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after
+midnight and Burlington was but an hour away.  Finding that I
+could accompany her to our house and return about as soon as
+they would be ready to take me from the Philadelphia station, I
+went up with her and returned immediately by the same special
+train.  The joy that I had witnessed among the people in the
+street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had
+been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of
+mourning.  I have stated what I believed then the effect of this
+would be, and my judgment now is that I was right.  I believe the
+South would have been saved from very much of the hardness of
+feeling that was engendered by Mr. Johnson's course towards them
+during the first few months of his administration.  Be this as it
+may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was particularly unfortunate for
+the entire nation.
+
+Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness
+of feeling.  His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready
+remark, "Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was
+repeated to all those men of the South who came to him to get
+some assurances of safety so that they might go to work at
+something with the feeling that what they obtained would be
+secure to them.  He uttered his denunciations with great
+vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of
+safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond
+endurance.
+
+The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or
+ought to be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and
+judgment of those over whom he presides; and the Southerners who
+read the denunciations of themselves and their people must have
+come to the conclusion that he uttered the sentiments of the
+Northern people; whereas, as a matter of fact, but for the
+assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great majority of
+the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would have
+been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be
+the least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against
+their government.  They believed, I have no doubt, as I did,
+that besides being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.
+
+The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back
+into the Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the
+nation.  Naturally the nearer they were placed to an equality
+with the people who had not rebelled, the more reconciled they
+would feel with their old antagonists, and the better citizens
+they would be from the beginning.  They surely would not make
+good citizens if they felt that they had a yoke around their
+necks.
+
+I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at
+that time were in favor of negro suffrage.  They supposed that
+it would naturally follow the freedom of the negro, but that
+there would be a time of probation, in which the ex-slaves could
+prepare themselves for the privileges of citizenship before the
+full right would be conferred; but Mr. Johnson, after a complete
+revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard the South not only as
+an oppressed people, but as the people best entitled to
+consideration of any of our citizens.  This was more than the
+people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were
+prepared for, and they became more radical in their views.  The
+Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr.
+Johnson having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and
+such sympathy and support as they could get from the North, they
+felt that they would be able to control the nation at once, and
+already many of them acted as if they thought they were entitled
+to do so.
+
+Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and
+receiving the support of the South on the other, drove Congress,
+which was overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one
+measure and then another to restrict his power.  There being a
+solid South on one side that was in accord with the political
+party in the North which had sympathized with the rebellion, it
+finally, in the judgment of Congress and of the majority of the
+legislatures of the States, became necessary to enfranchise the
+negro, in all his ignorance.  In this work, I shall not discuss
+the question of how far the policy of Congress in this
+particular proved a wise one.  It became an absolute necessity,
+however, because of the foolhardiness of the President and the
+blindness of the Southern people to their own interest.  As to
+myself, while strongly favoring the course that would be the
+least humiliating to the people who had been in rebellion, I
+gradually worked up to the point where, with the majority of the
+people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN-- CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed
+leisurely back to Burkesville Station with the Army of the
+Potomac and the Army of the James, and to go into camp there
+until further orders from me.  General Johnston, as has been
+stated before, was in North Carolina confronting General
+Sherman.  It could not be known positively, of course, whether
+Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though
+I supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was
+the natural point from which to move to attack him.  The army
+which I could have sent against him was superior to his, and
+that with which Sherman confronted him was also superior; and
+between the two he would necessarily have been crushed, or
+driven away.  With the loss of their capital and the Army of
+Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether Johnston's men would
+have the spirit to stand.  My belief was that he would make no
+such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution against
+what might happen, however improbable.
+
+Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a
+messenger to North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General
+Sherman, informing him of the surrender of Lee and his army;
+also of the terms which I had given him; and I authorized
+Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston if the latter chose
+to accept them.  The country is familiar with the terms that
+Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a
+political question as well as a military one and he would
+therefore have to confer with the government before agreeing to
+them definitely.
+
+General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting
+there to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what
+Mr. Lincoln had said to the peace commissioners when he met them
+at Hampton Roads, viz.:  that before he could enter into
+negotiations with them they would have to agree to two points:
+one being that the Union should be preserved, and the other that
+slavery should be abolished; and if they were ready to concede
+these two points he was almost ready to sign his name to a blank
+piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance of the
+terms upon which we would live together.  He had also seen
+notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond,
+and had read in the same papers that while there he had
+authorized the convening of the Legislature of Virginia.
+
+Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had
+made with general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes
+of the President of the United States.  But seeing that he was
+going beyond his authority, he made it a point that the terms
+were only conditional.  They signed them with this
+understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms could be
+sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper
+authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved,
+then he would give due notice, before resuming hostilities.  As
+the world knows, Sherman, from being one of the most popular
+generals of the land (Congress having even gone so far as to
+propose a bill providing for a second lieutenant-general for the
+purpose of advancing him to that grade), was denounced by the
+President and Secretary of War in very bitter terms.  Some
+people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor--a most
+preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much
+service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in
+granting such terms as he did to Johnston and his army.  If
+Sherman had taken authority to send Johnston with his army home,
+with their arms to be put in the arsenals of their own States,
+without submitting the question to the authorities at
+Washington, the suspicions against him might have some
+foundation.  But the feeling against Sherman died out very
+rapidly, and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the
+fullest confidence of the American people.
+
+When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson
+and the Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman
+had forwarded for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately
+called and I was sent for.  There seemed to be the greatest
+consternation, lest Sherman would commit the government to terms
+which they were not willing to accede to and which he had no
+right to grant.  A message went out directing the troops in the
+South not to obey General Sherman.  I was ordered to proceed at
+once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there myself.
+Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as
+possible.  I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly
+as possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of
+my presence.
+
+When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at
+once closeted together.  I showed him the instruction and orders
+under which I visited him.  I told him that I wanted him to
+notify General Johnston that the terms which they had
+conditionally agreed upon had not been approved in Washington,
+and that he was authorized to offer the same terms I had given
+General Lee.  I sent Sherman to do this himself.  I did not wish
+the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army generally; so
+I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender
+solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was
+anywhere near the field.  As soon as possible I started to get
+away, to leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.
+
+At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last
+newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement
+in the North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and
+harsh orders that had been promulgated by the President and
+Secretary of War.  I knew that Sherman must see these papers,
+and I fully realized what great indignation they would cause
+him, though I do not think his feelings could have been more
+excited than were my own.  But like the true and loyal soldier
+that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given him,
+obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in
+his camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.
+
+There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could
+not be communicated with, and had to be left to act according to
+the judgment of their respective commanders.  With these it was
+impossible to tell how the news of the surrender of Lee and
+Johnston, of which they must have heard, might affect their
+judgment as to what was best to do.
+
+The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from
+the commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off:  one under
+Canby himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman
+from East Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson,
+starting from Eastport, Mississippi, on the 22d of March.  They
+were all eminently successful, but without any good result. 
+Indeed much valuable property was destroyed and many lives lost
+at a time when we would have liked to spare them. The war was
+practically over before their victories were gained.  They were
+so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any
+troops away that otherwise would have been operating against the
+armies which were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a
+surrender.  The only possible good that we may have experienced
+from these raids was by Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about
+the time the armies of the Potomac and the James were closing in
+on Lee at Appomattox.
+
+Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike
+the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.  He got upon that road,
+destroyed its bridges at different places and rendered the road
+useless to the enemy up to within a few miles of Lynchburg.  His
+approach caused the evacuation of that city about the time we
+were at Appomattox, and was the cause of a commotion we heard of
+there.  He then pushed south, and was operating in the rear of
+Johnston's army about the time the negotiations were going on
+between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's surrender.  In
+this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount of
+stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners
+were the trophies of his success.
+
+Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March.  The city of
+Mobile was protected by two forts, besides other
+intrenchments--Spanish Fort, on the east side of the bay, and
+Fort Blakely, north of the city.  These forts were invested.  On
+the night of the 8th of April, the National troops having carried
+the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was evacuated; and
+on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was carried
+by assault, with a considerable loss to us.  On the 11th the city
+was evacuated.
+
+I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent
+against Mobile when its possession by us would have been of
+great advantage.  It finally cost lives to take it when its
+possession was of no importance, and when, if left alone, it
+would within a few days have fallen into our hands without any
+bloodshed whatever.
+
+Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well
+armed.  He was an energetic officer and accomplished his work
+rapidly.  Forrest was in his front, but with neither his
+old-time army nor his old-time prestige.  He now had principally
+conscripts.  His conscripts were generally old men and boys.  He
+had a few thousand regular cavalry left, but not enough to even
+retard materially the progress of Wilson's cavalry.  Selma fell
+on the 2d of April, with a large number of prisoners and a large
+quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to be disposed of
+by the victors.  Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point fell in
+quick succession.  These were all important points to the enemy
+by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies,
+and because of their manufactories of war material.  They were
+fortified or intrenched, and there was considerable fighting
+before they were captured.  Macon surrendered on the 21st of
+April.  Here news was received of the negotiations for the
+surrender of Johnston's army.  Wilson belonged to the military
+division commanded by Sherman, and of course was bound by his
+terms.  This stopped all fighting.
+
+General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate
+officer still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on
+the 4th of May he surrendered everything within the limits of
+this extensive command.  General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the
+trans-Mississippi department on the 26th of May, leaving no
+other Confederate army at liberty to continue the war.
+
+Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president
+of the defunct confederacy before he got out of the country.
+This occurred at Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May.  For
+myself, and I believe Mr. Lincoln shared the feeling, I would
+have been very glad to have seen Mr. Davis succeed in escaping,
+but for one reason:  I feared that if not captured, he might get
+into the trans-Mississippi region and there set up a more
+contracted confederacy.  The young men now out of homes and out
+of employment might have rallied under his standard and
+protracted the war yet another year.  The Northern people were
+tired of the war, they were tired of piling up a debt which
+would be a further mortgage upon their homes.
+
+Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he
+did not wish to deal with the matter of his punishment.  He knew
+there would be people clamoring for the punishment of the
+ex-Confederate president, for high treason.  He thought blood
+enough had already been spilled to atone for our wickedness as a
+nation.  At all events he did not wish to be the judge to decide
+whether more should be shed or not.  But his own life was
+sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president
+of the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government
+which he had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.
+
+All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best
+interest of all concerned.  This reflection does not, however,
+abate in the slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely
+loss of so good and great a man as Abraham Lincoln.
+
+He would have proven the best friend the South could have had,
+and saved much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling
+brought out by reconstruction under a President who at first
+wished to revenge himself upon Southern men of better social
+standing than himself, but who still sought their recognition,
+and in a short time conceived the idea and advanced the
+proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly out
+of all their difficulties.
+
+The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction
+period to stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the
+minds of the people to be told now.  Much of it, no doubt, was
+unconstitutional; but it was hoped that the laws enacted would
+serve their purpose before the question of constitutionality
+could be submitted to the judiciary and a decision obtained.
+These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a dead
+letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one
+taking interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.
+
+Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing
+when he was captured.  I cannot settle this question from
+personal knowledge of the facts; but I have been under the
+belief, from information given to me by General Wilson shortly
+after the event, that when Mr. Davis learned that he was
+surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed in a
+gentleman's dressing gown.  Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted
+to escape, and would not reflect much how this should be
+accomplished provided it might be done successfully.  If
+captured, he would be no ordinary prisoner.  He represented all
+there was of that hostility to the government which had caused
+four years of the bloodiest war--and the most costly in other
+respects of which history makes any record.  Every one supposed
+he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he would be
+executed.  Had he succeeded in making his escape in any disguise
+it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his
+admirers.
+
+As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as
+my remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling
+somewhat upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to
+him, that I give my estimate of him as a soldier.  The same
+remark will apply also in the case of General Canby.  I had been
+at West Point with Thomas one year, and had known him later in
+the old army.  He was a man of commanding appearance, slow and
+deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest and brave.  He
+possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent degree.  He
+gained the confidence of all who served under him, and almost
+their love.  This implies a very valuable quality.  It is a
+quality which calls out the most efficient services of the
+troops serving under the commander possessing it.
+
+Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good.
+He could not be driven from a point he was given to hold.  He
+was not as good, however, in pursuit as he was in action.  I do
+not believe that he could ever have conducted Sherman's army
+from Chattanooga to Atlanta against the defences and the
+commander guarding that line in 1864.  On the other hand, if it
+had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to
+hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer
+could have done it better.
+
+Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has
+received, the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played
+in the great tragedy of 1861-5.
+
+General Canby was an officer of great merit.  He was naturally
+studious, and inclined to the law.  There have been in the army
+but very few, if any, officers who took as much interest in
+reading and digesting every act of Congress and every regulation
+for the government of the army as he.  His knowledge gained in
+this way made him a most valuable staff officer, a capacity in
+which almost all his army services were rendered up to the time
+of his being assigned to the Military Division of the Gulf.  He
+was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and
+learning.  I presume his feelings when first called upon to
+command a large army against a fortified city, were somewhat
+like my own when marching a regiment against General Thomas
+Harris in Missouri in 1861.  Neither of us would have felt the
+slightest trepidation in going into battle with some one else
+commanding.  Had Canby been in other engagements afterwards, he
+would, I have no doubt, have advanced without any fear arising
+from a sense of the responsibility.  He was afterwards killed in
+the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the hostile
+Modoc Indians.  His character was as pure as his talent and
+learning were great.  His services were valuable during the war,
+but principally as a bureau officer.  I have no idea that it was
+from choice that his services were rendered in an office, but
+because of his superior efficiency there.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there
+would be no more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in
+North Carolina and Virginia were ordered to march immediately to
+the capital, and go into camp there until mustered out.  Suitable
+garrisons were left at the prominent places throughout the South
+to insure obedience to the laws that might be enacted for the
+government of the several States, and to insure security to the
+lives and property of all classes.  I do not know how far this
+was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, that
+such a course should be pursued.  I think now that these
+garrisons were continued after they ceased to be absolutely
+required; but it is not to be expected that such a rebellion as
+was fought between the sections from 1861 to 1865 could
+terminate without leaving many serious apprehensions in the mind
+of the people as to what should be done.
+
+Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on
+the south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there
+put them in camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the
+situation was there.
+
+It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon
+him.  Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and
+had issued orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from
+obeying his, Sherman's, orders.  Sherman met the papers on his
+return, containing this order of Halleck, and very justly felt
+indignant at the outrage.  On his arrival at Fortress Monroe
+returning from Savannah, Sherman received an invitation from
+Halleck to come to Richmond and be his guest.  This he
+indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, that he
+had seen his order.  He also stated that he was coming up to
+take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would
+probably be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he
+(Sherman) would not be responsible for what some rash person
+might do through indignation for the treatment he had
+received.  Very soon after that, Sherman received orders from me
+to proceed to Washington City, and to go into camp on the south
+side of the city pending the mustering-out of the troops.
+
+There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from
+Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington
+City.  The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been
+engaged in all the battles of the West and had marched from the
+Mississippi through the Southern States to the sea, from there
+to Goldsboro, and thence to Washington City, had passed over
+many of the battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, thus
+having seen, to a greater extent than any other body of troops,
+the entire theatre of the four years' war for the preservation
+of the Union.
+
+The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to
+Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was
+anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally
+magnificent in the way it was conducted.  It had an important
+bearing, in various ways, upon the great object we had in view,
+that of closing the war.  All the States east of the Mississippi
+River up to the State of Georgia, had felt the hardships of the
+war.  Georgia, and South Carolina, and almost all of North
+Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from invasion by the
+Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts.  Their
+newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success,
+that the people who remained at home had been convinced that the
+Yankees had been whipped from first to last, and driven from
+pillar to post, and that now they could hardly be holding out
+for any other purpose than to find a way out of the war with
+honor to themselves.
+
+Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front
+were proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a
+mob of men who were frightened out of their wits and hastening,
+panic-stricken, to try to get under the cover of our navy for
+protection against the Southern people.  As the army was seen
+marching on triumphantly, however, the minds of the people
+became disabused and they saw the true state of affairs.  In
+turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to
+submit without compromise.
+
+Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was
+calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great
+storehouse of Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate
+armies.  As the troops advanced north from Savannah, the
+destruction of the railroads in South Carolina and the southern
+part of North Carolina, further cut off their resources and left
+the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina dependent for
+supplies upon a very small area of country, already very much
+exhausted of food and forage.
+
+In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and
+the other from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina,
+arrived and went into camp near the Capital, as directed.  The
+troops were hardy, being inured to fatigue, and they appeared in
+their respective camps as ready and fit for duty as they had ever
+been in their lives.  I doubt whether an equal body of men of any
+nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, was ever
+gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great
+battle.
+
+The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the
+officers capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of
+the nations of Europe are taken from a class of people who are
+not very intelligent and who have very little interest in the
+contest in which they are called upon to take part.  Our armies
+were composed of men who were able to read, men who knew what
+they were fighting for, and could not be induced to serve as
+soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the nation
+was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal
+to men who fought merely because they were brave and because
+they were thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.
+
+There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the
+time these troops were in camp before starting North.
+
+I remember one little incident which I will relate as an
+anecdote characteristic of Mr. Lincoln.  It occurred a day after
+I reached Washington, and about the time General Meade reached
+Burkesville with the army.  Governor Smith of Virginia had left
+Richmond with the Confederate States government, and had gone to
+Danville.  Supposing I was necessarily with the army at
+Burkesville, he addressed a letter to me there informing me
+that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia,
+he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond to
+Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the
+functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal
+authorities.  I give this letter only in substance.  He also
+inquired of me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the
+duties of his office, he with a few others might not be permitted
+to leave the country and go abroad without interference.  General
+Meade being informed that a flag of truce was outside his pickets
+with a letter to me, at once sent out and had the letter brought
+in without informing the officer who brought it that I was not
+present.  He read the letter and telegraphed me its contents.
+Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this dispatch, I
+repeated its contents to him.  Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was
+asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor
+Smith's letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would
+be permitted to leave the country unmolested, that his position
+was like that of a certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in
+Springfield who was very popular with the people, a man of
+considerable promise, and very much liked.  Unfortunately he had
+acquired the habit of drinking, and his friends could see that
+the habit was growing on him.  These friends determined to make
+an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a pledge to
+abstain from all alcoholic drinks.  They asked Pat to join them
+in signing the pledge, and he consented.  He had been so long
+out of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he
+resorted to soda-water as a substitute.  After a few days this
+began to grow distasteful to him.  So holding the glass behind
+him, he said:  "Doctor, couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in
+that unbeknownst to myself."
+
+I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave
+me, but I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform
+the duties of his office.  I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had
+been spared, there would have been no efforts made to prevent
+any one from leaving the country who desired to do so.  He would
+have been equally willing to permit the return of the same
+expatriated citizens after they had time to repent of their
+choice.
+
+On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general
+for a grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's
+and Meade's armies.  The review commenced on the 23d and lasted
+two days.  Meade's army occupied over six hours of the first day
+in passing the grand stand which had been erected in front of the
+President's house.  Sherman witnessed this review from the grand
+stand which was occupied by the President and his cabinet.  Here
+he showed his resentment for the cruel and harsh treatment that
+had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by the Secretary of
+War, by refusing to take his extended hand.
+
+Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the
+Potomac.  During the night of the 23d he crossed over and
+bivouacked not far from the Capitol.  Promptly at ten o'clock on
+the morning of the 24th, his troops commenced to pass in
+review.  Sherman's army made a different appearance from that of
+the Army of the Potomac.  The latter had been operating where
+they received directly from the North full supplies of food and
+clothing regularly:  the review of this army therefore was the
+review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and
+orderly soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but
+without the experience of gathering their own food and supplies
+in an enemy's country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's
+army was not so well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but
+their marching could not be excelled; they gave the appearance
+of men who had been thoroughly drilled to endure hardships,
+either by long and continuous marches or through exposure to any
+climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp.  They exhibited
+also some of the order of march through Georgia where the "sweet
+potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went
+marching through.  In the rear of a company there would be a
+captured horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils,
+captured chickens and other food picked up for the use of the
+men.  Negro families who had followed the army would sometimes
+come along in the rear of a company, with three or four children
+packed upon a single mule, and the mother leading it.
+
+The sight was varied and grand:  nearly all day for two
+successive days, from the Capitol to the Treasury Building,
+could be seen a mass of orderly soldiers marching in columns of
+companies.  The National flag was flying from almost every house
+and store; the windows were filled with spectators; the
+door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored people and
+poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters from
+which to get a view of the grand armies.  The city was about as
+full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually
+is on inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.
+
+It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln
+and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great
+conspicuous figures in the executive branch of the government.
+There is no great difference of opinion now, in the public mind,
+as to the characteristics of the President.  With Mr. Stanton the
+case is different.  They were the very opposite of each other in
+almost every particular, except that each possessed great
+ability.  Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them
+feel that it was a pleasure to serve him.  He preferred yielding
+his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon having
+his own way.  It distressed him to disappoint others.  In matters
+of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least
+offensive way.  Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority
+to command, unless resisted.  He cared nothing for the feeling
+of others.  In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to
+disappoint than to gratify.  He felt no hesitation in assuming
+the functions of the executive, or in acting without advising
+with him.  If his act was not sustained, he would change it--if
+he saw the matter would be followed up until he did so.
+
+It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the
+complement of each other.  The Secretary was required to prevent
+the President's being imposed upon.  The President was required
+in the more responsible place of seeing that injustice was not
+done to others.  I do not know that this view of these two men
+is still entertained by the majority of the people.  It is not a
+correct view, however, in my estimation.  Mr. Lincoln did not
+require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a public
+trust.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his
+generals in making and executing their plans.  The Secretary was
+very timid, and it was impossible for him to avoid interfering
+with the armies covering the capital when it was sought to
+defend it by an offensive movement against the army guarding the
+Confederate capital.  He could see our weakness, but he could not
+see that the enemy was in danger.  The enemy would not have been
+in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field.  These
+characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly
+after Early came so near getting into the capital.
+
+Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during
+the war between the States, and who attracted much public
+attention, but of whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given
+any estimate, are Meade, Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and
+Hooker.  There were others of great merit, such as Griffin,
+Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie.  Of those first named, Burnside
+at one time had command of the Army of the Potomac, and later of
+the Army of the Ohio.  Hooker also commanded the Army of the
+Potomac for a short time.
+
+General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to
+his usefulness that were beyond his control.  He had been an
+officer of the engineer corps before the war, and consequently
+had never served with troops until he was over forty-six years
+of age.  He never had, I believe, a command of less than a
+brigade.  He saw clearly and distinctly the position of the
+enemy, and the topography of the country in front of his own
+position.  His first idea was to take advantage of the lay of
+the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we
+wanted to move afterwards.  He was subordinate to his superiors
+in rank to the extent that he could execute an order which
+changed his own plans with the same zeal he would have displayed
+if the plan had been his own.  He was brave and conscientious,
+and commanded the respect of all who knew him.  He was
+unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his control, at
+times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the most
+offensive manner.  No one saw this fault more plainly than he
+himself, and no one regretted it more.  This made it unpleasant
+at times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him
+even with information.  In spite of this defect he was a most
+valuable officer and deserves a high place in the annals of his
+country.
+
+General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and
+respected.  He was not, however, fitted to command an army.  No
+one knew this better than himself.  He always admitted his
+blunders, and extenuated those of officers under him beyond what
+they were entitled to.  It was hardly his fault that he was ever
+assigned to a separate command.
+
+Of Hooker I saw but little during the war.  I had known him very
+well before, however.  Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his
+achievement in bringing his command around the point of Lookout
+Mountain and into Chattanooga Valley was brilliant.  I
+nevertheless regarded him as a dangerous man.  He was not
+subordinate to his superiors.  He was ambitious to the extent of
+caring nothing for the rights of others.  His disposition was,
+when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main body of
+the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his
+standard all he could of his juniors.
+
+Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general
+officers who did not exercise a separate command.  He commanded
+a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never
+mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he
+was responsible.  He was a man of very conspicuous personal
+appearance.  Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now
+write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that
+would attract the attention of an army as he passed.  His genial
+disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his
+presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for
+him the confidence of troops serving under him.  No matter how
+hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander
+was looking after them.
+
+Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity
+of forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from
+personal observation.  I had known him in Mexico when both of us
+were lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that
+either of us would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He
+stood very high in the army, however, as an officer and a man. 
+He was brave and conscientious.  His ambition was not great, and
+he seemed to dread responsibility.  He was willing to do any
+amount of battling, but always wanted some one else to direct. 
+He declined the command of the Army of the Potomac once, if not
+oftener.
+
+General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer
+without a military education.  His way was won without political
+influence up to an important separate command--the expedition
+against Fort Fisher, in January, 1865.  His success there was
+most brilliant, and won for him the rank of brigadier-general in
+the regular army and of major-general of volunteers.  He is a man
+who makes friends of those under him by his consideration of
+their wants and their dues.  As a commander, he won their
+confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of
+perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed
+at any given time.
+
+Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders,
+but came into that position so near to the close of the war as
+not to attract public attention.  All three served as such, in
+the last campaign of the armies of the Potomac and the James,
+which culminated at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th of April,
+1865.  The sudden collapse of the rebellion monopolized attention
+to the exclusion of almost everything else.  I regarded Mackenzie
+as the most promising young officer in the army.  Graduating at
+West Point, as he did, during the second year of the war, he had
+won his way up to the command of a corps before its close.  This
+he did upon his own merit and without influence.
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United
+Status will have to be attributed to slavery.  For some years
+before the war began it was a trite saying among some
+politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot
+exist."  All must become slave or all free, or the state will go
+down.  I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the
+time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I
+have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.
+
+Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for
+its security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours
+where the larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by
+an intelligent and well-to-do population, the people would
+naturally have but little sympathy with demands upon them for
+its protection.  Hence the people of the South were dependent
+upon keeping control of the general government to secure the
+perpetuation of their favorite institution.  They were enabled
+to maintain this control long after the States where slavery
+existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the
+assistance they received from odd men here and there throughout
+the Northern States.  They saw their power waning, and this led
+them to encroach upon the prerogatives and independence of the
+Northern States by enacting such laws as the Fugitive Slave
+Law.  By this law every Northern man was obliged, when properly
+summoned, to turn out and help apprehend the runaway slave of a
+Southern man.  Northern marshals became slave-catchers, and
+Northern courts had to contribute to the support and protection
+of the institution.
+
+This was a degradation which the North would not permit any
+longer than until they could get the power to expunge such laws
+from the statute books.  Prior to the time of these
+encroachments the great majority of the people of the North had
+no particular quarrel with slavery, so long as they were not
+forced to have it themselves.  But they were not willing to play
+the role of police for the South in the protection of this
+particular institution.
+
+In the early days of the country, before we had railroads,
+telegraphs and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any
+sort--the States were each almost a separate nationality.  At
+that time the subject of slavery caused but little or no
+disturbance to the public mind.  But the country grew, rapid
+transit was established, and trade and commerce between the
+States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of
+the National government became more felt and recognized and,
+therefore, had to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.
+
+It is probably well that we had the war when we did.  We are
+better off now than we would have been without it, and have made
+more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made.  The
+civilized nations of Europe have been stimulated into unusual
+activity, so that commerce, trade, travel, and thorough
+acquaintance among people of different nationalities, has become
+common; whereas, before, it was but the few who had ever had the
+privilege of going beyond the limits of their own country or who
+knew anything about other people.  Then, too, our republican
+institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking out
+of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that
+our republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the
+slightest strain was brought upon it.  Now it has shown itself
+capable of dealing with one of the greatest wars that was ever
+made, and our people have proven themselves to be the most
+formidable in war of any nationality.
+
+But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the
+necessity of avoiding wars in the future.
+
+The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles
+shows the lack of conscience of communities where the
+responsibility does not come upon a single individual.  Seeing a
+nation that extended from ocean to ocean, embracing the better
+part of a continent, growing as we were growing in population,
+wealth and intelligence, the European nations thought it would
+be well to give us a check.  We might, possibly, after a while
+threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their
+institutions.  Hence, England was constantly finding fault with
+the administration at Washington because we were not able to
+keep up an effective blockade.  She also joined, at first, with
+France and Spain in setting up an Austrian prince upon the
+throne in Mexico, totally disregarding any rights or claims that
+Mexico had of being treated as an independent power.  It is true
+they trumped up grievances as a pretext, but they were only
+pretexts which can always be found when wanted.
+
+Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that
+protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would
+have liked to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had
+forced loans from them.  Under pretence of protecting their
+citizens, these nations seized upon Mexico as a foothold for
+establishing a European monarchy upon our continent, thus
+threatening our peace at home.  I, myself, regarded this as a
+direct act of war against the United States by the powers
+engaged, and supposed as a matter of course that the United
+States would treat it as such when their hands were free to
+strike.  I often spoke of the matter to Mr. Lincoln and the
+Secretary of War, but never heard any special views from them to
+enable me to judge what they thought or felt about it.  I
+inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were unwilling
+to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our
+hands.
+
+All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the
+armed intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince
+upon the throne of Mexico; but the governing people of these
+countries continued to the close of the war to throw obstacles
+in our way.  After the surrender of Lee, therefore, entertaining
+the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan with a corps to the
+Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in expelling
+the French from Mexico.  These troops got off before they could
+be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan
+distributed them up and down the river, much to the
+consternation of the troops in the quarter of Mexico bordering
+on that stream.  This soon led to a request from France that we
+should withdraw our troops from the Rio Grande and to
+negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs.  Finally Bazaine was
+withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government.  From
+that day the empire began to totter.  Mexico was then able to
+maintain her independence without aid from us.
+
+France is the traditional ally and friend of the United
+States.  I did not blame France for her part in the scheme to
+erect a monarchy upon the ruins of the Mexican Republic.  That
+was the scheme of one man, an imitator without genius or
+merit.  He had succeeded in stealing the government of his
+country, and made a change in its form against the wishes and
+instincts of his people.  He tried to play the part of the first
+Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role.  He sought by
+new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal
+failure of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own
+overthrow.
+
+Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was
+an expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her
+people.  It was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon
+III.  The beginning was when he landed troops on this
+continent.  Failing here, the prestige of his name--all the
+prestige he ever had--was gone.  He must achieve a success or
+fall.  He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and fell.
+
+I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I
+recognize his great genius.  His work, too, has left its impress
+for good on the face of Europe.  The third Napoleon could have no
+claim to having done a good or just act.
+
+To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared
+for war.  There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict,
+such as the last one, occurring among our own people again; but,
+growing as we are, in population, wealth and military power, we
+may become the envy of nations which led us in all these
+particulars only a few years ago; and unless we are prepared for
+it we may be in danger of a combined movement being some day made
+to crush us out.  Now, scarcely twenty years after the war, we
+seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on
+as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an
+invasion by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time
+until we could prepare for them.
+
+We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be
+put in the finest possible condition.  Neither of these cost much
+when it is considered where the money goes, and what we get in
+return.  Money expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our
+security and tends to prevent war in the future, but is very
+material aid to our commerce with foreign nations in the
+meantime.  Money spent upon sea-coast defences is spent among
+our own people, and all goes back again among the people.  The
+work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a
+feeling of security.
+
+England's course towards the United States during the rebellion
+exasperated the people of this country very much against the
+mother country.  I regretted it.  England and the United States
+are natural allies, and should be the best of friends.  They
+speak one language, and are related by blood and other ties.  We
+together, or even either separately, are better qualified than
+any other people to establish commerce between all the
+nationalities of the world.
+
+England governs her own colonies, and particularly those
+embracing the people of different races from her own, better
+than any other nation.  She is just to the conquered, but
+rigid.  She makes them self-supporting, but gives the benefit of
+labor to the laborer.  She does not seem to look upon the
+colonies as outside possessions which she is at liberty to work
+for the support and aggrandizement of the home government.
+
+The hostility of England to the United States during our
+rebellion was not so much real as it was apparent.  It was the
+hostility of the leaders of one political party.  I am told that
+there was no time during the civil war when they were able to get
+up in England a demonstration in favor of secession, while these
+were constantly being gotten up in favor of the Union, or, as
+they called it, in favor of the North.  Even in Manchester,
+which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off from
+her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the
+North at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.
+
+It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may
+come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery
+before.  The condition of the colored man within our borders may
+become a source of anxiety, to say the least.  But he was brought
+to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as
+having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our
+citizens.  It was looking to a settlement of this question that
+led me to urge the annexation of Santo Domingo during the time I
+was President of the United States.
+
+Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the
+administration, but by all the people, almost without price. The
+island is upon our shores, is very fertile, and is capable of
+supporting fifteen millions of people.  The products of the soil
+are so valuable that labor in her fields would be so compensated
+as to enable those who wished to go there to quickly repay the
+cost of their passage.  I took it that the colored people would
+go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states
+governed by their own race.  They would still be States of the
+Union, and under the protection of the General Government; but
+the citizens would be almost wholly colored.
+
+By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen,
+territory almost equal in extent to that we already possessed.
+It was seen that the volunteers of the Mexican war largely
+composed the pioneers to settle up the Pacific coast country.
+Their numbers, however, were scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus
+for the population of the important points of the territory
+acquired by that war.  After our rebellion, when so many young
+men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found they
+were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of
+the villages, but wanted larger fields.  The mines of the
+mountains first attracted them; but afterwards they found that
+rich valleys and productive grazing and farming lands were
+there.  This territory, the geography of which was not known to
+us at the close of the rebellion, is now as well mapped as any
+portion of our country.  Railroads traverse it in every
+direction, north, south, east, and west.  The mines are
+worked.  The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich
+agricultural lands are found in many of the valleys.  This is
+the work of the volunteer.  It is probable that the Indians
+would have had control of these lands for a century yet but for
+the war.  We must conclude, therefore, that wars are not always
+evils unmixed with some good.
+
+Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were
+satisfied to remain near the scenes of their birth.  In fact an
+immense majority of the whole people did not feel secure against
+coming to want should they move among entire strangers.  So much
+was the country divided into small communities that localized
+idioms had grown up, so that you could almost tell what section
+a person was from by hearing him speak.  Before, new territories
+were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with
+others; people who, when the country began to settle up around
+them, would push out farther from civilization.  Their guns
+furnished meat, and the cultivation of a very limited amount of
+the soil, their bread and vegetables.  All the streams abounded
+with fish.  Trapping would furnish pelts to be brought into the
+States once a year, to pay for necessary articles which they
+could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, tobacco and some store
+goods.  Occasionally some little articles of luxury would enter
+into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, two or three
+pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if
+anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.
+
+Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the
+settlements of these frontiersmen.  This is all changed now. The
+war begot a spirit of independence and enterprise.  The feeling
+now is, that a youth must cut loose from his old surroundings to
+enable him to get up in the world.  There is now such a
+commingling of the people that particular idioms and
+pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; the
+country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea";
+railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior;
+maps, nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now
+furnished the student of geography.
+
+The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We
+have but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity
+at home, and the respect of other nations.  Our experience ought
+to teach us the necessity of the first; our power secures the
+latter.
+
+I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be
+great harmony between the Federal and Confederate.  I cannot
+stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy;
+but I feel it within me that it is to be so.  The universally
+kind feeling expressed for me at a time when it was supposed
+that each day would prove my last, seemed to me the beginning of
+the answer to "Let us have peace."
+
+The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a
+section of the country, nor to a division of the people.  They
+came from individual citizens of all nationalities; from all
+denominations--the Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and
+from the various societies of the land--scientific, educational,
+religious or otherwise.  Politics did not enter into the matter
+at all.
+
+I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should
+be given because I was the object of it.  But the war between
+the States was a very bloody and a very costly war.  One side or
+the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life
+before it could be brought to an end.  I commanded the whole of
+the mighty host engaged on the victorious side.  I was, no
+matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative of that
+side of the controversy.  It is a significant and gratifying
+fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this
+spontaneous move.  I hope the good feeling inaugurated may
+continue to the end.
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES
+ARMIES 1864-65.
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+July 22, 1865.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+SIR:  I have the honor to submit the following report of the
+operations of the Armies of the United States from the date of
+my appointment to command the same.
+
+From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with
+the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops
+that could be brought into the field, regardless of season and
+weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of the war.  The
+resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far
+inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast
+territory, with a population hostile to the government, to
+garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to
+protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.
+
+The armies in the East and West acted independently and without
+concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together,
+enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his interior lines
+of communication for transporting troops from East to West,
+reinforcing the army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough
+large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on our part, to go
+to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of
+their armies.  It was a question whether our numerical strength
+and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages
+and the enemy's superior position.
+
+From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could
+be had that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the
+people, both North and South, until the military power of the
+rebellion was entirely broken.
+
+I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of
+troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy;
+preventing him from using the same force at different seasons
+against first one and then another of our armies, and the
+possibility of repose for refitting and producing necessary
+supplies for carrying on resistance.  Second, to hammer
+continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his
+resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there
+should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the
+loyal section of our common country to the constitution and laws
+of the land.
+
+These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given
+and campaigns made to carry them out.  Whether they might have
+been better in conception and execution is for the people, who
+mourn the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the
+pecuniary cost, to say.  All I can say is, that what I have done
+has been done conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in
+what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole
+country.
+
+At the date when this report begins, the situation of the
+contending forces was about as follows:  The Mississippi River
+was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops, from St.  Louis,
+Missouri, to its mouth.  The line of the Arkansas was also held,
+thus giving us armed possession of all west of the Mississippi,
+north of that stream.  A few points in Southern Louisiana, not
+remote from the river, were held by us, together with a small
+garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande.  All the
+balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas
+was in the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an
+army of probably not less than eighty thousand effective men,
+that could have been brought into the field had there been
+sufficient opposition to have brought them out.  The let-alone
+policy had demoralized this force so that probably but little
+more than one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one
+time.  But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of
+guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along the
+Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the
+population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to
+keep navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal
+people to the west of it.  To the east of the Mississippi we
+held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston
+rivers, running eastward to include nearly all of the State of
+Tennessee.  South of Chattanooga, a small foothold had been
+obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East Tennessee from
+incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West
+Virginia was substantially within our lines.  Virginia, with the
+exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area
+about the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk
+and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the
+Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the
+enemy.  Along the sea-coast footholds had been obtained at
+Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in North Carolina; Beaufort,
+Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Port
+Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in
+Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our possession,
+while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy.  The
+accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman
+and other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the
+territory occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and
+at the opening of the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are
+the lines which it was proposed to occupy.
+
+Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a
+large population disloyal to the government, making it necessary
+to guard every foot of road or river used in supplying our
+armies.  In the South, a reign of military despotism prevailed,
+which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier;
+and those who could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts
+for collecting deserters and returning them.  This enabled the
+enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the field.
+
+The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the
+Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and
+J. E. Johnston, his ablest and best generals.  The army commanded
+by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from
+Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending
+Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac.
+The army under Johnston occupied a strongly intrenched position
+at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defending Atlanta, Georgia, a
+place of great importance as a railroad centre, against the
+armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman.  In addition to these
+armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in North-east
+Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme eastern
+part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons,
+and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.
+
+These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them,
+were the main objective points of the campaign.
+
+Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of
+the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the
+armies and territory east of the Mississippi River to the
+Alleghanies and the Department of Arkansas, west of the
+Mississippi, had the immediate command of the armies operating
+against Johnston.
+
+Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the
+Army of the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision
+of the movements of all our armies.
+
+General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army,
+to break it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's
+country as far as he could, inflicting all the damage he could
+upon their war resources.  If the enemy in his front showed
+signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his
+ability, while I would prevent the concentration of Lee upon him,
+if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do so.  More
+specific written instructions were not given, for the reason that
+I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was
+satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the
+fullest extent possible.
+
+Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River
+against Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous
+to my appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of
+March, of the importance it was that Shreveport should be taken
+at the earliest possible day, and that if he found that the
+taking of it would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time
+than General Sherman had given his troops to be absent from
+their command, he would send them back at the time specified by
+General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main
+object of the Red River expedition, for this force was necessary
+to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his expedition
+prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River
+with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the
+balance of his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans,
+commencing no move for the further acquisition of territory,
+unless it was to make that then held by him more easily held;
+that it might be a part of the spring campaign to move against
+Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops enough could be
+obtained to make it without embarrassing other movements; that
+New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an
+expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a
+real move from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks),
+instead of a demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.
+
+On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification
+and directions, he was instructed as follows:
+
+
+"1st.  If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that
+you turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and
+the navy.
+
+"2d.  That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of
+your hold upon the Rio Grande.  This can be held with four
+thousand men, if they will turn their attention immediately to
+fortifying their positions.  At least one-half of the force
+required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.
+
+"3d.  By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force
+to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten
+thousand men, if not to a less number.  Six thousand more would
+then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until
+active operations can again be resumed west of the river.
+According to your last return, this would give you a force of
+over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against
+Mobile.  To this I expect to add five thousand men from
+Missouri.  If however, you think the force here stated too small
+to hold the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession
+of, I would say concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of
+your present command for operations against Mobile.  With these
+and such additions as I can give you from elsewhere, lose no
+time in making a demonstration, to be followed by an attack upon
+Mobile.  Two or more iron-clads will be ordered to report to
+Admiral Farragut.  This gives him a strong naval fleet with
+which to co-operate.  You can make your own arrangements with
+the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of
+approach.  My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should
+be your base; but, from your long service in the Gulf
+Department, you will know best about the matter.  It is intended
+that your movements shall be co-operative with movements
+elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon.  All I would now
+add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at
+once.  Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and
+start at the earliest possible moment.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."
+
+
+Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his
+objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also.  For
+his movement two plans presented themselves:  One to cross the
+Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above,
+moving by his left.  Each presented advantages over the other,
+with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee would be
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a
+raid.  But if we took this route, all we did would have to be
+done whilst the rations we started with held out; besides, it
+separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how
+to cooperate.  If we took the other route, Brandy Station could
+be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the
+York or James rivers.  Of these, however, it was decided to take
+the lower route.
+
+The following letter of instruction was addressed to
+Major-General B. F. Butler:
+
+
+"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall
+commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to
+have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far
+as this object can be accomplished.
+
+"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three
+large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute
+necessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the
+enemy.  But, generally speaking, concentration can be
+practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the
+enemy's country from the territory they have to guard.  By such
+movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy and the
+country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to
+guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a
+part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's
+army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our
+attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable
+to unite all the force we can against them.  The necessity of
+covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of
+covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to
+unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose,
+therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems
+practicable:  The Army of the Potomac will act from its present
+base, Lee's army being the objective point.  You will collect
+all the forces from your command that can be spared from
+garrison duty--I should say not less than twenty thousand
+effective men--to operate on the south side of James River,
+Richmond being your objective point.  To the force you already
+have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina,
+under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person.
+Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to
+command the troops sent into the field from your own department.
+
+"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress
+Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant,
+or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Should you not receive
+notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of
+them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to
+deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.
+
+"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much
+force as possible.  Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and
+concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as
+you can.  From City Point directions cannot be given at this
+time for your further movements.
+
+"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond
+is to be your objective point, and that there is to be
+co-operation between your force and the Army of the
+Potomac--must be your guide.  This indicates the necessity of
+your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you
+advance.  Then, should the enemy be forced into his
+intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow,
+and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.
+
+"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your
+direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your
+cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford,
+about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense
+advantage.
+
+"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest
+practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may
+give for the execution of this order.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On
+the 19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army
+and that of General Meade, he was informed that I expected him
+to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade moved
+from Culpeper.  The exact time I was to telegraph him as soon as
+it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27th of
+April; that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper
+and Richmond, if he would stand.  Should he, however, fall back
+into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his
+(General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be
+certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side,
+so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I
+would form the junction there; that circumstances might make
+this course advisable anyhow; that he should use every exertion
+to secure footing as far up the south side of the river as he
+could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to
+move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least
+detain as large a force there as possible.
+
+In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and
+Johnston, I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily
+kept in departments remote from the fields of immediate
+operations, and also those kept in the background for the
+protection of our extended lines between the loyal States and
+the armies operating against them.
+
+A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel,
+was so held for the protection of West Virginia, and the
+frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania.  Whilst these troops
+could not be withdrawn to distant fields without exposing the
+North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of the enemy,
+they could act directly to their front, and give better
+protection than if lying idle in garrison.  By such a movement
+they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the
+protection of his supplies and lines of communication, or he
+would lose them.  General Sigel was therefore directed to
+organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move
+from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and
+Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.
+Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own
+request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to
+give up the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one
+under General Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten
+thousand men, and one on the Shenandoah, numbering about seven
+thousand men.  The one on the Shenandoah to assemble between
+Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery
+advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made
+available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook would
+take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down
+the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could,
+destroying the New River Bridge and the salt-works, at
+Saltville, Va.
+
+Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations
+were delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in
+readiness and the roads favorable, orders were given for a
+general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of May.
+
+My first object being to break the military power of the
+rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made
+me desirous that General Butler should succeed in his movement
+against Richmond, as that would tend more than anything else,
+unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to accomplish this
+desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my
+determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to
+retreat, or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large
+force to go north, and still retain enough for the defence of
+Richmond.  It was well understood, by both Generals Butler and
+Meade, before starting on the campaign, that it was my intention
+to put both their armies south of the James River, in case of
+failure to destroy Lee without it.
+
+Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at
+Fort Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent
+importance of getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying
+railroad communication as far south as possible.  Believing,
+however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it
+was reinforced, I made that the objective point of his
+operations.  As the Army of the Potomac was to move
+simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with
+safety, and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to
+the defence of the city in time to meet a rapid movement from
+the north of James River.
+
+I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I
+tried, as far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent
+command of the Army of the Potomac.  My instructions for that
+army were all through him, and were general in their nature,
+leaving all the details and the execution to him.  The campaigns
+that followed proved him to be the right man in the right
+place.  His commanding always in the presence of an officer
+superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that public
+attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he
+would otherwise have received.
+
+The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the
+morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and
+orders of Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions.  Before
+night, the whole army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth
+corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's
+Ford, the cavalry, under Major-General Sheridan, moving in
+advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about
+four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition.  The
+average distance travelled by the troops that day was about
+twelve miles.  This I regarded as a great success, and it
+removed from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had
+entertained, that of crossing the river in the face of an
+active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how
+so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country,
+and protected.  Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth,
+Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy
+outside his intrenchments near Mine Run.  The battle raged
+furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight
+as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which,
+considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the
+roads, was done with commendable promptness.
+
+General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the
+Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at
+the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad,
+holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move
+until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was
+secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was
+received.  This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of
+the 4th.  By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was
+leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some
+of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles,
+crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.  Considering
+that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was
+composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the
+accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.
+
+The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock
+on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury
+until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same
+position that they had on the evening of the 5th.  After dark,
+the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank,
+capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable
+confusion.  But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was
+personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon
+reformed it and restored order.  On the morning of the 7th,
+reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his
+intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of
+the battle-field.  From this it was evident to my mind that the
+two days' fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further
+maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his
+advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind
+his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my whole
+force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued
+for a movement by his right flank.  On the night of the 7th, the
+march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth
+corps moving on the most direct road.  But the enemy having
+become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line,
+was enabled to reach there first.  On the 8th, General Warren
+met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and
+delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at
+Spottsylvania.  This force was steadily driven back on the main
+force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable
+fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides.  On the morning
+of the 9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the
+enemy's lines of communication with Richmond.  The 9th, 10th,
+and 11th were spent in manoeuvring and fighting, without
+decisive results.  Among the killed on the 9th was that able and
+distinguished soldier Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the
+sixth army corps.  Major-General H. G. Wright succeeded him in
+command.  Early on the morning of the 12th a general attack was
+made on the enemy in position.  The second corps, Major-General
+Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, capturing
+most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces of
+artillery.  But the resistance was so obstinate that the
+advantage gained did not prove decisive.  The 13th, 14th, 15th,
+16th, 17th, and 18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting
+the arrival of reinforcements from Washington.  Deeming it
+impracticable to make any further attack upon the enemy at
+Spottsylvania Court House, orders were issued on the 15th with a
+view to a movement to the North Anna, to commence at twelve
+o'clock on the night of the 19th.  Late in the afternoon of the
+19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our extreme right
+flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy loss.
+This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of
+the 21st, when it was commenced.  But the enemy again, having
+the shorter line, and being in possession of the main roads, was
+enabled to reach the North Anna in advance of us, and took
+position behind it.  The fifth corps reached the North Anna on
+the afternoon of the 23d, closely followed by the sixth corps.
+The second and ninth corps got up about the same time, the
+second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying between
+that and Jericho Ford.  General Warren effected a crossing the
+same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon
+after getting into position he was violently attacked, but
+repulsed the enemy with great slaughter.  On the 25th, General
+Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac from the raid on which
+he started from Spottsylvania, having destroyed the depots at
+Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, large
+supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track;
+recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to
+Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's
+cavalry at Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around
+Richmond (but finding the second line too strong to be carried by
+assault), recrossed to the north bank of the Chickahominy at
+Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, and moved by a detour to
+Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he communicated with
+General Butler.  This raid had the effect of drawing off the
+whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy
+to guard our trains.
+
+General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in
+pursuance of instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore
+having joined him with the tenth corps.  At the same time he
+sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way of
+West Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a
+foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, under General
+Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of
+Petersburg and Richmond.  On the 5th, he occupied, without
+opposition, both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement
+being a complete surprise.  On the 6th, he was in position with
+his main army, and commenced intrenching.  On the 7th he made a
+reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad,
+destroying a portion of it after some fighting.  On the 9th he
+telegraphed as follows:
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING,
+May 9, 1864.
+
+"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+"Our operations may be summed up in a few words.  With one
+thousand seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the
+Peninsula, forced the Chickahominy, and have safely, brought
+them to their present position.  These were colored cavalry, and
+are now holding our advance pickets towards Richmond.
+
+"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the
+same day with our movement up James River, forced the Black
+Water, burned the railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below
+Petersburg, cutting into Beauregard's force at that point.
+
+"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles
+of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we
+can hold out against the whole of Lee's army.  I have ordered up
+the supplies.
+
+"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south
+by the cutting of the railroads by Kautz.  That portion which
+reached Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and
+wounding many, and taking many prisoners, after a severe and
+well-contested fight.
+
+"General Grant will not be troubled with any further
+reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's force.
+
+"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."
+
+
+On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a
+portion of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff,
+or Fort Darling, with small loss.  The time thus consumed from
+the 6th lost to us the benefit of the surprise and capture of
+Richmond and Petersburg, enabling, as it did, Beauregard to
+collect his loose forces in North and South Carolina, and bring
+them to the defence of those places.  On the 16th, the enemy
+attacked General Butler in his position in front of Drury's
+Bluff.  He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments
+between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy
+intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads,
+the city, and all that was valuable to him.  His army,
+therefore, though in a position of great security, was as
+completely shut off from further operations directly against
+Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked.  It
+required but a comparatively small force of the enemy to hold it
+there.
+
+On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a
+raid against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at
+Coalfield, Powhatan, and Chula Stations, destroying them, the
+railroad-track, two freight trains, and one locomotive, together
+with large quantities of commissary and other stores; thence,
+crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at Wilson's,
+Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the
+road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point,
+which he reached on the 18th.
+
+On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General
+Butler, the enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an
+iron-clad ram, attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H.
+W. Wessells, and our gunboats there, and, after severe fighting,
+the place was carried by assault, and the entire garrison and
+armament captured.  The gunboat Smithfield was sunk, and the
+Miami disabled.
+
+The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically
+sealed itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to
+bring the most, if not all, the reinforcements brought from the
+south by Beauregard against the Army of the Potomac. In addition
+to this reinforcement, a very considerable one, probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men, was obtained by calling in the
+scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of
+Virginia.
+
+The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was
+difficult to operate from against the enemy.  I determined,
+therefore, to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough
+only to secure what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d,
+I directed that they be sent forward, under command of
+Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by
+Major-General A. E. Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the
+Potomac, and from this time forward constituted a portion of
+Major-General Meade's command.
+
+Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than
+either of his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th
+to the north bank of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town
+to turn the enemy's position by his right.
+
+Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under
+Sheridan, and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the
+Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and
+on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe, but
+successful engagement with the enemy at Hawes's Shop.  On the
+29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy skirmishing, to the
+Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the
+enemy's position north of the Chickahominy.  Late on the evening
+of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but was
+repulsed with very considerable loss.  An attack was immediately
+ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted
+in driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.
+
+On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the
+railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the
+enemy's cavalry.  General Sheridan, on the same day, reached
+Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and
+General Smith's command, which had just arrived, via White
+House, from General Butler's army.
+
+On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the
+6th corps and the troops under General Smith, the other corps
+being held in readiness to advance on the receipt of orders.
+This resulted in our carrying and holding the enemy's first line
+of works in front of the right of the 6th corps, and in front of
+General Smith.  During the attack the enemy made repeated
+assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack,
+but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance.  That night
+he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the day,
+but failed.  The 2d was spent in getting troops into position
+for an attack on the 3d.  On the 3d of June we again assaulted
+the enemy's works, in the hope of driving him from his
+position.  In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of the
+enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light.  It was
+the only general attack made from the Rapidan to the James which
+did not inflict upon the enemy losses to compensate for our own
+losses.  I would not be understood as saying that all previous
+attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished as
+much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy
+severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete
+overthrow of the rebellion.
+
+From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond,
+it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between
+him and the city.  I was still in a condition to either move by
+his left flank, and invest Richmond from the north side, or
+continue my move by his right flank to the south side of the
+James.  While the former might have been better as a covering
+for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground satisfied me
+that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and east of
+Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long,
+vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to
+guard, and that would have to be protected to supply the army,
+and would leave open to the enemy all his lines of communication
+on the south side of the James.  My idea, from the start, had
+been to beat Lee's army north of Richmond, if possible.  Then,
+after destroying his lines of communication north of the James
+River, to transfer the army to the south side, and besiege Lee
+in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat.  After
+the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that the enemy
+deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army
+he then had.  He acted purely on the defensive, behind
+breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of
+them, and where, in case of repulse, he could easily retire
+behind them.  Without a greater sacrifice of life than I was
+willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had
+designed north of Richmond.  I therefore determined to continue
+to hold substantially the ground we then occupied, taking
+advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present
+themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville
+and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection
+between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and
+when the cavalry  got well off, to move the army to the south
+side of the James River, by the enemy's right flank, where I
+felt I could cut off all his sources of supply, except by the
+canal.
+
+On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan,
+got off on the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad,
+with instructions to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near
+Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and after the
+work laid out for them was thoroughly done, to join the Army of
+the Potomac by the route laid down in Sheridan's instructions.
+
+On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry,
+under General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to
+capture Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and
+common bridges across the Appomattox.  The cavalry carried the
+works on the south side, and penetrated well in towards the
+town, but were forced to retire.  General Gillmore, finding the
+works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault
+impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting
+one.
+
+Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I
+sent back to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's
+command by water, via the White House, to reach there in advance
+of the Army of the Potomac.  This was for the express purpose of
+securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our
+intention, could reinforce the place.
+
+The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the
+evening of the 12th.  One division of cavalry, under General
+Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long
+Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossings
+of the other corps.  The advance corps reached James River, at
+Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, on the night of
+the 13th.
+
+During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern
+Virginia had been confronting each other.  In that time they had
+fought more desperate battles than it probably ever before fell
+to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing
+the vantage ground of either.  The Southern press and people,
+with more shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding
+that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New
+York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they only
+defended their Capital and Southern territory.  Hence, Antietam,
+Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were
+by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for
+them.  Their army believed this.  It produced a morale which
+could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard
+fighting.  The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North
+Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our
+side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him
+as to make him wary ever after of taking the offensive.  His
+losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that
+we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking
+party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field.  The
+details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the
+part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in
+the report of Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports
+accompanying it.
+
+During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the
+James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting
+base, by wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded
+country, with a lack of wharves at each new base from which to
+conveniently discharge vessels.  Too much credit cannot,
+therefore, be awarded to the quartermaster and commissary
+departments for the zeal and efficiency displayed by them. Under
+the general supervision of the chief quartermaster,
+Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to occupy all
+the available roads between the army and our water-base, and but
+little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.
+
+The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under
+General Sigel, commenced on the 1st of May.  General Crook, who
+had the immediate command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his
+forces into two columns, giving one, composed of cavalry, to
+General Averell.  They crossed the mountains by separate routes.
+Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near
+Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and
+Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges
+and depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with
+Crook at Union on the 15th.  General Sigel moved up the
+Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and,
+after a severe engagement, was defeated with heavy loss, and
+retired behind Cedar Creek.  Not regarding the operations of
+General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal from command,
+and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him.  His
+instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to
+Major-General H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:
+
+
+"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA.
+May 20, 1864.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+"The enemy are evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as
+are brought over the branch road running through Staunton.  On
+the whole, therefore, I think it would be better for General
+Hunter to move in that direction; reach Staunton and
+Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too much
+opposition.  If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he
+will be doing good service.  * * *
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he
+should do so, living on the country.  The railroads and canal
+should be destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks.
+Completing this, he could find his way back to his original
+base, or from about Gordonsville join this army.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up
+the Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at
+Piedmont, and, after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated
+him, capturing on the field of battle one thousand five hundred
+men, three pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small
+arms.  On the 8th of the same month he formed a junction with
+Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct
+on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he reached and invested
+on the 16th day of June.  Up to this time he was very successful;
+and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance
+stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would,
+no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, point.  The
+destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was very
+great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee
+sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg a short time before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on
+the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition
+to give battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately,
+this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his
+return but by way of Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his
+troops for several weeks from the defence of the North.
+
+Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of
+Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been
+in a position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the
+enemy, should the force he met have seemed to endanger it.  If
+it did not, he would have been within easy distance of the James
+River Canal, on the main line of communication between Lynchburg
+and the force sent for its defence.  I have never taken
+exception to the operations of General Hunter, and am not now
+disposed to find fault with him, for I have no doubt he acted
+within what he conceived to be the spirit of his instructions
+and the interests of the service.  The promptitude of his
+movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the
+commendation of his country.
+
+To return to the Army of the Potomac:  The 2d corps commenced
+crossing the James River on the morning of the 14th by
+ferry-boats at Wilcox's Landing.  The laying of the pontoon-
+bridge was completed about midnight of the 14th, and the
+crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly pushed forward
+by both bridge and ferry.
+
+After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to
+Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate
+capture of Petersburg.
+
+The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him
+to send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the
+troops he could give him without sacrificing the position he
+then held.  I told him that I would return at once to the Army
+of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and throw it forward to
+Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be done, that we
+could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the enemy
+could bring troops against us.  General Smith got off as
+directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg
+before daylight next morning, but for some reason that I have
+never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready
+to assault his main lines until near sundown.  Then, with a part
+of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines
+north-east of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a
+distance of over two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces
+of artillery and three hundred prisoners.  This was about seven
+P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no
+other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had
+reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The
+night was clear the moon shining brightly and favorable to
+further operations.  General Hancock, with two divisions of the
+2d corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the
+service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to
+the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the
+position of affairs, and what to do with the troops.  But
+instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into
+Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of
+his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.
+
+By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force.
+An attack was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by
+the troops under Smith and the 2d and 9th corps.  It required
+until that time for the 9th corps to get up and into position.
+The attack was made as ordered, and the fighting continued with
+but little intermission until six o'clock the next morning, and
+resulted in our carrying the advance and some of the main works
+of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously
+captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over
+four hundred prisoners.
+
+The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and
+persisted in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only
+resulted in forcing the enemy into an interior line, from which
+he could not be dislodged.  The advantages of position gained by
+us were very great.  The army then proceeded to envelop
+Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far as possible
+without attacking fortifications.
+
+On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a
+part of his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting,
+no doubt, to get troops from north of the James to take the place
+of those withdrawn before we could discover it.  General Butler,
+taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad
+between Petersburg and Richmond.  As soon as I was apprised of
+the advantage thus gained, to retain it I ordered two divisions
+of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that were embarking
+at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to report to
+General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was
+notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of
+his present line urged upon him.
+
+About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced
+back to the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning.
+General Wright, with his two divisions, joined General Butler on
+the forenoon of the 17th, the latter still holding with a strong
+picket-line the enemy's works.  But instead of putting these
+divisions into the enemy's works to hold them, he permitted them
+to halt and rest some distance in the rear of his own line.
+Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
+attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.
+
+On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was
+effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the
+north bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by
+pontoon-bridge with Bermuda Hundred.
+
+On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition
+against the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House
+just as the enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled
+it to retire.  The result of this expedition was, that General
+Sheridan met the enemy's cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the
+morning of the 11th of June, whom he attacked, and after an
+obstinate contest drove from the field in complete rout.  He
+left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and about
+four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses.  On the 12th
+he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court
+House.  This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced
+in the direction of Gordonsville.  He found the enemy reinforced
+by infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles
+from the latter place and too strong to successfully assault.  On
+the extreme right, however, his reserve brigade carried the
+enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by
+infantry.  Night closed the contest.  Not having sufficient
+ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals being
+without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing),
+and hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command
+to the north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return
+march, reaching White House at the time before stated.  After
+breaking up the depot at that place, he moved to the James
+River, which he reached safely after heavy fighting.  He
+commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, without
+further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of
+the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry
+of the Army of the James moved against the enemy's railroads
+south of Richmond.  Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's
+Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and
+the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near
+Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the
+enemy's cavalry.  He reached Burkesville Station on the
+afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville
+Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles,
+where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which
+he could not dislodge him.  He then commenced his return march,
+and on the 28th met the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon
+Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not
+decisive engagement.  Thence he made a detour from his left with
+a view of reaching Reams's Station (supposing it to be in our
+possession).  At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry,
+supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of
+his artillery and trains.  In this last encounter, General
+Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made
+his way into our lines.  General Wilson, with the remainder of
+his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming
+in safely on our left and rear.  The damage to the enemy in this
+expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained.  It
+severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several
+weeks.
+
+With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond
+to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his
+army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to
+take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from
+Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of
+the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the
+night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the
+cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank
+of the James River and joined the force General Butler had
+there.  On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched
+position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.  On the
+28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market
+Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in
+heavy force.  The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in
+considerable loss to both sides.  The first object of this move
+having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by
+the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made,
+by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back
+there.  One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night
+of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th
+corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be
+foot-loose in the assault to be made.  The other two divisions
+of the 2d corps and Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the
+night of the 29th and moved in front of Petersburg.  On the
+morning of the 30th, between four and five o'clock, the mine was
+sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a regiment, and the
+advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th corps,
+immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion,
+and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a
+detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to
+advance promptly to the ridge beyond.  Had they done this, I
+have every reason to believe that Petersburg would have
+fallen.  Other troops were immediately pushed forward, but the
+time consumed in getting them up enabled the enemy to rally from
+his surprise (which had been complete), and get forces to this
+point for its defence.  The captured line thus held being
+untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were withdrawn,
+but not without heavy loss.  Thus terminated in disaster what
+promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.
+
+Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter
+was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus
+laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and
+Pennsylvania, he returned northward and moved down that
+valley.  As soon as this movement of the enemy was ascertained,
+General Hunter, who had reached the Kanawha River, was directed
+to move his troops without delay, by river and railroad, to
+Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of navigation by
+reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great delay was
+experienced in getting there.  It became necessary, therefore,
+to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy.  For
+this purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating
+against Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then
+fortunately beginning to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf
+Department, under orders issued immediately after the
+ascertainment of the result of the Red River expedition.  The
+garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time made up
+of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments
+from the invalid corps.  One division under command of General
+Ricketts, of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the
+remaining two divisions of the 6th corps, under General Wright,
+were subsequently sent to Washington.  On the 3d of July the
+enemy approached Martinsburg.  General Sigel, who was in command
+of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac at
+Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry,
+crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards
+Frederick City.  General Wallace, with Rickett's division and
+his own command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops,
+pushed out from Baltimore with great promptness, and met the
+enemy in force on the Monocacy, near the crossing of the
+railroad bridge.  His force was not sufficient to insure
+success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and although it
+resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and
+thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with
+two division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th
+corps, before him.  From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington,
+his cavalry advance reaching Rockville on the evening of the
+10th.  On the 12th a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of
+Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position and force.  A
+severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred and
+eighty in killed and wounded.  The enemy's loss was probably
+greater.  He commenced retreating during the night.  Learning
+the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by
+telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th,
+the assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of
+all the troops that could be made available to operate in the
+field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside
+of the trenches with all the force he could, and push Early to
+the last moment.  General Wright commenced the pursuit on the
+13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on
+the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 20th,
+General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of the rebel
+army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and
+several hundred prisoners.
+
+Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or
+Richmond, I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to
+the armies operating against Richmond, so that they might be
+used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops
+sent by him into the valley; and that Hunter should remain in
+the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between any force of the enemy
+and Washington, acting on the defensive as much as possible.  I
+felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the fact
+would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave
+Washington.  Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the
+order to return to the James.
+
+About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again
+advancing upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps,
+then at Washington, was ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's
+Ferry.  The rebel force moved down the valley, and sent a raiding
+party into Pennsylvania which on the 30th burned Chambersburg,
+and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and
+with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West
+Virginia.  From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires
+were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making
+it necessary to transmit messages a part of the way by boat.  It
+took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches
+through and return answers would be received showing a
+different state of facts from those on which they were based,
+causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that must
+have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and
+rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they
+otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident
+to my mind that some person should have the supreme command of
+all the forces in the Department of West Virginia, Washington,
+Susquehanna, and the Middle Department, and I so recommended.
+
+On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in
+person to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington,
+with a view to his assignment to the command of all the forces
+against Early.  At this time the enemy was concentrated in the
+neighborhood of Winchester, while our forces, under General
+Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of
+the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy
+Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.  From where I was, I
+hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces
+at Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington.
+Therefore, on the 4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's
+command, and determine for myself what was best to be done.  On
+arrival there, and after consultation with General Hunter, I
+issued to him the following instructions:
+
+
+"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND,
+August 5, 1864--8 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in
+the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards
+and garrisons for public property as may be necessary.  Use, in
+this concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be
+saved.  From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has
+moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following
+him and attacking him wherever found; follow him, if driven south
+of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so.  If it is
+ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the
+Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a
+competent commander, a sufficient force to look after the
+raiders, and drive them to their homes.  In detaching such a
+force,the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington
+via Rockville may be taken into account.
+
+"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of
+the best cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and
+horses.  These will be instructed, in the absence of further
+orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac.  One
+brigade will probably start to-morrow.  In pushing up the
+Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go
+first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to
+invite the enemy to return.  Take all provisions, forage, and
+stock wanted for the use of your command; such as cannot be
+consumed, destroy.  It is not desirable that the buildings
+should be destroyed--they should rather be protected; but the
+people should be informed that, so long as an army can subsist
+among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and we
+are determined to stop them at all hazards.
+
+"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do
+this you want to keep him always in sight.  Be guided in your
+course by the course he takes.
+
+"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving
+regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in
+the country through which you march.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."
+
+
+The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance
+reached Halltown that night.
+
+General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a
+willingness to be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have
+General Sheridan, then at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by
+the morning train, with orders to take general command of all
+the troops in the field, and to call on General Hunter at
+Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of
+instructions.  I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan
+arrived, on the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with
+him in relation to military affairs in that vicinity, I returned
+to City Point by way of Washington.
+
+On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments
+of West Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted
+into the "Middle Military Division," and  Major-General Sheridan
+was assigned to temporary command of the same.
+
+Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and
+Wilson, were sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The
+first reached him at Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.
+
+His operations during the month of August and the fore part of
+September were both of an offensive and defensive character,
+resulting in many severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry,
+in which we were generally successful, but no general engagement
+took place.  The two armies lay in such a position--the enemy on
+the west bank of the Opequon Creek covering Winchester, and our
+forces in front of Berryville--that either could bring on a
+battle at any time.  Defeat to us would lay open to the enemy
+the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances
+before another army could be interposed to check him.  Under
+these circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to
+be taken.  Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
+and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by
+the enemy, became so indispensably necessary to us, and the
+importance of relieving Pennsylvania and Maryland from
+continuously threatened invasion so great, that I determined the
+risk should be taken.  But fearing to telegraph the order for an
+attack without knowing more than I did of General Sheridan's
+feelings as to what would be the probable result, I left City
+Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his headquarters,
+to decide, after conference with him, what should be done.  I met
+him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each
+army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and
+expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but
+two words of instructions necessary--Go in!  For the
+conveniences of forage, the teams for supplying the army were
+kept at Harper's Ferry.  I asked him if he could get out his
+teams and supplies in time to make an attack on the ensuing
+Tuesday morning.  His reply was, that he could before daylight
+on Monday.  He was off promptly to time, and I may here add,
+that the result was such that I have never since deemed it
+necessary to visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.
+
+Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked
+General Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a
+most sanguinary and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in
+the evening, defeated him with heavy loss, carrying his entire
+position from Opequon Creek to Winchester, capturing several
+thousand prisoners and five pieces of artillery.  The enemy
+rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at Fisher's Hill,
+where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss on the
+20th [22d].  Sheridan pursued him with great energy through
+Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge.  After
+stripping the upper valley of most of the supplies and
+provisions for the rebel army, he returned to Strasburg, and
+took position on the north side of Cedar Creek.
+
+Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again
+returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry
+encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated,
+with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and
+fifty prisoners.  On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the
+mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded
+the North Fork, and early on the morning of the 19th, under
+cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised and turned our left
+flank, and captured the batteries which enfiladed our whole
+line.  Our troops fell back with heavy loss and in much
+confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and
+Newtown.  At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at
+Winchester when the battle commenced arrived on the field,
+arranged his lines just in time to repulse a heavy attack of the
+enemy, and immediately assuming the offensive, he attacked in
+turn with great vigor.  The enemy was defeated with great
+slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and
+the trophies he had captured in the morning.  The wreck of his
+army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of
+Staunton and Lynchburg.  Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus
+ended this, the enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the
+Shenandoah Valley.  I was now enabled to return the 6th corps to
+the Army of the Potomac, and to send one division from Sheridan's
+army to the Army of the James, and another to Savannah, Georgia,
+to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the sea-coast, and thus
+enable him to move without detaching from his force for that
+purpose.
+
+Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy
+had detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early
+in the Shenandoah Valley.  I therefore sent the 2d corps and
+Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a
+force of General Butler's army, on the night of the 13th of
+August, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James,
+to prevent him from sending troops away, and, if possible, to
+draw back those sent.  In this move we captured six pieces of
+artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that
+were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one
+division (Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.
+
+The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist
+this movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was
+moved out on the 18th, and took possession of the Weldon
+Railroad.  During the day he had considerable fighting.  To
+regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and
+desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great
+loss.  On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of
+the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the
+front at Petersburg.  On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's
+division of cavalry, while at Reams's Station destroying the
+railroad, were attacked, and after desperate fighting, a part of
+our line gave way, and five pieces of artillery fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from
+the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad,
+enabling us to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the
+army in front of Petersburg.
+
+The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled
+the enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few
+troops north of the James for the defence of Richmond.  On the
+night of the 28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the
+18th corps, Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's
+army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced
+on the morning of the 29th, carrying the very strong
+fortifications and intrenchments below Chaffin's Farm, known as
+Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery, and the
+New Market Road and intrenchments.  This success was followed up
+by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front of
+the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with
+heavy loss.  Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to
+the right of this, supported by infantry, and reached the
+enemy's inner line, but was unable to get further.  The position
+captured from the enemy was so threatening to Richmond, that I
+determined to hold it.  The enemy made several desperate
+attempts to dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, and for
+which he paid dearly.  On the morning of the 30th, General Meade
+sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the enemy's
+line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of
+troops to the north side.  In this reconnoissance we captured
+and held the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church.  In the
+afternoon, troops moving to get to the left of the point gained
+were attacked by the enemy in heavy force, and compelled to fall
+back until supported by the forces holding the captured works.
+Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, but repulsed the
+enemy with great loss.
+
+On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north
+of the James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed,
+wounded, and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight
+or nine pieces.  This he followed up by an attack on our
+intrenched infantry line, but was repulsed with severe
+slaughter.  On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent out by
+General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new
+works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to
+us.
+
+On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient
+men to hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right
+flank.  The 2d corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th
+corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering our left flank,
+forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, and moved up the south side
+of it towards the South Side Railroad, until the 2d corps and
+part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it
+crosses Hatcher's Run.  At this point we were six miles distant
+from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement
+to reach and hold.  But finding that we had not reached the end
+of the enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself
+for a successful assault by which he might be doubled up and
+shortened, I determined to withdraw to within our fortified
+line.  Orders were given accordingly.  Immediately upon
+receiving a report that General Warren had connected with
+General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters.  Soon after I
+left the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap
+between Generals Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as
+reported, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right
+and rear.  General Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet
+it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works,
+and withdrew that night to his old position.
+
+In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration
+on the north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the
+Williamsburg Road, and also on the York River Railroad.  In the
+former he was unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in
+carrying a work which was afterwards abandoned, and his forces
+withdrawn to their former positions.
+
+From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and
+Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the
+defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements
+for crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent
+his detaching any considerable force to send south.  By the 7th
+of February, our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the
+Weldon Railroad had been destroyed to Hicksford.
+
+General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with
+the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded,
+respectively, by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon
+Johnston's army at Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at
+Buzzard's Roost, covering Dalton, too strong to be assaulted,
+General McPherson was sent through Snake Gap to turn it, while
+Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it in front and on the
+north.  This movement was successful.  Johnston, finding his
+retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified
+position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of
+May 15th.  A heavy battle ensued.  During the night the enemy
+retreated south.  Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken
+near Adairsville, and heavy skirmishing followed.  The next
+morning, however, he had again disappeared.  He was vigorously
+pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville on the 19th, but during
+the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah.  While these
+operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's division
+of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts
+and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries.  General
+Sherman, having give his army a few days' rest at this point,
+again put it in motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of
+turning the difficult pass at Allatoona.  On the afternoon of
+the 25th, the advance, under General Hooker, had a severe battle
+with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope Church, near
+Dallas.  Several sharp encounters occurred at this point.  The
+most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General
+McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.
+
+On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position
+at New Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of
+Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains.  He was forced to yield the
+two last-named places, and concentrate his army on Kenesaw,
+where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and McPherson made a
+determined but unsuccessful assault.  On the night of the 2d of
+July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, and
+on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence
+of this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men
+rest and get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed
+his operations, crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large
+portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy back to
+Atlanta. At this place General Hood succeeded General Johnston
+in command of the rebel army, and assuming the
+offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon
+Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and
+determined of which was on the 22d of July.  About one P.M. of
+this day the brave, accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson
+was killed.  General Logan succeeded him, and commanded the Army
+of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and until he was
+superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same
+success and ability that had characterized him in the command of
+a corps or division.
+
+In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss.
+Finding it impossible to entirely invest the place, General
+Sherman, after securing his line of communications across the
+Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's left
+flank upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy
+from his fortifications.  In this he succeeded, and after
+defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and
+Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of
+September occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.
+
+About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler,
+attempted to cut his communications in the rear, but was
+repulsed at Dalton, and driven into East Tennessee, whence it
+proceeded west to McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and
+was finally driven south of the Tennessee.  The damage done by
+this raid was repaired in a few days.
+
+During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau
+joined General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur,
+having made a successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery
+Railroad, and its branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also
+made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the
+remaining Railroad communication with Atlanta.  The first two
+were successful the latter, disastrous.
+
+General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was
+prompt, skilful, and brilliant.  The history of his flank
+movements and battles during that memorable campaign will ever
+be read with an interest unsurpassed by anything in history.
+
+His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders,
+accompanying it, give the details of that most successful
+campaign.
+
+He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a
+single-track railroad from Nashville to the point where he was
+operating.  This passed the entire distance through a hostile
+country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. The
+cavalry force of the enemy under Forrest, in Northern
+Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to advance far
+enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat
+disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the
+possibility of further use.  To guard against this danger,
+Sherman left what he supposed to be a sufficient force to
+operate against Forrest in West Tennessee.  He directed General
+Washburn, who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D.
+Sturgis in command of this force to attack him.  On the morning
+of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near Guntown,
+Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout and
+confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles,
+hotly pursued by the enemy.  By this, however, the enemy was
+defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications.
+The persistency with which he followed up this success exhausted
+him, and made a season for rest and repairs necessary.  In the
+meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, with the troops of the Army
+of the Tennessee that had been sent by General Sherman to General
+Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return from Red River, where
+they had done most excellent service.  He was directed by
+General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against
+Forrest.  This he did with the promptness and effect which has
+characterized his whole military career.  On the 14th of July,
+he met the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him
+badly.  The fighting continued through three days.  Our loss was
+small compared with that of the enemy.  Having accomplished the
+object of his expedition, General Smith returned to Memphis.
+
+During the months of March and April this same force under
+Forrest annoyed us considerably.  On the 24th of March it
+captured Union City, Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th
+attacked Paducah, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois
+Volunteers.  Colonel H., having but a small force, withdrew to
+the forts near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and
+drove him from the place.
+
+On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel
+General Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to
+surrender, but received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th
+New Jersey Volunteers, that being placed there by his Government
+with adequate force to hold his post and repel all enemies from
+it, surrender was out of the question.
+
+On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow,
+Tennessee, garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and
+the 1st Regiment Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major
+Booth.  The garrison fought bravely until about three o'clock in
+the afternoon, when the enemy carried the works by assault; and,
+after our men threw down their arms, proceeded to an inhuman and
+merciless massacre of the garrison.
+
+On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared
+before Paducah, but was again driven off.
+
+Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's
+operations, were also very active in Kentucky.  The most noted
+of these was Morgan.  With a force of from two to three thousand
+cavalry, he entered the State through Pound Gap in the latter
+part of May.  On the 11th of June they attacked and captured
+Cynthiana, with its entire garrison.  On the 12th he was
+overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy
+loss, and was finally driven out of the State.  This notorious
+guerilla was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville,
+Tennessee, and his command captured and dispersed by General
+Gillem.
+
+In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the
+Red River expedition, except so far as relates to the movements
+of the troops sent by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith,
+I am unable to give the date of its starting.  The troops under
+General Smith, comprising two divisions of the 16th and a
+detachment of the 17th army corps, left Vicksburg on the 10th of
+March, and reached the designated point on Red River one day
+earlier than that appointed by General Banks.  The rebel forces
+at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the
+14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying
+the enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed
+forward to Fort de Russy, which had been left with a weak
+garrison, and captured it with its garrison about three hundred
+and fifty men, eleven pieces of artillery, and many
+small-arms.  Our loss was but slight.  On the 15th he pushed
+forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th.  On
+the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's
+Hill, in which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten
+prisoners and four pieces of artillery.
+
+On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the
+rebel General Taylor, at Cane River.  By the 26th, General Banks
+had assembled his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to
+Grand Ecore.  On the morning of April 6th he moved from Grand
+Ecore.  On the afternoon of the 7th, he advanced and met the
+enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him from the field.  On the
+same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight miles beyond
+Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat.  On the 8th,
+at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and
+defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and
+an immense amount of transportation and stores.  During the
+night, General Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another
+battle was fought on the 9th, and the enemy repulsed with great
+loss.  During the night, General Banks continued his retrograde
+movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to Alexandria, which he
+reached on the 27th of April.  Here a serious difficulty arose
+in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the
+expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much
+since they passed up as to prevent their return.  At the
+suggestion of Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under
+his superintendence, wing-dams were constructed, by which the
+channel was contracted so that the fleet passed down the rapids
+in safety.
+
+The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after
+considerable skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached
+Morganzia and Point Coupee near the end of the month.  The
+disastrous termination of this expedition, and the lateness of
+the season, rendered impracticable the carrying out of my plans
+of a movement in force sufficient to insure the capture of
+Mobile.
+
+On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with
+the 7th army corps, to  cooperate with General Banks's
+expedition on the Red River, and reached Arkadelphia on the
+28th.  On the 16th of April, after driving the enemy before him,
+he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in Washita County, by General
+Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith.  After several severe
+skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele
+reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April.
+
+On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks
+on Red River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's
+Mill, in Dallas County, General Steele determined to fall back
+to the Arkansas River.  He left Camden on the 26th of April, and
+reached Little Rock on the 2d of May.  On the 30th of April, the
+enemy attacked him while crossing Saline River at Jenkins's
+Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable loss.  Our loss was
+about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.
+
+Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the
+"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore
+directed to send the 19th army corps to join the armies
+operating against Richmond, and to limit the remainder of his
+command to such operations as might be necessary to hold the
+positions and lines of communications he then occupied.
+
+Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman,
+General Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy
+that was collecting near the Mississippi River.  General Smith
+met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of
+June.  Our loss was about forty killed and seventy wounded.
+
+In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General
+Gordon Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to
+co-operate with Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile
+Bay.  On the 8th of August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the
+combined naval and land forces.  Fort Powell was blown up and
+abandoned.
+
+On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe
+bombardment, surrendered on the 23d.  The total captures
+amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four prisoners,
+and one hundred and four pieces of artillery.
+
+About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel
+General Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had
+reached Jacksonport, on his way to invade Missouri, General A.
+J. Smith's command, then en route from Memphis to join Sherman,
+was ordered to Missouri.  A cavalry force was also, at the same
+time, sent from Memphis, under command of Colonel Winslow.  This
+made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those of Price, and
+no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price and
+drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in
+Arkansas, would cut off his retreat.  On the 26th day of
+September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to
+retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and
+continued up that river towards Kansas.  General Curtis,
+commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such
+forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while
+General Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.
+
+The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated,
+with the loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large
+number of prisoners.  He made a precipitate retreat to Northern
+Arkansas.  The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam
+over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable
+mischief done by him, show to how little purpose a superior force
+may be used.  There is no reason why General Rosecrans should not
+have concentrated his forces, and beaten and driven Price before
+the latter reached Pilot Knob.
+
+September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the
+Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the
+garrison at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which
+capitulated on the 24th.  Soon after the surrender two regiments
+of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were
+compelled to surrender.  Forrest destroyed the railroad
+westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle,
+skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the
+same day cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near
+Tullahoma and Dechard.  On the morning of the 30th, one column
+of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before Huntsville,
+and summoned the surrender of the garrison.  Receiving an answer
+in the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until
+next morning, when he again summoned its surrender, and received
+the same reply as on the night before.  He withdrew in the
+direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, and
+attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without
+success.  On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but
+was handsomely repulsed.
+
+Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the
+morning of the 1st, but did not make an attack.  On the morning
+of the 3d he moved towards Mount Pleasant.  While these
+operations were going on, every exertion was made by General
+Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest before he could
+recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his escape to
+Corinth, Mississippi.
+
+In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to
+destroy the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy
+on the 2d of October, about three miles and a half from
+Saltville, and drove him into his strongly intrenched position
+around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge
+him.  During the night he withdrew his command and returned to
+Kentucky.
+
+General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his
+armies in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations
+for refitting and supplying them for future service.  The great
+length of road from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however,
+which had to be guarded, allowed the troops but little rest.
+
+During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon,
+Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon
+became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the
+enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them.  He
+exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been
+beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt at the
+defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against
+the army that had so often defeated it.
+
+In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon
+reported to the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's
+right, he succeeded in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty,
+and moved north on it.
+
+General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the
+remainder of his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden,
+Alabama. Seeing the constant annoyance he would have with the
+roads to his rear if he attempted to hold Atlanta, General
+Sherman proposed the abandonment and destruction of that place,
+with all the railroads leading to it, and telegraphed me as
+follows:
+
+
+"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA
+October 10--noon.
+
+"Dispatch about Wilson just received.  Hood is now crossing
+Coosa River, twelve miles below Rome, bound west.  If he passes
+over the Mobile and Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan
+of my letter sent by Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas
+with the troops now in Tennessee to defend the State?  He will
+have an ample force when the reinforcements ordered reach
+Nashville.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this
+dispatch, I quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:  "I
+will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's
+should be reinforced to the maximum; that after you get
+Wilmington, you strike for Savannah and the river; that Canby be
+instructed to hold the Mississippi River, and send a force to get
+Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of the Alabama or the
+Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put my army in
+final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to
+be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the
+city of Savannah is in our possession."  This was in reply to a
+letter of mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch
+of his containing substantially the same proposition, and in
+which I informed him of a proposed movement against Wilmington,
+and of the situation in Virginia, etc.
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+
+October 11, 1864--11 A.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of October 10th received.  Does it not look as if
+Hood was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using
+the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply
+his base on the Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur?  If
+he does this, he ought to be met and prevented from getting
+north of the Tennessee River.  If you were to cut loose, I do
+not believe you would meet Hood's army, but would be bushwhacked
+by all the old men and little boys, and such railroad guards as
+are still left at home.  Hood would probably strike for
+Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater
+damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south.  If
+there is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that,
+but I must trust to your own judgment.  I find I shall not be
+able to send a force from here to act with you on Savannah. Your
+movements, therefore, will be independent of mine; at least until
+the fall of Richmond takes place.  I am afraid Thomas, with such
+lines of road as he has to protect, could not prevent Hood from
+going north.  With Wilson turned loose, with all your cavalry,
+you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive than
+heretofore.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+KINGSTON, GEORGIA,
+October 11--11 A.M.
+
+"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and
+Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome.  He
+threw one corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to
+follow.  I hold Atlanta with the 20th corps, and have strong
+detachments along my line.  This reduces my active force to a
+comparatively small army.  We cannot remain here on the
+defensive.  With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold
+cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads.  I would
+infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the
+country from Chattanooga to Atlanta including the latter city
+send back all my wounded and worthless, and with my effective
+army, move through Georgia, smashing things, to the sea. Hood
+may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be
+forced to follow me.  Instead of my being on the defensive, I
+would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means
+to do, he would have to guess at my plans.  The difference in
+war is full twenty-five per cent.  I can make Savannah,
+Charleston, or the mouth of the Chattahoochee.
+
+"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+October 11,1864--11.30 P.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of to-day received.  If you are satisfied the
+trip to the sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the
+Tennessee River firmly, you may make it, destroying all the
+railroad south of Dalton or Chattanooga, as you think best.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting
+through to the coast, with a garrison left on the southern
+railroads, leading east and west, through Georgia, to
+effectually sever the east from the west.  In other words, cut
+the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had been cut once
+by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River.  General
+Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.
+
+General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his
+proposed movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime
+to watch Hood.  Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward
+from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th
+corps,  Major-General Stanley commanding, and the 23d corps,
+Major-General Schofield commanding, back to Chattanooga to
+report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed
+in command of all the troops of his military division, save the
+four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with
+through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal,
+there was little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line
+of the Tennessee, or, in the event Hood should force it, would
+be able to concentrate and beat him in battle.  It was therefore
+readily consented to that Sherman should start for the sea-coast.
+
+Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of
+November, he commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and
+Macon.  His coming-out point could not be definitely fixed.
+Having to gather his subsistence as he marched through the
+country, it was not impossible that a force inferior to his own
+might compel him to head for such point as he could reach,
+instead of such as he might prefer.  The blindness of the enemy,
+however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the
+only considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the
+Mississippi River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the
+whole country open, and Sherman's route to his own choice.
+
+How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met
+with, the condition of the country through which the armies
+passed, the capture of Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River,
+and the occupation of Savannah on the 21st of December, are all
+clearly set forth in General Sherman's admirable report.
+
+Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two
+expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from
+Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the
+enemy's lines of communication with Mobile and detain troops in
+that field.  General Foster, commanding Department of the South,
+also sent an expedition, via Broad River, to destroy the railroad
+between Charleston and Savannah.  The expedition from Vicksburg,
+under command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (colonel
+3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on the 27th of
+November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge
+and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles
+of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of
+stores.  The expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable
+results.  The expedition from the Department of the South, under
+the immediate command of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch,
+consisting of about five thousand men of all arms, including a
+brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad River and debarked at
+Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it moved to
+strike the railroad at Grahamsville.  At Honey Hill, about three
+miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a
+strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe
+fighting, in our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and
+forty-six in killed, wounded, and missing.  During the night
+General Hatch withdrew.  On the 6th of December General Foster
+obtained a position covering the Charleston and Savannah
+Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifinny rivers.
+
+Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move
+northward, which seemed to me to be leading to his certain
+doom.  At all events, had I had the power to command both
+armies, I should not have changed the orders under which he
+seemed to be acting.  On the 26th of October, the advance of
+Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but
+failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and
+succeeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment
+on the north side of the Tennessee River, near Florence.  On the
+28th, Forrest reached the Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured
+a gunboat and three transports.  On the 2d of November he planted
+batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of
+the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports.  On
+the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, and was
+replied to from the gunboats and the garrison.  The gunboats
+becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports,
+to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.  About a
+million and a half dollars' worth of store and property on the
+levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire.  On the 5th the
+enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee
+River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and
+subsequently joined Hood.  On the night of the 5th, General
+Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached
+Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to
+Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with
+instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his
+advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival
+of General A. J. Smith's command from Missouri, and until
+General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.
+
+On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance.  General
+Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards
+Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and
+gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements.  The enemy
+coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield,
+at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during
+the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance
+repulsed.  His loss in this battle was one thousand seven
+hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and
+three thousand eight hundred wounded.  Among his losses were six
+general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured.  Our
+entire loss was two thousand three hundred.  This was the first
+serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was
+the fatal blow to all his expectations.  During the night,
+General Schofield fell back towards Nashville.  This left the
+field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily
+abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought
+together.  The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment
+of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.
+
+As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the
+Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri,
+General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the
+troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops
+as he could spare.  The advance of this reinforcement reached
+Nashville on the 30th of November.
+
+On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked
+Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated
+and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners,
+including four general officers.
+
+Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it
+appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.  This impatience was
+increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of
+cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky.  I feared Hood
+would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there.
+After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately
+assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters
+there in person.  Reaching Washington City, I received General
+Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the
+result as far as the battle had progressed.  I was delighted.
+All fears and apprehensions were dispelled.  I am not yet
+satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the
+appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to
+fortify, should have moved out with his whole force and given
+him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which
+delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it
+impracticable to attack earlier than he did.  But his final
+defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a
+vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.
+
+After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued
+by cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to
+abandon many pieces of artillery and most of his
+transportation.  On the 28th of December our advanced forces
+ascertained that he had made good his escape to the south side
+of the river.
+
+About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee
+and North Alabama, making it difficult to move army
+transportation and artillery, General Thomas stopped the pursuit
+by his main force at the Tennessee River.  A small force of
+cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th Pennsylvania
+Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance,
+capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's
+pontoon-bridge.  The details of these operations will be found
+clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.
+
+A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson,
+started from Memphis on the 21st of December.  On the 25th he
+surprised and captured Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona,
+Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroyed the
+railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for
+Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large
+amounts of public stores.  On the morning of the 28th he
+attacked and captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and
+destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the
+south-west, he struck the Mississippi Central Railroad at
+Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at
+Bankston, and the machine-shops and public property at Grenada,
+arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.
+
+During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a
+force under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee.  On
+the 13th of November he attacked General Gillem, near
+Morristown, capturing his artillery and several hundred
+prisoners.  Gillem, with what was left of his command, retreated
+to Knoxville.  Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to
+near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General
+Ammen.  Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman
+concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near
+Bean's Station to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or
+drive him into Virginia--destroy the salt-works at Saltville,
+and the railroad into Virginia as far as he could go without
+endangering his command.  On the 12th of December he commenced
+his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces
+wherever he met them.  On the 16th he struck the enemy, under
+Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to
+Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred
+and ninety-eight prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its
+stores and supplies, and the extensive lead-works near there.
+Returning to Marion, he met a force under Breckinridge,
+consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville,
+that had started in pursuit.  He at once made arrangements to
+attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge
+gone.  He then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the
+extensive salt-works at that place, a large amount of stores,
+and captured eight pieces of artillery.  Having thus
+successfully executed his instructions, he returned General
+Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.
+
+Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast
+port left to the enemy through which to get supplies from
+abroad, and send cotton and other products out by
+blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic
+value.  The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the
+harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect.  The nature
+of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required
+watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the
+land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for
+the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of
+blockade-runners.
+
+To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation
+of a land force, which I agreed to furnish.  Immediately
+commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D.
+Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for
+concentration upon one given point.  This necessarily attracted
+the attention of the enemy, as well as that of the loyal North;
+and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely
+of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the
+expedition became a subject of common discussion in the
+newspapers both North and South.  The enemy, thus warned,
+prepared to meet it.  This caused a postponement of the
+expedition until the later part of November, when, being again
+called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
+I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself,
+in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we
+had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and
+the time of starting.  A force of six thousand five hundred men
+was regarded as sufficient.  The time of starting was not
+definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by
+the 6th of December, if not before.  Learning, on the 30th of
+November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most
+of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost
+importance that the expedition should reach its destination
+before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make
+all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who
+had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy
+might not be detained one moment.
+
+On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:  The first object of the expedition under General
+Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington.  If
+successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington
+itself.  There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if
+advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the
+enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia.  The
+directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the
+expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of
+where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be
+taken.  The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting
+a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the
+Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river.  Should such
+landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and
+the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the
+troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the
+navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places.  These in
+our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of
+Wilmington would be sealed.  Should Fort Fisher and the point of
+land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops
+immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to
+capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise.  If time is
+consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the
+second will become a matter of after consideration.
+
+"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer
+immediately in command of the troops.
+
+"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a
+landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the
+armies operating against Richmond without delay.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were
+taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they
+were to operate, military courtesy required that all orders and
+instructions should go through him.  They were so sent, but
+General Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never
+received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their
+existence, until he read General Butler's published official
+report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorsement and
+papers accompanying it.  I had no idea of General Butler's
+accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off
+from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General
+Weitzel had received all the instructions, and would be in
+command.  I rather formed the idea that General Butler was
+actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of
+the powder-boat.  The expedition was detained several days at
+Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat.
+
+The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without
+any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon
+General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.
+
+The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and
+arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort
+Fisher, on the evening of the 15th.  Admiral Porter arrived on
+the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get
+ammunition for the monitors.  The sea becoming rough, making it
+difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being
+about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to
+replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the
+return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th.  The
+powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the
+return of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from
+the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the
+enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion
+until they were informed by the Northern press.
+
+On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a
+reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up
+towards the fort.  But before receiving a full report of the
+result of this reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct
+violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation
+of the troops and the return of the expedition.  The
+re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 27th.
+
+On the return of the expedition officers and men among them
+Brevet Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M.
+Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York
+Volunteers, First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and
+Second-Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers
+voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly
+into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken
+without much loss.
+
+Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch
+from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral
+Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher,
+and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the
+place could be taken.  The natural supposition with me was, that
+when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so
+also.  Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of
+December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would
+send a force and make another attempt to take the place.  This
+time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H.
+Terry to command the expedition.  The troops composing it
+consisted of the same that composed the former, with the
+addition of a small brigade, numbering about one thousand five
+hundred, and a small siege train.  The latter it was never found
+necessary to land.  I communicated direct to the commander of the
+expedition the following instructions:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  The expedition intrusted to your command has been
+fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C.,
+and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls.  You will then
+proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet
+lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself
+and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic
+Blockading Squadron.
+
+"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete
+understanding should exist between yourself and the naval
+commander.  I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral
+Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each
+branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of
+action.  It would be well to have the whole programme laid down
+in writing.  I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that
+you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he
+proposes.  I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is
+consistent with your own responsibilities.  The first object to
+be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on
+which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against
+that fort.  You want to look to the practicability of receiving
+your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces
+sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If
+such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will
+not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another
+plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.
+
+"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought
+to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the
+balance of it operates on the outside.  Land forces cannot
+invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or
+reinforcements, while the river is in possession of the enemy.
+
+"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort
+Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required.  All other
+supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.
+
+"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is
+assured.  When you find they can be spared, order them back, or
+such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for
+orders.
+
+"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back
+to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further
+instructions.  You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.
+
+"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops
+to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels.  These troops
+will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels
+until you are heard from.  Should you require them, they will be
+sent to you.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."
+
+
+Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet
+brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, was
+assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.
+
+It will be seen that these instructions did not differ
+materially from those given for the first expedition, and that
+in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher.
+This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the
+commanding officer.
+
+The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the
+6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th,
+where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until
+the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its
+destination that evening.  Under cover of the fleet, the
+disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the
+13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without loss.  On
+the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred
+yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession
+of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that
+might be made from the fort.  This reconnoissance disclosed the
+fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by
+the navy fire.  In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was
+assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with
+its entire garrison and armament.  Thus was secured, by the
+combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important
+successes of the war.  Our loss was:  killed, one hundred and
+ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six.  On the 16th and the
+17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works
+on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us.  This
+gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
+
+At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and
+Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of
+Virginia and North Carolina.
+
+The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the
+force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now
+threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation
+for General Thomas's surplus troops--fields from which they
+would co-operate with other movements.  General Thomas was
+therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold
+his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders.  On the
+7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of
+the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General
+Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as
+possible.  This direction was promptly complied with, and the
+advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same
+month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern.  On the
+26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith's command and a
+division of cavalry to report to General Canby.  By the 7th of
+February the whole force was en route for its destination.
+
+The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military
+department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and
+placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman.  The following
+instructions were given him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:-- *    *    *    Your movements are intended as
+co-operative with Sherman's through the States of South and
+North Carolina.  The first point to be attained is to secure
+Wilmington.  Goldsboro' will then be your objective point,
+moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, or both, as you deem
+best.  Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you will
+advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place
+with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road
+behind you.  The enterprise under you has two objects:  the
+first is to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his
+march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on
+his line of march.  As soon, therefore, as you can determine
+which of the two points, Wilmington or New Bern, you can best
+use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you will
+commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for
+sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals.  You will get of
+these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the
+interior as you may be able to occupy.  I believe General Palmer
+has received some instructions direct from General Sherman on the
+subject of securing supplies for his army.  You will learn what
+steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions
+accordingly.  A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary.
+
+"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective
+departments in the field with me at City Point.  Communicate
+with me by every opportunity, and should you deem it necessary
+at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which
+point you can communicate by telegraph.
+
+"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of
+those required for your own command.
+
+"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your
+imperative duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the
+interior to aid Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own
+judgment without waiting for instructions.  You will report,
+however, what you purpose doing.  The details for carrying out
+these instructions are necessarily left to you.  I would urge,
+however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to
+the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be looked for
+in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the
+28th of February; this limits your time very materially.
+
+"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington,
+it can be supplied from Washington.  A large force of railroad
+men have already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will
+go to Fort Fisher in a day or two.  On this point I have informed
+you by telegraph.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."
+
+
+Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher,
+accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for
+myself the condition of things, and personally conferring with
+General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.
+
+Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army
+entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee,
+the Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several
+months to re-establish a through line from west to east, and
+regarding the capture of Lee's army as the most important
+operation towards closing the rebellion--I sent orders to
+General Sherman on the 6th of December, that after establishing
+a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to include all
+his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point with
+the balance of his command.
+
+On the 18th of December, having received information of the
+defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and
+that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean
+transportation, it would take over two months to transport
+Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as
+much towards the desired result by operating from where he was,
+I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to
+what would be best to do.  A few days after this I received a
+communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December,
+acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing
+me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he
+could get transportation.  Also that he had expected, upon
+reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South
+Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but
+that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of
+Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the
+middle of January.  The confidence he manifested in this letter
+of being able to march up and join me pleased me, and, without
+waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on
+the 28th of December, to make preparations to start as he
+proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and
+South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond
+as soon as he could.
+
+On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had
+ordered the 23d corps,  Major-General Schofield commanding,
+east; that it numbered about twenty-one thousand men; that we
+had at Fort Fisher, about eight thousand men; at New Bern, about
+four thousand; that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofield
+would go there; if not, he would be sent to New Bern; that, in
+either event, all the surplus force at both points would move to
+the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his
+movement; that from either point railroad communication could be
+run out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders
+as he came into communication with them.
+
+In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to
+reduce Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy
+under Admiral Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the
+Cape Fear River.  Fort Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the
+west bank of the river, was occupied on the morning of the 19th,
+the enemy having evacuated it after our appearance before it.
+
+After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington
+on the morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards
+Goldsboro' during the night.  Preparations were at once made for
+a movement on Goldsboro' in two columns--one from Wilmington, and
+the other from New Bern--and to repair the railroad leading there
+from each place, as well as to supply General Sherman by Cape
+Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became necessary.  The
+column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, at Wise's
+Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred
+prisoners.  On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our
+intrenched position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell
+back during the night.  On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed
+and Kinston occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered.
+The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse
+River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d.
+
+By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in
+motion from Savannah.  He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on
+the 17th; thence moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via
+Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March,
+opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape
+Fear River.  On the 15th he resumed his march on Goldsboro'.  He
+met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a severe fight
+defeated and compelled it to retreat.  Our loss in this
+engagement was about six hundred.  The enemy's loss was much
+greater.  On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under
+Joe Johnston, attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing
+three guns and driving it back upon the main body.  General
+Slocum, who was in the advance ascertaining that the whole of
+Johnston's army was in the front, arranged his troops on the
+defensive, intrenched himself and awaited reinforcements, which
+were pushed forward.  On the night of the 21st the enemy
+retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our
+hands.  From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place
+had been occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the
+Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General
+Terry had got possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d),
+thus forming a junction with the columns from New Bern and
+Wilmington.
+
+Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of
+Charleston, South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the
+night of the 17th of February, and occupied by our forces on the
+18th.
+
+On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was
+directed to send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman,
+from East Tennessee, to penetrate South Carolina well down
+towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military
+resources of the country, and return, if he was able, to East
+Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing our
+prisoners there, if possible.  Of the feasibility of this
+latter, however, General Stoneman was to judge.  Sherman's
+movements, I had no doubt, would attract the attention of all
+the force the enemy could collect, and facilitate the execution
+of this.  General Stoneman was so late in making his start on
+this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of
+South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed General
+Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of
+last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he
+could.  This would keep him between our garrisons in East
+Tennessee and the enemy.  I regarded it not impossible that in
+the event of the enemy being driven from Richmond, he might fall
+back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through East
+Tennessee.  On the 14th of February the following communication
+was sent to General Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.
+
+"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against
+Mobile and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of
+about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command.  The
+cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg.
+It, with the available cavalry already in that section, will
+move from there eastward, in co-operation.  Hood's army has been
+terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in
+Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by
+the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman.  (I take it a
+large portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn.  It is so
+asserted in the Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel
+Congress said a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it
+had been brought to South Carolina to oppose Sherman.)  This
+being true, or even if it is not true, Canby's movement will
+attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance
+from your standpoint easy.  I think it advisable, therefore,
+that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare,
+and hold it in readiness to go south.  The object would be
+threefold:  first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as
+possible, to insure success to Canby; second, to destroy the
+enemy's line of communications and military resources; third, to
+destroy or capture their forces brought into the field.
+Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the points to direct the
+expedition against.  This, however, would not be so important as
+the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama.  Discretion
+should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go
+where, according to the information he may receive, he will best
+secure the objects named above.
+
+"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know
+what number of men you can put into the field.  If not more than
+five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be
+sufficient.  It is not desirable that you should start this
+expedition until the one leaving Vicksburg has been three or
+four days out, or even a week.  I do not know when it will
+start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn.  If
+you should hear through other sources before hearing from me,
+you can act on the information received.
+
+"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little
+wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for
+supplies.  I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery,
+or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns
+taken.  No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight
+horses.
+
+"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force
+you think you will be able to send under these directions.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon
+after the 20th as he could get it off.
+
+I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement
+of the armies operating against Richmond, that all
+communications with the city, north of James River, should be
+cut off.  The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from
+the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent
+from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable,
+whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the
+enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which,
+if successful. would accomplish the first at least, and possibly
+the latter of the objects.  I therefore telegraphed General
+Sheridan as follows:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will
+have no difficulty about reaching Lychburg with a cavalry force
+alone.  From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in
+every direction, so as to be of no further use to the
+rebellion.  Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look
+after Mosby's gang.  From Lynchburg, if information you might
+get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the
+streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and
+join General Sherman.  This additional raid, with one now about
+starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or
+give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or
+eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then
+thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight
+thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa,
+Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out
+the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to
+leave mothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise
+you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston
+was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan,
+inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him
+definite information as to the points he might be expected to
+move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina.  In answer, the
+following telegram was sent him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of
+opposition he meets with from the enemy.  If strongly opposed,
+he may possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit
+out for a new start.  I think, however, all danger for the
+necessity of going to that point has passed.  I believe he has
+passed Charlotte.  He may take Fayetteville on his way to
+Goldsboro'.  If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided
+in your after movements by the information you obtain.  Before
+you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him
+moving from Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy
+strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with
+railroad communications opened from his army to Wilmington or
+New Bern.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February,
+with two divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand
+each.  On the 1st of March he secured the bridge, which the
+enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the
+Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d,
+the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'.  Thence he pushed on
+to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an
+intrenched position, under General Early.  Without stopping to
+make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the
+position was carried, and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven
+pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons complete, two
+hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence, and seventeen
+battle-flags, were captured.  The prisoners, under an escort of
+fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester.  Thence he
+marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the railroad
+and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d.  Here
+he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond
+and Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north
+and south forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of
+his trains.  This necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea
+of capturing Lynchburg.  On the morning of the 6th, dividing his
+force into two columns, he sent one to Scottsville, whence it
+marched up the James River Canal to New Market, destroying every
+lock, and in many places the bank of the canal.  From here a
+force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to
+obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that
+place, but failed.  The enemy burned it on our approach.  The
+enemy also burned the bridge across the river at
+Hardwicksville.  The other column moved down the railroad
+towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Court House,
+sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, uniting
+with the column at New Market.  The river being very high, his
+pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having
+destroyed the bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river
+and get on the South Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy
+it to Appomattox Court House, the only thing left for him was to
+return to Winchester or strike a base at the White House.
+Fortunately, he chose the latter.  From New Market he took up
+his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond,
+destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever
+practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland,
+concentrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th.  Here he
+rested one day, and sent through by scouts information of his
+whereabouts and purposes, and a request for supplies to meet him
+at White House, which reached me on the night of the 12th.  An
+infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White
+House, and supplies were forwarded.  Moving from Columbia in a
+direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, he
+crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges
+and many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of
+the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.
+
+Previous to this the following communication was sent to General
+Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair
+the railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to
+Bull's Gap and fortify there.  Supplies at Knoxville could
+always be got forward as required.  With Bull's Gap fortified,
+you can occupy as outposts about all of East Tennessee, and be
+prepared, if it should be required of you in the spring, to make
+a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North Carolina.  I do not
+think Stoneman should break the road until he gets into
+Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may
+be caught west of that.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was
+moving an adequate force against Mobile and the army defending
+it under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large
+and well-appointed cavalry expeditions--one from Middle
+Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's
+vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee, under
+Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and assembling the
+remainder of his available forces, preparatory to commence
+offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's
+cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James
+were confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of
+Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies,
+reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro';
+General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign
+against the enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the
+Mississippi; and General Hancock was concentrating a force in
+the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion
+or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.
+
+After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter
+roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at White House.  At
+this time the greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear
+that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg and
+Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, and before he
+was driven from them by battle, or I was prepared to make an
+effectual pursuit.  On the 24th of March, General Sheridan moved
+from White House, crossed the James River at Jones's Landing, and
+formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in front of
+Petersburg on the 27th.  During this move, General Ord sent
+forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.
+
+On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general
+movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 24, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  On the 29th instant the armies operating against
+Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of
+turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg,
+and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan,
+which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and
+destroy the South Side and Danville railroads.  Two corps of the
+Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking
+the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest where the present
+line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.
+
+"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now
+under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon
+Road and the Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter
+before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column
+before reaching Stony Creek.  General Sheridan will then move
+independently, under other instructions which will be given
+him.  All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the
+Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military
+Division not required for guarding property belonging to their
+arm of service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be
+added to the defences of City Point.  Major-General Parke will
+be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines
+about Petersburg and City Point, subject of course to orders
+from the commander of the Army of the Potomac.  The 9th army
+corps will be left intact, to hold the present line of works so
+long as the whole line now occupied by us is held.  If, however,
+the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the
+left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the
+position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon
+Road.  All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in
+readiness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be
+designated when the order is given.
+
+"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one
+colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present
+lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the
+Potomac.  In the absence of further orders, or until further
+orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left
+column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the
+right column.  During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be
+left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army
+of the James.
+
+"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence
+on the night of the 27th instant.  General Ord will leave behind
+the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the
+absence of the main army.  A cavalry expedition, from General
+Ord's command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there
+on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the
+purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford.  This, if
+accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from
+three to five hundred men will be sufficient.  They should,
+however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared
+from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry
+crosses the Blackwater.  The crossing should probably be at
+Uniten.  Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon
+Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the
+triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston.  The
+railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of
+carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation
+of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke.
+All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks
+and eight days' in wagons.  To avoid as much hauling as
+possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of
+days' supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will
+direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient
+supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in
+passing.  Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in
+wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will
+carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies.  The
+densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making
+the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with
+the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division,
+at the option of the army commanders.
+
+"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into
+operation may be commenced at once.  The reserves of the 9th
+corps should be massed as much as possible.  While I would not
+now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them,
+they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy
+weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders.  In
+case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could
+follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the
+army.  To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations
+issued to them, same as the balance of the army.  General
+Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at
+all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so.  A
+success north of the James should be followed up with great
+promptness.  An attack will not be feasible unless it is found
+that the enemy has detached largely.  In that case it may be
+regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local
+reserves principally for the defence of Richmond.  Preparations
+may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James,
+except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a
+break is made in the lines of the enemy.
+
+"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating
+against Richmond is left behind.  The enemy, knowing this, may,
+as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in
+the hope of advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl
+everything against the moving column, and return.  It cannot be
+impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the
+trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of
+it.  The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does
+so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a
+weakening of his lines.  I would have it particularly enjoined
+upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the enemy,
+those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding
+officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move
+promptly, and notify the commander of their action.  I would also
+enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when
+other parts of their corps are engaged.  In like manner, I would
+urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines
+in front of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River
+towards our left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the
+line to the right and left of it, established themselves and
+turned the guns of the fort against us, but our troops on either
+flank held their ground until the reserves were brought up, when
+the enemy was driven back with a heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners.  Our loss was
+sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and
+five hundred and six missing.  General Meade at once ordered the
+other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective
+fronts.  Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's
+strongly intrenched picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th
+corps, and eight hundred and thirty-four prisoners.  The enemy
+made desperate attempts to retake this line, but without
+success.  Our loss in front of these was fifty-two killed, eight
+hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven
+missing.  The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.
+
+General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about
+Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them
+perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and
+stated that he would be ready to move, as he had previously
+written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed
+for twenty days, if it should become necessary to bring his
+command to bear against Lee's army, in co-operation with our
+forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg.  General Sherman
+proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, by
+turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or
+thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and
+Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville,
+or join the armies operating against Richmond, as might be
+deemed best.  This plan he was directed to carry into execution,
+if he received no further directions in the meantime.  I
+explained to him the movement I had ordered to commence on the
+29th of March.  That if it should not prove as entirely
+successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy
+the Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the
+enemy of further supplies, and also to prevent the rapid
+concentration of Lee's and Johnston's armies.
+
+I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the
+report that the enemy had retreated the night before.  I was
+firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be
+the signal for Lee to leave.  With Johnston and him combined, a
+long, tedious, and expensive campaign, consuming most of the
+summer, might become necessary.  By moving out I would put the
+army in better condition for pursuit, and would at least, by the
+destruction of the Danville Road, retard the concentration of the
+two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to abandon
+much material that he might otherwise save.  I therefore
+determined not to delay the movement ordered.
+
+On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions
+of the 24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one
+division of the 25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding,
+and MacKenzie's cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance
+of the foregoing instructions, and reached the position assigned
+him near Hatcher's Run on the morning of the 29th.  On the 28th
+the following instructions were given to General Sheridan:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at
+three A.M. to-morrow morning.  The 2d moves at about nine A.M.,
+having but about three miles to march to reach the point
+designated for it to take on the right of the 5th corps, after
+the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House.  Move your cavalry at
+as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any
+particular road or roads.  You may go out by the nearest roads
+in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to
+or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as
+soon as you can.  It is not the intention to attack the enemy in
+his intrenched position, but to force him out, if possible.
+Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be
+attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and
+with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow, as
+circumstances will dictate.  I shall be on the field, and will
+probably be able to communicate with you.  Should I not do so,
+and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched
+line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road.  If you
+find it practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side
+Road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some
+extent.  I would not advise much detention, however, until you
+reach the Danville Road, which I would like you to strike as
+near to the Appomattox as possible.  Make your destruction on
+that road as complete as possible.  You can then pass on to the
+South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like
+manner.
+
+"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads,
+which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may
+return to this army, selecting your road further south, or you
+may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman.  Should
+you select the latter course, get the information to me as early
+as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced.  At night the
+cavalry was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our
+infantry line extended to the Quaker Road, near its intersection
+with the Boydton Plank Road.  The position of the troops from
+left to right was as follows:  Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord,
+Wright, Parke.
+
+Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the
+capture of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was
+made.  I therefore addressed the following communication to
+General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not to
+cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until he
+received notice from me to do so:
+
+
+"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to
+Dinwiddie.  We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the
+Jerusalem Plank Road to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can
+be used advantageously.  After getting into line south of
+Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position.
+General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker Road
+intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing
+about one hundred men.  Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was
+pushing on when last heard from.
+
+"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so,
+before going back.  I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose
+and go after the enemy's roads at present.  In the morning push
+around the enemy, if you can, and get on to his right rear.  The
+movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify your
+action.  We will act all together as one army here, until it is
+seen what can be done with the enemy.  The signal-officer at
+Cobb's Hill reported, at half-past eleven A.M., that a cavalry
+column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg,
+taking forty minutes to pass.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain
+fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled
+vehicle, except as corduroy roads were laid in front of them.
+During the 30th, Sheridan advanced from Dinwiddie Court House
+towards Five Forks, where he found the enemy in full force.
+General Warren advanced and extended his line across the Boydton
+Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of getting
+across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front
+and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he
+was, and fortify.  General Humphreys drove the enemy from his
+front into his main line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills.
+Generals Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their
+fronts to determine the feasibility of an assault on the enemy's
+lines.  The two latter reported favorably.  The enemy confronting
+us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our extreme left, I
+conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated
+if my estimate of his forces was correct.  I determined,
+therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce
+General Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him
+to cut loose and turn the enemy's right flank, and with the
+other corps assault the enemy's lines.  The result of the
+offensive effort of the enemy the week before, when he assaulted
+Fort Stedman, particularly favored this.  The enemy's
+intrenched  picket-line captured by us at that time threw the
+lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some
+points that it was but a moment's run from one to the other.
+Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphreys's
+corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the
+roads prevented immediate movement.  On the morning of the 31st,
+General Warren reported favorably to getting possession of the
+White Oak Road, and was directed to do so.  To accomplish this,
+he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, which
+was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on
+the 2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn,
+forced back upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked.  A
+division of the 2d corps was immediately sent to his support, the
+enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the White
+Oak Road gained.  Sheridan advanced, and with a portion of his
+cavalry got possession of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after
+the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced the rebel cavalry,
+defending that point with infantry, and forced him back towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.  Here General Sheridan displayed great
+generalship.  Instead of retreating with his whole command on
+the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered,
+he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough
+to take charge of the horses.  This compelled the enemy to
+deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made
+his progress slow.  At this juncture he dispatched to me what had
+taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie
+Court House.  General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of
+the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance.  Soon
+after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could
+hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two
+divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so
+ordered at once.  Thus the operations of the day necessitated
+the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of
+Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended
+movements.  On the morning of the 1st of April, General
+Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on
+Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried
+his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and
+between five and six thousand prisoners.
+
+About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles
+Griffin relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th
+corps.  The report of this reached me after nightfall.  Some
+apprehensions filled my mind lest the enemy might desert his
+lines during the night, and by falling upon General Sheridan
+before assistance could reach him, drive him from his position
+and open the way for retreat.  To guard against this, General
+Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him,
+and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in
+the morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's
+lines.  General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps,
+sweeping everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's
+Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners.  He was
+closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command,
+until he met the other division of General Ord's that had
+succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near Hatcher's Run.
+Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and
+closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg,
+while General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and
+joined General Wright on the left.  General Parke succeeded in
+carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners,
+but was unable to carry his inner line.  General Sheridan being
+advised of the condition of affairs, returned General Miles to
+his proper command.  On reaching the enemy's lines immediately
+surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by
+a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the
+most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially
+shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the
+city.  The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to
+Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles's
+division.  A severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his
+right and left flanks were threatened by the approach of General
+Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station towards Petersburg,
+and a division sent by General Meade from the front of
+Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hands his guns and many prisoners.  This force retreated by
+the main road along the Appomattox River.  During the night of
+the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and
+retreated towards Danville.  On the morning of the 3d pursuit
+was commenced.  General Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road,
+keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General Meade with the
+2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for Burkesville, along
+the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along that road
+behind him.  On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville
+Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia
+Court House.  He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the
+arrival of General Meade, who reached there the next day.
+General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.
+
+On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the
+following communication:
+
+
+"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  All indications now are that Lee will attempt to
+reach Danville with the remnant of his force.  Sheridan, who was
+up with him last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot,
+and dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized.  We hope to
+reduce this number one-half.  I shall push on to Burkesville,
+and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go
+there.  If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are,
+and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and
+Johnston's armies.  Whether it will be better for you to strike
+for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able
+to judge when you receive this.  Rebel armies now are the only
+strategic points to strike at.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was
+moving west of Jetersville, towards Danville.  General Sheridan
+moved with his cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to
+General Meade on his reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank,
+followed by the 6th corps, while the 2d and 5th corps pressed
+hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and
+several pieces of artillery.  General Ord advanced from
+Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry
+and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General
+Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges.  This advance
+met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically
+attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small
+force overpowered.  This caused a delay in the enemy's movements,
+and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his
+force, on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched
+himself.  In the afternoon, General Sheridan struck the enemy
+south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery
+and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th
+corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was
+made, which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand
+prisoners, among whom were many general officers.  The movements
+of the 2d corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to
+the day's success.
+
+On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry,
+except one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's
+Court House; the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one
+division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High
+Bridge Road.  It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to
+the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit,
+that the 2d corps got possession of the common bridge at High
+Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately
+crossed over.  The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed
+at Farmville to its support.
+
+Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly
+hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from
+Farmville:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at
+Farmville the following:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your note of this date.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+To this I immediately replied:
+
+
+"April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same
+date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender
+of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received.  In reply, I
+would say, that peace being my great desire, there is but one
+condition I would insist upon--namely, That the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of the Northern
+Virginia will be received.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General
+Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan,
+with all the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox
+Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps.
+During the day General Meade's advance had considerable fighting
+with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general
+engagement.  Late in the evening General Sheridan struck the
+railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and
+captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and
+four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army.  During
+this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight
+received the following communication from General Lee:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day.  In
+mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of
+the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your
+proposition.  To be frank, I do not think the emergency has
+arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the
+restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired
+to know whether your proposals would lead to that end.  I cannot,
+therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of
+Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the
+Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the
+restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten
+A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the
+picket-lines of the two armies.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as
+follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the
+Appomattox:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received.  I have no
+authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed
+for ten A.M. to-day could lead to no good.  I will state,
+however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with
+yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling.  The
+terms upon which peace can be had are well understood.  By the
+South laying down their arms they will hasten that most
+desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of
+millions of property not yet destroyed.  Seriously hoping that
+all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another
+life, I subscribe myself, etc.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th
+corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a
+desperate effort to break through our cavalry.  The infantry was
+at once thrown in.  Soon after a white flag was received,
+requesting a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for
+a surrender.
+
+Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the
+following from General Lee:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your
+letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of
+which is set forth in the following correspondence:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you
+of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the
+Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls
+of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to
+be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be
+retained by such officer or officers as you may designate.  The
+officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like
+parole for the men of their commands.  The arms, artillery, and
+public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the
+officers appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace
+the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your letter of this date containing
+the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are
+accepted.  I will proceed to designate the proper officers to
+carry the stipulations into effect.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under
+Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at
+Appomattox Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered
+army was completed, and to take charge of the public property.
+The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity
+of Burkesville.
+
+General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused
+his example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the
+armies lately under his leadership are at their homes, desiring
+peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ordnance
+officers.
+
+On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved
+directly against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and
+through Raleigh, which place General Sherman occupied on the
+morning of the 13th.  The day preceding, news of the surrender
+of General Lee reached him at Smithfield.
+
+On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman
+and General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement
+for a suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for
+peace, subject to the approval of the President.  This agreement
+was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval,
+together with your instructions, was communicated to General
+Sherman by me in person on the morning of the 24th, at Raleigh,
+North Carolina, in obedience to your orders.  Notice was at once
+given by him to General Johnston for the termination of the truce
+that had been entered into.  On the 25th another meeting between
+them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which
+terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army
+upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.
+
+The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got
+off on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North
+Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg,
+and Big Lick.  The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to
+within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important
+bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed it
+between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro',
+on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and destroyed
+the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between
+Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies
+along it, and captured four hundred prisoners.  At Salisbury he
+attacked and defeated a force of the enemy under General
+Gardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one
+thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and destroyed
+large amounts of army stores.  At this place he destroyed
+fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte.
+Thence he moved to Slatersville.
+
+General Canby, who had been directed in January to make
+preparations for a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and
+the interior of Alabama, commenced his movement on the 20th of
+March.  The 16th corps, Major-General A. J. Smith commanding,
+moved from Fort Gaines by water to Fish River; the 13th corps,
+under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved from Fort Morgan and
+joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving thence on
+Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General
+Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading
+from Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and
+partially invested Fort Blakely.  After a severe bombardment of
+Spanish Fort, a part of its line was carried on the 8th of
+April.  During the night the enemy evacuated the fort.  Fort
+Blakely was carried by assault on the 9th, and many prisoners
+captured; our loss was considerable.  These successes
+practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to
+approach Mobile from the north.  On the night of the 11th the
+city was evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on
+the morning of the 12th.
+
+The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson,
+consisting of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was
+delayed by rains until March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw,
+Alabama.  On the 1st of April, General Wilson encountered the
+enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in
+confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and
+destroyed the central bridge over the Cahawba River.  On the 2d
+he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended
+by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns,
+destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops,
+vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand
+prisoners.  On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa.  On
+the 10th he crossed the Alabama River, and after sending
+information of his operations to General Canby, marched on
+Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy
+having abandoned it.  At this place many stores and five
+steamboats fell into our hands.  Thence a force marched direct
+on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places
+were assaulted and captured on the 16th.  At the former place we
+got one thousand five hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns,
+destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many
+factories, and much other public property.  At the latter place
+we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed
+nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars.  On the 20th he
+took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one
+thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by
+General Howell Cobb.  General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis
+was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and
+succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11th.
+
+On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to
+General Canby all the remaining rebel forces east of the
+Mississippi.
+
+A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy
+under Kirby Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put
+in motion for Texas, and Major-General Sheridan designated for
+its immediate command; but on the 26th day of May, and before
+they reached their destination, General Kirby Smith surrendered
+his entire command to Major-General Canby.  This surrender did
+not take place, however, until after the capture of the rebel
+President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of
+first disbanding most of his army and permitting an
+indiscriminate plunder of public property.
+
+Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against
+the government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico,
+carrying with them arms rightfully belonging to the United
+States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement among them
+some of the leaders who had surrendered in person and the
+disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio Grande, the orders for
+troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.
+
+There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and
+movements to defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most
+of them reflecting great credit on our arms, and which
+contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not
+mentioned.  Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the
+reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and brief
+dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have
+not as yet been officially reported.
+
+For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would
+respectfully refer to the reports of the commanders of
+departments in which they have occurred.
+
+It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and
+the East fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there
+is no difference in their fighting qualities.  All that it was
+possible for men to do in battle they have done.  The Western
+armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and
+received the final surrender of the remnant of the principal
+army opposed to them in North Carolina.  The armies of the East
+commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the
+Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of
+their old antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  The
+splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories
+removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately
+experienced too much), and the cause of crimination and
+recrimination that might have followed had either section failed
+in its duty.  All have a proud record, and all sections can well
+congratulate themselves and each other for having done their
+full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of
+territory belonging to the United States.  Let them hope for
+perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood,
+however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of
+valor.
+
+I have the honor to be,
+Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+__________
+FOOTNOTES
+
+(*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A.
+
+
+(*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to
+General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to
+the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have
+more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced.  Deeming the
+return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it,
+so he called for a volunteer.  Lieutenant Grant offered his
+services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and
+General Worth.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a
+great many years before the Mexican war to have established in
+the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of
+the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France.  He
+recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his
+annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any
+hearing.  Now, as he had conquered the state, he made
+assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied
+by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and
+appointed officers to receive the money.  In addition to the sum
+thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo,
+sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled
+the fund to a total of about $220,000.  Portions of this fund
+were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded
+in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some
+$118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war.  After the
+war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to
+have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury
+of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he
+had previously recommended.  This fund was the foundation of the
+Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh,
+Kentucky.
+
+The latter went into disuse many years ago.  In fact it never
+had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold.
+
+
+(*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott,
+Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high
+office.  It made also governors of States, members of the
+cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both
+in state and nation.  The rebellion, which contained more war in
+a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican
+war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results
+to those engaged on the Union side.  On the other side, the side
+of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort
+whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a
+Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the
+fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few
+people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it.
+
+
+(*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me.
+
+
+(*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs.
+W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in
+the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from
+General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th.  At
+the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates
+had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's
+landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near
+Shiloh.  This letter shows that at that time General Lew.
+Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might
+happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his
+position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends
+it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg
+landing and Purdy road.  These two roads intersect nearly a mile
+west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our
+right rested.  In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises
+General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his
+letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter
+was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the
+4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and
+suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a
+company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at
+the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that
+they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and
+from the different camps."
+
+This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has
+been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at
+the battle of Shiloh.  It shows that he naturally, with no more
+experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms,
+would take the particular road that he did start upon in the
+absence of orders to move by a different road.
+
+The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent
+dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found
+that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front
+and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very
+much in rear of the position of his advance.  This falling back
+had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up
+to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the
+road nearest the river.  But my order was verbal, and to a staff
+officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am
+not competent to say just what order the General actually
+received.
+
+General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at
+Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and
+a half miles out.  Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace
+early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the
+Second.  If the position of our front had not changed, the road
+which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right
+than the River road.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885.
+
+
+(*8) NOTE:  In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote
+for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook,
+who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some
+unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because
+of the condition of his troops.  General Badeau, in his history,
+also makes the same statement, on my authority.  Out of justice
+to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a
+point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the
+6th.  From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the
+passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep
+in mud, which made marching slow.  The division had not only
+marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the
+rain all night without rest.  It was engaged in the battle of
+the second day and did as good service as its position
+allowed.  In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a
+conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest
+commendation from division commanders in the Army of the
+Tennessee.  General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes
+mention of this fact.  General McCook himself belongs to a family
+which furnished many volunteers to the army.  I refer to these
+circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook
+injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent
+one would suppose from the public press.  I am not willing to do
+any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I
+am always willing to make the fullest admission.
+
+
+(*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the
+time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my
+recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were
+promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th
+Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri,
+M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and
+John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers.
+
+
+(*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate
+battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats,
+the De Soto.  Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his
+vessel.  However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew
+her up.  Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy.
+With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the
+New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf
+and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg.
+
+
+(*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade
+on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River.
+
+
+(*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of
+Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied
+me to Carthage.  I furnished an ambulance for his use and that
+of some of the State officers who accompanied him.
+
+
+(*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I
+proposed to make, he called to see me about it.  I recollect
+that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river
+to a house a short distance back from the levee.  I was seated
+on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman
+came up.  After a few moments' conversation he said that he would
+like to see me alone.  We passed into the house together and shut
+the door after us.  Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move
+I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position
+voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or
+a long time--to get me in.  I was going into the enemy's country,
+with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points
+strongly fortified above and below.  He said that it was an
+axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an
+enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would
+guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc.  He pointed out
+all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign
+proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to
+make.  This was, in substance, to go back until high ground
+could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there
+and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being
+always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster.  I
+said this would take us back to Memphis.  Sherman then said that
+was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad
+from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced.  To
+this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the
+lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election
+went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary
+enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and
+conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far
+as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of
+supplies would be of no use:  neither men to hold them nor
+supplies to put in them would be furnished.  The problem for us
+was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was
+lost.  No progress was being made in any other field, and we had
+to go on.
+
+Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins,
+embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and
+asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals
+upon the subject.  Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I
+did not see any reason for changing my plans.  The letter was
+not answered and the subect was not subsequently mentioned
+between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I
+remember of.  I did not regard the letter as official, and
+consequently did not preserve it.  General Sherman furnished a
+copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of
+my campaigns.  I did not regard either the conversation between
+us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply
+friendly advice which the relations between us fully
+justified.  Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a
+success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered
+by himself.  I make this statement here to correct an impression
+which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's
+prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation.
+
+
+(*14) Meant Edward's Station.
+
+(*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN:
+
+Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to
+Major-General Thomas.  You having been over the ground in
+person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further
+instructions will not be necessary for you.  It is particularly
+desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from
+communication with the South, but being confronted by a large
+force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is
+to be effected until the result of our first effort is known.
+
+I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to
+Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which,
+if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above
+Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or
+thereabouts.
+
+U. S. GRANT
+Maj.-Gen'l.
+
+
+CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga:
+
+All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's
+position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight.  Not being
+provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the
+mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot
+be given as might be desirable.  However, the general plan, you
+understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him
+strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a
+crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of
+Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the
+heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your
+chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern
+extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can
+concentrate against him.  You will co-operate with Sherman.  The
+troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your
+left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend
+fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of
+one division in readiness to move wherever ordered.  This
+division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the
+most practicable line for making an attack up the valley.  Your
+effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your
+advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and
+moving as near simultaneously with him as possible.  The
+junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will
+be at once established between the two armies by roads on the
+south bank of the river.  Further movements will then depend on
+those of the enemy.  Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily
+held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have
+there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland.  Howard's
+corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at
+Chattanooga or with Sherman.  It should be marched on Friday
+night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower
+down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness
+for such orders as may become necessary.  All these troops will
+be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one
+hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry
+soldier.  Special care should be taken by all officers to see
+that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away.  You
+will call on the engineer department for such preparations as
+you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery
+over the creek.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform
+after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying
+the ridge.
+
+(*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga
+
+General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel
+with only slight skirmishing.  His right now rests at the tunnel
+and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek.  I have
+instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in
+the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will
+be in cooperation.  Your command will either carry the
+rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the
+left, as the presence of the enemy may require.  If Hooker's
+position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small
+force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where
+he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with
+all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable
+road.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*18) WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga
+is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command,
+my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill,
+courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great
+difficulties, have effected that important object.  God bless you
+all,
+
+A. LINCOLN,
+
+President U. S.
+
+
+(*19) General John G. Foster.
+
+
+(*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill.,
+subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General
+Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword.  The
+scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running
+nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the
+names of the battles in which General Grant had participated.
+
+Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at
+Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and
+Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the
+government at Washington.
+
+
+(*21) WASHINGTON, D. C.
+December 29, 1863.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on
+account of disability from old wounds.  Should his request be
+granted, who would you like as his successor?  It is possible
+that Schofield will be sent to your command.
+
+H. W. HALLECK
+General-in-Chief.
+(OFFICIAL.)
+
+
+(*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix.
+
+
+(*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+April 4, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me
+to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts
+of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre.  For
+your information I now write you my programme, as at present
+determined upon.
+
+I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up
+his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to
+turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the
+navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New
+Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to
+hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the
+number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number
+necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less
+than twenty-five thousand men.  To this I will add five thousand
+men from Missouri.  With this force he is to commence operations
+against Mobile as soon as he can.  It will be impossible for him
+to commence too early.
+
+Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate
+against Richmond from the south side of the James River.  This
+will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W.
+F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore
+the left wing.  I will stay with the Army of the Potomac,
+increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five
+thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army,
+wherever it may be found.
+
+Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one,
+under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the
+other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to
+move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
+
+Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about
+Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord.  His force will
+be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand
+men of all arms.
+
+You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up
+and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as
+you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war
+resources.
+
+I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but
+simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave
+you free to execute it in your own way.  Submit to me, however,
+as early as you can, your plan of operations.
+
+As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he
+can.  Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the
+18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Sigel is
+concentrating now.  None will move from their places of
+rendezvous until I direct, except Banks.  I want to be ready to
+move by the 25th inst., if possible.  But all I can now direct
+is that you get ready as soon as possible.  I know you will have
+difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to
+where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish
+it.
+
+From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do
+not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I
+can take troops from there.  With the long line of railroad
+Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move
+directly to his front.  In this way he must get through to
+inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from
+one of his armies a large force to prevent it.  In other words,
+if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one
+else skins.
+
+I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report,
+Appendix.
+
+
+(*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA.,
+April 9, 1864.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE
+Com'd'g Army of the Potomac.
+
+For information and as instruction to govern your preparations
+for the coming campaign, the following is communicated
+confidentially for your own perusal alone.
+
+So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and
+towards one common centre.  Banks has been instructed to turn
+over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the
+navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and
+to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to
+move on Mobile.  This he is to do without reference to other
+movements.  From the scattered condition of his command,
+however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans
+before the 1st of May, if so soon.  Sherman will move at the same
+time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army
+being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate
+aim.  If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to
+Mobile with the aid of Banks.
+
+Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of
+the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his
+front.  This he has been directed to do, and is now making
+preparations for it.  Two columns of his command will make south
+at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from
+ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the
+other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under
+Brig.-General Crook.  The former of these will endeavor to reach
+the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington,
+and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and
+return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join
+you.  The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward
+to join Ord.  The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries
+would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to
+within easy hauling distance of every position the army could
+occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee could, if
+he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather
+interior to the one I would have to take in following.  A
+movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all
+that was done would have to be done with the supplies and
+ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting this latter
+plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies
+possible to take with us was considered.  The country over which
+we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that
+we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison to force a passage
+southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and
+Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting
+Richmond with all the South and South-west.
+
+Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South
+Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000
+men into the field directly to his front.  The force will be
+commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith.  With Smith and Gillmore,
+Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from
+the south side of the river.  His movement will be simultaneous
+with yours.
+
+Lee's army will be your objective point.  Wherever Lee goes,
+there you will go also.  The only point upon which I am now in
+doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above
+or below him.  Each plan presents great advantages over the
+other with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee is
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on
+a raid.  But if we take this route, all we do must be done
+whilst the rations we start with hold out.  We separate from
+Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate.  By the
+other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies
+until another is secured on the York or James rivers.
+
+These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more
+fully than I can write them.
+
+Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce
+you.  Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after
+the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from
+Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it.  This will enable
+you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the
+front.
+
+There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and
+transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall
+back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and
+yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such.
+What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing
+baggage to the very lowest possible standard.  Two wagons to a
+regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should
+be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and
+ordnance stores.  One wagon to brigade and one to division
+headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters.
+
+Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make
+arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded
+to White [louse on the Pamunkey.  Your estimates for this
+contingency should be made at once.  If not wanted there, there
+is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or
+elsewhere.
+
+If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made
+for ordnance stores.  I would say not much short of five hundred
+rounds of infantry ammunition would do.  By the other, half the
+amount would be sufficient.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+(*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of
+the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave
+our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and
+estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000:  and
+General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman
+the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and
+was broken by his depleted command, remarks:  "The disparity of
+forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my
+two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners,
+representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and
+three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the
+enemy."
+
+
+(*27)
+UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864.
+
+[COMPILED.]
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow.
+          First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank.
+          Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll.
+
+     Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays.
+
+     Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott.
+          First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster.
+          
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford.
+          First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler.
+          Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright.
+          First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin.
+          Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson.
+          First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter.
+          First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox.
+          First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero.
+          First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas.
+
+          Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall.
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery.
+
+     Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton.
+          First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching.
+          Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins.
+          First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson.
+          Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom.
+          Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh.
+
+
+GENERAL HEADQUARTERS.......
+          Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick.
+          Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham.
+
+
+
+CONFEDERATE ARMY.
+
+Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by
+GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834.
+
+    First Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a)
+     Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's      "
+          "     Eppa Hunton's      "
+          "     Wm. R. Terry's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b)
+     Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade
+           "    E. M. Law's (c)     "
+           "    John Bratton's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d)
+     Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade
+           "    B. G. Humphreys'   "
+           "    Goode Bryan's      "
+           "    Kershaw's (Old)    "
+
+
+    Second Army Corps:  MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e)
+         "      John Pegram 's   "   (f)
+         "      Gordon's         "   (g)
+     Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division.
+     Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h)
+     Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h)
+         "      Geo H. Stewart's "  (h)
+         "      L. A. Stafford's "  (e)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i)
+         "      Geo. Dole's      "   (k)
+         "      S. D. Ramseur's Brigade.
+         "      C. A. Battle's   "
+         "      R. D. Johnston's " (f)
+
+
+    Third Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l)     
+     Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade.
+                Mahone's             "
+     Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's       "  (m)
+        "       A. R. Wright's       "
+        "       Joseph Finegan's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n)
+        "       James H. Lane's   "
+        "       Sam'l McCowan's   "
+        "       Alfred M. Scale's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade.
+        "       John R. Cooke's  "
+        "       D. McRae's       "
+        "       J. J. Archer's   "
+        "       H. H. Walker's   "
+
+           _unattached_:  5th Alabama Battalion.
+
+
+  Cavalry Corps:  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division
+     Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade
+        "      L. L. Lomax's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade.
+        "       P. M. B. Young's   "
+        "       Thomas L. Rosser's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade.
+        "      J. R. Chambliss's    "
+
+
+  Artillery Reserve:  BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding.
+
+BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.*
+     Cabell's Battalion.
+          Manly's Battery.
+          1st Co. Richmond Howitzers.
+          Carleton's Battery.
+          Calloway's Battery.
+
+     Haskell's Battalion.
+          Branch's Battery.
+          Nelson's    "
+          Garden's    "
+          Rowan       "
+
+     Huger's Battalion.
+          Smith's Battery.
+          Moody      "
+          Woolfolk   "
+          Parker's   "
+          Taylor's   "
+          Fickling's "
+          Martin's   "
+
+     Gibb's Battalion.
+          Davidson's Battery.
+          Dickenson's   "
+          Otey's        "
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION.
+
+     Braxton's Battalion.
+          Lee Battery.
+          1st Md. Artillery.
+          Stafford    "
+          Alleghany   "
+
+     Cutshaw's Battalion.
+          Charlotteville Artillery.
+          Staunton           "
+          Courtney           "
+
+     Carter's Battalion.
+          Morris Artillery.
+          Orange      "
+          King William Artillery.
+          Jeff Davis        "
+
+    Nelson's Battalion.
+          Amherst Artillery.
+          Milledge     "
+          Fluvauna     "
+
+     Brown's Battalion.
+          Powhatan Artillery.
+          2d Richmond Howitzers.
+          3d    "         "
+          Rockbridge Artillery.
+          Salem Flying Artillery.
+
+
+COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION.
+
+     Cutt's Battalion.
+          Ross's Battery.
+          Patterson's Battery.
+          Irwin Artillery.
+
+     Richardson's Battalion.
+          Lewis Artillery.
+          Donaldsonville Artillery.
+          Norfolk Light       "
+          Huger               "
+
+     Mclntosh 's Battalion.
+          Johnson's Battery.
+          Hardaway Artillery.
+          Danville      "
+          2d Rockbridge Artillery.
+
+     Pegram's Battalion.
+          Peedee Artillery.
+          Fredericksburg Artillery.
+          Letcher             "
+          Purcell Battery.
+          Crenshaw's Battery.
+
+     Poague's Battalion.
+          Madison Artillery.
+          Albemarle    "
+          Brooke       "
+          Charlotte    "
+
+
+NOTE.
+(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at
+above date.
+(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also
+contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by
+Colonel P. D. Bowles.
+(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not
+indicated.
+
+Organization of the Army of the Valley District. (e)
+Constituting York's Brigade.
+(f) In Ramseur's Division.
+(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and
+containing 12th Georgia Battalion.
+(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's
+Division.
+(i) Grimes' Brigade.
+(k) Cook's    "
+
+(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty;
+name not indicated.
+(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding.
+(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four
+brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not
+indicated.
+(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's,
+Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade.
+
+*But one general officer reported present for duty in the
+artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original.
+
+
+(*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May II, 1864.--3 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and
+6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in
+a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow.
+will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with
+Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and
+vigorous attack.  Warren and Wright should hold their corps as
+close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any
+diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any
+opportunity presents itself.  There is but little doubt in my
+mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely
+successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been
+heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S.,
+May 11, 1864.-4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE,
+Commanding 9th Army Corps.
+
+Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under
+cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the
+enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow.  You will move against the
+enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible
+vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the12th inst.  Let
+your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost
+secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy.
+
+I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock,
+in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the
+direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you
+and General Hancock with instructions to render you every
+assistance in their power.  Generals Warren and Wright will hold
+their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage
+of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will
+push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and
+four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work,
+including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of
+artillery.  The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the
+last ditch.  We have lost no organizations, not even that of a
+company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division
+(Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from
+the enemy.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut. -General.
+
+
+(*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864.
+
+HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for
+gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days'
+battles, to wit:  Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and
+Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S.
+S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York
+Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves,
+to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W.
+S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army.  His
+services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this
+recognition.  In making these recommendations I do not wish the
+claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but
+recommend his name to be sent in at the same time.  I would also
+ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth
+Army Corps.  I would further ask the confirmation of General
+Humphreys to the rank of Major-General.
+
+General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations.
+He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I
+have come in contact with.  If their services can be rewarded by
+promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the
+honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally
+gratified.  I would not like to see one of these promotions at
+this time without seeing both.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's
+right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg
+road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox
+Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little
+River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps
+and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford
+and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th
+corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges
+above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are
+held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army
+with equal facility.  The 5th and 6th corps with one division of
+the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short
+distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and
+near to the enemy.
+
+To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter
+of our men that even success would not justify.  To turn the
+enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on
+account of the swamp upon which his right rests.  To turn him by
+the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna
+River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to
+the movement of our army, to be crossed.  I have determined
+therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near
+Hanover Town.  This crosses all three streams at once, and
+leaves us still where we can draw supplies.
+
+During the last night the teams and artillery not in position,
+belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of
+that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river
+and moved down to the rear of the left.  As soon as it is dark
+this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced
+march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings.  The
+balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and
+follow as rapidly as possible.  The left wing will also withdraw
+from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of
+the right wing.  Lee's army is really whipped.  The prisoners we
+now take show it, and the action of his army shows it
+unmistakably.  A battle with them outside of intrenchments
+cannot be had.  Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE
+over the enemy, and attack him with confidence.  I may be
+mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already
+assured.  The promptness and rapidity with which you have
+forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling
+of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the
+enemy.
+
+We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and
+Fredericksburg roads.  I want to leave a gap on the roads north
+of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to
+import rail from elsewhere.  Even if a crossing is not effected
+at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on
+down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected.  I think it
+advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port
+Royal to the White House.  I wish you would direct this change
+at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there
+in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to
+hold it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed,
+suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it
+vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful
+point from wherever they can be taken.  I shall go to where you
+are in the course of an hour.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut. -General.
+
+
+(*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be
+impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would
+protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that
+road for supplying the army.  To do so would give us a long
+vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our
+strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of
+his lines of communication on the south side of the James.  My
+idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible
+north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of
+communication on the north side of the James River to transfer
+the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or
+follow him south if he should retreat.
+
+I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it
+of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now
+have.  They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or
+feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where
+in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them.
+Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to
+make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of
+the city.  I have therefore resolved upon the following plan:
+
+I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by
+the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable
+circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be
+sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about
+Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west.  When this
+is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James
+River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to
+City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on
+north side and crossing there.  To provide for this last and
+most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest
+class ought to be immediately provided.
+
+Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all
+sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the
+canal.  If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be
+lost to him also.  Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make
+the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south
+side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they
+can.
+
+The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels
+can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our
+army is not only confident of protecting itself without
+intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever
+and whenever he can be found without this protection.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER
+
+Commanding Dept. W. Va.
+
+General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with
+instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence
+there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way
+as much as possible.  The complete destruction of this road and
+of the canal on James River is of great importance to us.
+According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your
+guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It
+would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for
+a single day.  But that point is of so much importance to the
+enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met
+as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all.  I see,
+in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of
+your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route
+should be from Staunton via Charlottesville.  If you have so
+understood it, you will be doing just what I want.  The
+direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you
+in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately
+turn east by the most practicable road.  From thence move
+eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely
+and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan.  After the work
+laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done,
+proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in
+General Sheridan's instructions.
+
+If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed
+back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back.
+
+If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem
+it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal.
+Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE
+ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
+
+FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE.  | KILLED.  | WOUNDED.  | MISSING. | 
+AGGREGATE.  |
+
+
+Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 |
+Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601|
+North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 |
+Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold
+Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 |
+Total ................  | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 |
+
+
+(*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864.  11 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned
+their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred.  They no doubt
+expected troops from north of the James River to take their
+place before we discovered it.  General Butler took advantage of
+this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road
+between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain
+possession of.
+
+Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their
+commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the
+last five days.  Day and night has been all the same, no delays
+being allowed on any account.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding, etc.
+
+The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from
+Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from
+an attack there.  The chances they think will be better on
+Burnside's front.  If this is attempted it will be necessary to
+concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's
+line we expect to penetrate.  All officers should be fully
+impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond
+the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating
+it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they
+should not succeed in breaking through.
+
+To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery
+possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front
+during the assault.  Their lines would be sufficient for the
+support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought
+on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault,
+ready to follow in if successful.  The field artillery and
+infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in
+readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or
+to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders.  One
+thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders.  If
+they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it
+to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they
+should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without
+waiting for orders from army commanders.  General Ord can
+co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five
+thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce
+you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox
+and James rivers, as may be deemed best.
+
+This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all.  If not
+attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy
+the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if
+possible.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at
+Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up....
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th.
+
+
+(*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville Tenn.
+
+If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will
+lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to
+abandon the line of the Tennessee.  Should he attack you it is
+all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he
+fortifies.  Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster
+employees, citizens, etc.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville
+with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon
+ground of your own choosing.  After the repulse of Hood at
+Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to
+Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy
+where he was.  At this distance, however, I may err as to the
+best method of dealing with the enemy.  You will now suffer
+incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily
+disposed of.  Put forth therefore every possible exertion to
+attain this end.  Should you get him to retreating give him no
+peace.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to
+where he can cross it?  It seems to me whilst you should be
+getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after
+Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is.  Time strengthens
+him in all possibility as much as it does you.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your
+cavalry.  There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign
+back to the Ohio River.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Your dispatch of yesterday received.  It looks to me evident the
+enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are
+scattered.  Why not attack at once?  By all means avoid the
+contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat
+to the Ohio.  If you think necessary call on the governors of
+States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he
+should cross the river.  You clearly never should cross except
+in rear of the enemy.  Now is one of the finest opportunities
+ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the
+enemy.  If destroyed he never can replace it.  Use the means at
+your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that
+will resound from one end of the land to the other.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be
+witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you
+will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find.  Let
+there be no further delay.  Hood cannot even stand a drawn
+battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores.  If he
+retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of
+his army.  I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day
+announcing that you have moved.  Delay no longer for weather or
+reinforcements.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from
+Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go
+no further.  Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is
+entirely destroyed.  Your army will cheerfully suffer many
+privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for
+future operations.  Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take
+them from the country as the enemy have done.  Much is now
+expected.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan,
+March 24th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*43) See Appendix.
+
+
+(*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender
+inserted at this place, was copied from the original document
+furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S.
+Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time
+of the surrender.
+
+Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold
+order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations
+and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of
+General Grant.  After such alteration it was handed to General
+Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to
+General Grant.  The original was then transcribed by General
+Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General
+Lee.
+
+The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the
+original document and all interlineations and erasures.
+
+There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and
+Lee each signed the articles of surrender.  The document in the
+form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor
+of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and
+General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and
+handed it to General Grant.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
+Volume Two
+
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant, v2
+#2 in our series by Ulysses S. Grant
+
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+Title: Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant  [Volume Two]
+
+Author: Ulysses S. Grant
+
+Release Date: October, 1997 [Etext #1068]
+[Most recently updated: January 5, 2002]
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+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+IN TWO VOLUMES.
+
+by U. S. Grant
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+
+PREFACE.  [To both volumes]
+
+"Man proposes and God disposes."  There are but few important
+events in the affairs of men brought about by their own choice.
+
+Although frequently urged by friends to write my memoirs I had
+determined never to do so, nor to write anything for
+publication.  At the age of nearly sixty-two I received an
+injury from a fall, which confined me closely to the house while
+it did not apparently affect my general health.  This made study
+a pleasant pastime.  Shortly after, the rascality of a business
+partner developed itself by the announcement of a failure.  This
+was followed soon after by universal depression of all
+securities, which seemed to threaten the extinction of a good
+part of the income still retained, and for which I am indebted
+to the kindly act of friends.  At this juncture the editor of
+the Century Magazine asked me to write a few articles for him. I
+consented for the money it gave me; for at that moment I was
+living upon borrowed money.  The work I found congenial, and I
+determined to continue it.  The event is an important one for
+me, for good or evil; I hope for the former.
+
+In preparing these volumes for the public, I have entered upon
+the task with the sincere desire to avoid doing injustice to any
+one, whether on the National or Confederate side, other than the
+unavoidable injustice of not making mention often where special
+mention is due.  There must be many errors of omission in this
+work, because the subject is too large to be treated of in two
+volumes in such way as to do justice to all the officers and men
+engaged.  There were thousands of instances, during the
+rebellion, of individual, company, regimental and brigade deeds
+of heroism which deserve special mention and are not here
+alluded to.  The troops engaged in them will have to look to the
+detailed reports of their individual commanders for the full
+history of those deeds.
+
+The first volume, as well as a portion of the second, was
+written before I had reason to suppose I was in a critical
+condition of health.  Later I was reduced almost to the point of
+death, and it became impossible for me to attend to anything for
+weeks.  I have, however, somewhat regained my strength, and am
+able, often, to devote as many hours a day as a person should
+devote to such work.  I would have more hope of satisfying the
+expectation of the public if I could have allowed myself more
+time.  I have used my best efforts, with the aid of my eldest
+son, F. D. Grant, assisted by his brothers, to verify from the
+records every statement of fact given.  The comments are my own,
+and show how I saw the matters treated of whether others saw them
+in the same light or not.
+
+With these remarks I present these volumes to the public, asking
+no favor but hoping they will meet the approval of the reader.
+
+U.  S.  GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, July 1, 1885.
+
+
+
+
+PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT
+
+VOLUME II.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--ANDREW
+JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO
+NASHVILLE--VISITING KNOXVILLE--CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST
+TENNESSEE--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE
+ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT
+LINCOLN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+SHERMAN S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+CHAPTER L.
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT--LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK--REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE PETERSBURG
+--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE WELDON
+RAILROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK
+ROAD.
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT
+TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT
+FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS
+THE ENEMY.
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+APPENDIX
+
+
+
+Begin Volume Two
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XL.
+
+FIRST MEETING WITH SECRETARY STANTON--GENERAL
+ROSECRANS--COMMANDING MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSISSIPPI--
+ANDREW JOHNSON'S ADDRESS--ARRIVAL AT CHATTANOOGA.
+
+The reply (to my telegram of October 16, 1863, from Cairo,
+announcing my arrival at that point) came on the morning of the
+17th, directing me to proceed immediately to the Galt House,
+Louisville, where I would meet an officer of the War Department
+with my instructions.  I left Cairo within an hour or two after
+the receipt of this dispatch, going by rail via Indianapolis.
+Just as the train I was on was starting out of the depot at
+Indianapolis a messenger came running up to stop it, saying the
+Secretary of War was coming into the station and wanted to see
+me.
+
+I had never met Mr. Stanton up to that time, though we had held
+frequent conversations over the wires the year before, when I
+was in Tennessee.  Occasionally at night he would order the
+wires between the War Department and my headquarters to be
+connected, and we would hold a conversation for an hour or
+two.  On this occasion the Secretary was accompanied by Governor
+Brough of Ohio, whom I had never met, though he and my father had
+been old acquaintances.  Mr. Stanton dismissed the special train
+that had brought him to Indianapolis, and accompanied me to
+Louisville.
+
+Up to this time no hint had been given me of what was wanted
+after I left Vicksburg, except the suggestion in one of
+Halleck's dispatches that I had better go to Nashville and
+superintend the operation of troops sent to relieve Rosecrans.
+Soon after we started the Secretary handed me two orders, saying
+that I might take my choice of them.  The two were identical in
+all but one particular.  Both created the "Military Division of
+Mississippi," (giving me the command) composed of the
+Departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, and
+all the territory from the Alleghanies to the Mississippi River
+north of Banks's command in the south-west.  One order left the
+department commanders as they were, while the other relieved
+Rosecrans and assigned Thomas to his place.  I accepted the
+latter.  We reached Louisville after night and, if I remember
+rightly, in a cold, drizzling rain.  The Secretary of War told
+me afterwards that he caught a cold on that occasion from which
+he never expected to recover.  He never did.
+
+A day was spent in Louisville, the Secretary giving me the
+military news at the capital and talking about the
+disappointment at the results of some of the campaigns.  By the
+evening of the day after our arrival all matters of discussion
+seemed exhausted, and I left the hotel to spend the evening
+away, both Mrs. Grant (who was with me) and myself having
+relatives living in Louisville.  In the course of the evening
+Mr. Stanton received a dispatch from Mr. C. A. Dana, then in
+Chattanooga, informing him that unless prevented Rosecrans would
+retreat, and advising peremptory orders against his doing so.
+
+As stated before, after the fall of Vicksburg I urged strongly
+upon the government the propriety of a movement against
+Mobile.  General Rosecrans had been at Murfreesboro', Tennessee,
+with a large and well-equipped army from early in the year 1863,
+with Bragg confronting him with a force quite equal to his own
+at first, considering it was on the defensive.  But after the
+investment of Vicksburg Bragg's army was largely depleted to
+strengthen Johnston, in Mississippi, who was being reinforced to
+raise the siege.  I frequently wrote General Halleck suggesting
+that Rosecrans should move against Bragg.  By so doing he would
+either detain the latter's troops where they were or lay
+Chattanooga open to capture.  General Halleck strongly approved
+the suggestion, and finally wrote me that he had repeatedly
+ordered Rosecrans to advance, but that the latter had constantly
+failed to comply with the order, and at last, after having held a
+council of war, had replied in effect that it was a military
+maxim "not to fight two decisive battles at the same time."  If
+true, the maxim was not applicable in this case.  It would be
+bad to be defeated in two decisive battles fought the same day,
+but it would not be bad to win them.  I, however, was fighting
+no battle, and the siege of Vicksburg had drawn from Rosecrans'
+front so many of the enemy that his chances of victory were much
+greater than they would be if he waited until the siege was over,
+when these troops could be returned.  Rosecrans was ordered to
+move against the army that was detaching troops to raise the
+siege.  Finally he did move, on the 24th of June, but ten days
+afterwards Vicksburg surrendered, and the troops sent from Bragg
+were free to return.
+
+It was at this time that I recommended to the general-in-chief
+the movement against Mobile.  I knew the peril the Army of the
+Cumberland was in, being depleted continually, not only by
+ordinary casualties, but also by having to detach troops to hold
+its constantly extending line over which to draw supplies, while
+the enemy in front was as constantly being strengthened.  Mobile
+was important to the enemy, and in the absence of a threatening
+force was guarded by little else than artillery.  If threatened
+by land and from the water at the same time the prize would fall
+easily, or troops would have to be sent to its defence.  Those
+troops would necessarily come from Bragg.  My judgment was
+overruled, and the troops under my command were dissipated over
+other parts of the country where it was thought they could
+render the most service.
+
+Soon it was discovered in Washington that Rosecrans was in
+trouble and required assistance.  The emergency was now too
+immediate to allow us to give this assistance by making an
+attack in rear of Bragg upon Mobile.  It was therefore necessary
+to reinforce directly, and troops were sent from every available
+point.
+
+Rosecrans had very skilfully manoeuvred Bragg south of the
+Tennessee River, and through and beyond Chattanooga. If he had
+stopped and intrenched, and made himself strong there, all would
+have been right and the mistake of not moving earlier partially
+compensated.  But he pushed on, with his forces very much
+scattered, until Bragg's troops from Mississippi began to join
+him.  Then Bragg took the initiative.  Rosecrans had to fall
+back in turn, and was able to get his army together at
+Chickamauga, some miles south-east of Chattanooga, before the
+main battle was brought on.  The battle was fought on the 19th
+and 20th of September, and Rosecrans was badly defeated, with a
+heavy loss in artillery and some sixteen thousand men killed,
+wounded and captured.  The corps under Major-General George H.
+Thomas stood its ground, while Rosecrans, with Crittenden and
+McCook, returned to Chattanooga. Thomas returned also, but
+later, and with his troops in good order.  Bragg followed and
+took possession of Missionary Ridge, overlooking Chattanooga. He
+also occupied Lookout Mountain, west of the town, which Rosecrans
+had abandoned, and with it his control of the river and the river
+road as far back as Bridgeport.  The National troops were now
+strongly intrenched in Chattanooga Valley, with the Tennessee
+River behind them and the enemy occupying commanding heights to
+the east and west, with a strong line across the valley from
+mountain to mountain, and with Chattanooga Creek, for a large
+part of the way, in front of their line.
+
+On the 29th Halleck telegraphed me the above results, and
+directed all the forces that could be spared from my department
+to be sent to Rosecrans.  Long before this dispatch was received
+Sherman was on his way, and McPherson was moving east with most
+of the garrison of Vicksburg.
+
+A retreat at that time would have been a terrible disaster.  It
+would not only have been the loss of a most important strategic
+position to us, but it would have been attended with the loss of
+all the artillery still left with the Army of the Cumberland and
+the annihilation of that army itself, either by capture or
+demoralization.
+
+All supplies for Rosecrans had to be brought from Nashville. The
+railroad between this base and the army was in possession of the
+government up to Bridgeport, the point at which the road crosses
+to the south side of the Tennessee River; but Bragg, holding
+Lookout and Raccoon mountains west of Chattanooga, commanded the
+railroad, the river and the shortest and best wagon-roads, both
+south and north of the Tennessee, between Chattanooga and
+Bridgeport.  The distance between these two places is but
+twenty-six miles by rail, but owing to the position of Bragg,
+all supplies for Rosecrans had to be hauled by a circuitous
+route north of the river and over a mountainous country,
+increasing the distance to over sixty miles.
+
+This country afforded but little food for his animals, nearly
+ten thousand of which had already starved, and not enough were
+left to draw a single piece of artillery or even the ambulances
+to convey the sick.  The men had been on half rations of hard
+bread for a considerable time, with but few other supplies
+except beef driven from Nashville across the country.  The
+region along the road became so exhausted of food for the cattle
+that by the time they reached Chattanooga they were much in the
+condition of the few animals left alive there--"on the lift."
+Indeed, the beef was so poor that the soldiers were in the habit
+of saying, with a faint facetiousness, that they were living on
+"half rations of hard bread and BEEF DRIED ON THE HOOF."
+
+Nothing could be transported but food, and the troops were
+without sufficient shoes or other clothing suitable for the
+advancing season.  What they had was well worn.  The fuel within
+the Federal lines was exhausted, even to the stumps of trees.
+There were no teams to draw it from the opposite bank, where it
+was abundant.  The only way of supplying fuel, for some time
+before my arrival, had been to cut trees on the north bank of
+the river at a considerable distance up the stream, form rafts
+of it and float it down with the current, effecting a landing on
+the south side within our lines by the use of paddles or poles.
+It would then be carried on the shoulders of the men to their
+camps.
+
+If a retreat had occurred at this time it is not probable that
+any of the army would have reached the railroad as an organized
+body, if followed by the enemy.
+
+On the receipt of Mr. Dana's dispatch Mr. Stanton sent for me.
+Finding that I was out he became nervous and excited, inquiring
+of every person he met, including guests of the house, whether
+they knew where I was, and bidding them find me and send me to
+him at once.  About eleven o'clock I returned to the hotel, and
+on my way, when near the house, every person met was a messenger
+from the Secretary, apparently partaking of his impatience to see
+me.  I hastened to the room of the Secretary and found him pacing
+the floor rapidly in his dressing-gown.  Saying that the retreat
+must be prevented, he showed me the dispatch.  I immediately
+wrote an order assuming command of the Military Division of the
+Mississippi, and telegraphed it to General Rosecrans.  I then
+telegraphed to him the order from Washington assigning Thomas to
+the command of the Army of the Cumberland; and to Thomas that he
+must hold Chattanooga at all hazards, informing him at the same
+time that I would be at the front as soon as possible.  A prompt
+reply was received from Thomas, saying, "We will hold the town
+till we starve."  I appreciated the force of this dispatch later
+when I witnessed the condition of affairs which prompted it.  It
+looked, indeed, as if but two courses were open:  one to starve,
+the other to surrender or be captured.
+
+On the morning of the 20th of October I started, with my staff,
+and proceeded as far as Nashville.  At that time it was not
+prudent to travel beyond that point by night, so I remained in
+Nashville until the next morning.  Here I met for the first time
+Andrew Johnson, Military Governor of Tennessee.  He delivered a
+speech of welcome.  His composure showed that it was by no means
+his maiden effort.  It was long, and I was in torture while he
+was delivering it, fearing something would be expected from me
+in response.  I was relieved, however, the people assembled
+having apparently heard enough.  At all events they commenced a
+general hand-shaking, which, although trying where there is so
+much of it, was a great relief to me in this emergency.
+
+From Nashville I telegraphed to Burnside, who was then at
+Knoxville, that important points in his department ought to be
+fortified, so that they could be held with the least number of
+men; to Admiral Porter at Cairo, that Sherman's advance had
+passed Eastport, Mississippi, that rations were probably on
+their way from St. Louis by boat for supplying his army, and
+requesting him to send a gunboat to convoy them; and to Thomas,
+suggesting that large parties should be put at work on the
+wagon-road then in use back to Bridgeport.
+
+On the morning of the 21st we took the train for the front,
+reaching Stevenson Alabama, after dark.  Rosecrans was there on
+his way north.  He came into my car and we held a brief
+interview, in which he described very clearly the situation at
+Chattanooga, and made some excellent suggestions as to what
+should be done.  My only wonder was that he had not carried them
+out.  We then proceeded to Bridgeport, where we stopped for the
+night.  From here we took horses and made our way by Jasper and
+over Waldron's Ridge to Chattanooga. There had been much rain,
+and the roads were almost impassable from mud, knee-deep in
+places, and from wash-outs on the mountain sides.  I had been on
+crutches since the time of my fall in New Orleans, and had to be
+carried over places where it was not safe to cross on
+horseback.  The roads were strewn with the debris of broken
+wagons and the carcasses of thousands of starved mules and
+horses.  At Jasper, some ten or twelve miles from Bridgeport,
+there was a halt.  General O. O. Howard had his headquarters
+there.  From this point I telegraphed Burnside to make every
+effort to secure five hundred rounds of ammunition for his
+artillery and small-arms.  We stopped for the night at a little
+hamlet some ten or twelve miles farther on.  The next day we
+reached Chattanooga a little before dark.  I went directly to
+General Thomas's headquarters, and remaining there a few days,
+until I could establish my own.
+
+During the evening most of the general officers called in to pay
+their respects and to talk about the condition of affairs.  They
+pointed out on the map the line, marked with a red or blue
+pencil, which Rosecrans had contemplated falling back upon.  If
+any of them had approved the move they did not say so to me.  I
+found General W. F. Smith occupying the position of chief
+engineer of the Army of the Cumberland.  I had known Smith as a
+cadet at West Point, but had no recollection of having met him
+after my graduation, in 1843, up to this time.  He explained the
+situation of the two armies and the topography of the country so
+plainly that I could see it without an inspection.  I found that
+he had established a saw-mill on the banks of the river, by
+utilizing an old engine found in the neighborhood; and, by
+rafting logs from the north side of the river above, had got out
+the lumber and completed pontoons and roadway plank for a second
+bridge, one flying bridge being there already.  He was also
+rapidly getting out the materials and constructing the boats for
+a third bridge.  In addition to this he had far under way a
+steamer for plying between Chattanooga and Bridgeport whenever
+we might get possession of the river.  This boat consisted of a
+scow, made of the plank sawed out at the mill, housed in, and a
+stern wheel attached which was propelled by a second engine
+taken from some shop or factory.
+
+I telegraphed to Washington this night, notifying General
+Halleck of my arrival, and asking to have General Sherman
+assigned to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+headquarters in the field.  The request was at once complied
+with.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLI.
+
+ASSUMING THE COMMAND AT CHATTANOOGA--OPENING A LINE OF
+SUPPLIES--BATTLE OF WAUHATCHIE--ON THE PICKET LINE.
+
+The next day, the 24th, I started out to make a personal
+inspection, taking Thomas and Smith with me, besides most of the
+members of my personal staff.  We crossed to the north side of
+the river, and, moving to the north of detached spurs of hills,
+reached the Tennessee at Brown's Ferry, some three miles below
+Lookout Mountain, unobserved by the enemy.  Here we left our
+horses back from the river and approached the water on foot.
+There was a picket station of the enemy on the opposite side, of
+about twenty men, in full view, and we were within easy range.
+They did not fire upon us nor seem to be disturbed by our
+presence.  They must have seen that we were all commissioned
+officers.  But, I suppose, they looked upon the garrison of
+Chattanooga as prisoners of war, feeding or starving themselves,
+and thought it would be inhuman to kill any of them except in
+self-defence.
+
+That night I issued orders for opening the route to
+Bridgeport--a cracker line, as the soldiers appropriately termed
+it.  They had been so long on short rations that my first thought
+was the establishment of a line over which food might reach them.
+
+Chattanooga is on the south bank of the Tennessee, where that
+river runs nearly due west.  It is at the northern end of a
+valley five or six miles in width, through which Chattanooga
+Creek runs.  To the east of the valley is Missionary Ridge,
+rising from five to eight hundred feet above the creek and
+terminating somewhat abruptly a half mile or more before
+reaching the Tennessee.  On the west of the valley is Lookout
+Mountain, twenty-two hundred feet above-tide water.  Just below
+the town the Tennessee makes a turn to the south and runs to the
+base of Lookout Mountain, leaving no level ground between the
+mountain and river.  The Memphis and Charleston Railroad passes
+this point, where the mountain stands nearly perpendicular. East
+of Missionary Ridge flows the South Chickamauga River; west of
+Lookout Mountain is Lookout Creek; and west of that, Raccoon
+Mountains.  Lookout Mountain, at its northern end, rises almost
+perpendicularly for some distance, then breaks off in a gentle
+slope of cultivated fields to near the summit, where it ends in
+a palisade thirty or more feet in height.  On the gently sloping
+ground, between the upper and lower palisades, there is a single
+farmhouse, which is reached by a wagon-road from the valley east.
+
+The intrenched line of the enemy commenced on the north end of
+Missionary Ridge and extended along the crest for some distance
+south, thence across Chattanooga valley to Lookout Mountain.
+Lookout Mountain was also fortified and held by the enemy, who
+also kept troops in Lookout valley west, and on Raccoon
+Mountain, with pickets extending down the river so as to command
+the road on the north bank and render it useless to us.  In
+addition to this there was an intrenched line in Chattanooga
+valley extending from the river east of the town to Lookout
+Mountain, to make the investment complete.  Besides the
+fortifications on Mission Ridge, there was a line at the base of
+the hill, with occasional spurs of rifle-pits half-way up the
+front.  The enemy's pickets extended out into the valley towards
+the town, so far that the pickets of the two armies could
+converse.  At one point they were separated only by the narrow
+creek which gives its name to the valley and town, and from
+which both sides drew water.  The Union lines were shorter than
+those of the enemy.
+
+Thus the enemy, with a vastly superior force, was strongly
+fortified to the east, south, and west, and commanded the river
+below.  Practically, the Army of the Cumberland was besieged.
+The enemy had stopped with his cavalry north of the river the
+passing of a train loaded with ammunition and medical
+supplies.  The Union army was short of both, not having
+ammunition enough for a day's fighting.
+
+General Halleck had, long before my coming into this new field,
+ordered parts of the 11th and 12th corps, commanded respectively
+by Generals Howard and Slocum, Hooker in command of the whole,
+from the Army of the Potomac to reinforce Rosecrans.  It would
+have been folly to send them to Chattanooga to help eat up the
+few rations left there.  They were consequently left on the
+railroad, where supplies could be brought to them.  Before my
+arrival, Thomas ordered their concentration at Bridgeport.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been so instrumental in preparing for
+the move which I was now about to make, and so clear in his
+judgment about the manner of making it, that I deemed it but
+just to him that he should have command of the troops detailed
+to execute the design, although he was then acting as a staff
+officer and was not in command of troops.
+
+On the 24th of October, after my return to Chattanooga, the
+following details were made:  General Hooker, who was now at
+Bridgeport, was ordered to cross to the south side of the
+Tennessee and march up by Whitesides and Wauhatchie to Brown's
+Ferry.  General Palmer, with a division of the 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland, was ordered to move down the river on the
+north side, by a back road, until opposite Whitesides, then
+cross and hold the road in Hooker's rear after he had passed.
+Four thousand men were at the same time detailed to act under
+General Smith directly from Chattanooga. Eighteen hundred of
+them, under General Hazen, were to take sixty pontoon boats, and
+under cover of night float by the pickets of the enemy at the
+north base of Lookout, down to Brown's Ferry, then land on the
+south side and capture or drive away the pickets at that
+point.  Smith was to march with the remainder of the detail,
+also under cover of night, by the north bank of the river to
+Brown's Ferry, taking with him all the material for laying the
+bridge as soon as the crossing was secured.
+
+On the 26th, Hooker crossed the river at Bridgeport and
+commenced his eastward march.  At three o'clock on the morning
+of the 27th, Hazen moved into the stream with his sixty pontoons
+and eighteen hundred brave and well-equipped men.  Smith started
+enough in advance to be near the river when Hazen should
+arrive.  There are a number of detached spurs of hills north of
+the river at Chattanooga, back of which is a good road parallel
+to the stream, sheltered from the view from the top of
+Lookout.  It was over this road Smith marched.  At five o'clock
+Hazen landed at Brown's Ferry, surprised the picket guard, and
+captured most of it.  By seven o'clock the whole of Smith's
+force was ferried over and in possession of a height commanding
+the ferry.  This was speedily fortified, while a detail was
+laying the pontoon bridge.  By ten o'clock the bridge was laid,
+and our extreme right, now in Lookout valley, was fortified and
+connected with the rest of the army.  The two bridges over the
+Tennessee River--a flying one at Chattanooga and the new one at
+Brown's Ferry--with the road north of the river, covered from
+both the fire and the view of the enemy, made the connection
+complete.  Hooker found but slight obstacles in his way, and on
+the afternoon of the 28th emerged into Lookout valley at
+Wauhatchie.  Howard marched on to Brown's Ferry, while Geary,
+who commanded a division in the 12th corps, stopped three miles
+south.  The pickets of the enemy on the river below were now cut
+off, and soon came in and surrendered.
+
+The river was now opened to us from Lookout valley to
+Bridgeport.  Between Brown's Ferry and Kelly's Ferry the
+Tennessee runs through a narrow gorge in the mountains, which
+contracts the stream so much as to increase the current beyond
+the capacity of an ordinary steamer to stem it.  To get up these
+rapids, steamers must be cordelled; that is, pulled up by ropes
+from the shore.  But there is no difficulty in navigating the
+stream from Bridgeport to Kelly's Ferry.  The latter point is
+only eight miles from Chattanooga and connected with it by a
+good wagon-road, which runs through a low pass in the Raccoon
+Mountains on the south side of the river to Brown's Ferry,
+thence on the north side to the river opposite Chattanooga.
+There were several steamers at Bridgeport, and abundance of
+forage, clothing and provisions.
+
+On the way to Chattanooga I had telegraphed back to Nashville
+for a good supply of vegetables and small rations, which the
+troops had been so long deprived of.  Hooker had brought with
+him from the east a full supply of land transportation.  His
+animals had not been subjected to hard work on bad roads without
+forage, but were in good condition.  In five days from my arrival
+in Chattanooga the way was open to Bridgeport and, with the aid
+of steamers and Hooker's teams, in a week the troops were
+receiving full rations.  It is hard for any one not an
+eye-witness to realize the relief this brought.  The men were
+soon reclothed and also well fed, an abundance of ammunition was
+brought up, and a cheerfulness prevailed not before enjoyed in
+many weeks.  Neither officers nor men looked upon themselves any
+longer as doomed.  The weak and languid appearance of the troops,
+so visible before, disappeared at once.  I do not know what the
+effect was on the other side, but assume it must have been
+correspondingly depressing.  Mr. Davis had visited Bragg but a
+short time before, and must have perceived our condition to be
+about as Bragg described it in his subsequent report.  "These
+dispositions," he said, "faithfully sustained, insured the
+enemy's speedy evacuation of Chattanooga for want of food and
+forage.  Possessed of the shortest route to his depot, and the
+one by which reinforcements must reach him, we held him at our
+mercy, and his destruction was only a question of time."  But
+the dispositions were not "faithfully sustained," and I doubt
+not but thousands of men engaged in trying to "sustain" them now
+rejoice that they were not.  There was no time during the
+rebellion when I did not think, and often say, that the South
+was more to be benefited by its defeat than the North.  The
+latter had the people, the institutions, and the territory to
+make a great and prosperous nation.  The former was burdened
+with an institution abhorrent to all civilized people not
+brought up under it, and one which degraded labor, kept it in
+ignorance, and enervated the governing class.  With the outside
+world at war with this institution, they could not have extended
+their territory.  The labor of the country was not skilled, nor
+allowed to become so.  The whites could not toil without
+becoming degraded, and those who did were denominated "poor
+white trash."  The system of labor would have soon exhausted the
+soil and left the people poor.  The non-slaveholders would have
+left the country, and the small slaveholder must have sold out
+to his more fortunate neighbor.  Soon the slaves would have
+outnumbered the masters, and, not being in sympathy with them,
+would have risen in their might and exterminated them.  The war
+was expensive to the South as well as to the North, both in
+blood and treasure, but it was worth all it cost.
+
+The enemy was surprised by the movements which secured to us a
+line of supplies.  He appreciated its importance, and hastened
+to try to recover the line from us.  His strength on Lookout
+Mountain was not equal to Hooker's command in the valley
+below.  From Missionary Ridge he had to march twice the distance
+we had from Chattanooga, in order to reach Lookout Valley; but on
+the night of the 28th and 29th an attack was made on Geary at
+Wauhatchie by Longstreet's corps.  When the battle commenced,
+Hooker ordered Howard up from Brown's Ferry.  He had three miles
+to march to reach Geary.  On his way he was fired upon by rebel
+troops from a foot-hill to the left of the road and from which
+the road was commanded.  Howard turned to the left, charged up
+the hill and captured it before the enemy had time to intrench,
+taking many prisoners.  Leaving sufficient men to hold this
+height, he pushed on to reinforce Geary.  Before he got up,
+Geary had been engaged for about three hours against a vastly
+superior force.  The night was so dark that the men could not
+distinguish one from another except by the light of the flashes
+of their muskets.  In the darkness and uproar Hooker's teamsters
+became frightened and deserted their teams.  The mules also
+became frightened, and breaking loose from their fastenings
+stampeded directly towards the enemy.  The latter, no doubt,
+took this for a charge, and stampeded in turn.  By four o'clock
+in the morning the battle had entirely ceased, and our "cracker
+line" was never afterward disturbed.
+
+In securing possession of Lookout Valley, Smith lost one man
+killed and four or five wounded.  The enemy lost most of his
+pickets at the ferry, captured.  In the night engagement of the
+28th-9th Hooker lost 416 killed and wounded.  I never knew the
+loss of the enemy, but our troops buried over one hundred and
+fifty of his dead and captured more than a hundred.
+
+After we had secured the opening of a line over which to bring
+our supplies to the army, I made a personal inspection to see
+the situation of the pickets of the two armies.  As I have
+stated, Chattanooga Creek comes down the centre of the valley to
+within a mile or such a matter of the town of Chattanooga, then
+bears off westerly, then north-westerly, and enters the
+Tennessee River at the foot of Lookout Mountain.  This creek,
+from its mouth up to where it bears off west, lay between the
+two lines of pickets, and the guards of both armies drew their
+water from the same stream.  As I would be under short-range
+fire and in an open country, I took nobody with me, except, I
+believe, a bugler, who stayed some distance to the rear.  I rode
+from our right around to our left.  When I came to the camp of
+the picket guard of our side, I heard the call, "Turn out the
+guard for the commanding general."  I replied, "Never mind the
+guard," and they were dismissed and went back to their tents.
+Just back of these, and about equally distant from the creek,
+were the guards of the Confederate pickets.  The sentinel on
+their post called out in like manner, "Turn out the guard for
+the commanding general," and, I believe, added, "General
+Grant."  Their line in a moment front-faced to the north, facing
+me, and gave a salute, which I returned.
+
+The most friendly relations seemed to exist between the pickets
+of the two armies.  At one place there was a tree which had
+fallen across the stream, and which was used by the soldiers of
+both armies in drawing water for their camps.  General
+Longstreet's corps was stationed there at the time, and wore
+blue of a little different shade from our uniform.  Seeing a
+soldier in blue on this log, I rode up to him, commenced
+conversing with him, and asked whose corps he belonged to.  He
+was very polite, and, touching his hat to me, said he belonged
+to General Longstreet's corps.  I asked him a few questions--but
+not with a view of gaining any particular information--all of
+which he answered, and I rode off.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLII.
+
+CONDITION OF THE ARMY--REBUILDING THE RAILROAD--GENERAL
+BURNSIDE'S SITUATION--ORDERS FOR BATTLE--PLANS FOR THE
+ATTACK--HOOKER'S POSITION--SHERMAN'S MOVEMENTS.
+
+Having got the Army of the Cumberland in a comfortable position,
+I now began to look after the remainder of my new command.
+Burnside was in about as desperate a condition as the Army of
+the Cumberland had been, only he was not yet besieged.  He was a
+hundred miles from the nearest possible base, Big South Fork of
+the Cumberland River, and much farther from any railroad we had
+possession of.  The roads back were over mountains, and all
+supplies along the line had long since been exhausted.  His
+animals, too, had been starved, and their carcasses lined the
+road from Cumberland Gap, and far back towards Lexington, Ky.
+East Tennessee still furnished supplies of beef, bread and
+forage, but it did not supply ammunition, clothing, medical
+supplies, or small rations, such as coffee, sugar, salt and rice.
+
+Sherman had started from Memphis for Corinth on the 11th of
+October.  His instructions required him to repair the road in
+his rear in order to bring up supplies.  The distance was about
+three hundred and thirty miles through a hostile country.  His
+entire command could not have maintained the road if it had been
+completed.  The bridges had all been destroyed by the enemy, and
+much other damage done.  A hostile community lived along the
+road; guerilla bands infested the country, and more or less of
+the cavalry of the enemy was still in the West.  Often Sherman's
+work was destroyed as soon as completed, and he only a short
+distance away.
+
+The Memphis and Charleston Railroad strikes the Tennessee River
+at Eastport, Mississippi.  Knowing the difficulty Sherman would
+have to supply himself from Memphis, I had previously ordered
+supplies sent from St. Louis on small steamers, to be convoyed
+by the navy, to meet him at Eastport.  These he got.  I now
+ordered him to discontinue his work of repairing roads and to
+move on with his whole force to Stevenson, Alabama, without
+delay.  This order was borne to Sherman by a messenger, who
+paddled down the Tennessee in a canoe and floated over Muscle
+Shoals; it was delivered at Iuka on the 27th.  In this Sherman
+was notified that the rebels were moving a force towards
+Cleveland, East Tennessee, and might be going to Nashville, in
+which event his troops were in the best position to beat them
+there.  Sherman, with his characteristic promptness, abandoned
+the work he was engaged upon and pushed on at once.  On the 1st
+of November he crossed the Tennessee at Eastport, and that day
+was in Florence, Alabama, with the head of column, while his
+troops were still crossing at Eastport, with Blair bringing up
+the rear.
+
+Sherman's force made an additional army, with cavalry,
+artillery, and trains, all to be supplied by the single track
+road from Nashville.  All indications pointed also to the
+probable necessity of supplying Burnside's command in East
+Tennessee, twenty-five thousand more, by the same route.  A
+single track could not do this.  I gave, therefore, an order to
+Sherman to halt General G. M. Dodge's command, of about eight
+thousand men, at Athens, and subsequently directed the latter to
+arrange his troops along the railroad from Decatur north towards
+Nashville, and to rebuild that road.  The road from Nashville to
+Decatur passes over a broken country, cut up with innumerable
+streams, many of them of considerable width, and with valleys
+far below the road-bed.  All the bridges over these had been
+destroyed, and the rails taken up and twisted by the enemy.  All
+the cars and locomotives not carried off had been destroyed as
+effectually as they knew how to destroy them.  All bridges and
+culverts had been destroyed between Nashville and Decatur, and
+thence to Stevenson, where the Memphis and Charleston and the
+Nashville and Chattanooga roads unite.  The rebuilding of this
+road would give us two roads as far as Stevenson over which to
+supply the army.  From Bridgeport, a short distance farther
+east, the river supplements the road.
+
+General Dodge, besides being a most capable soldier, was an
+experienced railroad builder.  He had no tools to work with
+except those of the pioneers--axes, picks, and spades.  With
+these he was able to intrench his men and protect them against
+surprises by small parties of the enemy.  As he had no base of
+supplies until the road could be completed back to Nashville,
+the first matter to consider after protecting his men was the
+getting in of food and forage from the surrounding country.  He
+had his men and teams bring in all the grain they could find, or
+all they needed, and all the cattle for beef, and such other food
+as could be found.  Millers were detailed from the ranks to run
+the mills along the line of the army.  When these were not near
+enough to the troops for protection they were taken down and
+moved up to the line of the road.  Blacksmith shops, with all
+the iron and steel found in them, were moved up in like
+manner.  Blacksmiths were detailed and set to work making the
+tools necessary in railroad and bridge building.  Axemen were
+put to work getting out timber for bridges and cutting fuel for
+locomotives when the road should be completed.  Car-builders
+were set to work repairing the locomotives and cars.  Thus every
+branch of railroad building, making tools to work with, and
+supplying the workmen with food, was all going on at once, and
+without the aid of a mechanic or laborer except what the command
+itself furnished.  But rails and cars the men could not make
+without material, and there was not enough rolling stock to keep
+the road we already had worked to its full capacity.  There were
+no rails except those in use.  To supply these deficiencies I
+ordered eight of the ten engines General McPherson had at
+Vicksburg to be sent to Nashville, and all the cars he had
+except ten.  I also ordered the troops in West Tennessee to
+points on the river and on the Memphis and Charleston road, and
+ordered the cars, locomotives and rails from all the railroads
+except the Memphis and Charleston to Nashville.  The military
+manager of railroads also was directed to furnish more rolling
+stock and, as far as he could, bridge material.  General Dodge
+had the work assigned him finished within forty days after
+receiving his orders.  The number of bridges to rebuild was one
+hundred and eighty-two, many of them over deep and wide chasms;
+the length of road repaired was one hundred and two miles.
+
+The enemy's troops, which it was thought were either moving
+against Burnside or were going to Nashville, went no farther
+than Cleveland.  Their presence there, however, alarmed the
+authorities at Washington, and, on account of our helpless
+condition at Chattanooga, caused me much uneasiness.  Dispatches
+were constantly coming, urging me to do something for Burnside's
+relief; calling attention to the importance of holding East
+Tennessee; saying the President was much concerned for the
+protection of the loyal people in that section, etc.  We had not
+at Chattanooga animals to pull a single piece of artillery, much
+less a supply train.  Reinforcements could not help Burnside,
+because he had neither supplies nor ammunition sufficient for
+them; hardly, indeed, bread and meat for the men he had.  There
+was no relief possible for him except by expelling the enemy
+from Missionary Ridge and about Chattanooga.
+
+On the 4th of November Longstreet left our front with about
+fifteen thousand troops, besides Wheeler's cavalry, five
+thousand more, to go against Burnside.  The situation seemed
+desperate, and was more aggravating because nothing could be
+done until Sherman should get up.  The authorities at Washington
+were now more than ever anxious for the safety of Burnside's
+army, and plied me with dispatches faster than ever, urging that
+something should be done for his relief.  On the 7th, before
+Longstreet could possibly have reached Knoxville, I ordered
+Thomas peremptorily to attack the enemy's right, so as to force
+the return of the troops that had gone up the valley.  I
+directed him to take mules, officers' horses, or animals
+wherever he could get them to move the necessary artillery.  But
+he persisted in the declaration that he could not move a single
+piece of artillery, and could not see how he could possibly
+comply with the order.  Nothing was left to be done but to
+answer Washington dispatches as best I could; urge Sherman
+forward, although he was making every effort to get forward, and
+encourage Burnside to hold on, assuring him that in a short time
+he should be relieved.  All of Burnside's dispatches showed the
+greatest confidence in his ability to hold his position as long
+as his ammunition held out.  He even suggested the propriety of
+abandoning the territory he held south and west of Knoxville, so
+as to draw the enemy farther from his base and make it more
+difficult for him to get back to Chattanooga when the battle
+should begin.  Longstreet had a railroad as far as Loudon; but
+from there to Knoxville he had to rely on wagon trains.
+Burnside's suggestion, therefore, was a good one, and it was
+adopted.  On the 14th I telegraphed him:
+
+"Sherman's advance has reached Bridgeport.  His whole force will
+be ready to move from there by Tuesday at farthest.  If you can
+hold Longstreet in check until he gets up, or by skirmishing and
+falling back can avoid serious loss to yourself and gain time, I
+will be able to force the enemy back from here and place a force
+between Longstreet and Bragg that must inevitably make the former
+take to the mountain-passes by every available road, to get to
+his supplies.  Sherman would have been here before this but for
+high water in Elk River driving him some thirty miles up that
+river to cross."
+
+And again later in the day, indicating my plans for his relief,
+as follows:
+
+"Your dispatch and Dana's just received.  Being there, you can
+tell better how to resist Longstreet's attack than I can
+direct.  With your showing you had better give up Kingston at
+the last moment and save the most productive part of your
+possessions.  Every arrangement is now made to throw Sherman's
+force across the river, just at and below the mouth of
+Chickamauga Creek, as soon as it arrives.  Thomas will attack on
+his left at the same time, and together it is expected to carry
+Missionary Ridge, and from there push a force on to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton.  Hooker will at the same time
+attack, and, if he can, carry Lookout Mountain.  The enemy now
+seems to be looking for an attack on his left flank.  This
+favors us.  To further confirm this, Sherman's advance division
+will march direct from Whiteside to Trenton.  The remainder of
+his force will pass over a new road just made from Whiteside to
+Kelly's Ferry, thus being concealed from the enemy, and leave
+him to suppose the whole force is going up Lookout Valley.
+Sherman's advance has only just reached Bridgeport.  The rear
+will only reach there on the 16th.  This will bring it to the
+19th as the earliest day for making the combined movement as
+desired.  Inform me if you think you can sustain yourself until
+this time.  I can hardly conceive of the enemy breaking through
+at Kingston and pushing for Kentucky.  If they should, however,
+a new problem would be left for solution.  Thomas has ordered a
+division of cavalry to the vicinity of Sparta. I will ascertain
+if they have started, and inform you.  It will be entirely out
+of the question to send you ten thousand men, not because they
+cannot be spared, but how would they be fed after they got even
+one day east from here?"
+
+Longstreet, for some reason or other, stopped at Loudon until
+the 13th.  That being the terminus of his railroad
+communications, it is probable he was directed to remain there
+awaiting orders.  He was in a position threatening Knoxville,
+and at the same time where he could be brought back speedily to
+Chattanooga. The day after Longstreet left Loudon, Sherman
+reached Bridgeport in person and proceeded on to see me that
+evening, the 14th, and reached Chattanooga the next day.
+
+My orders for battle were all prepared in advance of Sherman's
+arrival (*15), except the dates, which could not be fixed while
+troops to be engaged were so far away.  The possession of
+Lookout Mountain was of no special advantage to us now.  Hooker
+was instructed to send Howard's corps to the north side of the
+Tennessee, thence up behind the hills on the north side, and to
+go into camp opposite Chattanooga; with the remainder of the
+command, Hooker was, at a time to be afterwards appointed, to
+ascend the western slope between the upper and lower palisades,
+and so get into Chattanooga valley.
+
+The plan of battle was for Sherman to attack the enemy's right
+flank, form a line across it, extend our left over South
+Chickamauga River so as to threaten or hold the railroad in
+Bragg's rear, and thus force him either to weaken his lines
+elsewhere or lose his connection with his base at Chickamauga
+Station.  Hooker was to perform like service on our right.  His
+problem was to get from Lookout Valley to Chattanooga Valley in
+the most expeditious way possible; cross the latter valley
+rapidly to Rossville, south of Bragg's line on Missionary Ridge,
+form line there across the ridge facing north, with his right
+flank extended to Chickamauga Valley east of the ridge, thus
+threatening the enemy's rear on that flank and compelling him to
+reinforce this also.  Thomas, with the Army of the Cumberland,
+occupied the centre, and was to assault while the enemy was
+engaged with most of his forces on his two flanks.
+
+To carry out this plan, Sherman was to cross the Tennessee at
+Brown's Ferry and move east of Chattanooga to a point opposite
+the north end of Mission Ridge, and to place his command back of
+the foot-hills out of sight of the enemy on the ridge.  There are
+two streams called Chickamauga emptying into the Tennessee River
+east of Chattanooga--North Chickamauga, taking its rise in
+Tennessee, flowing south, and emptying into the river some seven
+or eight miles east; while the South Chickamauga, which takes its
+rise in Georgia, flows northward, and empties into the Tennessee
+some three or four miles above the town.  There were now one
+hundred and sixteen pontoons in the North Chickamauga River,
+their presence there being unknown to the enemy.
+
+At night a division was to be marched up to that point, and at
+two o'clock in the morning moved down with the current, thirty
+men in each boat.  A few were to land east of the mouth of the
+South Chickamauga, capture the pickets there, and then lay a
+bridge connecting the two banks of the river.  The rest were to
+land on the south side of the Tennessee, where Missionary Ridge
+would strike it if prolonged, and a sufficient number of men to
+man the boats were to push to the north side to ferry over the
+main body of Sherman's command while those left on the south
+side intrenched themselves.  Thomas was to move out from his
+lines facing the ridge, leaving enough of Palmer's corps to
+guard against an attack down the valley.  Lookout Valley being
+of no present value to us, and being untenable by the enemy if
+we should secure Missionary Ridge, Hooker's orders were
+changed.  His revised orders brought him to Chattanooga by the
+established route north of the Tennessee.  He was then to move
+out to the right to Rossville.
+
+Hooker's position in Lookout Valley was absolutely essential to
+us so long as Chattanooga was besieged.  It was the key to our
+line for supplying the army.  But it was not essential after the
+enemy was dispersed from our front, or even after the battle for
+this purpose was begun.  Hooker's orders, therefore, were
+designed to get his force past Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga
+Valley, and up to Missionary Ridge.  By crossing the north face
+of Lookout the troops would come into Chattanooga Valley in rear
+of the line held by the enemy across the valley, and would
+necessarily force its evacuation.  Orders were accordingly given
+to march by this route.  But days before the battle began the
+advantages as well as the disadvantages of this plan of action
+were all considered.  The passage over the mountain was a
+difficult one to make in the face of an enemy.  It might consume
+so much time as to lose us the use of the troops engaged in it at
+other points where they were more wanted.  After reaching
+Chattanooga Valley, the creek of the same name, quite a
+formidable stream to get an army over, had to be crossed.  I was
+perfectly willing that the enemy should keep Lookout Mountain
+until we got through with the troops on Missionary Ridge.  By
+marching Hooker to the north side of the river, thence up the
+stream, and recrossing at the town, he could be got in position
+at any named time; when in this new position, he would have
+Chattanooga Creek behind him, and the attack on Missionary Ridge
+would unquestionably cause the evacuation by the enemy of his
+line across the valley and on Lookout Mountain.  Hooker's order
+was changed accordingly.  As explained elsewhere, the original
+order had to be reverted to, because of a flood in the river
+rendering the bridge at Brown's Ferry unsafe for the passage of
+troops at the exact juncture when it was wanted to bring all the
+troops together against Missionary Ridge.
+
+The next day after Sherman's arrival I took him, with Generals
+Thomas and Smith and other officers, to the north side of the
+river, and showed them the ground over which Sherman had to
+march, and pointed out generally what he was expected to do.  I,
+as well as the authorities in Washington, was still in a great
+state of anxiety for Burnside's safety.  Burnside himself, I
+believe, was the only one who did not share in this anxiety.
+Nothing could be done for him, however, until Sherman's troops
+were up.  As soon, therefore, as the inspection was over,
+Sherman started for Bridgeport to hasten matters, rowing a boat
+himself, I believe, from Kelly's Ferry.  Sherman had left
+Bridgeport the night of the 14th, reached Chattanooga the
+evening of the 15th, made the above-described inspection on the
+morning of the 16th, and started back the same evening to hurry
+up his command, fully appreciating the importance of time.
+
+His march was conducted with as much expedition as the roads and
+season would admit of.  By the 20th he was himself at Brown's
+Ferry with the head of column, but many of his troops were far
+behind, and one division (Ewing's) was at Trenton, sent that way
+to create the impression that Lookout was to be taken from the
+south.  Sherman received his orders at the ferry, and was asked
+if he could not be ready for the assault the following
+morning.  News had been received that the battle had been
+commenced at Knoxville.  Burnside had been cut off from
+telegraphic communications.  The President, the Secretary of
+War, and General Halleck, were in an agony of suspense.  My
+suspense was also great, but more endurable, because I was where
+I could soon do something to relieve the situation.  It was
+impossible to get Sherman's troops up for the next day.  I then
+asked him if they could not be got up to make the assault on the
+morning of the 22d, and ordered Thomas to move on that date.  But
+the elements were against us.  It rained all the 20th and 21st.
+The river rose so rapidly that it was difficult to keep the
+pontoons in place.
+
+General Orlando B. Willcox, a division commander under Burnside,
+was at this time occupying a position farther up the valley than
+Knoxville--about Maynardville--and was still in telegraphic
+communication with the North.  A dispatch was received from him
+saying that he was threatened from the east.  The following was
+sent in reply:
+
+"If you can communicate with General Burnside, say to him that
+our attack on Bragg will commence in the morning.  If
+successful, such a move will be made as I think will relieve
+East Tennessee, if he can hold out.  Longstreet passing through
+our lines to Kentucky need not cause alarm.  He would find the
+country so bare that he would lose his transportation and
+artillery before reaching Kentucky, and would meet such a force
+before he got through, that he could not return."
+
+Meantime, Sherman continued his crossing without intermission as
+fast as his troops could be got up.  The crossing had to be
+effected in full view of the enemy on the top of Lookout
+Mountain.  Once over, however, the troops soon disappeared
+behind the detached hill on the north side, and would not come
+to view again, either to watchmen on Lookout Mountain or
+Missionary Ridge, until they emerged between the hills to strike
+the bank of the river.  But when Sherman's advance reached a
+point opposite the town of Chattanooga, Howard, who, it will be
+remembered, had been concealed behind the hills on the north
+side, took up his line of march to join the troops on the south
+side.  His crossing was in full view both from Missionary Ridge
+and the top of Lookout, and the enemy of course supposed these
+troops to be Sherman's.  This enabled Sherman to get to his
+assigned position without discovery.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIII.
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE--THOMAS CARRIES THE FIRST LINE OF THE
+ENEMY--SHERMAN CARRIES MISSIONARY RIDGE--BATTLE OF LOOKOUT
+MOUNTAIN--GENERAL HOOKER'S FIGHT.
+
+On the 20th, when so much was occurring to discourage--rains
+falling so heavily as to delay the passage of troops over the
+river at Brown's Ferry and threatening the entire breaking of
+the bridge; news coming of a battle raging at Knoxville; of
+Willcox being threatened by a force from the east--a letter was
+received from Bragg which contained these words:  "As there may
+still be some non-combatants in Chattanooga, I deem it proper to
+notify you that prudence would dictate their early withdrawal."
+Of course, I understood that this was a device intended to
+deceive; but I did not know what the intended deception was.  On
+the 22d, however, a deserter came in who informed me that Bragg
+was leaving our front, and on that day Buckner's division was
+sent to reinforce Longstreet at Knoxville, and another division
+started to follow but was recalled.  The object of Bragg's
+letter, no doubt, was in some way to detain me until Knoxville
+could be captured, and his troops there be returned to
+Chattanooga.
+
+During the night of the 21st the rest of the pontoon boats,
+completed, one hundred and sixteen in all, were carried up to
+and placed in North Chickamauga. The material for the roadway
+over these was deposited out of view of the enemy within a few
+hundred yards of the bank of the Tennessee, where the north end
+of the bridge was to rest.
+
+Hearing nothing from Burnside, and hearing much of the distress
+in Washington on his account, I could no longer defer operations
+for his relief.  I determined, therefore, to do on the 23d, with
+the Army of the Cumberland, what had been intended to be done on
+the 24th.
+
+The position occupied by the Army of the Cumberland had been
+made very strong for defence during the months it had been
+besieged.  The line was about a mile from the town, and extended
+from Citico Creek, a small stream running near the base of
+Missionary Ridge and emptying into the Tennessee about two miles
+below the mouth of the South Chickamauga, on the left, to
+Chattanooga Creek on the right.  All commanding points on the
+line were well fortified and well equipped with artillery.  The
+important elevations within the line had all been carefully
+fortified and supplied with a proper armament.  Among the
+elevations so fortified was one to the east of the town, named
+Fort Wood.  It owed its importance chiefly to the fact that it
+lay between the town and Missionary Ridge, where most of the
+strength of the enemy was.  Fort Wood had in it twenty-two
+pieces of artillery, most of which would reach the nearer points
+of the enemy's line.  On the morning of the 23d Thomas, according
+to instructions, moved Granger's corps of two divisions, Sheridan
+and T. J. Wood commanding, to the foot of Fort Wood, and formed
+them into line as if going on parade, Sheridan on the right,
+Wood to the left, extending to or near Citico Creek.  Palmer,
+commanding the 14th corps, held that part of our line facing
+south and southwest.  He supported Sheridan with one division
+(Baird's), while his other division under Johnson remained in
+the trenches, under arms, ready to be moved to any point.
+Howard's corps was moved in rear of the centre.  The picket
+lines were within a few hundred yards of each other.  At two
+o'clock in the afternoon all were ready to advance.  By this
+time the clouds had lifted so that the enemy could see from his
+elevated position all that was going on.  The signal for advance
+was given by a booming of cannon from Fort Wood and other points
+on the line.  The rebel pickets were soon driven back upon the
+main guards, which occupied minor and detached heights between
+the main ridge and our lines.  These too were carried before
+halting, and before the enemy had time to reinforce their
+advance guards.  But it was not without loss on both sides. This
+movement secured to us a line fully a mile in advance of the one
+we occupied in the morning, and the one which the enemy had
+occupied up to this time.  The fortifications were rapidly
+turned to face the other way.  During the following night they
+were made strong.  We lost in this preliminary action about
+eleven hundred killed and wounded, while the enemy probably lost
+quite as heavily, including the prisoners that were captured.
+With the exception of the firing of artillery, kept up from
+Missionary Ridge and Fort Wood until night closed in, this ended
+the fighting for the first day.
+
+The advantage was greatly on our side now, and if I could only
+have been assured that Burnside could hold out ten days longer I
+should have rested more easily.  But we were doing the best we
+could for him and the cause.
+
+By the night of the 23d Sherman's command was in a position to
+move, though one division (Osterhaus's) had not yet crossed the
+river at Brown's Ferry.  The continuous rise in the Tennessee
+had rendered it impossible to keep the bridge at that point in
+condition for troops to cross; but I was determined to move that
+night even without this division.  Orders were sent to Osterhaus
+accordingly to report to Hooker, if he could not cross by eight
+o'clock on the morning of the 24th.  Because of the break in the
+bridge, Hooker's orders were again changed, but this time only
+back to those first given to him.
+
+General W. F. Smith had been assigned to duty as Chief Engineer
+of the Military Division.  To him were given the general
+direction of moving troops by the boats from North Chickamauga,
+laying the bridge after they reached their position, and
+generally all the duties pertaining to his office of chief
+engineer.  During the night General Morgan L. Smith's division
+was marched to the point where the pontoons were, and the
+brigade of Giles A. Smith was selected for the delicate duty of
+manning the boats and surprising the enemy's pickets on the
+south bank of the river.  During this night also General J. M.
+Brannan, chief of artillery, moved forty pieces of artillery,
+belonging to the Army of the Cumberland, and placed them on the
+north side of the river so as to command the ground opposite, to
+aid in protecting the approach to the point where the south end
+of the bridge was to rest.  He had to use Sherman's artillery
+horses for this purpose, Thomas having none.
+
+At two o'clock in the morning, November 24th, Giles A. Smith
+pushed out from the North Chickamauga with his one hundred and
+sixteen boats, each loaded with thirty brave and well-armed
+men.  The boats with their precious freight dropped down quietly
+with the current to avoid attracting the attention of any one who
+could convey information to the enemy, until arriving near the
+mouth of South Chickamauga. Here a few boats were landed, the
+troops debarked, and a rush was made upon the picket guard known
+to be at that point.  The guard were surprised, and twenty of
+their number captured.  The remainder of the troops effected a
+landing at the point where the bridge was to start, with equally
+good results.  The work of ferrying over Sherman's command from
+the north side of the Tennessee was at once commenced, using the
+pontoons for the purpose.  A steamer was also brought up from the
+town to assist.  The rest of M. L. Smith's division came first,
+then the division of John E. Smith.  The troops as they landed
+were put to work intrenching their position.  By daylight the
+two entire divisions were over, and well covered by the works
+they had built.
+
+The work of laying the bridge, on which to cross the artillery
+and cavalry, was now begun.  The ferrying over the infantry was
+continued with the steamer and the pontoons, taking the
+pontoons, however, as fast as they were wanted to put in their
+place in the bridge.  By a little past noon the bridge was
+completed, as well as one over the South Chickamauga connecting
+the troops left on that side with their comrades below, and all
+the infantry and artillery were on the south bank of the
+Tennessee.
+
+Sherman at once formed his troops for assault on Missionary
+Ridge.  By one o'clock he started with M. L. Smith on his left,
+keeping nearly the course of Chickamauga River; J. E. Smith next
+to the right and a little to the rear; and Ewing still farther to
+the right and also a little to the rear of J. E. Smith's command,
+in column, ready to deploy to the right if an enemy should come
+from that direction.  A good skirmish line preceded each of
+these columns.  Soon the foot of the hill was reached; the
+skirmishers pushed directly up, followed closely by their
+supports.  By half-past three Sherman was in possession of the
+height without having sustained much loss.  A brigade from each
+division was now brought up, and artillery was dragged to the
+top of the hill by hand.  The enemy did not seem to be aware of
+this movement until the top of the hill was gained.  There had
+been a drizzling rain during the day, and the clouds were so low
+that Lookout Mountain and the top of Missionary Ridge were
+obscured from the view of persons in the valley.  But now the
+enemy opened fire upon their assailants, and made several
+attempts with their skirmishers to drive them away, but without
+avail.  Later in the day a more determined attack was made, but
+this, too, failed, and Sherman was left to fortify what he had
+gained.
+
+Sherman's cavalry took up its line of march soon after the
+bridge was completed, and by half-past three the whole of it was
+over both bridges and on its way to strike the enemy's
+communications at Chickamauga Station.  All of Sherman's command
+was now south of the Tennessee.  During the afternoon General
+Giles A. Smith was severely wounded and carried from the field.
+
+Thomas having done on the 23d what was expected of him on the
+24th, there was nothing for him to do this day except to
+strengthen his position.  Howard, however, effected a crossing
+of Citico Creek and a junction with Sherman, and was directed to
+report to him.  With two or three regiments of his command he
+moved in the morning along the banks of the Tennessee, and
+reached the point where the bridge was being laid.  He went out
+on the bridge as far as it was completed from the south end, and
+saw Sherman superintending the work from the north side and
+moving himself south as fast as an additional boat was put in
+and the roadway put upon it.  Howard reported to his new chief
+across the chasm between them, which was now narrow and in a few
+minutes closed.
+
+While these operations were going on to the east of Chattanooga,
+Hooker was engaged on the west.  He had three divisions:
+Osterhaus's, of the 15th corps, Army of the Tennessee; Geary's,
+12th corps, Army of the Potomac; and Cruft's, 14th corps, Army
+of the Cumberland.  Geary was on the right at Wauhatchie, Cruft
+at the centre, and Osterhaus near Brown's Ferry.  These troops
+were all west of Lookout Creek.  The enemy had the east bank of
+the creek strongly picketed and intrenched, and three brigades
+of troops in the rear to reinforce them if attacked.  These
+brigades occupied the summit of the mountain.  General Carter L.
+Stevenson was in command of the whole.  Why any troops, except
+artillery with a small infantry guard, were kept on the
+mountain-top, I do not see.  A hundred men could have held the
+summit--which is a palisade for more than thirty feet
+down--against the assault of any number of men from the position
+Hooker occupied.
+
+The side of Lookout Mountain confronting Hooker's command was
+rugged, heavily timbered, and full of chasms, making it
+difficult to advance with troops, even in the absence of an
+opposing force.  Farther up, the ground becomes more even and
+level, and was in cultivation.  On the east side the slope is
+much more gradual, and a good wagon road, zigzagging up it,
+connects the town of Chattanooga with the summit.
+
+Early on the morning of the 24th Hooker moved Geary's division,
+supported by a brigade of Cruft's, up Lookout Creek, to effect a
+crossing.  The remainder of Cruft's division was to seize the
+bridge over the creek, near the crossing of the railroad.
+Osterhaus was to move up to the bridge and cross it.  The bridge
+was seized by Gross's brigade after a slight skirmish with the
+pickets guarding it.  This attracted the enemy so that Geary's
+movement farther up was not observed.  A heavy mist obscured him
+from the view of the troops on the top of the mountain.  He
+crossed the creek almost unobserved, and captured the picket of
+over forty men on guard near by.  He then commenced ascending
+the mountain directly in his front.  By this time the enemy was
+seen coming down from their camps on the mountain slope, and
+filing into their rifle-pits to contest the crossing of the
+bridge.  By eleven o'clock the bridge was complete.  Osterhaus
+was up, and after some sharp skirmishing the enemy was driven
+away with considerable loss in killed and captured.
+
+While the operations at the bridge were progressing, Geary was
+pushing up the hill over great obstacles, resisted by the enemy
+directly in his front, and in face of the guns on top of the
+mountain.  The enemy, seeing their left flank and rear menaced,
+gave way, and were followed by Cruft and Osterhaus.  Soon these
+were up abreast of Geary, and the whole command pushed up the
+hill, driving the enemy in advance.  By noon Geary had gained
+the open ground on the north slope of the mountain, with his
+right close up to the base of the upper palisade, but there were
+strong fortifications in his front.  The rest of the command
+coming up, a line was formed from the base of the upper palisade
+to the mouth of Chattanooga Creek.
+
+Thomas and I were on the top of Orchard Knob.  Hooker's advance
+now made our line a continuous one.  It was in full view,
+extending from the Tennessee River, where Sherman had crossed,
+up Chickamauga River to the base of Mission Ridge, over the top
+of the north end of the ridge to Chattanooga Valley, then along
+parallel to the ridge a mile or more, across the valley to the
+mouth of Chattanooga Creek, thence up the slope of Lookout
+Mountain to the foot of the upper palisade.  The day was hazy,
+so that Hooker's operations were not visible to us except at
+moments when the clouds would rise.  But the sound of his
+artillery and musketry was heard incessantly.  The enemy on his
+front was partially fortified, but was soon driven out of his
+works.  During the afternoon the clouds, which had so obscured
+the top of Lookout all day as to hide whatever was going on from
+the view of those below, settled down and made it so dark where
+Hooker was as to stop operations for the time.  At four o'clock
+Hooker reported his position as impregnable.  By a little after
+five direct communication was established, and a brigade of
+troops was sent from Chattanooga to reinforce him.  These troops
+had to cross Chattanooga Creek and met with some opposition, but
+soon overcame it, and by night the commander, General Carlin,
+reported to Hooker and was assigned to his left.  I now
+telegraphed to Washington:  "The fight to-day progressed
+favorably.  Sherman carried the end of Missionary Ridge, and his
+right is now at the tunnel, and his left at Chickamauga Creek.
+Troops from Lookout Valley carried the point of the mountain,
+and now hold the eastern slope and a point high up.  Hooker
+reports two thousand prisoners taken, besides which a small
+number have fallen into our hands from Missionary Ridge."  The
+next day the President replied:  "Your dispatches as to fighting
+on Monday and Tuesday are here.  Well done.  Many thanks to
+all.  Remember Burnside."  And Halleck also telegraphed:  "I
+congratulate you on the success thus far of your plans.  I fear
+that Burnside is hard pushed, and that any further delay may
+prove fatal.  I know you will do all in your power to relieve
+him."
+
+The division of Jefferson C. Davis, Army of the Cumberland, had
+been sent to the North Chickamauga to guard the pontoons as they
+were deposited in the river, and to prevent all ingress or egress
+of citizens.  On the night of the 24th his division, having
+crossed with Sherman, occupied our extreme left from the upper
+bridge over the plain to the north base of Missionary Ridge.
+Firing continued to a late hour in the night, but it was not
+connected with an assault at any point.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIV.
+
+BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA--A GALLANT CHARGE--COMPLETE ROUT OF THE
+ENEMY--PURSUIT OF THE CONFEDERATES--GENERAL BRAGG--REMARKS ON
+CHATTANOOGA.
+
+At twelve o'clock at night, when all was quiet, I began to give
+orders for the next day, and sent a dispatch to Willcox to
+encourage Burnside.  Sherman was directed to attack at
+daylight.  Hooker was ordered to move at the same hour, and
+endeavor to intercept the enemy's retreat if he still remained;
+if he had gone, then to move directly to Rossville and operate
+against the left and rear of the force on Missionary Ridge.
+Thomas was not to move until Hooker had reached Missionary
+Ridge.  As I was with him on Orchard Knob, he would not move
+without further orders from me.
+
+The morning of the 25th opened clear and bright, and the whole
+field was in full view from the top of Orchard Knob.  It
+remained so all day.  Bragg's headquarters were in full view,
+and officers--presumably staff officers--could be seen coming
+and going constantly.
+
+The point of ground which Sherman had carried on the 24th was
+almost disconnected from the main ridge occupied by the enemy. A
+low pass, over which there is a wagon road crossing the hill, and
+near which there is a railroad tunnel, intervenes between the two
+hills.  The problem now was to get to the main ridge. The enemy
+was fortified on the point; and back farther, where the ground
+was still higher, was a second fortification commanding the
+first.  Sherman was out as soon as it was light enough to see,
+and by sunrise his command was in motion.  Three brigades held
+the hill already gained.  Morgan L. Smith moved along the east
+base of Missionary Ridge; Loomis along the west base, supported
+by two brigades of John E. Smith's division; and Corse with his
+brigade was between the two, moving directly towards the hill to
+be captured.  The ridge is steep and heavily wooded on the east
+side, where M. L. Smith's troops were advancing, but cleared and
+with a more gentle slope on the west side.  The troops advanced
+rapidly and carried the extreme end of the rebel works.  Morgan
+L. Smith advanced to a point which cut the enemy off from the
+railroad bridge and the means of bringing up supplies by rail
+from Chickamauga Station, where the main depot was located.  The
+enemy made brave and strenuous efforts to drive our troops from
+the position we had gained, but without success.  The contest
+lasted for two hours.  Corse, a brave and efficient commander,
+was badly wounded in this assault.  Sherman now threatened both
+Bragg's flank and his stores, and made it necessary for him to
+weaken other points of his line to strengthen his right.  From
+the position I occupied I could see column after column of
+Bragg's forces moving against Sherman.  Every Confederate gun
+that could be brought to bear upon the Union forces was
+concentrated upon him.  J. E. Smith, with two brigades, charged
+up the west side of the ridge to the support of Corse's command,
+over open ground and in the face of a heavy fire of both
+artillery and musketry, and reached the very parapet of the
+enemy.  He lay here for a time, but the enemy coming with a
+heavy force upon his right flank, he was compelled to fall back,
+followed by the foe.  A few hundred yards brought Smith's troops
+into a wood, where they were speedily reformed, when they
+charged and drove the attacking party back to his intrenchments.
+
+Seeing the advance, repulse, and second advance of J. E. Smith
+from the position I occupied, I directed Thomas to send a
+division to reinforce him.  Baird's division was accordingly
+sent from the right of Orchard Knob.  It had to march a
+considerable distance directly under the eye of the enemy to
+reach its position.  Bragg at once commenced massing in the same
+direction.  This was what I wanted.  But it had now got to be
+late in the afternoon, and I had expected before this to see
+Hooker crossing the ridge in the neighborhood of Rossville and
+compelling Bragg to mass in that direction also.
+
+The enemy had evacuated Lookout Mountain during the night, as I
+expected he would.  In crossing the valley he burned the bridge
+over Chattanooga Creek, and did all he could to obstruct the
+roads behind him.  Hooker was off bright and early, with no
+obstructions in his front but distance and the destruction above
+named.  He was detained four hours crossing Chattanooga Creek,
+and thus was lost the immediate advantage I expected from his
+forces.  His reaching Bragg's flank and extending across it was
+to be the signal for Thomas's assault of the ridge.  But
+Sherman's condition was getting so critical that the assault for
+his relief could not be delayed any longer.
+
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions had been lying under arms from
+early morning, ready to move the instant the signal was given. I
+now directed Thomas to order the charge at once (*16). I watched
+eagerly to see the effect, and became impatient at last that
+there was no indication of any charge being made.  The centre of
+the line which was to make the charge was near where Thomas and I
+stood, but concealed from view by an intervening forest.  Turning
+to Thomas to inquire what caused the delay, I was surprised to
+see Thomas J. Wood, one of the division commanders who was to
+make the charge, standing talking to him.  I spoke to General
+Wood, asking him why he did not charge as ordered an hour
+before.  He replied very promptly that this was the first he had
+heard of it, but that he had been ready all day to move at a
+moment's notice.  I told him to make the charge at once.  He was
+off in a moment, and in an incredibly short time loud cheering
+was heard, and he and Sheridan were driving the enemy's advance
+before them towards Missionary Ridge.  The Confederates were
+strongly intrenched on the crest of the ridge in front of us,
+and had a second line half-way down and another at the base.
+Our men drove the troops in front of the lower line of
+rifle-pits so rapidly, and followed them so closely, that rebel
+and Union troops went over the first line of works almost at the
+same time.  Many rebels were captured and sent to the rear under
+the fire of their own friends higher up the hill.  Those that
+were not captured retreated, and were pursued.  The retreating
+hordes being between friends and pursuers caused the enemy to
+fire high to avoid killing their own men.  In fact, on that
+occasion the Union soldier nearest the enemy was in the safest
+position.  Without awaiting further orders or stopping to
+reform, on our troops went to the second line of works; over
+that and on for the crest--thus effectually carrying out my
+orders of the 18th for the battle and of the 24th (*17) for this
+charge.
+
+I watched their progress with intense interest.  The fire along
+the rebel line was terrific.  Cannon and musket balls filled the
+air:  but the damage done was in small proportion to the
+ammunition expended.  The pursuit continued until the crest was
+reached, and soon our men were seen climbing over the
+Confederate barriers at different points in front of both
+Sheridan's and Wood's divisions.  The retreat of the enemy along
+most of his line was precipitate and the panic so great that
+Bragg and his officers lost all control over their men.  Many
+were captured, and thousands threw away their arms in their
+flight.
+
+Sheridan pushed forward until he reached the Chickamauga River
+at a point above where the enemy crossed.  He met some
+resistance from troops occupying a second hill in rear of
+Missionary Ridge, probably to cover the retreat of the main body
+and of the artillery and trains.  It was now getting dark, but
+Sheridan, without halting on that account pushed his men forward
+up this second hill slowly and without attracting the attention
+of the men placed to defend it, while he detached to the right
+and left to surround the position.  The enemy discovered the
+movement before these dispositions were complete, and beat a
+hasty retreat, leaving artillery, wagon trains, and many
+prisoners in our hands.  To Sheridan's prompt movement the Army
+of the Cumberland, and the nation, are indebted for the bulk of
+the capture of prisoners, artillery, and small-arms that day.
+Except for his prompt pursuit, so much in this way would not
+have been accomplished.
+
+While the advance up Mission Ridge was going forward, General
+Thomas with staff, General Gordon Granger, commander of the
+corps making the assault, and myself and staff occupied Orchard
+Knob, from which the entire field could be observed.  The moment
+the troops were seen going over the last line of rebel defences,
+I ordered Granger to join his command, and mounting my horse I
+rode to the front.  General Thomas left about the same time.
+Sheridan on the extreme right was already in pursuit of the
+enemy east of the ridge.  Wood, who commanded the division to
+the left of Sheridan, accompanied his men on horseback in the
+charge, but did not join Sheridan in the pursuit.  To the left,
+in Baird's front where Bragg's troops had massed against
+Sherman, the resistance was more stubborn and the contest lasted
+longer.  I ordered Granger to follow the enemy with Wood's
+division, but he was so much excited, and kept up such a roar of
+musketry in the direction the enemy had taken, that by the time I
+could stop the firing the enemy had got well out of the way.  The
+enemy confronting Sherman, now seeing everything to their left
+giving way, fled also.  Sherman, however, was not aware of the
+extent of our success until after nightfall, when he received
+orders to pursue at daylight in the morning.
+
+As soon as Sherman discovered that the enemy had left his front
+he directed his reserves, Davis's division of the Army of the
+Cumberland, to push over the pontoon-bridge at the mouth of the
+Chickamauga, and to move forward to Chickamauga Station.  He
+ordered Howard to move up the stream some two miles to where
+there was an old bridge, repair it during the night, and follow
+Davis at four o'clock in the morning.  Morgan L. Smith was
+ordered to reconnoitre the tunnel to see if that was still
+held.  Nothing was found there but dead bodies of men of both
+armies.  The rest of Sherman's command was directed to follow
+Howard at daylight in the morning to get on to the railroad
+towards Graysville.
+
+Hooker, as stated, was detained at Chattanooga Creek by the
+destruction of the bridge at that point.  He got his troops
+over, with the exception of the artillery, by fording the stream
+at a little after three o'clock.  Leaving his artillery to follow
+when the bridge should be reconstructed, he pushed on with the
+remainder of his command.  At Rossville he came upon the flank
+of a division of the enemy, which soon commenced a retreat along
+the ridge.  This threw them on Palmer.  They could make but
+little resistance in the position they were caught in, and as
+many of them as could do so escaped.  Many, however, were
+captured.  Hooker's position during the night of the 25th was
+near Rossville, extending east of the ridge.  Palmer was on his
+left, on the road to Graysville.
+
+During the night I telegraphed to Willcox that Bragg had been
+defeated, and that immediate relief would be sent to Burnside if
+he could hold out; to Halleck I sent an announcement of our
+victory, and informed him that forces would be sent up the
+valley to relieve Burnside.
+
+Before the battle of Chattanooga opened I had taken measures for
+the relief of Burnside the moment the way should be clear. Thomas
+was directed to have the little steamer that had been built at
+Chattanooga loaded to its capacity with rations and
+ammunition.  Granger's corps was to move by the south bank of
+the Tennessee River to the mouth of the Holston, and up that to
+Knoxville accompanied by the boat.  In addition to the supplies
+transported by boat, the men were to carry forty rounds of
+ammunition in their cartridge-boxes, and four days' rations in
+haversacks.
+
+In the battle of Chattanooga, troops from the Army of the
+Potomac, from the Army of the Tennessee, and from the Army of
+the Cumberland participated.  In fact, the accidents growing out
+of the heavy rains and the sudden rise in the Tennessee River so
+mingled the troops that the organizations were not kept
+together, under their respective commanders, during the
+battle.  Hooker, on the right, had Geary's division of the 12th
+corps, Army of the Potomac; Osterhaus's division of the 15th
+corps, Army of the Tennessee; and Cruft's division of the Army
+of the Cumberland.  Sherman had three divisions of his own army,
+Howard's corps from the Army of the Potomac, and Jefferson C.
+Davis's division of the Army of the Cumberland.  There was no
+jealousy--hardly rivalry.  Indeed, I doubt whether officers or
+men took any note at the time of the fact of this intermingling
+of commands.  All saw a defiant foe surrounding them, and took
+it for granted that every move was intended to dislodge him, and
+it made no difference where the troops came from so that the end
+was accomplished.
+
+The victory at Chattanooga was won against great odds,
+considering the advantage the enemy had of position, and was
+accomplished more easily than was expected by reason of Bragg's
+making several grave mistakes:  first, in sending away his
+ablest corps commander with over twenty thousand troops; second,
+in sending away a division of troops on the eve of battle; third,
+in placing so much of a force on the plain in front of his
+impregnable position.
+
+It was known that Mr. Jefferson Davis had visited Bragg on
+Missionary Ridge a short time before my reaching Chattanooga. It
+was reported and believed that he had come out to reconcile a
+serious difference between Bragg and Longstreet, and finding
+this difficult to do, planned the campaign against Knoxville, to
+be conducted by the latter general.  I had known both Bragg and
+Longstreet before the war, the latter very well.  We had been
+three years at West Point together, and, after my graduation,
+for a time in the same regiment.  Then we served together in the
+Mexican War.  I had known Bragg in Mexico, and met him
+occasionally subsequently.  I could well understand how there
+might be an irreconcilable difference between them.
+
+Bragg was a remarkably intelligent and well-informed man,
+professionally and otherwise.  He was also thoroughly upright.
+But he was possessed of an irascible temper, and was naturally
+disputatious.  A man of the highest moral character and the most
+correct habits, yet in the old army he was in frequent trouble.
+As a subordinate he was always on the lookout to catch his
+commanding officer infringing his prerogatives; as a post
+commander he was equally vigilant to detect the slightest
+neglect, even of the most trivial order.
+
+I have heard in the old army an anecdote very characteristic of
+Bragg.  On one occasion, when stationed at a post of several
+companies commanded by a field officer, he was himself
+commanding one of the companies and at the same time acting as
+post quartermaster and commissary.  He was first lieutenant at
+the time, but his captain was detached on other duty.  As
+commander of the company he made a requisition upon the
+quartermaster--himself--for something he wanted.  As
+quartermaster he declined to fill the requisition, and endorsed
+on the back of it his reasons for so doing.  As company
+commander he responded to this, urging that his requisition
+called for nothing but what he was entitled to, and that it was
+the duty of the quartermaster to fill it.  As quartermaster he
+still persisted that he was right.  In this condition of affairs
+Bragg referred the whole matter to the commanding officer of the
+post.  The latter, when he saw the nature of the matter
+referred, exclaimed:  "My God, Mr. Bragg, you have quarrelled
+with every officer in the army, and now you are quarrelling with
+yourself!"
+
+Longstreet was an entirely different man.  He was brave, honest,
+intelligent, a very capable soldier, subordinate to his
+superiors, just and kind to his subordinates, but jealous of his
+own rights, which he had the courage to maintain.  He was never
+on the lookout to detect a slight, but saw one as soon as
+anybody when intentionally given.
+
+It may be that Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for the
+reason stated, but because Mr. Davis had an exalted opinion of
+his own military genius, and thought he saw a chance of "killing
+two birds with one stone."  On several occasions during the war
+he came to the relief of the Union army by means of his SUPERIOR
+MILITARY GENIUS.
+
+I speak advisedly when I saw Mr. Davis prided himself on his
+military capacity.  He says so himself, virtually, in his answer
+to the notice of his nomination to the Confederate presidency.
+Some of his generals have said so in their writings since the
+downfall of the Confederacy.
+
+My recollection is that my first orders for the battle of
+Chattanooga were as fought.  Sherman was to get on Missionary
+Ridge, as he did; Hooker to cross the north end of Lookout
+Mountain, as he did, sweep across Chattanooga Valley and get
+across the south end of the ridge near Rossville.  When Hooker
+had secured that position the Army of the Cumberland was to
+assault in the centre.  Before Sherman arrived, however, the
+order was so changed as that Hooker was directed to come to
+Chattanooga by the north bank of the Tennessee River.  The
+waters in the river, owing to heavy rains, rose so fast that the
+bridge at Brown's Ferry could not be maintained in a condition to
+be used in crossing troops upon it.  For this reason Hooker's
+orders were changed by telegraph back to what they were
+originally.
+_____
+
+NOTE.--From this point on this volume was written (with the
+exception of the campaign in the Wilderness, which had been
+previously written) by General Grant, after his great illness in
+April, and the present arrangement of the subject-matter was made
+by him between the 10th and 18th of July, 1885.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLV.
+
+THE RELIEF OF KNOXVILLE--HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO NASHVILLE
+--VISITING KNOXVILLE-CIPHER CIPHER DISPATCHES--WITHHOLDING
+ORDERS.
+
+Chattanooga now being secure to the National troops beyond any
+doubt, I immediately turned my attention to relieving Knoxville,
+about the situation of which the President, in particular, was
+very anxious.  Prior to the battles, I had made preparations for
+sending troops to the relief of Burnside at the very earliest
+moment after securing Chattanooga. We had there two little
+steamers which had been built and fitted up from the remains of
+old boats and put in condition to run.  General Thomas was
+directed to have one of these boats loaded with rations and
+ammunition and move up the Tennessee River to the mouth of the
+Holston, keeping the boat all the time abreast of the troops.
+General Granger, with the 4th corps reinforced to make twenty
+thousand men, was to start the moment Missionary Ridge was
+carried, and under no circumstances were the troops to return to
+their old camps.  With the provisions carried, and the little
+that could be got in the country, it was supposed he could hold
+out until Longstreet was driven away, after which event East
+Tennessee would furnish abundance of food for Burnside's army
+and his own also.
+
+While following the enemy on the 26th, and again on the morning
+of the 27th, part of the time by the road to Ringgold, I
+directed Thomas, verbally, not to start Granger until he
+received further orders from me; advising him that I was going
+to the front to more fully see the situation.  I was not right
+sure but that Bragg's troops might be over their stampede by the
+time they reached Dalton.  In that case Bragg might think it well
+to take the road back to Cleveland, move thence towards
+Knoxville, and, uniting with Longstreet, make a sudden dash upon
+Burnside.
+
+When I arrived at Ringgold, however, on the 27th, I saw that the
+retreat was most earnest.  The enemy had been throwing away guns,
+caissons and small-arms, abandoning provisions, and, altogether,
+seemed to be moving like a disorganized mob, with the exception
+of Cleburne's division, which was acting as rear-guard to cover
+the retreat.
+
+When Hooker moved from Rossville toward Ringgold Palmer's
+division took the road to Graysville, and Sherman moved by the
+way of Chickamauga Station toward the same point.  As soon as I
+saw the situation at Ringgold I sent a staff officer back to
+Chattanooga to advise Thomas of the condition of affairs, and
+direct him by my orders to start Granger at once.  Feeling now
+that the troops were already on the march for the relief of
+Burnside I was in no hurry to get back, but stayed at Ringgold
+through the day to prepare for the return of our troops.
+
+Ringgold is in a valley in the mountains, situated between East
+Chickamauga Creek and Taylor's Ridge, and about twenty miles
+south-east from Chattanooga. I arrived just as the artillery
+that Hooker had left behind at Chattanooga Creek got up.  His
+men were attacking Cleburne's division, which had taken a strong
+position in the adjacent hills so as to cover the retreat of the
+Confederate army through a narrow gorge which presents itself at
+that point.  Just beyond the gorge the valley is narrow, and the
+creek so tortuous that it has to be crossed a great many times
+in the course of the first mile.  This attack was unfortunate,
+and cost us some men unnecessarily.  Hooker captured, however, 3
+pieces of artillery and 230 prisoners, and 130 rebel dead were
+left upon the field.
+
+I directed General Hooker to collect the flour and wheat in the
+neighboring mills for the use of the troops, and then to destroy
+the mills and all other property that could be of use to the
+enemy, but not to make any wanton destruction.
+
+At this point Sherman came up, having reached Graysville with
+his troops, where he found Palmer had preceded him.  Palmer had
+picked up many prisoners and much abandoned property on the
+route.  I went back in the evening to Graysville with Sherman,
+remained there over night and did not return to Chattanooga
+until the following night, the 29th.  I then found that Thomas
+had not yet started Granger, thus having lost a full day which I
+deemed of so much importance in determining the fate of
+Knoxville.  Thomas and Granger were aware that on the 23d of the
+month Burnside had telegraphed that his supplies would last for
+ten or twelve days and during that time he could hold out
+against Longstreet, but if not relieved within the time
+indicated he would be obliged to surrender or attempt to
+retreat.  To effect a retreat would have been an
+impossibility.  He was already very low in ammunition, and with
+an army pursuing he would not have been able to gather supplies.
+
+Finding that Granger had not only not started but was very
+reluctant to go, he having decided for himself that it was a
+very bad move to make, I sent word to General Sherman of the
+situation and directed him to march to the relief of
+Knoxville.  I also gave him the problem that we had to
+solve--that Burnside had now but four to six days supplies left,
+and that he must be relieved within that time.
+
+Sherman, fortunately, had not started on his return from
+Graysville, having sent out detachments on the railroad which
+runs from Dalton to Cleveland and Knoxville to thoroughly
+destroy that road, and these troops had not yet returned to
+camp.  I was very loath to send Sherman, because his men needed
+rest after their long march from Memphis and hard fighting at
+Chattanooga. But I had become satisfied that Burnside would not
+be rescued if his relief depended upon General Granger's
+movements.
+
+Sherman had left his camp on the north side of the Tennessee
+River, near Chattanooga, on the night of the 23d, the men having
+two days' cooked rations in their haversacks.  Expecting to be
+back in their tents by that time and to be engaged in battle
+while out, they took with them neither overcoats nor blankets.
+The weather was already cold, and at night they must have
+suffered more or less.  The two days' rations had already lasted
+them five days; and they were now to go through a country which
+had been run over so much by Confederate troops that there was
+but little probability of finding much food.  They did, however,
+succeed in capturing some flour.  They also found a good deal of
+bran in some of the mills, which the men made up into bread; and
+in this and other ways they eked out an existence until they
+could reach Knoxville.
+
+I was so very anxious that Burnside should get news of the steps
+being taken for his relief, and thus induce him to hold out a
+little longer if it became necessary, that I determined to send
+a message to him.  I therefore sent a member of my staff,
+Colonel J. H. Wilson, to get into Knoxville if he could report
+to Burnside the situation fully, and give him all the
+encouragement possible.  Mr. Charles A. Dana was at Chattanooga
+during the battle, and had been there even before I assumed
+command.  Mr. Dana volunteered to accompany Colonel Wilson, and
+did accompany him.  I put the information of what was being done
+for the relief of Knoxville into writing, and directed that in
+some way or other it must be secretly managed so as to have a
+copy of this fall into the hands of General Longstreet.  They
+made the trip safely; General Longstreet did learn of Sherman's
+coming in advance of his reaching there, and Burnside was
+prepared to hold out even for a longer time if it had been
+necessary.
+
+Burnside had stretched a boom across the Holston River to catch
+scows and flats as they floated down.  On these, by previous
+arrangements with the loyal people of East Tennessee, were
+placed flour and corn, with forage and provisions generally, and
+were thus secured for the use of the Union troops.  They also
+drove cattle into Knoxville by the east side, which was not
+covered by the enemy; so that when relief arrived Burnside had
+more provisions on hand than when he had last reported.
+
+Our total loss (not including Burnside's) in all these
+engagements amounted to 757 killed, 4,529 wounded and 330
+missing.  We captured 6,142 prisoners--about 50 per cent. more
+than the enemy reported for their total loss--40 pieces of
+artillery, 69 artillery carriages and caissons and over 7,000
+stands of small-arms.  The enemy's loss in arms was probably
+much greater than here reported, because we picked up a great
+many that were found abandoned.
+
+I had at Chattanooga, in round numbers, about 60,000 men.  Bragg
+had about half this number, but his position was supposed to be
+impregnable.  It was his own fault that he did not have more men
+present.  He had sent Longstreet away with his corps swelled by
+reinforcements up to over twenty thousand men, thus reducing his
+own force more than one-third and depriving himself of the
+presence of the ablest general of his command.  He did this,
+too, after our troops had opened a line of communication by way
+of Brown's and Kelly's ferries with Bridgeport, thus securing
+full rations and supplies of every kind; and also when he knew
+reinforcements were coming to me.  Knoxville was of no earthly
+use to him while Chattanooga was in our hands.  If he should
+capture Chattanooga, Knoxville with its garrison would have
+fallen into his hands without a struggle.  I have never been
+able to see the wisdom of this move.
+
+Then, too, after Sherman had arrived, and when Bragg knew that
+he was on the north side of the Tennessee River, he sent
+Buckner's division to reinforce Longstreet.  He also started
+another division a day later, but our attack having commenced
+before it reached Knoxville Bragg ordered it back.  It had got
+so far, however, that it could not return to Chattanooga in time
+to be of service there.  It is possible this latter blunder may
+have been made by Bragg having become confused as to what was
+going on on our side.  Sherman had, as already stated, crossed
+to the north side of the Tennessee River at Brown's Ferry, in
+full view of Bragg's troops from Lookout Mountain, a few days
+before the attack.  They then disappeared behind foot hills, and
+did not come to the view of the troops on Missionary Ridge until
+they met their assault.  Bragg knew it was Sherman's troops that
+had crossed, and, they being so long out of view, may have
+supposed that they had gone up the north bank of the Tennessee
+River to the relief of Knoxville and that Longstreet was
+therefore in danger.  But the first great blunder, detaching
+Longstreet, cannot be accounted for in any way I know of.  If he
+had captured Chattanooga, East Tennessee would have fallen
+without a struggle.  It would have been a victory for us to have
+got our army away from Chattanooga safely.  It was a manifold
+greater victory to drive away the besieging army; a still
+greater one to defeat that army in his chosen ground and nearly
+annihilate it.
+
+The probabilities are that our loss in killed was the heavier,
+as we were the attacking party.  The enemy reported his loss in
+killed at 361:  but as he reported his missing at 4,146, while
+we held over 6,000 of them as prisoners, and there must have
+been hundreds if not thousands who deserted, but little reliance
+can be placed on this report.  There was certainly great
+dissatisfaction with Bragg on the part of the soldiers for his
+harsh treatment of them, and a disposition to get away if they
+could.  Then, too, Chattanooga, following in the same half year
+with Gettysburg in the East and Vicksburg in the West, there was
+much the same feeling in the South at this time that there had
+been in the North the fall and winter before.  If the same
+license had been allowed the people and press in the South that
+was allowed in the North, Chattanooga would probably have been
+the last battle fought for the preservation of the Union.
+
+General William F. Smith's services in these battles had been
+such that I thought him eminently entitled to promotion.  I was
+aware that he had previously been named by the President for
+promotion to the grade of major-general, but that the Senate had
+rejected the nomination.  I was not aware of the reasons for this
+course, and therefore strongly recommended him for a
+major-generalcy.  My recommendation was heeded and the
+appointment made.
+
+Upon the raising of the siege of Knoxville I, of course,
+informed the authorities at Washington--the President and
+Secretary of War--of the fact, which caused great rejoicing
+there.  The President especially was rejoiced that Knoxville had
+been relieved (*18) without further bloodshed.  The safety of
+Burnside's army and the loyal people of East Tennessee had been
+the subject of much anxiety to the President for several months,
+during which time he was doing all he could to relieve the
+situation; sending a new commander (*19) with a few thousand
+troops by the way of Cumberland Gap, and telegraphing me daily,
+almost hourly, to "remember Burnside," "do something for
+Burnside," and other appeals of like tenor.  He saw no escape
+for East Tennessee until after our victory at Chattanooga. Even
+then he was afraid that Burnside might be out of ammunition, in
+a starving condition, or overpowered:  and his anxiety was still
+intense until he heard that Longstreet had been driven from the
+field.
+
+Burnside followed Longstreet only to Strawberry Plains, some
+twenty miles or more east, and then stopped, believing that
+Longstreet would leave the State.  The latter did not do so,
+however, but stopped only a short distance farther on and
+subsisted his army for the entire winter off East Tennessee.
+Foster now relieved Burnside.  Sherman made disposition of his
+troops along the Tennessee River in accordance with
+instructions.  I left Thomas in command at Chattanooga, and,
+about the 20th of December, moved my headquarters to Nashville,
+Tennessee.
+
+Nashville was the most central point from which to communicate
+with my entire military division, and also with the authorities
+at Washington.  While remaining at Chattanooga I was liable to
+have my telegraphic communications cut so as to throw me out of
+communication with both my command and Washington.
+
+Nothing occurred at Nashville worthy of mention during the
+winter, (*20) so I set myself to the task of having troops in
+positions from which they could move to advantage, and in
+collecting all necessary supplies so as to be ready to claim a
+due share of the enemy's attention upon the appearance of the
+first good weather in the spring.  I expected to retain the
+command I then had, and prepared myself for the campaign against
+Atlanta. I also had great hopes of having a campaign made against
+Mobile from the Gulf.  I expected after Atlanta fell to occupy
+that place permanently, and to cut off Lee's army from the West
+by way of the road running through Augusta to Atlanta and thence
+south-west.  I was preparing to hold Atlanta with a small
+garrison, and it was my expectation to push through to Mobile if
+that city was in our possession:  if not, to Savannah; and in
+this manner to get possession of the only east and west railroad
+that would then be left to the enemy.  But the spring campaign
+against Mobile was not made.
+
+The Army of the Ohio had been getting supplies over Cumberland
+Gap until their animals had nearly all starved.  I now
+determined to go myself to see if there was any possible chance
+of using that route in the spring, and if not to abandon it.
+Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter part of December by
+rail for Chattanooga. From Chattanooga I took one of the little
+steamers previously spoken of as having been built there, and,
+putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch
+with the Tennessee.  From that point the railroad had been
+repaired up to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains.  I
+went by rail therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for
+several days.  General John G. Foster was then commanding the
+Department of the Ohio.  It was an intensely cold winter, the
+thermometer being down as low as zero every morning for more
+than a week while I was at Knoxville and on my way from there on
+horseback to Lexington, Kentucky, the first point where I could
+reach rail to carry me back to my headquarters at Nashville.
+
+The road over Cumberland Gap, and back of it, was strewn with
+debris of broken wagons and dead animals, much as I had found it
+on my first trip to Chattanooga over Waldron's Ridge.  The road
+had been cut up to as great a depth as clay could be by mules
+and wagons, and in that condition frozen; so that the ride of
+six days from Strawberry Plains to Lexington over these holes
+and knobs in the road was a very cheerless one, and very
+disagreeable.
+
+I found a great many people at home along that route, both in
+Tennessee and Kentucky, and, almost universally, intensely
+loyal.  They would collect in little places where we would stop
+of evenings, to see me, generally hearing of my approach before
+we arrived.  The people naturally expected to see the commanding
+general the oldest person in the party.  I was then forty-one
+years of age, while my medical director was gray-haired and
+probably twelve or more years my senior.  The crowds would
+generally swarm around him, and thus give me an opportunity of
+quietly dismounting and getting into the house.  It also gave me
+an opportunity of hearing passing remarks from one spectator to
+another about their general.  Those remarks were apt to be more
+complimentary to the cause than to the appearance of the
+supposed general, owing to his being muffled up, and also owing
+to the travel-worn condition we were all in after a hard day's
+ride.  I was back in Nashville by the 13th of January, 1864.
+
+When I started on this trip it was necessary for me to have some
+person along who could turn dispatches into cipher, and who could
+also read the cipher dispatches which I was liable to receive
+daily and almost hourly.  Under the rules of the War Department
+at that time, Mr. Stanton had taken entire control of the matter
+of regulating the telegraph and determining how it should be
+used, and of saying who, and who alone, should have the
+ciphers.  The operators possessed of the ciphers, as well as the
+ciphers used, were practically independent of the commanders whom
+they were serving immediately under, and had to report to the War
+Department through General Stager all the dispatches which they
+received or forwarded.
+
+I was obliged to leave the telegraphic operator back at
+Nashville, because that was the point at which all dispatches to
+me would come, to be forwarded from there.  As I have said, it
+was necessary for me also to have an operator during this
+inspection who had possession of this cipher to enable me to
+telegraph to my division and to the War Department without my
+dispatches being read by all the operators along the line of
+wires over which they were transmitted.  Accordingly I ordered
+the cipher operator to turn over the key to Captain Cyrus B.
+Comstock, of the Corps of Engineers, whom I had selected as a
+wise and discreet man who certainly could be trusted with the
+cipher if the operator at my headquarters could.
+
+The operator refused point blank to turn over the key to Captain
+Comstock as directed by me, stating that his orders from the War
+Department were not to give it to anybody--the commanding
+general or any one else.  I told him I would see whether he
+would or not.  He said that if he did he would be punished.  I
+told him if he did not he most certainly would be punished.
+Finally, seeing that punishment was certain if he refused longer
+to obey my order, and being somewhat remote (even if he was not
+protected altogether from the consequences of his disobedience
+to his orders) from the War Department, he yielded.  When I
+returned from Knoxville I found quite a commotion.  The operator
+had been reprimanded very severely and ordered to be relieved.  I
+informed the Secretary of War, or his assistant secretary in
+charge of the telegraph, Stager, that the man could not be
+relieved, for he had only obeyed my orders.  It was absolutely
+necessary for me to have the cipher, and the man would most
+certainly have been punished if he had not delivered it; that
+they would have to punish me if they punished anybody, or words
+to that effect.
+
+This was about the only thing approaching a disagreeable
+difference between the Secretary of War and myself that occurred
+until the war was over, when we had another little spat.  Owing
+to his natural disposition to assume all power and control in
+all matters that he had anything whatever to do with, he boldly
+took command of the armies, and, while issuing no orders on the
+subject, prohibited any order from me going out of the
+adjutant-general's office until he had approved it.  This was
+done by directing the adjutant-general to hold any orders that
+came from me to be issued from the adjutant-general's office
+until he had examined them and given his approval.  He never
+disturbed himself, either, in examining my orders until it was
+entirely convenient for him; so that orders which I had prepared
+would often lie there three or four days before he would sanction
+them.  I remonstrated against this in writing, and the Secretary
+apologetically restored me to my rightful position of
+General-in-Chief of the Army.  But he soon lapsed again and took
+control much as before.
+
+After the relief of Knoxville Sherman had proposed to Burnside
+that he should go with him to drive Longstreet out of Tennessee;
+but Burnside assured him that with the troops which had been
+brought by Granger, and which were to be left, he would be amply
+prepared to dispose of Longstreet without availing himself of
+this offer.  As before stated Sherman's command had left their
+camps north of the Tennessee, near Chattanooga, with two days'
+rations in their haversacks, without coats or blankets, and
+without many wagons, expecting to return to their camps by the
+end of that time.  The weather was now cold and they were
+suffering, but still they were ready to make the further
+sacrifice, had it been required, for the good of the cause which
+had brought them into service.  Sherman, having accomplished the
+object for which he was sent, marched back leisurely to his old
+camp on the Tennessee River.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVI.
+
+OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI--LONGSTREET IN EAST TENNESSEE
+--COMMISSIONED LIEUTENANT-GENERAL--COMMANDING THE ARMIES OF THE
+UNITED STATES--FIRST INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
+
+Soon after his return from Knoxville I ordered Sherman to
+distribute his forces from Stevenson to Decatur and thence north
+to Nashville; Sherman suggested that he be permitted to go back
+to Mississippi, to the limits of his own department and where
+most of his army still remained, for the purpose of clearing out
+what Confederates might still be left on the east bank of the
+Mississippi River to impede its navigation by our boats.  He
+expected also to have the co-operation of Banks to do the same
+thing on the west shore.  Of course I approved heartily.
+
+About the 10th of January Sherman was back in Memphis, where
+Hurlbut commanded, and got together his Memphis men, or ordered
+them collected and sent to Vicksburg.  He then went to Vicksburg
+and out to where McPherson was in command, and had him organize
+his surplus troops so as to give him about 20,000 men in all.
+
+Sherman knew that General (Bishop) Polk was occupying Meridian
+with his headquarters, and had two divisions of infantry with a
+considerable force of cavalry scattered west of him.  He
+determined, therefore, to move directly upon Meridian.
+
+I had sent some 2,500 cavalry under General Sooy Smith to
+Sherman's department, and they had mostly arrived before Sherman
+got to Memphis.  Hurlbut had 7,000 cavalry, and Sherman ordered
+him to reinforce Smith so as to give the latter a force of about
+7,000 with which to go against Forrest, who was then known to be
+south-east from Memphis.  Smith was ordered to move about the
+1st of February.
+
+While Sherman was waiting at Vicksburg for the arrival of
+Hurlbut with his surplus men, he sent out scouts to ascertain
+the position and strength of the enemy and to bring back all the
+information they could gather.  When these scouts returned it was
+through them that he got the information of General Polk's being
+at Meridian, and of the strength and disposition of his command.
+
+Forrest had about 4,000 cavalry with him, composed of thoroughly
+well-disciplined men, who under so able a leader were very
+effective.  Smith's command was nearly double that of Forrest,
+but not equal, man to man, for the lack of a successful
+experience such as Forrest's men had had.  The fact is, troops
+who have fought a few battles and won, and followed up their
+victories, improve upon what they were before to an extent that
+can hardly be counted by percentage.  The difference in result
+is often decisive victory instead of inglorious defeat.  This
+same difference, too, is often due to the way troops are
+officered, and for the particular kind of warfare which Forrest
+had carried on neither army could present a more effective
+officer than he was.
+
+Sherman got off on the 3d of February and moved out on his
+expedition, meeting with no opposition whatever until he crossed
+the Big Black, and with no great deal of opposition after that
+until he reached Jackson, Mississippi.  This latter place he
+reached on the 6th or 7th, Brandon on the 8th, and Morton on the
+9th.  Up to this time he moved in two columns to enable him to
+get a good supply of forage, etc., and expedite the march. Here,
+however, there were indications of the concentration of
+Confederate infantry, and he was obliged to keep his army close
+together.  He had no serious engagement; but he met some of the
+enemy who destroyed a few of his wagons about Decatur,
+Mississippi, where, by the way, Sherman himself came near being
+picked up.
+
+He entered Meridian on the 14th of the month, the enemy having
+retreated toward Demopolis, Alabama. He spent several days in
+Meridian in thoroughly destroying the railroad to the north and
+south, and also for the purpose of hearing from Sooy Smith, who
+he supposed had met Forrest before this time and he hoped had
+gained a decisive victory because of a superiority of numbers.
+Hearing nothing of him, however, he started on his return trip
+to Vicksburg.  There he learned that Smith, while waiting for a
+few of his men who had been ice-bound in the Ohio River, instead
+of getting off on the 1st as expected, had not left until the
+11th.  Smith did meet Forrest, but the result was decidedly in
+Forrest's favor.
+
+Sherman had written a letter to Banks, proposing a co-operative
+movement with him against Shreveport, subject to my approval.  I
+disapproved of Sherman's going himself, because I had other
+important work for him to do, but consented that he might send a
+few troops to the aid of Banks, though their time to remain
+absent must be limited.  We must have them for the spring
+campaign.  The trans-Mississippi movement proved abortive.
+
+My eldest son, who had accompanied me on the Vicksburg campaign
+and siege, had while there contracted disease, which grew worse,
+until he had grown so dangerously ill that on the 24th of January
+I obtained permission to go to St. Louis, where he was staying at
+the time, to see him, hardly expecting to find him alive on my
+arrival.  While I was permitted to go, I was not permitted to
+turn over my command to any one else, but was directed to keep
+the headquarters with me and to communicate regularly with all
+parts of my division and with Washington, just as though I had
+remained at Nashville.
+
+When I obtained this leave I was at Chattanooga, having gone
+there again to make preparations to have the troops of Thomas in
+the southern part of Tennessee co-operate with Sherman's movement
+in Mississippi.  I directed Thomas, and Logan who was at
+Scottsboro, Alabama, to keep up a threatening movement to the
+south against J. E. Johnston, who had again relieved Bragg, for
+the purpose of making him keep as many troops as possible there.
+
+I learned through Confederate sources that Johnston had already
+sent two divisions in the direction of Mobile, presumably to
+operate against Sherman, and two more divisions to Longstreet in
+East Tennessee.  Seeing that Johnston had depleted in this way, I
+directed Thomas to send at least ten thousand men, besides
+Stanley's division which was already to the east, into East
+Tennessee, and notified Schofield, who was now in command in
+East Tennessee, of this movement of troops into his department
+and also of the reinforcements Longstreet had received.  My
+object was to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee as a part
+of the preparations for my spring campaign.
+
+About this time General Foster, who had been in command of the
+Department of the Ohio after Burnside until Schofield relieved
+him (*21), advised me that he thought it would be a good thing
+to keep Longstreet just where he was; that he was perfectly
+quiet in East Tennessee, and if he was forced to leave there,
+his whole well-equipped army would be free to go to any place
+where it could effect the most for their cause.  I thought the
+advice was good, and, adopting that view, countermanded the
+orders for pursuit of Longstreet.
+
+On the 12th of February I ordered Thomas to take Dalton and hold
+it, if possible; and I directed him to move without delay.
+Finding that he had not moved, on the 17th I urged him again to
+start, telling him how important it was, that the object of the
+movement was to co-operate with Sherman, who was moving eastward
+and might be in danger.  Then again on the 21st, he not yet
+having started, I asked him if he could not start the next
+day.  He finally got off on the 22d or 23d.  The enemy fell back
+from his front without a battle, but took a new position quite as
+strong and farther to the rear.  Thomas reported that he could
+not go any farther, because it was impossible with his poor
+teams, nearly starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads
+were repaired.  He soon fell back.
+
+Schofield also had to return for the same reason.  He could not
+carry supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the
+supplies still left in the country.  Longstreet, in his retreat,
+would be moving towards his supplies, while our forces,
+following, would be receding from theirs.  On the 2d of March,
+however, I learned of Sherman's success, which eased my mind
+very much.  The next day, the 3d, I was ordered to Washington.
+
+The bill restoring the grade of lieutenant-general of the army
+had passed through Congress and became a law on the 26th of
+February.  My nomination had been sent to the Senate on the 1st
+of March and confirmed the next day (the 2d).  I was ordered to
+Washington on the 3d to receive my commission, and started the
+day following that.  The commission was handed to me on the
+9th.  It was delivered to me at the Executive Mansion by
+President Lincoln in the presence of his Cabinet, my eldest son,
+those of my staff who were with me and and a few other visitors.
+
+The President in presenting my commission read from a
+paper--stating, however, as a preliminary, and prior to the
+delivery of it, that he had drawn that up on paper, knowing my
+disinclination to speak in public, and handed me a copy in
+advance so that I might prepare a few lines of reply.  The
+President said:
+
+"General Grant, the nation's appreciation of what you have done,
+and its reliance upon you for what remains to be done in the
+existing great struggle, are now presented, with this commission
+constituting you lieutenant-general in the Army of the United
+States.  With this high honor, devolves upon you, also, a
+corresponding responsibility.  As the country herein trusts you,
+so, under God, it will sustain you.  I scarcely need to add,
+that, with what I here speak for the nation, goes my own hearty
+personal concurrence."
+
+To this I replied:  "Mr. President, I accept the commission,
+with gratitude for the high honor conferred.  With the aid of
+the noble armies that have fought in so many fields for our
+common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint
+your expectations.  I feel the full weight of the
+responsibilities now devolving on me; and I know that if they
+are met, it will be due to those armies, and above all, to the
+favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men."
+
+On the 10th I visited the headquarters of the Army of the
+Potomac at Brandy Station; then returned to Washington, and
+pushed west at once to make my arrangements for turning over the
+commands there and giving general directions for the preparations
+to be made for the spring campaign.
+
+It had been my intention before this to remain in the West, even
+if I was made lieutenant-general; but when I got to Washington
+and saw the situation it was plain that here was the point for
+the commanding general to be.  No one else could, probably,
+resist the pressure that would be brought to bear upon him to
+desist from his own plans and pursue others.  I determined,
+therefore, before I started back to have Sherman advanced to my
+late position, McPherson to Sherman's in command of the
+department, and Logan to the command of McPherson's corps. These
+changes were all made on my recommendation and without
+hesitation.  My commission as lieutenant-general was given to me
+on the 9th of March, 1864.  On the following day, as already
+stated, I visited General Meade, commanding the Army of the
+Potomac, at his headquarters at Brandy Station, north of the
+Rapidan.  I had known General Meade slightly in the Mexican war,
+but had not met him since until this visit.  I was a stranger to
+most of the Army of the Potomac, I might say to all except the
+officers of the regular army who had served in the Mexican
+war.  There had been some changes ordered in the organization of
+that army before my promotion.  One was the consolidation of five
+corps into three, thus throwing some officers of rank out of
+important commands.  Meade evidently thought that I might want
+to make still one more change not yet ordered.  He said to me
+that I might want an officer who had served with me in the West,
+mentioning Sherman specially, to take his place.  If so, he
+begged me not to hesitate about making the change.  He urged
+that the work before us was of such vast importance to the whole
+nation that the feeling or wishes of no one person should stand
+in the way of selecting the right men for all positions.  For
+himself, he would serve to the best of his ability wherever
+placed.  I assured him that I had no thought of substituting any
+one for him.  As to Sherman, he could not be spared from the
+West.
+
+This incident gave me even a more favorable opinion of Meade
+than did his great victory at Gettysburg the July before.  It is
+men who wait to be selected, and not those who seek, from whom we
+may always expect the most efficient service.
+
+Meade's position afterwards proved embarrassing to me if not to
+him.  He was commanding an army and, for nearly a year previous
+to my taking command of all the armies, was in supreme command
+of the Army of the Potomac--except from the authorities at
+Washington.  All other general officers occupying similar
+positions were independent in their commands so far as any one
+present with them was concerned.  I tried to make General
+Meade's position as nearly as possible what it would have been
+if I had been in Washington or any other place away from his
+command.  I therefore gave all orders for the movements of the
+Army of the Potomac to Meade to have them executed.  To avoid
+the necessity of having to give orders direct, I established my
+headquarters near his, unless there were reasons for locating
+them elsewhere.  This sometimes happened, and I had on occasions
+to give orders direct to the troops affected.  On the 11th I
+returned to Washington and, on the day after, orders were
+published by the War Department placing me in command of all the
+armies.  I had left Washington the night before to return to my
+old command in the West and to meet Sherman whom I had
+telegraphed to join me in Nashville.
+
+Sherman assumed command of the military division of the
+Mississippi on the 18th of March, and we left Nashville together
+for Cincinnati.  I had Sherman accompany me that far on my way
+back to Washington so that we could talk over the matters about
+which I wanted to see him, without losing any more time from my
+new command than was necessary.  The first point which I wished
+to discuss was particularly about the co-operation of his
+command with mine when the spring campaign should commence.
+There were also other and minor points, minor as compared with
+the great importance of the question to be decided by sanguinary
+war--the restoration to duty of officers who had been relieved
+from important commands, namely McClellan, Burnside and Fremont
+in the East, and Buell, McCook, Negley and Crittenden in the
+West.
+
+Some time in the winter of 1863-64 I had been invited by the
+general-in-chief to give my views of the campaign I thought
+advisable for the command under me--now Sherman's.  General J.
+E. Johnston was defending Atlanta and the interior of Georgia
+with an army, the largest part of which was stationed at Dalton,
+about 38 miles south of Chattanooga. Dalton is at the junction of
+the railroad from Cleveland with the one from Chattanooga to
+Atlanta.
+
+There could have been no difference of opinion as to the first
+duty of the armies of the military division of the
+Mississippi.  Johnston's army was the first objective, and that
+important railroad centre, Atlanta, the second.  At the time I
+wrote General Halleck giving my views of the approaching
+campaign, and at the time I met General Sherman, it was expected
+that General Banks would be through with the campaign which he
+had been ordered upon before my appointment to the command of
+all the armies, and would be ready to co-operate with the armies
+east of the Mississippi, his part in the programme being to move
+upon Mobile by land while the navy would close the harbor and
+assist to the best of its ability. (*22) The plan therefore was
+for Sherman to attack Johnston and destroy his army if possible,
+to capture Atlanta and hold it, and with his troops and those of
+Banks to hold a line through to Mobile, or at least to hold
+Atlanta and command the railroad running east and west, and the
+troops from one or other of the armies to hold important points
+on the southern road, the only east and west road that would be
+left in the possession of the enemy.  This would cut the
+Confederacy in two again, as our gaining possession of the
+Mississippi River had done before.  Banks was not ready in time
+for the part assigned to him, and circumstances that could not
+be foreseen determined the campaign which was afterwards made,
+the success and grandeur of which has resounded throughout all
+lands.
+
+In regard to restoring officers who had been relieved from
+important commands to duty again, I left Sherman to look after
+those who had been removed in the West while I looked out for
+the rest.  I directed, however, that he should make no
+assignment until I could speak to the Secretary of War about the
+matter.  I shortly after recommended to the Secretary the
+assignment of General Buell to duty.  I received the assurance
+that duty would be offered to him; and afterwards the Secretary
+told me that he had offered Buell an assignment and that the
+latter had declined it, saying that it would be degradation to
+accept the assignment offered.  I understood afterwards that he
+refused to serve under either Sherman or Canby because he had
+ranked them both.  Both graduated before him and ranked him in
+the old army.  Sherman ranked him as a brigadier-general.  All
+of them ranked me in the old army, and Sherman and Buell did as
+brigadiers.  The worst excuse a soldier can make for declining
+service is that he once ranked the commander he is ordered to
+report to.
+
+On the 23d of March I was back in Washington, and on the 26th
+took up my headquarters at Culpeper Court-House, a few miles
+south of the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac.
+
+Although hailing from Illinois myself, the State of the
+President, I never met Mr. Lincoln until called to the capital
+to receive my commission as lieutenant-general.  I knew him,
+however, very well and favorably from the accounts given by
+officers under me at the West who had known him all their
+lives.  I had also read the remarkable series of debates between
+Lincoln and Douglas a few years before, when they were rival
+candidates for the United States Senate.  I was then a resident
+of Missouri, and by no means a "Lincoln man" in that contest;
+but I recognized then his great ability.
+
+In my first interview with Mr. Lincoln alone he stated to me
+that he had never professed to be a military man or to know how
+campaigns should be conducted, and never wanted to interfere in
+them:  but that procrastination on the part of commanders, and
+the pressure from the people at the North and Congress, WHICH
+WAS ALWAYS WITH HIM, forced him into issuing his series of
+"Military Orders"--one, two, three, etc.  He did not know but
+they were all wrong, and did know that some of them were.  All
+he wanted or had ever wanted was some one who would take the
+responsibility and act, and call on him for all the assistance
+needed, pledging himself to use all the power of the government
+in rendering such assistance.  Assuring him that I would do the
+best I could with the means at hand, and avoid as far as
+possible annoying him or the War Department, our first interview
+ended.
+
+The Secretary of War I had met once before only, but felt that I
+knew him better.
+
+While commanding in West Tennessee we had occasionally held
+conversations over the wires, at night, when they were not being
+otherwise used.  He and General Halleck both cautioned me against
+giving the President my plans of campaign, saying that he was so
+kind-hearted, so averse to refusing anything asked of him, that
+some friend would be sure to get from him all he knew.  I should
+have said that in our interview the President told me he did not
+want to know what I proposed to do.  But he submitted a plan of
+campaign of his own which he wanted me to hear and then do as I
+pleased about.  He brought out a map of Virginia on which he had
+evidently marked every position occupied by the Federal and
+Confederate armies up to that time.  He pointed out on the map
+two streams which empty into the Potomac, and suggested that the
+army might be moved on boats and landed between the mouths of
+these streams.  We would then have the Potomac to bring our
+supplies, and the tributaries would protect our flanks while we
+moved out.  I listened respectfully, but did not suggest that
+the same streams would protect Lee's flanks while he was
+shutting us up.
+
+I did not communicate my plans to the President, nor did I to
+the Secretary of War or to General Halleck.
+
+March the 26th my headquarters were, as stated, at Culpeper, and
+the work of preparing for an early campaign commenced.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVII.
+
+THE MILITARY SITUATION--PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN--SHERIDAN
+ASSIGNED TO COMMAND OF THE CAVALRY--FLANK MOVEMENTS--FORREST AT
+FORT PILLOW--GENERAL BANKS'S EXPEDITION--COLONEL MOSBY--AN
+INCIDENT OF THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
+
+When I assumed command of all the armies the situation was about
+this:  the Mississippi River was guarded from St. Louis to its
+mouth; the line of the Arkansas was held, thus giving us all the
+North-west north of that river.  A few points in Louisiana not
+remote from the river were held by the Federal troops, as was
+also the mouth of the Rio Grande.  East of the Mississippi we
+held substantially all north of the Memphis and Charleston
+Railroad as far east as Chattanooga, thence along the line of
+the Tennessee and Holston rivers, taking in nearly all of the
+State of Tennessee.  West Virginia was in our hands; and that
+part of old Virginia north of the Rapidan and east of the Blue
+Ridge we also held.  On the sea-coast we had Fortress Monroe and
+Norfolk in Virginia; Plymouth, Washington and New Berne in North
+Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris islands, Hilton Head, Port
+Royal and Fort Pulaski in South Carolina and Georgia;
+Fernandina, St. Augustine, Key West and Pensacola in Florida.
+The balance of the Southern territory, an empire in extent, was
+still in the hands of the enemy.
+
+Sherman, who had succeeded me in the command of the military
+division of the Mississippi, commanded all the troops in the
+territory west of the Alleghanies and north of Natchez, with a
+large movable force about Chattanooga. His command was
+subdivided into four departments, but the commanders all
+reported to Sherman and were subject to his orders.  This
+arrangement, however, insured the better protection of all lines
+of communication through the acquired territory, for the reason
+that these different department commanders could act promptly in
+case of a sudden or unexpected raid within their respective
+jurisdictions without awaiting the orders of the division
+commander.
+
+In the East the opposing forces stood in substantially the same
+relations towards each other as three years before, or when the
+war began; they were both between the Federal and Confederate
+capitals.  It is true, footholds had been secured by us on the
+sea-coast, in Virginia and North Carolina, but, beyond that, no
+substantial advantage had been gained by either side.  Battles
+had been fought of as great severity as had ever been known in
+war, over ground from the James River and Chickahominy, near
+Richmond, to Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in Pennsylvania, with
+indecisive results, sometimes favorable to the National army,
+sometimes to the Confederate army; but in every instance, I
+believe, claimed as victories for the South by the Southern
+press if not by the Southern generals.  The Northern press, as a
+whole, did not discourage these claims; a portion of it always
+magnified rebel success and belittled ours, while another
+portion, most sincerely earnest in their desire for the
+preservation of the Union and the overwhelming success of the
+Federal armies, would nevertheless generally express
+dissatisfaction with whatever victories were gained because they
+were not more complete.
+
+That portion of the Army of the Potomac not engaged in guarding
+lines of communication was on the northern bank of the
+Rapidan.  The Army of Northern Virginia confronting it on the
+opposite bank of the same river, was strongly intrenched and
+commanded by the acknowledged ablest general in the Confederate
+army.  The country back to the James River is cut up with many
+streams, generally narrow, deep, and difficult to cross except
+where bridged.  The region is heavily timbered, and the roads
+narrow, and very bad after the least rain.  Such an enemy was
+not, of course, unprepared with adequate fortifications at
+convenient intervals all the way back to Richmond, so that when
+driven from one fortified position they would always have
+another farther to the rear to fall back into.
+
+To provision an army, campaigning against so formidable a foe
+through such a country, from wagons alone seemed almost
+impossible.  System and discipline were both essential to its
+accomplishment.
+
+The Union armies were now divided into nineteen departments,
+though four of them in the West had been concentrated into a
+single military division.  The Army of the Potomac was a
+separate command and had no territorial limits.  There were thus
+seventeen distinct commanders.  Before this time these various
+armies had acted separately and independently of each other,
+giving the enemy an opportunity often of depleting one command,
+not pressed, to reinforce another more actively engaged.  I
+determined to stop this.  To this end I regarded the Army of the
+Potomac as the centre, and all west to Memphis along the line
+described as our position at the time, and north of it, the
+right wing; the Army of the James, under General Butler, as the
+left wing, and all the troops south, as a force in rear of the
+enemy.  Some of these latter were occupying positions from which
+they could not render service proportionate to their numerical
+strength.  All such were depleted to the minimum necessary to
+hold their positions as a guard against blockade runners; where
+they could not do this their positions were abandoned
+altogether.  In this way ten thousand men were added to the Army
+of the James from South Carolina alone, with General Gillmore in
+command.  It was not contemplated that General Gillmore should
+leave his department; but as most of his troops were taken,
+presumably for active service, he asked to accompany them and
+was permitted to do so.  Officers and soldiers on furlough, of
+whom there were many thousands, were ordered to their proper
+commands; concentration was the order of the day, and to have it
+accomplished in time to advance at the earliest moment the roads
+would permit was the problem.
+
+As a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or to act in
+support of it, the 9th army corps, over twenty thousand strong,
+under General Burnside, had been rendezvoused at Annapolis,
+Maryland.  This was an admirable position for such a
+reinforcement.  The corps could be brought at the last moment as
+a reinforcement to the Army of the Potomac, or it could be thrown
+on the sea-coast, south of Norfolk, in Virginia or North
+Carolina, to operate against Richmond from that direction.  In
+fact Burnside and the War Department both thought the 9th corps
+was intended for such an expedition up to the last moment.
+
+My general plan now was to concentrate all the force possible
+against the Confederate armies in the field.  There were but two
+such, as we have seen, east of the Mississippi River and facing
+north.  The Army of Northern Virginia, General Robert E. Lee
+commanding, was on the south bank of the Rapidan, confronting
+the Army of the Potomac; the second, under General Joseph E.
+Johnston, was at Dalton, Georgia, opposed to Sherman who was
+still at Chattanooga. Beside these main armies the Confederates
+had to guard the Shenandoah Valley, a great storehouse to feed
+their armies from, and their line of communications from
+Richmond to Tennessee.  Forrest, a brave and intrepid cavalry
+general, was in the West with a large force; making a larger
+command necessary to hold what we had gained in Middle and West
+Tennessee.  We could not abandon any territory north of the line
+held by the enemy because it would lay the Northern States open
+to invasion.  But as the Army of the Potomac was the principal
+garrison for the protection of Washington even while it was
+moving on Lee, so all the forces to the west, and the Army of
+the James, guarded their special trusts when advancing from them
+as well as when remaining at them.  Better indeed, for they
+forced the enemy to guard his own lines and resources at a
+greater distance from ours, and with a greater force.  Little
+expeditions could not so well be sent out to destroy a bridge or
+tear up a few miles of railroad track, burn a storehouse, or
+inflict other little annoyances.  Accordingly I arranged for a
+simultaneous movement all along the line.  Sherman was to move
+from Chattanooga, Johnston's army and Atlanta being his
+objective points. (*23)  Crook, commanding in West Virginia, was
+to move from the mouth of the Gauley River with a cavalry force
+and some artillery, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to be
+his objective.  Either the enemy would have to keep a large
+force to protect their communications, or see them destroyed and
+a large amount of forage and provision, which they so much
+needed, fall into our hands.  Sigel was in command in the Valley
+of Virginia. He was to advance up the valley, covering the North
+from an invasion through that channel as well while advancing as
+by remaining near Harper's Ferry.  Every mile he advanced also
+gave us possession of stores on which Lee relied.  Butler was to
+advance by the James River, having Richmond and Petersburg as his
+objective.
+
+Before the advance commenced I visited Butler at Fort Monroe.
+This was the first time I had ever met him.  Before giving him
+any order as to the part he was to play in the approaching
+campaign I invited his views.  They were very much such as I
+intended to direct, and as I did direct (*24), in writing,
+before leaving.
+
+General W. F. Smith, who had been promoted to the rank of
+major-general shortly after the battle of Chattanooga on my
+recommendation, had not yet been confirmed.  I found a decided
+prejudice against his confirmation by a majority of the Senate,
+but I insisted that his services had been such that he should be
+rewarded.  My wishes were now reluctantly complied with, and I
+assigned him to the command of one of the corps under General
+Butler.  I was not long in finding out that the objections to
+Smith's promotion were well founded.
+
+In one of my early interviews with the President I expressed my
+dissatisfaction with the little that had been accomplished by
+the cavalry so far in the war, and the belief that it was
+capable of accomplishing much more than it had done if under a
+thorough leader.  I said I wanted the very best man in the army
+for that command.  Halleck was present and spoke up, saying:
+"How would Sheridan do?"  I replied:  "The very man I want."
+The President said I could have anybody I wanted.  Sheridan was
+telegraphed for that day, and on his arrival was assigned to the
+command of the cavalry corps with the Army of the Potomac.  This
+relieved General Alfred Pleasonton.  It was not a reflection on
+that officer, however, for I did not know but that he had been
+as efficient as any other cavalry commander.
+
+Banks in the Department of the Gulf was ordered to assemble all
+the troops he had at New Orleans in time to join in the general
+move, Mobile to be his objective.
+
+At this time I was not entirely decided as to whether I should
+move the Army of the Potomac by the right flank of the enemy, or
+by his left.  Each plan presented advantages. (*25)  If by his
+right--my left--the Potomac, Chesapeake Bay and tributaries
+would furnish us an easy hauling distance of every position the
+army could occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee
+could, if he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a
+line rather interior to the one I would have to take in
+following.  A movement by his left--our right--would obviate
+this; but all that was done would have to be done with the
+supplies and ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting
+this latter plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of
+supplies possible to take with us was considered.  The country
+over which we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or
+forage that we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison consisted of a regiment of
+colored troops, infantry, and a detachment of Tennessee
+cavalry.  These troops fought bravely, but were overpowered.  I
+will leave Forrest in his dispatches to tell what he did with
+them.
+
+"The river was dyed," he says, "with the blood of the
+slaughtered for two hundred yards.  The approximate loss was
+upward of five hundred killed, but few of the officers
+escaping.  My loss was about twenty killed.  It is hoped that
+these facts will demonstrate to the Northern people that negro
+soldiers cannot cope with Southerners."  Subsequently Forrest
+made a report in which he left out the part which shocks
+humanity to read.
+
+At the East, also, the rebels were busy.  I had said to Halleck
+that Plymouth and Washington, North Carolina, were unnecessary
+to hold.  It would be better to have the garrisons engaged there
+added to Butler's command.  If success attended our arms both
+places, and others too, would fall into our hands naturally.
+These places had been occupied by Federal troops before I took
+command of the armies, and I knew that the Executive would be
+reluctant to abandon them, and therefore explained my views; but
+before my views were carried out the rebels captured the garrison
+at Plymouth.  I then ordered the abandonment of Washington, but
+directed the holding of New Berne at all hazards.  This was
+essential because New Berne was a port into which blockade
+runners could enter.
+
+General Banks had gone on an expedition up the Red River long
+before my promotion to general command.  I had opposed the
+movement strenuously, but acquiesced because it was the order of
+my superior at the time.  By direction of Halleck I had
+reinforced Banks with a corps of about ten thousand men from
+Sherman's command.  This reinforcement was wanted back badly
+before the forward movement commenced.  But Banks had got so far
+that it seemed best that he should take Shreveport on the Red
+River, and turn over the line of that river to Steele, who
+commanded in Arkansas, to hold instead of the line of the
+Arkansas.  Orders were given accordingly, and with the
+expectation that the campaign would be ended in time for Banks
+to return A. J. Smith's command to where it belonged and get
+back to New Orleans himself in time to execute his part in the
+general plan.  But the expedition was a failure.  Banks did not
+get back in time to take part in the programme as laid down. Nor
+was Smith returned until long after the movements of May, 1864,
+had been begun.  The services of forty thousand veteran troops,
+over and above the number required to hold all that was
+necessary in the Department of the Gulf, were thus paralyzed. It
+is but just to Banks, however, to say that his expedition was
+ordered from Washington and he was in no way responsible except
+for the conduct of it.  I make no criticism on this point.  He
+opposed the expedition.
+
+By the 27th of April spring had so far advanced as to justify me
+in fixing a day for the great move.  On that day Burnside left
+Annapolis to occupy Meade's position between Bull Run and the
+Rappahannock.  Meade was notified and directed to bring his
+troops forward to his advance.  On the following day Butler was
+notified of my intended advance on the 4th of May, and he was
+directed to move the night of the same day and get as far up the
+James River as possible by daylight, and push on from there to
+accomplish the task given him.  He was also notified that
+reinforcements were being collected in Washington City, which
+would be forwarded to him should the enemy fall back into the
+trenches at Richmond.  The same day Sherman was directed to get
+his forces up ready to advance on the 5th.  Sigel was in
+Winchester and was notified to move in conjunction with the
+others.
+
+The criticism has been made by writers on the campaign from the
+Rapidan to the James River that all the loss of life could have
+been obviated by moving the army there on transports.  Richmond
+was fortified and intrenched so perfectly that one man inside to
+defend was more than equal to five outside besieging or
+assaulting.  To get possession of Lee's army was the first great
+object.  With the capture of his army Richmond would necessarily
+follow.  It was better to fight him outside of his stronghold
+than in it.  If the Army of the Potomac had been moved bodily to
+the James River by water Lee could have moved a part of his
+forces back to Richmond, called Beauregard from the south to
+reinforce it, and with the balance moved on to Washington. Then,
+too, I ordered a move, simultaneous with that of the Army of the
+Potomac, up the James River by a formidable army already
+collected at the mouth of the river.
+
+While my headquarters were at Culpeper, from the 26th of March
+to the 4th of May, I generally visited Washington once a week to
+confer with the Secretary of War and President.  On the last
+occasion, a few days before moving, a circumstance occurred
+which came near postponing my part in the campaign altogether.
+Colonel John S. Mosby had for a long time been commanding a
+partisan corps, or regiment, which operated in the rear of the
+Army of the Potomac.  On my return to the field on this
+occasion, as the train approached Warrenton Junction, a heavy
+cloud of dust was seen to the east of the road as if made by a
+body of cavalry on a charge.  Arriving at the junction the train
+was stopped and inquiries made as to the cause of the dust. There
+was but one man at the station, and he informed us that Mosby had
+crossed a few minutes before at full speed in pursuit of Federal
+cavalry.  Had he seen our train coming, no doubt he would have
+let his prisoners escape to capture the train.  I was on a
+special train, if I remember correctly, without any guard.
+
+Since the close of the war I have come to know Colonel Mosby
+personally, and somewhat intimately.  He is a different man
+entirely from what I had supposed.  He is slender, not tall,
+wiry, and looks as if he could endure any amount of physical
+exercise.  He is able, and thoroughly honest and truthful. There
+were probably but few men in the South who could have commanded
+successfully a separate detachment in the rear of an opposing
+army, and so near the border of hostilities, as long as he did
+without losing his entire command.
+
+On this same visit to Washington I had my last interview with
+the President before reaching the James River.  He had of course
+become acquainted with the fact that a general movement had been
+ordered all along the line, and seemed to think it a new feature
+in war.  I explained to him that it was necessary to have a great
+number of troops to guard and hold the territory we had captured,
+and to prevent incursions into the Northern States.  These troops
+could perform this service just as well by advancing as by
+remaining still; and by advancing they would compel the enemy to
+keep detachments to hold them back, or else lay his own territory
+open to invasion.  His answer was:  "Oh, yes!  I see that.  As we
+say out West, if a man can't skin he must hold a leg while
+somebody else does."
+
+There was a certain incident connected with the Wilderness
+campaign of which it may not be out of place to speak; and to
+avoid a digression further on I will mention it here.
+
+A few days before my departure from Culpeper the Honorable E. B.
+Washburne visited me there, and remained with my headquarters for
+some distance south, through the battle in the Wilderness and, I
+think, to Spottsylvania. He was accompanied by a Mr. Swinton,
+whom he presented as a literary gentleman who wished to
+accompany the army with a view of writing a history of the war
+when it was over.  He assured me--and I have no doubt Swinton
+gave him the assurance--that he was not present as a
+correspondent of the press.  I expressed an entire willingness
+to have him (Swinton) accompany the army, and would have allowed
+him to do so as a correspondent, restricted, however, in the
+character of the information he could give.  We received
+Richmond papers with about as much regularity as if there had
+been no war, and knew that our papers were received with equal
+regularity by the Confederates.  It was desirable, therefore,
+that correspondents should not be privileged spies of the enemy
+within our lines.
+
+Probably Mr. Swinton expected to be an invited guest at my
+headquarters, and was disappointed that he was not asked to
+become so.  At all events he was not invited, and soon I found
+that he was corresponding with some paper (I have now forgotten
+which one), thus violating his word either expressed or
+implied.  He knew of the assurance Washburne had given as to the
+character of his mission.  I never saw the man from the day of
+our introduction to the present that I recollect.  He
+accompanied us, however, for a time at least.
+
+The second night after crossing the Rapidan (the night of the
+5th of May) Colonel W. R. Rowley, of my staff, was acting as
+night officer at my headquarters.  A short time before midnight
+I gave him verbal instructions for the night.  Three days later
+I read in a Richmond paper a verbatim report of these
+instructions.
+
+A few nights still later (after the first, and possibly after
+the second, day's fighting in the Wilderness) General Meade came
+to my tent for consultation, bringing with him some of his staff
+officers.  Both his staff and mine retired to the camp-fire some
+yards in front of the tent, thinking our conversation should be
+private.  There was a stump a little to one side, and between
+the front of the tent and camp-fire.  One of my staff, Colonel
+T. S. Bowers, saw what he took to be a man seated on the ground
+and leaning against the stump, listening to the conversation
+between Meade and myself.  He called the attention of Colonel
+Rowley to it.  The latter immediately took the man by the
+shoulder and asked him, in language more forcible than polite,
+what he was doing there.  The man proved to be Swinton, the
+"historian," and his replies to the question were evasive and
+unsatisfactory, and he was warned against further eaves-dropping.
+
+The next I heard of Mr. Swinton was at Cold Harbor.  General
+Meade came to my headquarters saying that General Burnside had
+arrested Swinton, who at some previous time had given great
+offence, and had ordered him to be shot that afternoon.  I
+promptly ordered the prisoner to be released, but that he must
+be expelled from the lines of the army not to return again on
+pain of punishment.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLVIII.
+
+COMMENCEMENT OF THE GRAND CAMPAIGN--GENERAL BUTLER'S
+POSITION--SHERIDAN'S FIRST RAID.
+
+The armies were now all ready to move for the accomplishment of
+a single object.  They were acting as a unit so far as such a
+thing was possible over such a vast field.  Lee, with the
+capital of the Confederacy, was the main end to which all were
+working.  Johnston, with Atlanta, was an important obstacle in
+the way of our accomplishing the result aimed at, and was
+therefore almost an independent objective.  It was of less
+importance only because the capture of Johnston and his army
+would not produce so immediate and decisive a result in closing
+the rebellion as would the possession of Richmond, Lee and his
+army.  All other troops were employed exclusively in support of
+these two movements.  This was the plan; and I will now endeavor
+to give, as concisely as I can, the method of its execution,
+outlining first the operations of minor detached but
+co-operative columns.
+
+As stated before, Banks failed to accomplish what he had been
+sent to do on the Red River, and eliminated the use of forty
+thousand veterans whose cooperation in the grand campaign had
+been expected--ten thousand with Sherman and thirty thousand
+against Mobile.
+
+Sigel's record is almost equally brief.  He moved out, it is
+true, according to programme; but just when I was hoping to hear
+of good work being done in the valley I received instead the
+following announcement from Halleck:  "Sigel is in full retreat
+on Strasburg.  He will do nothing but run; never did anything
+else."  The enemy had intercepted him about New Market and
+handled him roughly, leaving him short six guns, and some nine
+hundred men out of his six thousand.
+
+The plan had been for an advance of Sigel's forces in two
+columns.  Though the one under his immediate command failed
+ingloriously the other proved more fortunate.  Under Crook and
+Averell his western column advanced from the Gauley in West
+Virginia at the appointed time, and with more happy results.
+They reached the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at Dublin and
+destroyed a depot of supplies, besides tearing up several miles
+of road and burning the bridge over New River.  Having
+accomplished this they recrossed the Alleghanies to Meadow
+Bluffs and there awaited further orders.
+
+Butler embarked at Fort Monroe with all his command, except the
+cavalry and some artillery which moved up the south bank of the
+James River.  His steamers moved first up Chesapeake Bay and
+York River as if threatening the rear of Lee's army.  At
+midnight they turned back, and Butler by daylight was far up the
+James River.  He seized City Point and Bermuda Hundred early in
+the day, without loss and, no doubt, very much to the surprise
+of the enemy.
+
+This was the accomplishment of the first step contemplated in my
+instructions to Butler.  He was to act from here, looking to
+Richmond as his objective point.  I had given him to understand
+that I should aim to fight Lee between the Rapidan and Richmond
+if he would stand; but should Lee fall back into Richmond I
+would follow up and make a junction of the armies of the Potomac
+and the James on the James River.  He was directed to secure a
+footing as far up the south side of the river as he could at as
+early a date as possible.
+
+Butler was in position by the 6th of May and had begun
+intrenching, and on the 7th he sent out his cavalry from Suffolk
+to cut the Weldon Railroad.  He also sent out detachments to
+destroy the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond, but no
+great success attended these latter efforts.  He made no great
+effort to establish himself on that road and neglected to attack
+Petersburg, which was almost defenceless.  About the 11th he
+advanced slowly until he reached the works at Drury's Bluff,
+about half way between Bermuda Hundred and Richmond.  In the
+mean time Beauregard had been gathering reinforcements.  On the
+16th he attacked Butler with great vigor, and with such success
+as to limit very materially the further usefulness of the Army
+of the James as a distinct factor in the campaign.  I afterward
+ordered a portion of it to join the Army of the Potomac, leaving
+a sufficient force with Butler to man his works, hold securely
+the footing he had already gained and maintain a threatening
+front toward the rear of the Confederate capital.
+
+The position which General Butler had chosen between the two
+rivers, the James and Appomattox, was one of great natural
+strength, one where a large area of ground might be thoroughly
+inclosed by means of a single intrenched line, and that a very
+short one in comparison with the extent of territory which it
+thoroughly protected.  His right was protected by the James
+River, his left by the Appomattox, and his rear by their
+junction--the two streams uniting near by.  The bends of the two
+streams shortened the line that had been chosen for
+intrenchments, while it increased the area which the line
+inclosed.
+
+Previous to ordering any troops from Butler I sent my chief
+engineer, General Barnard, from the Army of the Potomac to that
+of the James to inspect Butler's position and ascertain whether
+I could again safely make an order for General Butler's movement
+in co-operation with mine, now that I was getting so near
+Richmond; or, if I could not, whether his position was strong
+enough to justify me in withdrawing some of his troops and
+having them brought round by water to White House to join me and
+reinforce the Army of the Potomac.  General Barnard reported the
+position very strong for defensive purposes, and that I could do
+the latter with great security; but that General Butler could not
+move from where he was, in co-operation, to produce any effect.
+He said that the general occupied a place between the James and
+Appomattox rivers which was of great strength, and where with an
+inferior force he could hold it for an indefinite length of time
+against a superior; but that he could do nothing offensively.  I
+then asked him why Butler could not move out from his lines and
+push across the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad to the rear and
+on the south side of Richmond.  He replied that it was
+impracticable, because the enemy had substantially the same line
+across the neck of land that General Butler had.  He then took
+out his pencil and drew a sketch of the locality, remarking that
+the position was like a bottle and that Butler's line of
+intrenchments across the neck represented the cork; that the
+enemy had built an equally strong line immediately in front of
+him across the neck; and it was therefore as if Butler was in a
+bottle.  He was perfectly safe against an attack; but, as
+Barnard expressed it, the enemy had corked the bottle and with a
+small force could hold the cork in its place.  This struck me as
+being very expressive of his position, particularly when I saw
+the hasty sketch which General Barnard had drawn; and in making
+my subsequent report I used that expression without adding
+quotation marks, never thinking that anything had been said that
+would attract attention--as this did, very much to the annoyance,
+no doubt, of General Butler and, I know, very much to my own.  I
+found afterwards that this was mentioned in the notes of General
+Badeau's book, which, when they were shown to me, I asked to have
+stricken out; yet it was retained there, though against my
+wishes.
+
+I make this statement here because, although I have often made
+it before, it has never been in my power until now to place it
+where it will correct history; and I desire to rectify all
+injustice that I may have done to individuals, particularly to
+officers who were gallantly serving their country during the
+trying period of the war for the preservation of the Union.
+General Butler certainly gave his very earnest support to the
+war; and he gave his own best efforts personally to the
+suppression of the rebellion.
+
+The further operations of the Army of the James can best be
+treated of in connection with those of the Army of the Potomac,
+the two being so intimately associated and connected as to be
+substantially one body in which the individuality of the
+supporting wing is merged.
+
+Before giving the reader a summary of Sherman's great Atlanta
+campaign, which must conclude my description of the various
+co-operative movements preparatory to proceeding with that of
+the operations of the centre, I will briefly mention Sheridan's
+first raid upon Lee's communications which, though an incident
+of the operations on the main line and not specifically marked
+out in the original plan, attained in its brilliant execution
+and results all the proportions of an independent campaign.  By
+thus anticipating, in point of time, I will be able to more
+perfectly observe the continuity of events occurring in my
+immediate front when I shall have undertaken to describe our
+advance from the Rapidan.
+
+On the 8th of May, just after the battle of the Wilderness and
+when we were moving on Spottsylvania I directed Sheridan
+verbally to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac, pass around
+the left of Lee's army and attack his cavalry:  to cut the two
+roads--one running west through Gordonsville, Charlottesville
+and Lynchburg, the other to Richmond, and, when compelled to do
+so for want of forage and rations, to move on to the James River
+and draw these from Butler's supplies.  This move took him past
+the entire rear of Lee's army.  These orders were also given in
+writing through Meade.
+
+The object of this move was three-fold.  First, if successfully
+executed, and it was, he would annoy the enemy by cutting his
+line of supplies and telegraphic communications, and destroy or
+get for his own use supplies in store in the rear and coming
+up.  Second, he would draw the enemy's cavalry after him, and
+thus better protect our flanks, rear and trains than by
+remaining with the army.  Third, his absence would save the
+trains drawing his forage and other supplies from
+Fredericksburg, which had now become our base.  He started at
+daylight the next morning, and accomplished more than was
+expected.  It was sixteen days before he got back to the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+The course Sheridan took was directly to Richmond.  Before night
+Stuart, commanding the Confederate cavalry, came on to the rear
+of his command.  But the advance kept on, crossed the North
+Anna, and at Beaver Dam, a station on the Virginia Central
+Railroad, recaptured four hundred Union prisoners on their way
+to Richmond, destroyed the road and used and destroyed a large
+amount of subsistence and medical stores.
+
+Stuart, seeing that our cavalry was pushing towards Richmond,
+abandoned the pursuit on the morning of the 10th and, by a
+detour and an exhausting march, interposed between Sheridan and
+Richmond at Yellow Tavern, only about six miles north of the
+city.  Sheridan destroyed the railroad and more supplies at
+Ashland, and on the 11th arrived in Stuart's front.  A severe
+engagement ensued in which the losses were heavy on both sides,
+but the rebels were beaten, their leader mortally wounded, and
+some guns and many prisoners were captured.
+
+Sheridan passed through the outer defences of Richmond, and
+could, no doubt, have passed through the inner ones.  But having
+no supports near he could not have remained.  After caring for
+his wounded he struck for the James River below the city, to
+communicate with Butler and to rest his men and horses as well
+as to get food and forage for them.
+
+He moved first between the Chickahominy and the James, but in
+the morning (the 12th) he was stopped by batteries at
+Mechanicsville.  He then turned to cross to the north side of
+the Chickahominy by Meadow Bridge.  He found this barred, and
+the defeated Confederate cavalry, reorganized, occupying the
+opposite side.  The panic created by his first entrance within
+the outer works of Richmond having subsided troops were sent out
+to attack his rear.
+
+He was now in a perilous position, one from which but few
+generals could have extricated themselves.  The defences of
+Richmond, manned, were to the right, the Chickahominy was to the
+left with no bridge remaining and the opposite bank guarded, to
+the rear was a force from Richmond.  This force was attacked and
+beaten by Wilson's and Gregg's divisions, while Sheridan turned
+to the left with the remaining division and hastily built a
+bridge over the Chickahominy under the fire of the enemy, forced
+a crossing and soon dispersed the Confederates he found there.
+The enemy was held back from the stream by the fire of the
+troops not engaged in bridge building.
+
+On the 13th Sheridan was at Bottom's Bridge, over the
+Chickahominy.  On the 14th he crossed this stream and on that
+day went into camp on the James River at Haxall's Landing.  He
+at once put himself into communication with General Butler, who
+directed all the supplies he wanted to be furnished.
+
+Sheridan had left the Army of the Potomac at Spottsylvania, but
+did not know where either this or Lee's army was now.  Great
+caution therefore had to be exercised in getting back.  On the
+17th, after resting his command for three days, he started on
+his return.  He moved by the way of White House.  The bridge
+over the Pamunkey had been burned by the enemy, but a new one
+was speedily improvised and the cavalry crossed over it.  On the
+22d he was at Aylett's on the Matapony, where he learned the
+position of the two armies.  On the 24th he joined us on the
+march from North Anna to Cold Harbor, in the vicinity of
+Chesterfield.
+
+Sheridan in this memorable raid passed entirely around Lee's
+army:  encountered his cavalry in four engagements, and defeated
+them in all; recaptured four hundred Union prisoners and killed
+and captured many of the enemy; destroyed and used many supplies
+and munitions of war; destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph,
+and freed us from annoyance by the cavalry of the enemy for more
+than two weeks.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XLIX.
+
+SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SIEGE OF ATLANTA--DEATH OF
+GENERAL MCPHERSON--ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ANDERSONVILLE--CAPTURE OF
+ATLANTA.
+
+After separating from Sherman in Cincinnati I went on to
+Washington, as already stated, while he returned to Nashville to
+assume the duties of his new command.  His military division was
+now composed of four departments and embraced all the territory
+west of the Alleghany Mountains and east of the Mississippi
+River, together with the State of Arkansas in the
+trans-Mississippi.  The most easterly of these was the
+Department of the Ohio, General Schofield commanding; the next
+was the Department of the Cumberland, General Thomas commanding;
+the third the Department of the Tennessee, General McPherson
+commanding; and General Steele still commanded the
+trans-Mississippi, or Department of Arkansas.  The last-named
+department was so far away that Sherman could not communicate
+with it very readily after starting on his spring campaign, and
+it was therefore soon transferred from his military division to
+that of the Gulf, where General Canby, who had relieved General
+Banks, was in command.
+
+The movements of the armies, as I have stated in a former
+chapter, were to be simultaneous, I fixing the day to start when
+the season should be far enough advanced, it was hoped, for the
+roads to be in a condition for the troops to march.
+
+General Sherman at once set himself to work preparing for the
+task which was assigned him to accomplish in the spring
+campaign.  McPherson lay at Huntsville with about twenty-four
+thousand men, guarding those points of Tennessee which were
+regarded as most worth holding; Thomas, with over sixty thousand
+men of the Army of the Cumberland, was at Chattanooga; and
+Schofield, with about fourteen thousand men, was at Knoxville.
+With these three armies, numbering about one hundred thousand
+men in all, Sherman was to move on the day fixed for the general
+advance, with a view of destroying Johnston's army and capturing
+Atlanta. He visited each of these commands to inform himself as
+to their condition, and it was found to be, speaking generally,
+good.
+
+One of the first matters to turn his attention to was that of
+getting, before the time arrived for starting, an accumulation
+of supplies forward to Chattanooga, sufficiently large to
+warrant a movement.  He found, when he got to that place, that
+the trains over the single-track railroad, which was frequently
+interrupted for a day or two at a time, were only sufficient to
+meet the daily wants of the troops without bringing forward any
+surplus of any kind.  He found, however, that trains were being
+used to transport all the beef cattle, horses for the cavalry,
+and even teams that were being brought to the front.  He at once
+changed all this, and required beef cattle, teams, cavalry
+horses, and everything that could travel, even the troops, to be
+marched, and used the road exclusively for transporting
+supplies.  In this way he was able to accumulate an abundance
+before the time finally fixed upon for the move, the 4th of May.
+
+As I have said already, Johnston was at Dalton, which was nearly
+one-fourth of the way between Chattanooga and Atlanta. The
+country is mountainous all the way to Atlanta, abounding in
+mountain streams, some of them of considerable volume.  Dalton
+is on ground where water drains towards Atlanta and into one of
+the main streams rising north-east from there and flowing
+south-west--this being the general direction which all the main
+streams of that section take, with smaller tributaries entering
+into them.  Johnston had been preparing himself for this
+campaign during the entire winter.  The best positions for
+defence had been selected all the way from Dalton back to
+Atlanta, and very strongly intrenched; so that, as he might be
+forced to fall back from one position, he would have another to
+fall into in his rear.  His position at Dalton was so very
+strongly intrenched that no doubt he expected, or at least
+hoped, to hold Sherman there and prevent him from getting any
+further.  With a less skilful general, and one disposed to take
+no risks, I have no doubt that he would have succeeded.
+
+Sherman's plan was to start Schofield, who was farthest back, a
+few days in advance from Knoxville, having him move on the
+direct road to Dalton.  Thomas was to move out to Ringgold.  It
+had been Sherman's intention to cross McPherson over the
+Tennessee River at Huntsville or Decatur, and move him south
+from there so as to have him come into the road running from
+Chattanooga to Atlanta a good distance to the rear of the point
+Johnston was occupying; but when that was contemplated it was
+hoped that McPherson alone would have troops enough to cope with
+Johnston, if the latter should move against him while unsupported
+by the balance of the army.  In this he was disappointed.  Two of
+McPherson's veteran divisions had re-enlisted on the express
+provision that they were to have a furlough.  This furlough had
+not yet expired, and they were not back.
+
+Then, again, Sherman had lent Banks two divisions under A. J.
+Smith, the winter before, to co-operate with the
+trans-Mississippi forces, and this with the express pledge that
+they should be back by a time specified, so as to be prepared
+for this very campaign.  It is hardly necessary to say they were
+not returned.  That department continued to absorb troops to no
+purpose to the end of the war.  This left McPherson so weak that
+the part of the plan above indicated had to be changed.  He was
+therefore brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a
+road to the right of Thomas--the two coming together about
+Dalton.  The three armies were abreast, all ready to start
+promptly on time.
+
+Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it
+was useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even
+to carry it by regular approaches was impracticable.  There was
+a narrowing up in the mountain, between the National and
+Confederate armies, through which a stream, a wagon road and a
+railroad ran.  Besides, the stream had been dammed so that the
+valley was a lake.  Through this gorge the troops would have to
+pass.  McPherson was therefore sent around by the right, to come
+out by the way of Snake Creek Gap into the rear of the enemy.
+This was a surprise to Johnston, and about the 13th he decided
+to abandon his position at Dalton.
+
+On the 15th there was very hard fighting about Resaca; but our
+cavalry having been sent around to the right got near the road
+in the enemy's rear.  Again Johnston fell back, our army
+pursuing.  The pursuit was continued to Kingston, which was
+reached on the 19th with very little fighting, except that
+Newton's division overtook the rear of Johnston's army and
+engaged it.  Sherman was now obliged to halt for the purpose of
+bringing up his railroad trains.  He was depending upon the
+railroad for all of his supplies, and as of course the railroad
+was wholly destroyed as Johnston fell back, it had to be
+rebuilt.  This work was pushed forward night and day, and caused
+much less delay than most persons would naturally expect in a
+mountainous country where there were so many bridges to be
+rebuilt.
+
+The campaign to Atlanta was managed with the most consummate
+skill, the enemy being flanked out of one position after another
+all the way there.  It is true this was not accomplished without
+a good deal of fighting--some of it very hard fighting, rising
+to the dignity of very important battles--neither were single
+positions gained in a day.  On the contrary, weeks were spent at
+some; and about Atlanta more than a month was consumed.
+
+It was the 23d of May before the road was finished up to the
+rear of Sherman's army and the pursuit renewed.  This pursuit
+brought him up to the vicinity of Allatoona. This place was very
+strongly intrenched, and naturally a very defensible position. An
+assault upon it was not thought of, but preparations were made to
+flank the enemy out of it.  This was done by sending a large
+force around our right, by the way of Dallas, to reach the rear
+of the enemy.  Before reaching there, however, they found the
+enemy fortified in their way, and there resulted hard fighting
+for about a week at a place called New Hope Church.  On the left
+our troops also were fortified, and as close up to the enemy as
+they could get.  They kept working still farther around to the
+left toward the railroad.  This was the case more particularly
+with the cavalry.  By the 4th of June Johnston found that he was
+being hemmed in so rapidly that he drew off and Allatoona was
+left in our possession.
+
+Allatoona, being an important place, was strongly intrenched for
+occupation by our troops before advancing farther, and made a
+secondary base of supplies.  The railroad was finished up to
+that point, the intrenchments completed, storehouses provided
+for food, and the army got in readiness for a further advance.
+The rains, however, were falling in such torrents that it was
+impossible to move the army by the side roads which they would
+have to move upon in order to turn Johnston out of his new
+position.
+
+While Sherman's army lay here, General F. P. Blair returned to
+it, bringing with him the two divisions of veterans who had been
+on furlough.
+
+Johnston had fallen back to Marietta and Kenesaw Mountain, where
+strong intrenchments awaited him.  At this latter place our
+troops made an assault upon the enemy's lines after having got
+their own lines up close to him, and failed, sustaining
+considerable loss.  But during the progress of the battle
+Schofield was gaining ground to the left; and the cavalry on his
+left were gaining still more toward the enemy's rear.  These
+operations were completed by the 3d of July, when it was found
+that Johnston had evacuated the place.  He was pursued at
+once.  Sherman had made every preparation to abandon the
+railroad, leaving a strong guard in his intrenchments.  He had
+intended, moving out with twenty days' rations and plenty of
+ammunition, to come in on the railroad again at the
+Chattahoochee River.  Johnston frustrated this plan by himself
+starting back as above stated.  This time he fell back to the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+About the 5th of July he was besieged again, Sherman getting
+easy possession of the Chattahoochee River both above and below
+him.  The enemy was again flanked out of his position, or so
+frightened by flanking movements that on the night of the 9th he
+fell back across the river.
+
+Here Johnston made a stand until the 17th, when Sherman's old
+tactics prevailed again and the final movement toward Atlanta
+began.  Johnston was now relieved of the command, and Hood
+superseded him.
+
+Johnston's tactics in this campaign do not seem to have met with
+much favor, either in the eyes of the administration at Richmond,
+or of the people of that section of the South in which he was
+commanding.  The very fact of a change of commanders being
+ordered under such circumstances was an indication of a change
+of policy, and that now they would become the aggressors--the
+very thing our troops wanted.
+
+For my own part, I think that Johnston's tactics were right.
+Anything that could have prolonged the war a year beyond the
+time that it did finally close, would probably have exhausted
+the North to such an extent that they might then have abandoned
+the contest and agreed to a separation.
+
+Atlanta was very strongly intrenched all the way around in a
+circle about a mile and a half outside of the city.  In addition
+to this, there were advanced intrenchments which had to be taken
+before a close siege could be commenced.
+
+Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy
+was about to assume the offensive.  On the 20th he came out and
+attacked the Army of the Cumberland most furiously.  Hooker's
+corps, and Newton's and Johnson's divisions were the principal
+ones engaged in this contest, which lasted more than an hour;
+but the Confederates were then forced to fall back inside their
+main lines.  The losses were quite heavy on both sides.  On this
+day General Gresham, since our Postmaster-General, was very badly
+wounded.  During the night Hood abandoned his outer lines, and
+our troops were advanced.  The investment had not been
+relinquished for a moment during the day.
+
+During the night of the 21st Hood moved out again, passing by
+our left flank, which was then in motion to get a position
+farther in rear of him, and a desperate battle ensued, which
+lasted most of the day of the 22d.  At first the battle went
+very much in favor of the Confederates, our troops being
+somewhat surprised.  While our troops were advancing they were
+struck in flank, and their flank was enveloped.  But they had
+become too thorough veterans to be thrown into irreparable
+confusion by an unexpected attack when off their guard, and soon
+they were in order and engaging the enemy, with the advantage now
+of knowing where their antagonist was.  The field of battle
+continued to expand until it embraced about seven miles of
+ground.  Finally, however, and before night, the enemy was
+driven back into the city (*26).
+
+It was during this battle that McPherson, while passing from one
+column to another, was instantly killed.  In his death the army
+lost one of its ablest, purest and best generals.
+
+Garrard had been sent out with his cavalry to get upon the
+railroad east of Atlanta and to cut it in the direction of
+Augusta. He was successful in this, and returned about the time
+of the battle.  Rousseau had also come up from Tennessee with a
+small division of cavalry, having crossed the Tennessee River
+about Decatur and made a raid into Alabama. Finally, when hard
+pressed, he had come in, striking the railroad in rear of
+Sherman, and reported to him about this time.
+
+The battle of the 22d is usually known as the Battle of Atlanta,
+although the city did not fall into our hands until the 2d of
+September.  Preparations went on, as before, to flank the enemy
+out of his position.  The work was tedious, and the lines that
+had to be maintained were very long.  Our troops were gradually
+worked around to the east until they struck the road between
+Decatur and Atlanta. These lines were strongly fortified, as
+were those to the north and west of the city--all as close up to
+the enemy's lines as practicable--in order to hold them with the
+smallest possible number of men, the design being to detach an
+army to move by our right and try to get upon the railroad down
+south of Atlanta.
+
+On the 27th the movement by the right flank commenced.  On the
+28th the enemy struck our right flank, General Logan commanding,
+with great vigor.  Logan intrenched himself hastily, and by that
+means was enabled to resist all assaults and inflict a great
+deal of damage upon the enemy.  These assaults were continued to
+the middle of the afternoon, and resumed once or twice still
+later in the day.  The enemy's losses in these unsuccessful
+assaults were fearful.
+
+During that evening the enemy in Logan's front withdrew into the
+town.  This now left Sherman's army close up to the Confederate
+lines, extending from a point directly east of the city around
+by the north and west of it for a distance of fully ten miles;
+the whole of this line being intrenched, and made stronger every
+day they remained there.
+
+In the latter part of July Sherman sent Stoneman to destroy the
+railroads to the south, about Macon.  He was then to go east
+and, if possible, release our prisoners about Andersonville.
+There were painful stories current at the time about the great
+hardships these prisoners had to endure in the way of general
+bad treatment, in the way in which they were housed, and in the
+way in which they were fed.  Great sympathy was felt for them;
+and it was thought that even if they could be turned loose upon
+the country it would be a great relief to them.  But the attempt
+proved a failure.  McCook, who commanded a small brigade, was
+first reported to have been captured; but he got back, having
+inflicted a good deal of damage upon the enemy.  He had also
+taken some prisoners; but encountering afterwards a largely
+superior force of the enemy he was obliged to drop his prisoners
+and get back as best he could with what men he had left.  He had
+lost several hundred men out of his small command.  On the 4th
+of August Colonel Adams, commanding a little brigade of about a
+thousand men, returned reporting Stoneman and all but himself as
+lost.  I myself had heard around Richmond of the capture of
+Stoneman, and had sent Sherman word, which he received.  The
+rumor was confirmed there, also, from other sources.  A few days
+after Colonel Adams's return Colonel Capron also got in with a
+small detachment and confirmed the report of the capture of
+Stoneman with something less than a thousand men.
+
+It seems that Stoneman, finding the escape of all his force was
+impossible, had made arrangements for the escape of two
+divisions.  He covered the movement of these divisions to the
+rear with a force of about seven hundred men, and at length
+surrendered himself and this detachment to the commanding
+Confederate.  In this raid, however, much damage was inflicted
+upon the enemy by the destruction of cars, locomotives, army
+wagons, manufactories of military supplies, etc.
+
+On the 4th and 5th Sherman endeavored to get upon the railroad
+to our right, where Schofield was in command, but these attempts
+failed utterly.  General Palmer was charged with being the cause
+of this failure, to a great extent, by both General Sherman and
+General Schofield; but I am not prepared to say this, although a
+question seems to have arisen with Palmer as to whether Schofield
+had any right to command him.  If he did raise this question
+while an action was going on, that act alone was exceedingly
+reprehensible.
+
+About the same time Wheeler got upon our railroad north of
+Resaca and destroyed it nearly up to Dalton.  This cut Sherman
+off from communication with the North for several days.  Sherman
+responded to this attack on his lines of communication by
+directing one upon theirs.
+
+Kilpatrick started on the night of the 18th of August to reach
+the Macon road about Jonesboro.  He succeeded in doing so,
+passed entirely around the Confederate lines of Atlanta, and was
+back again in his former position on our left by the 22d.  These
+little affairs, however, contributed but very little to the
+grand result.  They annoyed, it is true, but any damage thus
+done to a railroad by any cavalry expedition is soon repaired.
+
+Sherman made preparations for a repetition of his tactics; that
+is, for a flank movement with as large a force as could be got
+together to some point in the enemy's rear.  Sherman commenced
+this last movement on the 25th of August, and on the 1st of
+September was well up towards the railroad twenty miles south of
+Atlanta.  Here he found Hardee intrenched, ready to meet him.  A
+battle ensued, but he was unable to drive Hardee away before
+night set in.  Under cover of the night, however, Hardee left of
+his own accord.  That night Hood blew up his military works, such
+as he thought would be valuable in our hands, and decamped.
+
+The next morning at daylight General H. W. Slocum, who was
+commanding north of the city, moved in and took possession of
+Atlanta, and notified Sherman.  Sherman then moved deliberately
+back, taking three days to reach the city, and occupied a line
+extending from Decatur on the left to Atlanta in the centre,
+with his troops extending out of the city for some distance to
+the right.
+
+The campaign had lasted about four months, and was one of the
+most memorable in history.  There was but little if anything in
+the whole campaign, now that it is over, to criticise at all,
+and nothing to criticise severely.  It was creditable alike to
+the general who commanded and the army which had executed it.
+Sherman had on this campaign some bright, wide-awake division
+and brigade commanders whose alertness added a host to the
+efficiency of his command.
+
+The troops now went to work to make themselves comfortable, and
+to enjoy a little rest after their arduous campaign.  The city
+of Atlanta was turned into a military base.  The citizens were
+all compelled to leave.  Sherman also very wisely prohibited the
+assembling of the army of sutlers and traders who always follow
+in the wake of an army in the field, if permitted to do so, from
+trading with the citizens and getting the money of the soldiers
+for articles of but little use to them, and for which they are
+made to pay most exorbitant prices.  He limited the number of
+these traders to one for each of his three armies.
+
+The news of Sherman's success reached the North instantaneously,
+and set the country all aglow.  This was the first great
+political campaign for the Republicans in their canvass of
+1864.  It was followed later by Sheridan's campaign in the
+Shenandoah Valley; and these two campaigns probably had more
+effect in settling the election of the following November than
+all the speeches, all the bonfires, and all the parading with
+banners and bands of music in the North.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER L.
+
+GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC--CROSSING THE
+RAPIDAN--ENTERING THE WILDERNESS--BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS.
+
+Soon after midnight, May 3d-4th, the Army of the Potomac moved
+out from its position north Rapidan, to start upon that
+memorable campaign, destined to result in the capture of the
+Confederate capital and the army defending it.  This was not to
+be accomplished, however, without as desperate fighting as the
+world has ever witnessed; not to be consummated in a day, a
+week, a month, single season.  The losses inflicted, and
+endured, were destined to be severe; but the armies now
+confronting each other had already been in deadly conflict for a
+period of three years, with immense losses in killed, by death
+from sickness, captured and wounded; and neither had made any
+real progress accomplishing the final end.  It is true the
+Confederates had, so far, held their capital, and they claimed
+this to be their sole object.  But previously they had boldly
+proclaimed their intention to capture Philadelphia, New York,
+and the National Capital, and had made several attempts to do
+so, and once or twice had come fearfully near making their boast
+good--too near for complacent contemplation by the loyal North.
+They had also come near losing their own capital on at least one
+occasion.  So here was a stand-off.  The campaign now begun was
+destined to result in heavier losses, to both armies, in a given
+time, than any previously suffered; but the carnage was to be
+limited to a single year, and to accomplish all that had been
+anticipated or desired at the beginning in that time.  We had to
+have hard fighting to achieve this.  The two armies had been
+confronting each other so long, without any decisive result,
+that they hardly knew which could whip.
+
+Ten days' rations, with a supply of forage and ammunition were
+taken in wagons.  Beef cattle were driven with the trains, and
+butchered as wanted.  Three days rations in addition, in
+haversacks, and fifty rounds of cartridges, were carried on the
+person of each soldier.
+
+The country over which the army had to operate, from the Rapidan
+to the crossing of the James River, is rather flat, and is cut by
+numerous streams which make their way to the Chesapeake Bay.  The
+crossings of these streams by the army were generally made not
+far above tide-water, and where they formed a considerable obstacle
+to the rapid advance of troops even when the enemy did not
+appear in opposition.  The country roads were narrow and poor.
+Most of the country is covered with a dense forest, in places,
+like the Wilderness and along the Chickahominy, almost
+impenetrable even for infantry except along the roads.  All
+bridges were naturally destroyed before the National troops came
+to them.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was composed of three infantry and one
+cavalry corps, commanded respectively by Generals W. S. Hancock,
+G. K. Warren, (*27) John Sedgwick and P. H. Sheridan.  The
+artillery was commanded by General Henry J. Hunt.  This arm was
+in such abundance that the fourth of it could not be used to
+advantage in such a country as we were destined to pass
+through.  The surplus was much in the way, taking up as it did
+so much of the narrow and bad roads, and consuming so much of
+the forage and other stores brought up by the trains.
+
+The 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was in advance on the
+right, and marched directly for Germania Ford, preceded by one
+division of cavalry, under General J. H. Wilson.  General
+Sedgwick followed Warren with the 6th corps.  Germania Ford was
+nine or ten miles below the right of Lee's line.  Hancock, with
+the 2d corps, moved by another road, farther east, directly upon
+Ely's Ford, six miles below Germania, preceded by Gregg's
+division of cavalry, and followed by the artillery.  Torbert's
+division of cavalry was left north of the Rapidan, for the time,
+to picket the river and prevent the enemy from crossing and
+getting into our rear.  The cavalry seized the two crossings
+before daylight, drove the enemy's pickets guarding them away,
+and by six o'clock A.M. had the pontoons laid ready for the
+crossing of the infantry and artillery.  This was undoubtedly a
+surprise to Lee.  The fact that the movement was unopposed
+proves this.
+
+Burnside, with the 9th corps, was left back at Warrenton,
+guarding the railroad from Bull Run forward to preserve control
+of it in case our crossing the Rapidan should be long delayed.
+He was instructed, however, to advance at once on receiving
+notice that the army had crossed; and a dispatch was sent to him
+a little after one P.M. giving the information that our crossing
+had been successful.
+
+The country was heavily wooded at all the points of crossing,
+particularly on the south side of the river.  The battle-field
+from the crossing of the Rapidan until the final movement from
+the Wilderness toward Spottsylvania was of the same character.
+There were some clearings and small farms within what might be
+termed the battle-field; but generally the country was covered
+with a dense forest.  The roads were narrow and bad.  All the
+conditions were favorable for defensive operations.
+
+There are two roads, good for that part of Virginia, running
+from Orange Court House to the battle-field.  The most southerly
+of these roads is known as the Orange Court House Plank Road, the
+northern one as the Orange Turnpike.  There are also roads from
+east of the battle-field running to Spottsylvania Court House,
+one from Chancellorsville, branching at Aldrich's; the western
+branch going by Piney Branch Church, Alsop's, thence by the
+Brock Road to Spottsylvania; the east branch goes by Gates's,
+thence to Spottsylvania.  The Brock Road runs from Germania Ford
+through the battle-field and on to the Court House.  As
+Spottsylvania is approached the country is cut up with numerous
+roads, some going to the town direct, and others crossing so as
+to connect the farms with roads going there.
+
+Lee's headquarters were at Orange Court House.  From there to
+Fredericksburg he had the use of the two roads above described
+running nearly parallel to the Wilderness.  This gave him
+unusual facilities, for that country, for concentrating his
+forces to his right.  These roads strike the road from Germania
+Ford in the Wilderness.
+
+As soon as the crossing of the infantry was assured, the cavalry
+pushed forward, Wilson's division by Wilderness Tavern to
+Parker's store, on the Orange Plank Road; Gregg to the left
+towards Chancellorsville.  Warren followed Wilson and reached
+the Wilderness Tavern by noon, took position there and
+intrenched.  Sedgwick followed Warren.  He was across the river
+and in camp on the south bank, on the right of Warren, by
+sundown.  Hancock, with the 2d corps, moved parallel with Warren
+and camped about six miles east of him.  Before night all the
+troops, and by the evening of the 5th the trains of more than
+four thousand wagons, were safely on the south side of the river.
+
+There never was a corps better organized than was the
+quartermaster's corps with the Army of the Potomac in 1864. With
+a wagon-train that would have extended from the Rapidan to
+Richmond, stretched along in single file and separated as the
+teams necessarily would be when moving, we could still carry
+only three days' forage and about ten to twelve days' rations,
+besides a supply of ammunition.  To overcome all difficulties,
+the chief quartermaster, General Rufus Ingalls, had marked on
+each wagon the corps badge with the division color and the
+number of the brigade.  At a glance, the particular brigade to
+which any wagon belonged could be told.  The wagons were also
+marked to note the contents:  if ammunition, whether for
+artillery or infantry; if forage, whether grain or hay; if
+rations, whether, bread, pork, beans, rice, sugar, coffee or
+whatever it might be.  Empty wagons were never allowed to follow
+the army or stay in camp.  As soon as a wagon was empty it would
+return to the base of supply for a load of precisely the same
+article that had been taken from it.  Empty trains were obliged
+to leave the road free for loaded ones.  Arriving near the army
+they would be parked in fields nearest to the brigades they
+belonged to.  Issues, except of ammunition, were made at night
+in all cases.  By this system the hauling of forage for the
+supply train was almost wholly dispensed with.  They consumed
+theirs at the depots.
+
+I left Culpeper Court House after all the troops had been put in
+motion, and passing rapidly to the front, crossed the Rapidan in
+advance of Sedgwick's corps; and established headquarters for
+the afternoon and night in a deserted house near the river.
+
+Orders had been given, long before this movement began, to cut
+down the baggage of officers and men to the lowest point
+possible.  Notwithstanding this I saw scattered along the road
+from Culpeper to Germania Ford wagon-loads of new blankets and
+overcoats, thrown away by the troops to lighten their knapsacks;
+an improvidence I had never witnessed before.
+
+Lee, while his pickets and signal corps must have discovered at
+a very early hour on the morning of the 4th of May, that the
+Army of the Potomac was moving, evidently did not learn until
+about one o'clock in the afternoon by what route we would
+confront his army.  This I judge from the fact that at 1.15
+P.M., an hour and a quarter after Warren had reached Old
+Wilderness Tavern, our officers took off rebel signals which,
+when translated, were seen to be an order to his troops to
+occupy their intrenchments at Mine Run.
+
+Here at night dispatches were received announcing that Sherman,
+Butler and Crook had moved according to programme.
+
+On discovering the advance of the Army of the Potomac, Lee
+ordered Hill, Ewell and Longstreet, each commanding corps, to
+move to the right to attack us, Hill on the Orange Plank Road,
+Longstreet to follow on the same road.  Longstreet was at this
+time--middle of the afternoon--at Gordonsville, twenty or more
+miles away.  Ewell was ordered by the Orange Pike.  He was near
+by and arrived some four miles east of Mine Run before
+bivouacking for the night.
+
+My orders were given through General Meade for an early advance
+on the morning of the 5th.  Warren was to move to Parker's
+store, and Wilson's cavalry--then at Parker's store--to move on
+to Craig's meeting-house.  Sedgwick followed Warren, closing in
+on his right.  The Army of the Potomac was facing to the west,
+though our advance was made to the south, except when facing the
+enemy.  Hancock was to move south-westward to join on the left of
+Warren, his left to reach to Shady Grove Church.
+
+At six o'clock, before reaching Parker's store, Warren
+discovered the enemy.  He sent word back to this effect, and was
+ordered to halt and prepare to meet and attack him.  Wright, with
+his division of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered, by any road he
+could find, to join on to Warren's right, and Getty with his
+division, also of Sedgwick's corps, was ordered to move rapidly
+by Warren's rear and get on his left.  This was the speediest
+way to reinforce Warren who was confronting the enemy on both
+the Orange plank and turnpike roads.
+
+Burnside had moved promptly on the 4th, on receiving word that
+the Army of the Potomac had safely crossed the Rapidan.  By
+making a night march,  although some of his troops had to march
+forty miles to reach the river, he was crossing with the head of
+his column early on the morning of the 5th.  Meade moved his
+headquarters on to Old Wilderness Tavern, four miles south of
+the river, as soon as it was light enough to see the road.  I
+remained to hasten Burnside's crossing and to put him in
+position.  Burnside at this time was not under Meade's command,
+and was his senior in rank.  Getting information of the
+proximity of the enemy, I informed Meade, and without waiting to
+see Burnside, at once moved forward my headquarters to where
+Meade was.
+
+It was my plan then, as it was on all other occasions, to take
+the initiative whenever the enemy could be drawn from his
+intrenchments if we were not intrenched ourselves.  Warren had
+not yet reached the point where he was to halt, when he
+discovered the enemy near by.  Neither party had any advantage
+of position.  Warren was, therefore, ordered to attack as soon
+as he could prepare for it.  At nine o'clock Hancock was ordered
+to come up to the support of Getty.  He himself arrived at
+Getty's front about noon, but his troops were yet far in the
+rear.  Getty was directed to hold his position at all hazards
+until relieved.  About this hour Warren was ready, and attacked
+with favorable though not decisive results.  Getty was somewhat
+isolated from Warren and was in a precarious condition for a
+time.  Wilson, with his division of cavalry, was farther south,
+and was cut off from the rest of the army.  At two o'clock
+Hancock's troops began to arrive, and immediately he was ordered
+to join Getty and attack the enemy.  But the heavy timber and
+narrow roads prevented him from getting into position for attack
+as promptly as he generally did when receiving such orders.  At
+four o'clock he again received his orders to attack, and General
+Getty received orders from Meade a few minutes later to attack
+whether Hancock was ready or not.  He met the enemy under Heth
+within a few hundred yards.
+
+Hancock immediately sent two divisions, commanded by Birney and
+Mott, and later two brigades, Carroll's and Owen's, to the
+support of Getty.  This was timely and saved Getty.  During the
+battle Getty and Carroll were wounded, but remained on the
+field.  One of Birney's most gallant brigade commanders
+--Alexander Hays--was killed.
+
+I had been at West Point with Hays for three years, and had
+served with him through the Mexican war, a portion of the time
+in the same regiment.  He was a most gallant officer, ready to
+lead his command wherever ordered.  With him it was "Come,
+boys," not "Go."
+
+Wadsworth's division and Baxter's brigade of the 2d division
+were sent to reinforce Hancock and Getty; but the density of the
+intervening forest was such that, there being no road to march
+upon, they did not get up with the head of column until night,
+and bivouacked where they were without getting into position.
+
+During the afternoon Sheridan sent Gregg's division of cavalry
+to Todd's Tavern in search of Wilson.  This was fortunate.  He
+found Wilson engaged with a superior force under General Rosser,
+supported by infantry, and falling back before it.  Together they
+were strong enough to turn the tables upon the enemy and
+themselves become aggressive.  They soon drove the rebel cavalry
+back beyond Corbin's Bridge.
+
+Fighting between Hancock and Hill continued until night put a
+close to it.  Neither side made any special progress.
+
+After the close of the battle of the 5th of May my orders were
+given for the following morning.  We knew Longstreet with 12,000
+men was on his way to join Hill's right, near the Brock Road, and
+might arrive during the night.  I was anxious that the rebels
+should not take the initiative in the morning, and therefore
+ordered Hancock to make an assault at 4.30 o'clock.  Meade asked
+to have the hour changed to six.  Deferring to his wishes as far
+as I was willing, the order was modified and five was fixed as
+the hour to move.
+
+Hancock had now fully one-half of the Army of the Potomac.
+Wadsworth with his division, which had arrived the night before,
+lay in a line perpendicular to that held by Hill, and to the
+right of Hancock.  He was directed to move at the same time, and
+to attack Hill's left.
+
+Burnside, who was coming up with two divisions, was directed to
+get in between Warren and Wadsworth, and attack as soon as he
+could get in position to do so.  Sedgwick and Warren were to
+make attacks in their front, to detain as many of the enemy as
+they could and to take advantage of any attempt to reinforce
+Hill from that quarter.  Burnside was ordered if he should
+succeed in breaking the enemy's centre, to swing around to the
+left and envelop the right of Lee's army.  Hancock was informed
+of all the movements ordered.
+
+Burnside had three divisions, but one of them--a colored
+division--was sent to guard the wagon train, and he did not see
+it again until July.
+
+Lee was evidently very anxious that there should be no battle on
+his right until Longstreet got up.  This is evident from the fact
+that notwithstanding the early hour at which I had ordered the
+assault, both for the purpose of being the attacking party and
+to strike before Longstreet got up, Lee was ahead in his assault
+on our right.  His purpose was evident, but he failed.
+
+Hancock was ready to advance by the hour named, but learning in
+time that Longstreet was moving a part of his corps by the
+Catharpin Road, thus threatening his left flank, sent a division
+of infantry, commanded by General Barlow, with all his artillery,
+to cover the approaches by which Longstreet was expected.  This
+disposition was made in time to attack as ordered.  Hancock
+moved by the left of the Orange Plank Road, and Wadsworth by the
+right of it. The fighting was desperate for about an hour, when
+the enemy began to break up in great confusion.
+
+I believed then, and see no reason to change that opinion now,
+that if the country had been such that Hancock and his command
+could have seen the confusion and panic in the lines of the
+enemy, it would have been taken advantage of so effectually that
+Lee would not have made another stand outside of his Richmond
+defences.
+
+Gibbon commanded Hancock's left, and was ordered to attack, but
+was not able to accomplish much.
+
+On the morning of the 6th Sheridan was sent to connect with
+Hancock's left and attack the enemy's cavalry who were trying to
+get on our left and rear.  He met them at the intersection of the
+Furnace and Brock roads and at Todd's Tavern, and defeated them
+at both places.  Later he was attacked, and again the enemy was
+repulsed.
+
+Hancock heard the firing between Sheridan and Stuart, and
+thinking the enemy coming by that road, still further reinforced
+his position guarding the entrance to the Brock Road.  Another
+incident happened during the day to further induce Hancock to
+weaken his attacking column.  Word reached him that troops were
+seen moving towards him from the direction of Todd's Tavern, and
+Brooke's brigade was detached to meet this new enemy; but the
+troops approaching proved to be several hundred convalescents
+coming from Chancellorsville, by the road Hancock had advanced
+upon, to join their respective commands.  At 6.50 o'clock A.M.,
+Burnside, who had passed Wilderness Tavern at six o'clock, was
+ordered to send a division to the support of Hancock, but to
+continue with the remainder of his command in the execution of
+his previous order.  The difficulty of making a way through the
+dense forests prevented Burnside from getting up in time to be
+of any service on the forenoon of the sixth.
+
+Hancock followed Hill's retreating forces, in the morning, a
+mile or more.  He maintained this position until, along in the
+afternoon, Longstreet came upon him.  The retreating column of
+Hill meeting reinforcements that had not yet been engaged,
+became encouraged and returned with them.  They were enabled,
+from the density of the forest, to approach within a few hundred
+yards of our advance before being discovered.  Falling upon a
+brigade of Hancock's corps thrown to the advance, they swept it
+away almost instantly.  The enemy followed up his advantage and
+soon came upon Mott's division, which fell back in great
+confusion.  Hancock made dispositions to hold his advanced
+position, but after holding it for a time, fell back into the
+position that he had held in the morning, which was strongly
+intrenched.  In this engagement the intrepid Wadsworth while
+trying to rally his men was mortally wounded and fell into the
+hands of the enemy.  The enemy followed up, but made no
+immediate attack.
+
+The Confederate General Jenkins was killed and Longstreet
+seriously wounded in this engagement.  Longstreet had to leave
+the field, not to resume command for many weeks.  His loss was a
+severe one to Lee, and compensated in a great measure for the
+mishap, or misapprehensions, which had fallen to our lot during
+the day.
+
+After Longstreet's removal from the field Lee took command of
+his right in person.  He was not able, however, to rally his men
+to attack Hancock's position, and withdrew from our front for the
+purpose of reforming.  Hancock sent a brigade to clear his front
+of all remnants that might be left of Longstreet's or Hill's
+commands.  This brigade having been formed at right angles to
+the intrenchments held by Hancock's command, swept down the
+whole length of them from left to right.  A brigade of the enemy
+was encountered in this move; but it broke and disappeared
+without a contest.
+
+Firing was continued after this, but with less fury.  Burnside
+had not yet been able to get up to render any assistance.  But
+it was now only about nine in the morning, and he was getting
+into position on Hancock's right.
+
+At 4.15 in the afternoon Lee attacked our left.  His line moved
+up to within a hundred yards of ours and opened a heavy fire.
+This status was maintained for about half an hour.  Then a part
+of Mott's division and Ward's brigade of Birney's division gave
+way and retired in disorder.  The enemy under R. H. Anderson
+took advantage of this and pushed through our line, planting
+their flags on a part of the intrenchments not on fire.  But
+owing to the efforts of Hancock, their success was but
+temporary.  Carroll, of Gibbon's division, moved at a double
+quick with his brigade and drove back the enemy, inflicting
+great loss.  Fighting had continued from five in the morning
+sometimes along the whole line, at other times only in places.
+The ground fought over had varied in width, but averaged
+three-quarters of a mile.  The killed, and many of the severely
+wounded, of both armies, lay within this belt where it was
+impossible to reach them.  The woods were set on fire by the
+bursting shells, and the conflagration raged.  The wounded who
+had not strength to move themselves were either suffocated or
+burned to death.  Finally the fire communicated with our
+breastworks, in places.  Being constructed of wood, they burned
+with great fury.  But the battle still raged, our men firing
+through the flames until it became too hot to remain longer.
+
+Lee was now in distress.  His men were in confusion, and his
+personal efforts failed to restore order.  These facts, however,
+were learned subsequently, or we would have taken advantage of
+his condition and no doubt gained a decisive success.  His
+troops were withdrawn now, but I revoked the order, which I had
+given previously to this assault, for Hancock to attack, because
+his troops had exhausted their ammunition and did not have time
+to replenish from the train, which was at some distance.
+
+Burnside, Sedgwick, and Warren had all kept up an assault during
+all this time; but their efforts had no other effect than to
+prevent the enemy from reinforcing his right from the troops in
+their front.
+
+I had, on the 5th, ordered all the bridges over the Rapidan to
+be taken up except one at Germania Ford.
+
+The troops on Sedgwick's right had been sent to inforce our
+left.  This left our right in danger of being turned, and us of
+being cut off from all present base of supplies.  Sedgwick had
+refused his right and intrenched it for protection against
+attack.  But late in the afternoon of the 6th Early came out
+from his lines in considerable force and got in upon Sedgwick's
+right, notwithstanding the precautions taken, and created
+considerable confusion.  Early captured several hundred
+prisoners, among them two general officers.  The defence,
+however, was vigorous; and night coming on, the enemy was thrown
+into as much confusion as our troops, engaged, were.  Early says
+in his Memoirs that if we had discovered the confusion in his
+lines we might have brought fresh troops to his great
+discomfort.  Many officers, who had not been attacked by Early,
+continued coming to my headquarters even after Sedgwick had
+rectified his lines a little farther to the rear, with news of
+the disaster, fully impressed with the idea that the enemy was
+pushing on and would soon be upon me.
+
+During the night all of Lee's army withdrew within their
+intrenchments.  On the morning of the 7th General Custer drove
+the enemy's cavalry from Catharpin Furnace to Todd's Tavern.
+Pickets and skirmishers were sent along our entire front to find
+the position of the enemy.  Some went as far as a mile and a half
+before finding him. But Lee showed no disposition to come out of
+his Works.  There was no battle during the day, and but little
+firing except in Warren's front; he being directed about noon to
+make a reconnoissance in force.  This drew some sharp firing, but
+there was no attempt on the part of Lee to drive him back.  This
+ended the Battle of the Wilderness.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LI.
+
+AFTER THE BATTLE--TELEGRAPH AND SIGNAL SERVICE--MOVEMENT BY THE
+LEFT FLANK.
+
+More desperate fighting has not been witnessed on this continent
+than that of the 5th and 6th of May.  Our victory consisted in
+having successfully crossed a formidable stream, almost in the
+face of an enemy, and in getting the army together as a unit.
+We gained an advantage on the morning of the 6th, which, if it
+had been followed up, must have proven very decisive.  In the
+evening the enemy gained an advantage; but was speedily
+repulsed.  As we stood at the close, the two armies were
+relatively in about the same condition to meet each other as
+when the river divided them.  But the fact of having safely
+crossed was a victory.
+
+Our losses in the Wilderness were very severe.  Those of the
+Confederates must have been even more so; but I have no means of
+speaking with accuracy upon this point.  The Germania Ford bridge
+was transferred to Ely's Ford to facilitate the transportation of
+the wounded to Washington.
+
+It may be as well here as elsewhere to state two things
+connected with all movements of the Army of the Potomac:  first,
+in every change of position or halt for the night, whether
+confronting the enemy or not, the moment arms were stacked the
+men intrenched themselves.  For this purpose they would build up
+piles of logs or rails if they could be found in their front, and
+dig a ditch, throwing the dirt forward on the timber.  Thus the
+digging they did counted in making a depression to stand in, and
+increased the elevation in front of them.  It was wonderful how
+quickly they could in this way construct defences of
+considerable strength.  When a halt was made with the view of
+assaulting the enemy, or in his presence, these would be
+strengthened or their positions changed under the direction of
+engineer officers.  The second was, the use made of the
+telegraph and signal corps.  Nothing could be more complete than
+the organization and discipline of this body of brave and
+intelligent men.  Insulated wires--insulated so that they would
+transmit messages in a storm, on the ground or under water--were
+wound upon reels, making about two hundred pounds weight of wire
+to each reel.  Two men and one mule were detailed to each
+reel.  The pack-saddle on which this was carried was provided
+with a rack like a sawbuck placed crosswise of the saddle, and
+raised above it so that the reel, with its wire, would revolve
+freely.  There was a wagon, supplied with a telegraph operator,
+battery and telegraph instruments for each division, each corps,
+each army, and one for my headquarters.  There were wagons also
+loaded with light poles, about the size and length of a wall
+tent pole, supplied with an iron spike in one end, used to hold
+the wires up when laid, so that wagons and artillery would not
+run over them.  The mules thus loaded were assigned to brigades,
+and always kept with the command they were assigned to.  The
+operators were also assigned to particular headquarters, and
+never changed except by special orders.
+
+The moment the troops were put in position to go into camp all
+the men connected with this branch of service would proceed to
+put up their wires.  A mule loaded with a coil of wire would be
+led to the rear of the nearest flank of the brigade he belonged
+to, and would be led in a line parallel thereto, while one man
+would hold an end of the wire and uncoil it as the mule was led
+off.  When he had walked the length of the wire the whole of it
+would be on the ground.  This would be done in rear of every
+brigade at the same time.  The ends of all the wires would then
+be joined, making a continuous wire in the rear of the whole
+army.  The men, attached to brigades or divisions, would all
+commence at once raising the wires with their telegraph poles.
+This was done by making a loop in the wire and putting it over
+the spike and raising the pole to a perpendicular position.  At
+intervals the wire would be attached to trees, or some other
+permanent object, so that one pole was sufficient at a place. In
+the absence of such a support two poles would have to be used, at
+intervals, placed at an angle so as to hold the wire firm in its
+place.  While this was being done the telegraph wagons would
+take their positions near where the headquarters they belonged
+to were to be established, and would connect with the wire.
+Thus, in a few minutes longer time than it took a mule to walk
+the length of its coil, telegraphic communication would be
+effected between all the headquarters of the army.  No orders
+ever had to be given to establish the telegraph.
+
+The signal service was used on the march.  The men composing
+this corps were assigned to specified commands.  When movements
+were made, they would go in advance, or on the flanks, and seize
+upon high points of ground giving a commanding view of the
+country, if cleared, or would climb tall trees on the highest
+points if not cleared, and would denote, by signals, the
+positions of different parts of our own army, and often the
+movements of the enemy.  They would also take off the signals of
+the enemy and transmit them.  It would sometimes take too long a
+time to make translations of intercepted dispatches for us to
+receive any benefit from them.  But sometimes they gave useful
+information.
+
+On the afternoon of the 7th I received news from Washington
+announcing that Sherman had probably attacked Johnston that day,
+and that Butler had reached City Point safely and taken it by
+surprise on the 5th.  I had given orders for a movement by the
+left flank, fearing that Lee might move rapidly to Richmond to
+crush Butler before I could get there.
+
+My order for this movement was as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+May 7, 1864, 6.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Make all preparations during the day for a night march to take
+position at Spottsylvania C. H. with one army corps, at Todd's
+Tavern with one, and another near the intersection of the Piney
+Branch and Spottsylvania road with the road from Alsop's to Old
+Court House.  If this move is made the trains should be thrown
+forward early in the morning to the Ny River.
+
+I think it would be advisable in making the change to leave
+Hancock where he is until Warren passes him.  He could then
+follow and become the right of the new line.  Burnside will move
+to Piney Branch Church.  Sedgwick can move along the pike to
+Chancellorsville and on to his destination.  Burnside will move
+on the plank road to the intersection of it with the Orange and
+Fredericksburg plank road, then follow Sedgwick to his place of
+destination.
+
+All vehicles should be got out of hearing of the enemy before
+the troops move, and then move off quietly.
+
+It is more than probable that the enemy concentrate for a heavy
+attack on Hancock this afternoon.  In case they do we must be
+prepared to resist them, and follow up any success we may gain,
+with our whole force.  Such a result would necessarily modify
+these instructions.
+
+All the hospitals should be moved to-day to Chancellorsville.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+During the 7th Sheridan had a fight with the rebel cavalry at
+Todd's Tavern, but routed them, thus opening the way for the
+troops that were to go by that route at night.  Soon after dark
+Warren withdrew from the front of the enemy, and was soon
+followed by Sedgwick.  Warren's march carried him immediately
+behind the works where Hancock's command lay on the Brock
+Road.  With my staff and a small escort of cavalry I preceded
+the troops.  Meade with his staff accompanied me.  The greatest
+enthusiasm was manifested by Hancock's men as we passed by.  No
+doubt it was inspired by the fact that the movement was south.
+It indicated to them that they had passed through the "beginning
+of the end" in the battle just fought.  The cheering was so lusty
+that the enemy must have taken it for a night attack.  At all
+events it drew from him a furious fusillade of artillery and
+musketry, plainly heard but not felt by us.
+
+Meade and I rode in advance.  We had passed but a little way
+beyond our left when the road forked.  We looked to see, if we
+could, which road Sheridan had taken with his cavalry during the
+day.  It seemed to be the right-hand one, and accordingly we took
+it.  We had not gone far, however, when Colonel C. B. Comstock,
+of my staff, with the instinct of the engineer, suspecting that
+we were on a road that would lead us into the lines of the
+enemy, if he, too, should be moving, dashed by at a rapid gallop
+and all alone.  In a few minutes he returned and reported that
+Lee was moving, and that the road we were on would bring us into
+his lines in a short distance.  We returned to the forks of the
+road, left a man to indicate the right road to the head of
+Warren's column when it should come up, and continued our
+journey to Todd's Tavern, where we arrived after midnight.
+
+My object in moving to Spottsylvania was two-fold:  first, I did
+not want Lee to get back to Richmond in time to attempt to crush
+Butler before I could get there; second, I wanted to get between
+his army and Richmond if possible; and, if not, to draw him into
+the open field.  But Lee, by accident, beat us to
+Spottsylvania.  Our wagon trains had been ordered easterly of
+the roads the troops were to march upon before the movement
+commenced.  Lee interpreted this as a semi-retreat of the Army
+of the Potomac to Fredericksburg, and so informed his
+government.  Accordingly he ordered Longstreet's corps--now
+commanded by Anderson--to move in the morning (the 8th) to
+Spottsylvania.  But the woods being still on fire, Anderson
+could not go into bivouac, and marched directly on to his
+destination that night.  By this accident Lee got possession of
+Spottsylvania.  It is impossible to say now what would have been
+the result if Lee's orders had been obeyed as given; but it is
+certain that we would have been in Spottsylvania, and between
+him and his capital.  My belief is that there would have been a
+race between the two armies to see which could reach Richmond
+first, and the Army of the Potomac would have had the shorter
+line.  Thus, twice since crossing the Rapidan we came near
+closing the campaign, so far as battles were concerned, from the
+Rapidan to the James River or Richmond.  The first failure was
+caused by our not following up the success gained over Hill's
+corps on the morning of the 6th, as before described:  the
+second, when fires caused by that battle drove Anderson to make
+a march during the night of the 7th-8th which he was ordered to
+commence on the morning of the 8th.  But accident often decides
+the fate of battle.
+
+Sheridan's cavalry had had considerable fighting during the
+afternoon of the 7th, lasting at Todd's Tavern until after
+night, with the field his at the close.  He issued the necessary
+orders for seizing Spottsylvania and holding the bridge over the
+Po River, which Lee's troops would have to cross to get to
+Spottsylvania.  But Meade changed Sheridan's orders to
+Merritt--who was holding the bridge--on his arrival at Todd's
+Tavern, and thereby left the road free for Anderson when he came
+up.  Wilson, who was ordered to seize the town, did so, with his
+division of cavalry; but he could not hold it against the
+Confederate corps which had not been detained at the crossing of
+the Po, as it would have been but for the unfortunate change in
+Merritt's orders.  Had he been permitted to execute the orders
+Sheridan gave him, he would have been guarding with two brigades
+of cavalry the bridge over the Po River which Anderson had to
+cross, and must have detained him long enough to enable Warren
+to reinforce Wilson and hold the town.
+
+Anderson soon intrenched himself--if indeed the intrenchments
+were not already made--immediately across Warren's front. Warren
+was not aware of his presence, but probably supposed it was the
+cavalry which Merritt had engaged earlier in the day. He
+assaulted at once, but was repulsed.  He soon organized his men,
+as they were not pursued by the enemy, and made a second attack,
+this time with his whole corps.  This time he succeeded in
+gaining a position immediately in the enemy's front, where he
+intrenched.  His right and left divisions--the former
+Crawford's, the latter Wadsworth's, now commanded by
+Cutler--drove the enemy back some distance.
+
+At this time my headquarters had been advanced to Piney Branch
+Church.  I was anxious to crush Anderson before Lee could get a
+force to his support.  To this end Sedgwick who was at Piney
+Branch Church, was ordered to Warren's support.  Hancock, who
+was at Todd's Tavern, was notified of Warren's engagement, and
+was directed to be in readiness to come up.  Burnside, who was
+with the wagon trains at Aldrich's on our extreme left, received
+the same instructions.  Sedgwick was slow in getting up for some
+reason--probably unavoidable, because he was never at fault when
+serious work was to be done--so that it was near night before the
+combined forces were ready to attack.  Even then all of
+Sedgwick's command did not get into the engagement.  Warren led
+the last assault, one division at a time, and of course it
+failed.
+
+Warren's difficulty was twofold:  when he received an order to
+do anything, it would at once occur to his mind how all the
+balance of the army should be engaged so as properly to
+co-operate with him.  His ideas were generally good, but he
+would forget that the person giving him orders had thought of
+others at the time he had of him.  In like manner, when he did
+get ready to execute an order, after giving most intelligent
+instructions to division commanders, he would go in with one
+division, holding the others in reserve until he could
+superintend their movements in person also, forgetting that
+division commanders could execute an order without his
+presence.  His difficulty was constitutional and beyond his
+control.  He was an officer of superior ability, quick
+perceptions, and personal courage to accomplish anything that
+could be done with a small command.
+
+Lee had ordered Hill's corps--now commanded by Early--to move by
+the very road we had marched upon.  This shows that even early in
+the morning of the 8th Lee had not yet become acquainted with my
+move, but still thought that the Army of the Potomac had gone to
+Fredericksburg.  Indeed, he informed the authorities at Richmond
+he had possession of Spottsylvania and was on my flank. Anderson
+was in possession of Spottsylvania, through no foresight of Lee,
+however.  Early only found that he had been following us when he
+ran against Hancock at Todd's Tavern.  His coming detained
+Hancock from the battle-field of Spottsylvania for that day; but
+he, in like manner, kept Early back and forced him to move by
+another route.
+
+Had I ordered the movement for the night of the 7th by my left
+flank, it would have put Hancock in the lead.  It would also
+have given us an hour or earlier start.  It took all that time
+for Warren to get the head of his column to the left of Hancock
+after he had got his troops out of their line confronting the
+enemy.  This hour, and Hancock's capacity to use his whole force
+when necessary, would, no doubt, have enabled him to crush
+Anderson before he could be reinforced.  But the movement made
+was tactical.  It kept the troops in mass against a possible
+assault by the enemy.  Our left occupied its intrenchments while
+the two corps to the right passed.  If an attack had been made by
+the enemy he would have found the 2d corps in position,
+fortified, and, practically, the 5th and 6th corps in position
+as reserves, until his entire front was passed.  By a left flank
+movement the army would have been scattered while still passing
+the front of the enemy, and before the extreme right had got by
+it would have been very much exposed.  Then, too, I had not yet
+learned the special qualifications of the different corps
+commanders.  At that time my judgment was that Warren was the
+man I would suggest to succeed Meade should anything happen to
+that gallant soldier to take him from the field.  As I have
+before said, Warren was a gallant soldier, an able man; and he
+was beside thoroughly imbued with the solemnity and importance
+of the duty he had to perform.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LII.
+
+BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA--HANCOCK'S POSITION--ASSAULT OF WARREN'S
+AND WRIGHT'S CORPS--UPTON PROMOTED ON THE FIELD--GOOD NEWS FROM
+BUTLER AND SHERIDAN.
+
+The Mattapony River is formed by the junction of the Mat, the
+Ta, the Po and the Ny rivers, the last being the northernmost of
+the four.  It takes its rise about a mile south and a little east
+of the Wilderness Tavern.  The Po rises south-west of the place,
+but farther away.  Spottsylvania is on the ridge dividing these
+two streams, and where they are but a few miles apart.  The
+Brock Road reaches Spottsylvania without crossing either of
+these streams. Lee's army coming up by the Catharpin Road, had
+to cross the Po at Wooden Bridge.  Warren and Hancock came by
+the Brock Road.  Sedgwick crossed the Ny at Catharpin Furnace.
+Burnside coming by Aldrich's to Gates's house, had to cross the
+Ny near the enemy.  He found pickets at the bridge, but they
+were soon driven off by a brigade of Willcox's division, and the
+stream was crossed.  This brigade was furiously attacked; but the
+remainder of the division coming up, they were enabled to hold
+their position, and soon fortified it.
+
+About the time I received the news of this attack, word came
+from Hancock that Early had left his front.  He had been forced
+over to the Catharpin Road, crossing the Po at Corbin's and
+again at Wooden Bridge.  These are the bridges Sheridan had
+given orders to his cavalry to occupy on the 8th, while one
+division should occupy Spottsylvania.  These movements of the
+enemy gave me the idea that Lee was about to make the attempt to
+get to, or towards, Fredericksburg to cut off my supplies.  I
+made arrangements to attack his right and get between him and
+Richmond if he should try to execute this design.  If he had any
+such intention it was abandoned as soon as Burnside was
+established south of the Ny.
+
+The Po and the Ny are narrow little streams, but deep, with
+abrupt banks, and bordered by heavily wooded and marshy
+bottoms--at the time we were there--and difficult to cross
+except where bridged.  The country about was generally heavily
+timbered, but with occasional clearings.  It was a much better
+country to conduct a defensive campaign in than an offensive one.
+
+By noon of the 9th the position of the two armies was as
+follows:  Lee occupied a semicircle facing north, north-west and
+north-east, inclosing the town.  Anderson was on his left
+extending to the Po, Ewell came next, then Early.  Warren
+occupied our right, covering the Brock and other roads
+converging at Spottsylvania; Sedgwick was to his left and
+Burnside on our extreme left.  Hancock was yet back at Todd's
+Tavern, but as soon as it was known that Early had left
+Hancock's front the latter was ordered up to Warren's right.  He
+formed a line with three divisions on the hill overlooking the Po
+early in the afternoon, and was ordered to cross the Po and get
+on the enemy's flank.  The fourth division of Hancock's corps,
+Mott commanding, was left at Todd's when the corps first came
+up; but in the afternoon it was brought up and placed to the
+left of Sedgwick's--now Wright's--6th corps.  In the morning
+General Sedgwick had been killed near the right of his
+intrenchments by rebel sharpshooters.  His loss was a severe one
+to the Army of the Potomac and to the Nation.  General H. G.
+Wright succeeded him in the command of his corps.
+
+Hancock was now, nine P.M. of the 9th of May, across the left
+flank of Lee's army, but separated from it, and also from the
+remainder of Meade's army, by the Po River.  But for the
+lateness of the hour and the darkness of the night he would
+have attempted to cross the river again at Wooden Bridge, thus
+bringing himself on the same side with both friend and foe.
+
+The Po at the points where Hancock's corps crossed runs nearly
+due east. Just below his lower crossing--the troops crossed at
+three points--it turns due south, and after passing under Wooden
+Bridge soon resumes a more easterly direction.  During the night
+this corps built three bridges over the Po; but these were in
+rear.
+
+The position assumed by Hancock's corps forced Lee to reinforce
+his left during the night.  Accordingly on the morning of the
+10th, when Hancock renewed his effort to get over the Po to his
+front, he found himself confronted by some of Early's command,
+which had been brought from the extreme right of the enemy
+during the night.  He succeeded in effecting a crossing with one
+brigade, however, but finding the enemy intrenched in his front,
+no more were crossed.
+
+Hancock reconnoitred his front on the morning of the 10th, with
+the view of forcing a crossing, if it was found that an
+advantage could be gained.  The enemy was found strongly
+intrenched on the high ground overlooking the river, and
+commanding the Wooden Bridge with artillery.  Anderson's left
+rested on the Po, where it turns south; therefore, for Hancock
+to cross over--although it would bring him to the same side of
+the stream with the rest of the army--would still farther
+isolate him from it.  The stream would have to be crossed twice
+in the face of the enemy to unite with the main body.  The idea
+of crossing was therefore abandoned.
+
+Lee had weakened the other parts of his line to meet this
+movement of Hancock's, and I determined to take advantage of
+it.  Accordingly in the morning, orders were issued for an
+attack in the afternoon on the centre by Warren's and Wright's
+corps, Hancock to command all the attacking force.  Two of his
+divisions were brought to the north side of the Po.  Gibbon was
+placed to the right of Warren, and Birney in his rear as a
+reserve.  Barlow's division was left south of the stream, and
+Mott of the same corps was still to the left of Wright's
+corps.  Burnside was ordered to reconnoitre his front in force,
+and, if an opportunity presented, to attack with vigor.  The
+enemy seeing Barlow's division isolated from the rest of the
+army, came out and attacked with fury.  Barlow repulsed the
+assault with great slaughter, and with considerable loss to
+himself.  But the enemy reorganized and renewed the assault.
+Birney was now moved to the high ground overlooking the river
+crossings built by our troops, and covered the crossings.  The
+second assault was repulsed, again with severe loss to the
+enemy, and Barlow was withdrawn without further molestation.
+General T. G. Stevenson was killed in this move.
+
+Between the lines, where Warren's assault was to take place,
+there was a ravine grown up with large trees and underbrush,
+making it almost impenetrable by man.  The slopes on both sides
+were also covered with a heavy growth of timber.  Warren, before
+noon, reconnoitred his front twice, the first time with one and
+the second with two divisions.  He was repulsed on both
+occasions, but gained such information of the ground as to
+induce him to report recommending the assault.
+
+Wright also reconnoitred his front and gained a considerably
+advanced position from the one he started from.  He then
+organized a storming party, consisting of twelve regiments, and
+assigned Colonel Emory Upton, of the 121st New York Volunteers,
+to the command of it.  About four o'clock in the afternoon the
+assault was ordered, Warren's and Wright's corps, with Mott's
+division of Hancock's corps, to move simultaneously.  The
+movement was prompt, and in a few minutes the fiercest of
+struggles began.  The battle-field was so densely covered with
+forest that but little could be seen, by any one person, as to
+the progress made.  Meade and I occupied the best position we
+could get, in rear of Warren.
+
+Warren was repulsed with heavy loss, General J. C. Rice being
+among the killed.  He was not followed, however, by the enemy,
+and was thereby enabled to reorganize his command as soon as
+covered from the guns of the enemy.  To the left our success was
+decided, but the advantage was lost by the feeble action of
+Mott.  Upton with his assaulting party pushed forward and
+crossed the enemy's intrenchments.  Turning to the right and
+left he captured several guns and some hundreds of prisoners.
+Mott was ordered to his assistance but failed utterly.  So much
+time was lost in trying to get up the troops which were in the
+right position to reinforce, that I ordered Upton to withdraw;
+but the officers and men of his command were so averse to giving
+up the advantage they had gained that I withdrew the order.  To
+relieve them, I ordered a renewal of the assault.  By this time
+Hancock, who had gone with Birney's division to relieve Barlow,
+had returned, bringing the division with him.  His corps was now
+joined with Warren's and Wright's in this last assault.  It was
+gallantly made, many men getting up to, and over, the works of
+the enemy; but they were not able to hold them.  At night they
+were withdrawn.  Upton brought his prisoners with him, but the
+guns he had captured he was obliged to abandon.  Upton had
+gained an important advantage, but a lack in others of the
+spirit and dash possessed by him lost it to us.  Before leaving
+Washington I had been authorized to promote officers on the
+field for special acts of gallantry.  By this authority I
+conferred the rank of brigadier-general upon Upton on the spot,
+and this act was confirmed by the President.  Upton had been
+badly wounded in this fight.
+
+Burnside on the left had got up to within a few hundred yards of
+Spottsylvania Court House, completely turning Lee's right.  He
+was not aware of the importance of the advantage he had gained,
+and I, being with the troops where the heavy fighting was, did
+not know of it at the time.  He had gained his position with but
+little fighting, and almost without loss.  Burnside's position
+now separated him widely from Wright's corps, the corps nearest
+to him.  At night he was ordered to join on to this.  This
+brought him back about a mile, and lost to us an important
+advantage.  I attach no blame to Burnside for this, but I do to
+myself for not having had a staff officer with him to report to
+me his position.
+
+The enemy had not dared to come out of his line at any point to
+follow up his advantage, except in the single instance of his
+attack on Barlow.  Then he was twice repulsed with heavy loss,
+though he had an entire corps against two brigades.  Barlow took
+up his bridges in the presence of this force.
+
+On the 11th there was no battle and but little firing; none
+except by Mott who made a reconnoissance to ascertain if there
+was a weak point in the enemy's line.
+
+I wrote the following letter to General Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 11, 1864--8.3O A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+We have now ended the 6th day of very hard fighting.  The result
+up to this time is much in our favor.  But our losses have been
+heavy as well as those of the enemy.  We have lost to this time
+eleven general officers killed, wounded and missing, and
+probably twenty thousand men.  I think the loss of the enemy
+must be greater--we having taken over four thousand prisoners in
+battle, whilst he has taken from us but few except a few
+stragglers.  I am now sending back to Belle Plain all my wagons
+for a fresh supply of provisions and ammunition, and purpose to
+fight it out on this line if it takes all summer.
+
+The arrival of reinforcements here will be very encouraging to
+the men, and I hope they will be sent as fast as possible, and
+in as great numbers.  My object in having them sent to Belle
+Plain was to use them as an escort to our supply trains.  If it
+is more convenient to send them out by train to march from the
+railroad to Belle Plain or Fredericksburg, send them so.
+
+I am satisfied the enemy are very shaky, and are only kept up to
+the mark by the greatest exertions on the part of their officers,
+and by keeping them intrenched in every position they take.
+
+Up to this time there is no indication of any portion of Lee's
+army being detached for the defence of Richmond.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+And also, I received information, through the War Department,
+from General Butler that his cavalry under Kautz had cut the
+railroad south of Petersburg, separating Beauregard from
+Richmond, and had whipped Hill, killing, wounding and capturing
+many.  Also that he was intrenched, and could maintain
+himself.  On this same day came news from Sheridan to the effect
+that he had destroyed ten miles of the railroad and telegraph
+between Lee and Richmond, one and a half million rations, and
+most of the medical stores for his army.
+
+On the 8th I had directed Sheridan verbally to cut loose from
+the Army of the Potomac and pass around the left of Lee's army
+and attack his cavalry and communications, which was
+successfully executed in the manner I have already described.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIII.
+
+HANCOCK'S ASSAULT-LOSSES OF THE CONFEDERATES--PROMOTIONS
+RECOMMENDED--DISCOMFITURE OF THE ENEMY--EWELL'S ATTACK-REDUCING
+THE ARTILLERY.
+
+In the reconnoissance made by Mott on the 11th, a salient was
+discovered at the right centre. I determined that an assault
+should be made at that point. (*28) Accordingly in the afternoon
+Hancock was ordered to move his command by the rear of Warren and
+Wright, under cover of night, to Wright's left, and there form it
+for an assault at four o'clock the next morning.  The night was
+dark, it rained heavily, and the road was difficult, so that it
+was midnight when he reached the point where he was to halt.  It
+took most of the night to get the men in position for their
+advance in the morning.  The men got but little rest.  Burnside
+was ordered to attack (*29) on the left of the salient at the
+same hour.  I sent two of my staff officers to impress upon him
+the importance of pushing forward vigorously.  Hancock was
+notified of this.  Warren and Wright were ordered to hold
+themselves in readiness to join in the assault if circumstances
+made it advisable.  I occupied a central position most
+convenient for receiving information from all points.  Hancock
+put Barlow on his left, in double column, and Birney to his
+right.  Mott followed Birney, and Gibbon was held in reserve.
+
+The morning of the 12th opened foggy, delaying the start more
+than half an hour.
+
+The ground over which Hancock had to pass to reach the enemy,
+was ascending and heavily wooded to within two or three hundred
+yards of the enemy's intrenchments.  In front of Birney there
+was also a marsh to cross.  But, notwithstanding all these
+difficulties, the troops pushed on in quick time without firing
+a gun, and when within four or five hundred yards of the enemy's
+line broke out in loud cheers, and with a rush went up to and
+over the breastworks.  Barlow and Birney entered almost
+simultaneously.  Here a desperate hand-to-hand conflict took
+place.  The men of the two sides were too close together to
+fire, but used their guns as clubs.  The hand conflict was soon
+over.  Hancock's corps captured some four thousand prisoners
+among them a division and a brigade commander twenty or more
+guns with their horses, caissons, and ammunition, several
+thousand stand of arms, and many colors.  Hancock, as soon as
+the hand-to-hand conflict was over, turned the guns of the enemy
+against him and advanced inside the rebel lines.  About six
+o'clock I ordered Warren's corps to the support of Hancock's.
+Burnside, on the left, had advanced up east of the salient to
+the very parapet of the enemy.  Potter, commanding one of his
+divisions, got over but was not able to remain there.  However,
+he inflicted a heavy loss upon the enemy; but not without loss
+in return.
+
+This victory was important, and one that Lee could not afford to
+leave us in full possession of.  He made the most strenuous
+efforts to regain the position he had lost.  Troops were brought
+up from his left and attacked Hancock furiously.  Hancock was
+forced to fall back:  but he did so slowly, with his face to the
+enemy, inflicting on him heavy loss, until behind the breastworks
+he had captured.  These he turned, facing them the other way, and
+continued to hold.  Wright was ordered up to reinforce Hancock,
+and arrived by six o'clock.  He was wounded soon after coming up
+but did not relinquish the command of his corps, although the
+fighting lasted until one o'clock the next morning.  At eight
+o'clock Warren was ordered up again, but was so slow in making
+his dispositions that his orders were frequently repeated, and
+with emphasis.  At eleven o'clock I gave Meade written orders to
+relieve Warren from his command if he failed to move promptly.
+Hancock placed batteries on high ground in his rear, which he
+used against the enemy, firing over the heads of his own troops.
+
+Burnside accomplished but little on our left of a positive
+nature, but negatively a great deal.  He kept Lee from
+reinforcing his centre from that quarter.  If the 5th corps, or
+rather if Warren, had been as prompt as Wright was with the 6th
+corps, better results might have been obtained.
+
+Lee massed heavily from his left flank on the broken point of
+his line.  Five times during the day he assaulted furiously, but
+without dislodging our troops from their new position.  His
+losses must have been fearful.  Sometimes the belligerents would
+be separated by but a few feet.  In one place a tree, eighteen
+inches in diameter, was cut entirely down by musket balls.  All
+the trees between the lines were very much cut to pieces by
+artillery and musketry.  It was three o'clock next morning
+before the fighting ceased.  Some of our troops had then been
+twenty hours under fire.  In this engagement we did not lose a
+single organization, not even a company.  The enemy lost one
+division with its commander, one brigade and one regiment, with
+heavy losses elsewhere.(*30)  Our losses were heavy, but, as
+stated, no whole company was captured.  At night Lee took a
+position in rear of his former one, and by the following morning
+he was strongly intrenched in it.
+
+Warren's corps was now temporarily broken up, Cutler's division
+sent to Wright, and Griffin's to Hancock.  Meade ordered his
+chief of staff, General Humphreys, to remain with Warren and the
+remaining division, and authorized him to give it orders in his
+name.
+
+During the day I was passing along the line from wing to wing
+continuously.  About the centre stood a house which proved to be
+occupied by an old lady and her daughter.  She showed such
+unmistakable signs of being strongly Union that I stopped.  She
+said she had not seen a Union flag for so long a time that it
+did her heart good to look upon it again.  She said her husband
+and son, being, Union men, had had to leave early in the war,
+and were now somewhere in the Union army, if alive.  She was
+without food or nearly so, so I ordered rations issued to her,
+and promised to find out if I could where the husband and son
+were.
+
+There was no fighting on the 13th, further than a little
+skirmishing between Mott's division and the enemy.  I was afraid
+that Lee might be moving out, and I did not want him to go
+without my knowing it. The indications were that he was moving,
+but it was found that he was only taking his new position back
+from the salient that had been captured.  Our dead were buried
+this day.  Mott's division was reduced to a brigade, and
+assigned to Birney's division.
+
+During this day I wrote to Washington recommending Sherman and
+Meade (*31) for promotion to the grade of Major-General in the
+regular army; Hancock for Brigadier-General; Wright, Gibbon and
+Humphreys to be Major-Generals of Volunteers; and Upton and
+Carroll to be Brigadiers.  Upton had already been named as such,
+but the appointment had to be confirmed by the Senate on the
+nomination of the President.
+
+The night of the 13th Warren and Wright were moved by the rear
+to the left of Burnside.  The night was very dark and it rained
+heavily, the roads were so bad that the troops had to cut trees
+and corduroy the road a part of the way, to get through.  It was
+midnight before they got to the point where they were to halt,
+and daylight before the troops could be organized to advance to
+their position in line.  They gained their position in line,
+however, without any fighting, except a little in Wright's
+front.  Here Upton had to contend for an elevation which we
+wanted and which the enemy was not disposed to yield.  Upton
+first drove the enemy, and was then repulsed in turn.  Ayres
+coming to his support with his brigade (of Griffin's division,
+Warren's corps), the position was secured and fortified.  There
+was no more battle during the 14th.  This brought our line east
+of the Court House and running north and south and facing west.
+
+During the night of the 14th-15th Lee moved to cover this new
+front.  This left Hancock without an enemy confronting him.  He
+was brought to the rear of our new centre, ready to be moved in
+any direction he might be wanted.
+
+On the 15th news came from Butler and Averill.  The former
+reported the capture of the outer works at Drury's Bluff, on the
+James River, and that his cavalry had cut the railroad and
+telegraph south of Richmond on the Danville road:  and the
+latter, the destruction of a depot of supplies at Dublin, West
+Virginia, and the breaking of New River Bridge on the Virginia
+and Tennessee Railroad.  The next day news came from Sherman and
+Sheridan.  Sherman had forced Johnston out of Dalton, Georgia,
+and was following him south.  The report from Sheridan embraced
+his operations up to his passing the outer defences of
+Richmond.  The prospect must now have been dismal in Richmond.
+The road and telegraph were cut between the capital and Lee. The
+roads and wires were cut in every direction from the rebel
+capital.  Temporarily that city was cut off from all
+communication with the outside except by courier.  This
+condition of affairs, however, was of but short duration.
+
+I wrote Halleck:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H.,
+May 16, 1864, 8 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.:
+
+We have had five days almost constant rain without any prospect
+yet of it clearing up.  The roads have now become so impassable
+that ambulances with wounded men can no longer run between here
+and Fredericksburg.  All offensive operations necessarily cease
+until we can have twenty-four hours of dry weather.  The army is
+in the best of spirits, and feel the greatest confidence of
+ultimate success.
+        *        *        *        *        *        * You can
+assure the President and Secretary of War that the elements
+alone have suspended hostilities, and that it is in no manner
+due to weakness or exhaustion on our part.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+The condition of the roads was such that nothing was done on the
+17th.  But that night Hancock and Wright were to make a night
+march back to their old positions, and to make an assault at
+four o'clock in the morning.  Lee got troops back in time to
+protect his old line, so the assault was unsuccessful.  On this
+day (18th) the news was almost as discouraging to us as it had
+been two days before in the rebel capital.  As stated above,
+Hancock's and Wright's corps had made an unsuccessful assault.
+News came that Sigel had been defeated at New Market, badly, and
+was retreating down the valley.  Not two hours before, I had sent
+the inquiry to Halleck whether Sigel could not get to Staunton to
+stop supplies coming from there to Lee.  I asked at once that
+Sigel might be relieved, and some one else put in his place.
+Hunter's name was suggested, and I heartily approved.  Further
+news from Butler reported him driven from Drury's Bluff, but
+still in possession of the Petersburg road.  Banks had been
+defeated in Louisiana, relieved, and Canby put in his place.
+This change of commander was not on my suggestion.  All this
+news was very discouraging.  All of it must have been known by
+the enemy before it was by me.  In fact, the good news (for the
+enemy) must have been known to him at the moment I thought he
+was in despair, and his anguish had been already relieved when
+we were enjoying his supposed discomfiture, But this was no time
+for repining.  I immediately gave orders for a movement by the
+left flank, on towards Richmond, to commence on the night of the
+19th.  I also asked Halleck to secure the cooperation of the navy
+in changing our base of supplies from Fredericksburg to Port
+Royal, on the Rappahannock.
+
+Up to this time I had received no reinforcements, except six
+thousand raw troops under Brigadier General Robert O. Tyler,
+just arrived.  They had not yet joined their command, Hancock's
+corps, but were on our right.  This corps had been brought to
+the rear of the centre, ready to move in any direction.  Lee,
+probably suspecting some move on my part, and seeing our right
+entirely abandoned, moved Ewell's corps about five o'clock in
+the afternoon, with Early's as a reserve, to attack us in that
+quarter.  Tyler had come up from Fredericksburg, and had been
+halted on the road to the right of our line, near Kitching's
+brigade of Warren's corps.  Tyler received the attack with his
+raw troops, and they maintained their position, until
+reinforced, in a manner worthy of veterans.
+
+Hancock was in a position to reinforce speedily, and was the
+soldier to do it without waiting to make dispositions.  Birney
+was thrown to Tyler's right and Crawford to his left, with
+Gibbon as a reserve; and Ewell was whirled back speedily and
+with heavy loss.
+
+Warren had been ordered to get on Ewell's flank and in his rear,
+to cut him off from his intrenchments.  But his efforts were so
+feeble that under the cover of night Ewell got back with only
+the loss of a few hundred prisoners, besides his killed and
+wounded.  The army being engaged until after dark, I rescinded
+the order for the march by our left flank that night.
+
+As soon as it was discovered that the enemy were coming out to
+attack, I naturally supposed they would detach a force to
+destroy our trains.  The withdrawal of Hancock from the right
+uncovered one road from Spottsylvania to Fredericksburg over
+which trains drew our supplies.  This was guarded by a division
+of colored troops, commanded by General Ferrero, belonging to
+Burnside's corps.  Ferrero was therefore promptly notified, and
+ordered to throw his cavalry pickets out to the south and be
+prepared to meet the enemy if he should come; if he had to
+retreat to do so towards Fredericksburg.  The enemy did detach
+as expected, and captured twenty-five or thirty wagons which,
+however, were soon retaken.
+
+In consequence of the disasters that had befallen us in the past
+few days, Lee could be reinforced largely, and I had no doubt he
+would be.  Beauregard had come up from the south with troops to
+guard the Confederate capital when it was in danger.  Butler
+being driven back, most of the troops could be sent to Lee. Hoke
+was no longer needed in North Carolina; and Sigel's troops having
+gone back to Cedar Creek, whipped, many troops could be spared
+from the valley.
+
+The Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles convinced me that we
+had more artillery than could ever be brought into action at any
+one time.  It occupied much of the road in marching, and taxed
+the trains in bringing up forage.  Artillery is very useful when
+it can be brought into action, but it is a very burdensome luxury
+where it cannot be used.  Before leaving Spottsylvania,
+therefore, I sent back to the defences of Washington over one
+hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and caissons.  This
+relieved the roads over which we were to march of more than two
+hundred six-horse teams, and still left us more artillery than
+could be advantageously used.  In fact, before reaching the
+James River I again reduced the artillery with the army largely.
+
+I believed that, if one corps of the army was exposed on the
+road to Richmond, and at a distance from the main army, Lee
+would endeavor to attack the exposed corps before reinforcements
+could come up; in which case the main army could follow Lee up
+and attack him before he had time to intrench.  So I issued the
+following orders:
+
+
+NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., VA.,
+May 18, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Before daylight to-morrow morning I propose to draw Hancock and
+Burnside from the position they now hold, and put Burnside to
+the left of Wright.  Wright and Burnside should then force their
+way up as close to the enemy as they can get without a general
+engagement, or with a general engagement if the enemy will come
+out of their works to fight, and intrench.  Hancock should march
+and take up a position as if in support of the two left corps.
+To-morrow night, at twelve or one o'clock, he will be moved
+south-east with all his force and as much cavalry as can be
+given to him, to get as far towards Richmond on the line of the
+Fredericksburg Railroad as he can make, fighting the enemy in
+whatever force he can find him.  If the enemy make a general
+move to meet this, they will be followed by the other three
+corps of the army, and attacked, if possible, before time is
+given to intrench.
+
+Suitable directions will at once be given for all trains and
+surplus artillery to conform to this movement.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+On the 20th, Lee showing no signs of coming out of his lines,
+orders were renewed for a left-flank movement, to commence after
+night.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIV.
+
+MOVEMENT BY THE LEFT FLANK--BATTLE OF NORTH ANNA--AN INCIDENT OF
+THE MARCH--MOVING ON RICHMOND--SOUTH OF THE PAMUNKEY--POSITION OF
+THE NATIONAL ARMY.
+
+We were now to operate in a different country from any we had
+before seen in Virginia.  The roads were wide and good, and the
+country well cultivated.  No men were seen except those bearing
+arms, even the black man having been sent away.  The country,
+however, was new to us, and we had neither guides nor maps to
+tell us where the roads were, or where they led to.  Engineer
+and staff officers were put to the dangerous duty of supplying
+the place of both maps and guides.  By reconnoitring they were
+enabled to locate the roads in the vicinity of each army
+corps.  Our course was south, and we took all roads leading in
+that direction which would not separate the army too widely.
+
+Hancock who had the lead had marched easterly to Guiney's
+Station, on the Fredericksburg Railroad, thence southerly to
+Bowling Green and Milford.  He was at Milford by the night of
+the 21st.  Here he met a detachment of Pickett's division coming
+from Richmond to reinforce Lee.  They were speedily driven away,
+and several hundred captured.  Warren followed on the morning of
+the 21st, and reached Guiney's Station that night without
+molestation.  Burnside and Wright were retained at Spottsylvania
+to keep up the appearance of an intended assault, and to hold
+Lee, if possible, while Hancock and Warren should get start
+enough to interpose between him and Richmond.
+
+Lee had now a superb opportunity to take the initiative either
+by attacking Wright and Burnside alone, or by following by the
+Telegraph Road and striking Hancock's and Warren's corps, or
+even Hancock's alone, before reinforcements could come up.  But
+he did not avail himself of either opportunity.  He seemed
+really to be misled as to my designs; but moved by his interior
+line--the Telegraph Road--to make sure of keeping between his
+capital and the Army of the Potomac.  He never again had such an
+opportunity of dealing a heavy blow.
+
+The evening of the 21st Burnside, 9th corps, moved out followed
+by Wright, 6th corps.  Burnside was to take the Telegraph Road;
+but finding Stanard's Ford, over the Po, fortified and guarded,
+he turned east to the road taken by Hancock and Warren without
+an attempt to dislodge the enemy.  The night of the 21st I had
+my headquarters near the 6th corps, at Guiney's Station, and the
+enemy's cavalry was between us and Hancock.  There was a slight
+attack on Burnside's and Wright's corps as they moved out of
+their lines; but it was easily repulsed.  The object probably
+was only to make sure that we were not leaving a force to follow
+upon the rear of the Confederates.
+
+By the morning of the 22d Burnside and Wright were at Guiney's
+Station.  Hancock's corps had now been marching and fighting
+continuously for several days, not having had rest even at night
+much of the time.  They were, therefore, permitted to rest during
+the 22d.  But Warren was pushed to Harris's Store, directly west
+of Milford, and connected with it by a good road, and Burnside
+was sent to New Bethel Church.  Wright's corps was still back at
+Guiney's Station.
+
+I issued the following order for the movement of the troops the
+next day:
+
+
+NEW BETHEL, VA., May 22, 1864
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Direct corps commanders to hold their troops in readiness to
+march at five A.M. to-morrow.  At that hour each command will
+send out cavalry and infantry on all roads to their front
+leading south, and ascertain, if possible, where the enemy is.
+If beyond the South Anna, the 5th and 6th corps will march to
+the forks of the road, where one branch leads to Beaver Dam
+Station, the other to Jericho Bridge, then south by roads
+reaching the Anna, as near to and east of Hawkins Creek as they
+can be found.
+
+The 2d corps will move to Chesterfield Ford.  The 9th corps will
+be directed to move at the same time to Jericho Bridge.  The map
+only shows two roads for the four corps to march upon, but, no
+doubt, by the use of plantation roads, and pressing in guides,
+others can be found, to give one for each corps.
+
+The troops will follow their respective reconnoitring parties.
+The trains will be moved at the same time to Milford Station.
+
+Headquarters will follow the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Warren's corps was moved from Harris's Store to Jericho Ford,
+Wright's following.  Warren arrived at the ford early in the
+afternoon, and by five o'clock effected a crossing under the
+protection of sharpshooters.  The men had to wade in water up to
+their waists.  As soon as enough troops were over to guard the
+ford, pontoons were laid and the artillery and the rest of the
+troops crossed.  The line formed was almost perpendicular to the
+course of the river--Crawford on the left, next to the river,
+Griffin in the centre, and Cutler on the right.  Lee was found
+intrenched along the front of their line.  The whole of Hill's
+corps was sent against Warren's right before it had got in
+position.  A brigade of Cutler's division was driven back, the
+enemy following, but assistance coming up the enemy was in turn
+driven back into his trenches with heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, with about five hundred prisoners left in our hands. By
+night Wright's corps was up ready to reinforce Warren.
+
+On the 23d Hancock's corps was moved to the wooden bridge which
+spans the North Anna River just west of where the Fredericksburg
+Railroad crosses.  It was near night when the troops arrived.
+They found the bridge guarded, with troops intrenched, on the
+north side.  Hancock sent two brigades, Egan's and Pierce's, to
+the right and left, and when properly disposed they charged
+simultaneously.  The bridge was carried quickly, the enemy
+retreating over it so hastily that many were shoved into the
+river, and some of them were drowned.  Several hundred prisoners
+were captured.  The hour was so late that Hancock did not cross
+until next morning.
+
+Burnside's corps was moved by a middle road running between
+those described above, and which strikes the North Anna at Ox
+Ford, midway between Telegraph Road and Jericho Ford.  The hour
+of its arrival was too late to cross that night.
+
+On the 24th Hancock's corps crossed to the south side of the
+river without opposition, and formed line facing nearly west.
+The railroad in rear was taken possession of and destroyed as
+far as possible.  Wright's corps crossed at Jericho early the
+same day, and took position to the right of Warren's corps,
+extending south of the Virginia Central Railroad.  This road was
+torn up for a considerable distance to the rear (west), the ties
+burned, and the rails bent and twisted by heating them over the
+burning ties.  It was found, however, that Burnside's corps
+could not cross at Ox Ford.  Lee had taken a position with his
+centre on the river at this point, with the two wings thrown
+back, his line making an acute angle where it overlooked the
+river.
+
+Before the exact position of the whole of Lee's line was
+accurately known, I directed Hancock and Warren each to send a
+brigade to Ox Ford by the south side of the river.  They found
+the enemy too strong to justify a serious attack.  A third ford
+was found between Ox Ford and Jericho.  Burnside was directed to
+cross a division over this ford, and to send one division to
+Hancock.  Crittenden was crossed by this newly-discovered ford,
+and formed up the river to connect with Crawford's left.  Potter
+joined Hancock by way of the wooden bridge.  Crittenden had a
+severe engagement with some of Hill's corps on his crossing the
+river, and lost heavily.  When joined to Warren's corps he was
+no further molested.  Burnside still guarded Ox Ford from the
+north side.
+
+Lee now had his entire army south of the North Anna.  Our lines
+covered his front, with the six miles separating the two wings
+guarded by but a single division.  To get from one wing to the
+other the river would have to be crossed twice.  Lee could
+reinforce any part of his line from all points of it in a very
+short march; or could concentrate the whole of it wherever he
+might choose to assault.  We were, for the time, practically two
+armies besieging.
+
+Lee had been reinforced, and was being reinforced, largely.
+About this time the very troops whose coming I had predicted,
+had arrived or were coming in.  Pickett with a full division
+from Richmond was up; Hoke from North Carolina had come with a
+brigade; and Breckinridge was there:  in all probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men.  But he did not attempt to drive us
+from the field.
+
+On the 22d or 23d I received dispatches from Washington saying
+that Sherman had taken Kingston, crossed the Etowah River and
+was advancing into Georgia.
+
+I was seated at the time on the porch of a fine plantation house
+waiting for Burnside's corps to pass.  Meade and his staff,
+besides my own staff, were with me.  The lady of the house, a
+Mrs. Tyler, and an elderly lady, were present.  Burnside seeing
+us, came up on the porch, his big spurs and saber rattling as he
+walked.  He touched his hat politely to the ladies, and remarked
+that he supposed they had never seen so many "live Yankees"
+before in their lives.  The elderly lady spoke up promptly
+saying, "Oh yes, I have; many more."  "Where?" said Burnside.
+"In Richmond."  Prisoners, of course, was understood.
+
+I read my dispatch aloud, when it was received.  This threw the
+younger lady into tears. I found the information she had
+received (and I suppose it was the information generally in
+circulation through the South) was that Lee was driving us from
+the State in the most demoralized condition and that in the
+South-west our troops were but little better than prisoners of
+war.  Seeing our troops moving south was ocular proof that a
+part of her information was incorrect, and she asked me if my
+news from Sherman was true.  I assured her that there was no
+doubt about it.  I left a guard to protect the house from
+intrusion until the troops should have all passed, and assured
+her that if her husband was in hiding she could bring him in and
+he should be protected also.  But I presume he was in the
+Confederate army.
+
+On the 25th I gave orders, through Halleck, to Hunter, who had
+relieved Sigel, to move up the Valley of Virginia, cross over
+the Blue Ridge to Charlottesville and go as far as Lynchburg if
+possible, living upon the country and cutting the railroads and
+canal as he went.  After doing this he could find his way back
+to his base, or join me.
+
+On the same day news was received that Lee was falling back,on
+Richmond.  This proved not to be true.  But we could do nothing
+where we were unless Lee would assume the offensive. I
+determined, therefore, to draw out of our present position and
+make one more effort to get between him and Richmond.  I had no
+expectation now, however, of succeeding in this; but I did
+expect to hold him far enough west to enable me to reach the
+James River high up.  Sheridan was now again with the Army of
+the Potomac.
+
+On the 26th I informed the government at Washington of the
+position of the two armies; of the reinforcements the enemy had
+received; of the move I proposed to make (*32); and directed
+that our base of supplies should be shifted to White House, on
+the Pamunkey.  The wagon train and guards moved directly from
+Port Royal to White House.  Supplies moved around by water,
+guarded by the navy.  Orders had previously been sent, through
+Halleck, for Butler to send Smith's corps to White House.  This
+order was repeated on the 25th, with directions that they should
+be landed on the north side of the Pamunkey, and marched until
+they joined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+It was a delicate move to get the right wing of the Army of the
+Potomac from its position south of the North Anna in the
+presence of the enemy.  To accomplish it, I issued the following
+order:
+
+
+QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+MAJOR GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+Direct Generals Warren and Wright to withdraw all their teams
+and artillery, not in position, to the north side of the river
+to-morrow.  Send that belonging to General Wright's corps as far
+on the road to Hanover Town as it can go, without attracting
+attention to the fact.  Send with it Wright's best division or
+division under his ablest commander.  Have their places filled
+up in the line so if possible the enemy will not notice their
+withdrawal.  Send the cavalry to-morrow afternoon, or as much of
+it as you may deem necessary, to watch and seize, if they can,
+Littlepage's Bridge and Taylor's Ford, and to remain on one or
+other side of the river at these points until the infantry and
+artillery all pass.  As soon as it is dark to-morrow night start
+the division which you withdraw first from Wright's corps to make
+a forced march to Hanover Town, taking with them no teams to
+impede their march.  At the same time this division starts
+commence withdrawing all of the 5th and 6th corps from the south
+side of the river, and march them for the same place.  The two
+divisions of the 9th corps not now with Hancock, may be moved
+down the north bank of the river where they will be handy to
+support Hancock if necessary, or will be that much on their road
+to follow the 5th and 6th corps.  Hancock should hold his command
+in readiness to follow as soon as the way is clear for him.
+To-morrow it will leave nothing for him to do, but as soon as he
+can he should get all his teams and spare artillery on the road
+or roads which he will have to take.  As soon as the troops
+reach Hanover Town they should get possession of all the
+crossings they can in that neighborhood.  I think it would be
+well to make a heavy cavalry demonstration on the enemy's left,
+to-morrow afternoon, also.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Wilson's division of cavalry was brought up from the left and
+moved by our right south to Little River.  Here he manoeuvred to
+give the impression that we were going to attack the left flank
+of Lee's army.
+
+Under cover of night our right wing was withdrawn to the north
+side of the river, Lee being completely deceived by Wilson's
+feint.  On the afternoon of the 26th Sheridan moved, sending
+Gregg's and Torbert's cavalry to Taylor's and Littlepage's fords
+towards Hanover.  As soon as it was dark both divisions moved
+quietly to Hanover Ferry, leaving small guards behind to keep up
+the impression that crossings were to be attempted in the
+morning.  Sheridan was followed by a division of infantry under
+General Russell.  On the morning of the 27th the crossing was
+effected with but little loss, the enemy losing thirty or forty,
+taken prisoners.  Thus a position was secured south of the
+Pamunkey.
+
+Russell stopped at the crossing while the cavalry pushed on to
+Hanover Town.  Here Barringer's, formerly Gordon's, brigade of
+rebel cavalry was encountered, but it was speedily driven away.
+
+Warren's and Wright's corps were moved by the rear of Burnside's
+and Hancock's corps.  When out of the way these latter corps
+followed, leaving pickets confronting the enemy.  Wilson's
+cavalry followed last, watching all the fords until everything
+had recrossed; then taking up the pontoons and destroying other
+bridges, became the rear-guard.
+
+Two roads were traversed by the troops in this move.  The one
+nearest to and north of the North Anna and Pamunkey was taken by
+Wright, followed by Hancock.  Warren, followed by Burnside, moved
+by a road farther north, and longer.  The trains moved by a road
+still farther north, and had to travel a still greater
+distance.  All the troops that had crossed the Pamunkey on the
+morning of the 27th remained quiet during the rest of the day,
+while the troops north of that stream marched to reach the
+crossing that had been secured for them.
+
+Lee had evidently been deceived by our movement from North Anna;
+for on the morning of the 27th he telegraphed to Richmond:
+"Enemy crossed to north side, and cavalry and infantry crossed
+at Hanover Town."  The troops that had then crossed left his
+front the night of the 25th.
+
+The country we were now in was a difficult one to move troops
+over.  The streams were numerous, deep and sluggish, sometimes
+spreading out into swamps grown up with impenetrable growths of
+trees and underbrush.  The banks were generally low and marshy,
+making the streams difficult to approach except where there were
+roads and bridges.
+
+Hanover Town is about twenty miles from Richmond.  There are two
+roads leading there; the most direct and shortest one crossing
+the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, near the Virginia Central
+Railroad, the second going by New and Old Cold Harbor.  A few
+miles out from Hanover Town there is a third road by way of
+Mechanicsville to Richmond.  New Cold Harbor was important to us
+because while there we both covered the roads back to White House
+(where our supplies came from), and the roads south-east over
+which we would have to pass to get to the James River below the
+Richmond defences.
+
+On the morning of the 28th the army made an early start, and by
+noon all had crossed except Burnside's corps.  This was left on
+the north side temporarily to guard the large wagon train.  A
+line was at once formed extending south from the river, Wright's
+corps on the right, Hancock's in the centre, and Warren's on the
+left, ready to meet the enemy if he should come.
+
+At the same time Sheridan was directed to reconnoitre towards
+Mechanicsville to find Lee's position.  At Hawes' Shop, just
+where the middle road leaves the direct road to Richmond, he
+encountered the Confederate cavalry dismounted and partially
+intrenched.  Gregg attacked with his division, but was unable to
+move the enemy.  In the evening Custer came up with a brigade.
+The attack was now renewed, the cavalry dismounting and charging
+as infantry.  This time the assault was successful, both sides
+losing a considerable number of men.  But our troops had to bury
+the dead, and found that more Confederate than Union soldiers had
+been killed.  The position was easily held, because our infantry
+was near.
+
+On the 29th a reconnoissance was made in force, to find the
+position of Lee.  Wright's corps pushed to Hanover Court
+House.  Hancock's corps pushed toward Totopotomoy Creek;
+Warren's corps to the left on the Shady Grove Church Road, while
+Burnside was held in reserve. Our advance was pushed forward
+three miles on the left with but little fighting.  There was now
+an appearance of a movement past our left flank, and Sheridan was
+sent to meet it.
+
+On the 30th Hancock moved to the Totopotomoy, where he found the
+enemy strongly fortified.  Wright was moved to the right of
+Hancock's corps, and Burnside was brought forward and crossed,
+taking position to the left of Hancock.  Warren moved up near
+Huntley Corners on the Shady Grove Church Road.  There was some
+skirmishing along the centre, and in the evening Early attacked
+Warren with some vigor, driving him back at first, and
+threatening to turn our left flank.  As the best means of
+reinforcing the left, Hancock was ordered to attack in his
+front.  He carried and held the rifle-pits.  While this was
+going on Warren got his men up, repulsed Early, and drove him
+more than a mile.
+
+On this day I wrote to Halleck ordering all the pontoons in
+Washington to be sent to City Point.
+
+In the evening news was received of the arrival of Smith with
+his corps at White House.  I notified Meade, in writing, as
+follows:
+
+
+NEAR HAWES' SHOP, VA.,
+6.40 P.M., May 30, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+General Smith will debark his force at the White House tonight
+and start up the south bank of the Pamunkey at an early hour,
+probably at 3 A.M. in the morning.  It is not improbable that
+the enemy, being aware of Smith's movement, will be feeling to
+get on our left flank for the purpose of cutting him off, or by
+a dash to crush him and get back before we are aware of it.
+Sheridan ought to be notified to watch the enemy's movements
+well out towards Cold Harbor, and also on the Mechanicsville
+road.  Wright should be got well massed on Hancock's right, so
+that, if it becomes necessary, he can take the place of the
+latter readily whilst troops are being thrown east of the
+Totopotomoy if necessary.
+
+I want Sheridan to send a cavalry force of at least half a
+brigade, if not a whole brigade, at 5 A.M. in the morning, to
+communicate with Smith and to return with him.  I will send
+orders for Smith by the messenger you send to Sheridan with his
+orders.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+I also notified Smith of his danger, and the precautions that
+would be taken to protect him.
+
+The night of the 30th Lee's position was substantially from
+Atlee's Station on the Virginia Central Railroad south and east
+to the vicinity of Cold Harbor.  Ours was:  The left of Warren's
+corps was on the Shady Grove Road, extending to the
+Mechanicsville Road and about three miles south of the
+Totopotomoy.  Burnside to his right, then Hancock, and Wright on
+the extreme right, extending towards Hanover Court House, six
+miles south-east of it.  Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry
+was watching our left front towards Cold Harbor.  Wilson with
+his division on our right was sent to get on the Virginia
+Central Railroad and destroy it as far back as possible.  He got
+possession of Hanover Court House the next day after a skirmish
+with Young's cavalry brigade.  The enemy attacked Sheridan's
+pickets, but reinforcements were sent up and the attack was
+speedily repulsed and the enemy followed some distance towards
+Cold Harbor.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LV.
+
+ADVANCE ON COLD HARBOR--AN ANECDOTE OF THE WAR--BATTLE OF COLD
+HARBOR--CORRESPONDENCE WITH LEE--RETROSPECTIVE.
+
+On the 31st Sheridan advanced to near Old Cold Harbor.  He found
+it intrenched and occupied by cavalry and infantry.  A hard fight
+ensued but the place was carried.  The enemy well knew the
+importance of Cold Harbor to us, and seemed determined that we
+should not hold it.  He returned with such a large force that
+Sheridan was about withdrawing without making any effort to hold
+it against such odds; but about the time he commenced the
+evacuation he received orders to hold the place at all hazards,
+until reinforcements could be sent to him.  He speedily turned
+the rebel works to face against them and placed his men in
+position for defence.  Night came on before the enemy was ready
+for assault.
+
+Wright's corps was ordered early in the evening to march
+directly to Cold Harbor passing by the rear of the army.  It was
+expected to arrive by daylight or before; but the night was dark
+and the distance great, so that it was nine o'clock the 1st of
+June before it reached its destination.  Before the arrival of
+Wright the enemy had made two assaults on Sheridan, both of
+which were repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy.  Wright's
+corps coming up, there was no further assault on Cold Harbor.
+
+Smith, who was coming up from White House, was also directed to
+march directly to Cold Harbor, and was expected early on the
+morning of the 1st of June; but by some blunder the order which
+reached Smith directed him to Newcastle instead of Cold
+Harbor.  Through this blunder Smith did not reach his
+destination until three o'clock in the afternoon, and then with
+tired and worn-out men from their long and dusty march.  He
+landed twelve thousand five hundred men from Butler's command,
+but a division was left at White House temporarily and many men
+had fallen out of ranks in their long march.
+
+Before the removal of Wright's corps from our right, after dark
+on the 31st, the two lines, Federal and Confederate, were so
+close together at that point that either side could detect
+directly any movement made by the other.  Finding at daylight
+that Wright had left his front, Lee evidently divined that he
+had gone to our left.  At all events, soon after light on the
+1st of June Anderson, who commanded the corps on Lee's left, was
+seen moving along Warren's front.  Warren was ordered to attack
+him vigorously in flank, while Wright was directed to move out
+and get on his front.  Warren fired his artillery at the enemy;
+but lost so much time in making ready that the enemy got by, and
+at three o'clock he reported the enemy was strongly intrenched in
+his front, and besides his lines were so long that he had no mass
+of troops to move with.  He seemed to have forgotten that lines
+in rear of an army hold themselves while their defenders are
+fighting in their front.  Wright reconnoitred some distance to
+his front:  but the enemy finding Old Cold Harbor already taken
+had halted and fortified some distance west.
+
+By six o'clock in the afternoon Wright and Smith were ready to
+make an assault.  In front of both the ground was clear for
+several hundred yards and then became wooded.  Both charged
+across this open space and into the wood, capturing and holding
+the first line of rifle-pits of the enemy, and also capturing
+seven or eight hundred prisoners.
+
+While this was going on, the enemy charged Warren three separate
+times with vigor, but were repulsed each time with loss.  There
+was no officer more capable, nor one more prompt in acting, than
+Warren when the enemy forced him to it.  There was also an attack
+upon Hancock's and Burnside's corps at the same time; but it was
+feeble and probably only intended to relieve Anderson who was
+being pressed by Wright and Smith.
+
+During the night the enemy made frequent attacks with the view
+of dispossessing us of the important position we had gained, but
+without effecting their object.
+
+Hancock was moved from his place in line during the night and
+ordered to the left of Wright.  I expected to take the offensive
+on the morning of the 2d, but the night was so dark, the heat and
+dust so excessive and the roads so intricate and hard to keep,
+that the head of column only reached Old Cold Harbor at six
+o'clock, but was in position at 7.30 A.M.  Preparations were
+made for an attack in the afternoon, but did not take place
+until the next morning.  Warren's corps was moved to the left to
+connect with Smith:  Hancock's corps was got into position to the
+left of Wright's, and Burnside was moved to Bethesda Church in
+reserve. While Warren and Burnside were making these changes the
+enemy came out several times and attacked them, capturing several
+hundred prisoners.  The attacks were repulsed, but not followed
+up as they should have been.  I was so annoyed at this that I
+directed Meade to instruct his corps commanders that they should
+seize all such opportunities when they occurred, and not wait for
+orders, all of our manoeuvres being made for the very purpose of
+getting the enemy out of his cover.
+
+On this day Wilson returned from his raid upon the Virginia
+Central Railroad, having damaged it considerably.  But, like
+ourselves, the rebels had become experts in repairing such
+damage.  Sherman, in his memoirs, relates an anecdote of his
+campaign to Atlanta that well illustrates this point.  The rebel
+cavalry lurking in his rear to burn bridges and obstruct his
+communications had become so disgusted at hearing trains go
+whistling by within a few hours after a bridge had been burned,
+that they proposed to try blowing up some of the tunnels.  One
+of them said, "No use, boys, Old Sherman carries duplicate
+tunnels with him, and will replace them as fast as you can blow
+them up; better save your powder."
+
+Sheridan was engaged reconnoitring the banks of the
+Chickahominy, to find crossings and the condition of the
+roads.  He reported favorably.
+
+During the night Lee moved his left up to make his line
+correspond to ours.  His lines extended now from the Totopotomoy
+to New Cold Harbor.  Mine from Bethesda Church by Old Cold Harbor
+to the Chickahominy, with a division of cavalry guarding our
+right.  An assault was ordered for the 3d, to be made mainly by
+the corps of Hancock, Wright and Smith; but Warren and Burnside
+were to support it by threatening Lee's left, and to attack with
+great earnestness if he should either reinforce more threatened
+points by drawing from that quarter or if a favorable
+opportunity should present itself.
+
+The corps commanders were to select the points in their
+respective fronts where they would make their assaults.  The
+move was to commence at half-past four in the morning.  Hancock
+sent Barlow and Gibbon forward at the appointed hour, with
+Birney as a reserve.  Barlow pushed forward with great vigor,
+under a heavy fire of both artillery and musketry, through
+thickets and swamps.  Notwithstanding all the resistance of the
+enemy and the natural obstructions to overcome, he carried a
+position occupied by the enemy outside their main line where the
+road makes a deep cut through a bank affording as good a shelter
+for troops as if it had been made for that purpose.  Three
+pieces of artillery had been captured here, and several hundred
+prisoners.  The guns were immediately turned against the men who
+had just been using them.  No (*33) assistance coming to him, he
+(Barlow) intrenched under fire and continued to hold his
+place.  Gibbon was not so fortunate in his front.  He found the
+ground over which he had to pass cut up with deep ravines, and a
+morass difficult to cross.  But his men struggled on until some
+of them got up to the very parapet covering the enemy.  Gibbon
+gained ground much nearer the enemy than that which he left, and
+here he intrenched and held fast.
+
+Wright's corps moving in two lines captured the outer rifle-pits
+in their front, but accomplished nothing more.  Smith's corps
+also gained the outer rifle-pits in its front.  The ground over
+which this corps (18th) had to move was the most exposed of any
+over which charges were made.  An open plain intervened between
+the contending forces at this point, which was exposed both to a
+direct and a cross fire.  Smith, however, finding a ravine
+running towards his front, sufficiently deep to protect men in
+it from cross fire, and somewhat from a direct fire, put
+Martindale's division in it, and with Brooks supporting him on
+the left and Devens on the right succeeded in gaining the
+outer--probably picket--rifle-pits.  Warren and Burnside also
+advanced and gained ground--which brought the whole army on one
+line.
+
+This assault cost us heavily and probably without benefit to
+compensate:  but the enemy was not cheered by the occurrence
+sufficiently to induce him to take the offensive.  In fact,
+nowhere after the battle of the Wilderness did Lee show any
+disposition to leave his defences far behind him.
+
+Fighting was substantially over by half-past seven in the
+morning.  At eleven o'clock I started to visit all the corps
+commanders to see for myself the different positions gained and
+to get their opinion of the practicability of doing anything
+more in their respective fronts.
+
+Hancock gave the opinion that in his front the enemy was too
+strong to make any further assault promise success.  Wright
+thought he could gain the lines of the enemy, but it would
+require the cooperation of Hancock's and Smith's corps.  Smith
+thought a lodgment possible, but was not sanguine:  Burnside
+thought something could be done in his front, but Warren
+differed.  I concluded, therefore to make no more assaults, and
+a little after twelve directed in the following letter that all
+offensive action should cease.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864.-12.30 P.M.
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in
+case an assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of
+farther advance for the present.  Hold our most advanced
+positions and strengthen them.  Whilst on the defensive our line
+may be contracted from the right if practicable.
+
+Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and
+advances made to advantageous positions by regular approaches.
+To aid the expedition under General Hunter it is necessary that
+we should detain all the army now with Lee until the former gets
+well on his way to Lynchburg.  To do this effectually it will be
+better to keep the enemy out of the intrenchments of Richmond
+than to have them go back there.
+
+Wright and Hancock should be ready to assault in case the enemy
+should break through General Smith's lines, and all should be
+ready to resist an assault.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The remainder of the day was spent in strengthening the line we
+now held.  By night we were as strong against Lee as he was
+against us.
+
+During the night the enemy quitted our right front, abandoning
+some of their wounded, and without burying their dead.  These we
+were able to care for.  But there were many dead and wounded men
+between the lines of the contending forces, which were now close
+together, who could not be cared for without a cessation of
+hostilities.
+
+So I wrote the following:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 5, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R.  E. LEE,
+Commanding Confederate Army.
+
+It is reported to me that there are wounded men, probably of
+both armies, now lying exposed and suffering between the lines
+occupied respectively by the two armies.  Humanity would dictate
+that some provision should be made to provide against such
+hardships.  I would propose, therefore, that hereafter, when no
+battle is raging, either party be authorized to send to any
+point between the pickets or skirmish lines, unarmed men bearing
+litters to pick up their dead or wounded, without being fired
+upon by the other party.  Any other method, equally fair to both
+parties, you may propose for meeting the end desired will be
+accepted by me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied that he feared such an arrangement would lead to
+misunderstanding, and proposed that in future, when either party
+wished to remove their dead and wounded, a flag of truce be
+sent.  I answered this immediately by saying:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+Your communication of yesterday's date is received.  I will
+send immediately, as you propose, to collect the dead and
+wounded between the lines of the two armies, and will also
+instruct that you be allowed to do the same.  I propose that the
+time for doing this be between the hours of 12 M. and 3 P.M.
+to-day.  I will direct all parties going out to bear a white
+flag, and not to attempt to go beyond where we have dead or
+wounded, and not beyond or on ground occupied by your troops.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's response was that he could not consent to the burial of
+the dead and removal of the wounded in the way I proposed, but
+when either party desired such permission it should be asked for
+by flag of truce and he had directed that any parties I may have
+sent out, as mentioned in my letter, to be turned back.  I
+answered:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA, June 6, 1864.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE.
+Commanding Army, N. Va.
+
+The knowledge that wounded men are now suffering from want of
+attention, between the two armies, compels me to ask a
+suspension of hostilities for sufficient time to collect them
+in, say two hours.  Permit me to say that the hours you may fix
+upon for this will be agreeable to me, and the same privilege
+will be extended to such parties as you may wish to send out on
+the same duty without further application.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee acceded to this; but delays in transmitting the
+correspondence brought it to the 7th of June--forty-eight hours
+after it commenced--before parties were got out to collect the
+men left upon the field.  In the meantime all but two of the
+wounded had died.  And I wrote to Lee:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 7, 1864.
+10.30 A.M.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Commanding Army of N. Va.
+
+I regret that your note of seven P.M. yesterday should have been
+received at the nearest corps headquarters, to where it was
+delivered, after the hour which had been given for the removal
+of the dead and wounded had expired; 10.45 P.M. was the hour at
+which it was received at corps headquarters, and between eleven
+and twelve it reached my headquarters.  As a consequence, it was
+not understood by the troops of this army that there was a
+cessation of hostilities for the purpose of collecting the dead
+and wounded, and none were collected.  Two officers and six men
+of the 8th and 25th North Carolina Regts., who were out in
+search of the bodies of officers of their respective regiments,
+were captured and brought into our lines, owing to this want of
+understanding.  I regret this, but will state that as soon as I
+learned the fact, I directed that they should not be held as
+prisoners, but must be returned to their commands.  These
+officers and men having been carelessly brought through our
+lines to the rear have not determined whether they will be sent
+back the way they came, or whether they will be sent by some
+other route.
+
+Regretting that all my efforts for alleviating the sufferings of
+wounded men left upon the battle-field have been rendered
+nugatory, I remain, &c.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was
+ever made.  I might say the same thing of the assault of the 22d
+of May, 1863, at Vicksburg.  At Cold Harbor no advantage
+whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we
+sustained.  Indeed, the advantages other than those of relative
+losses, were on the Confederate side.  Before that, the Army of
+Northern Virginia seemed to have acquired a wholesome regard for
+the courage, endurance, and soldierly qualities generally of the
+Army of the Potomac.  They no longer wanted to fight them "one
+Confederate to five Yanks."  Indeed, they seemed to have given
+up any idea of gaining any advantage of their antagonist in the
+open field.  They had come to much prefer breastworks in their
+front to the Army of the Potomac.  This charge seemed to revive
+their hopes temporarily; but it was of short duration.  The
+effect upon the Army of the Potomac was the reverse.  When we
+reached the James River, however, all effects of the battle of
+Cold Harbor seemed to have disappeared.
+
+There was more justification for the assault at Vicksburg.  We
+were in a Southern climate, at the beginning of the hot
+season.  The Army of the Tennessee had won five successive
+victories over the garrison of Vicksburg in the three preceding
+weeks.  They had driven a portion of that army from Port Gibson
+with considerable loss, after having flanked them out of their
+stronghold at Grand Gulf.  They had attacked another portion of
+the same army at Raymond, more than fifty miles farther in the
+interior of the State, and driven them back into Jackson with
+great loss in killed, wounded, captured and missing, besides
+loss of large and small arms:  they had captured the capital of
+the State of Mississippi, with a large amount of materials of
+war and manufactures.  Only a few days before, they had beaten
+the enemy then penned up in the town first at Champion's Hill,
+next at Big Black River Bridge, inflicting upon him a loss of
+fifteen thousand or more men (including those cut off from
+returning) besides large losses in arms and ammunition.  The
+Army of the Tennessee had come to believe that they could beat
+their antagonist under any circumstances.  There was no telling
+how long a regular siege might last.  As I have stated, it was
+the beginning of the hot season in a Southern climate.  There
+was no telling what the casualties might be among Northern
+troops working and living in trenches, drinking surface water
+filtered through rich vegetation, under a tropical sun.  If
+Vicksburg could have been carried in May, it would not only have
+saved the army the risk it ran of a greater danger than from the
+bullets of the enemy, but it would have given us a splendid
+army, well equipped and officered, to operate elsewhere with.
+These are reasons justifying the assault.  The only benefit we
+gained--and it was a slight one for so great a sacrifice--was
+that the men worked cheerfully in the trenches after that, being
+satisfied with digging the enemy out.  Had the assault not been
+made, I have no doubt that the majority of those engaged in the
+siege of Vicksburg would have believed that had we assaulted it
+would have proven successful, and would have saved life, health
+and comfort.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVI.
+
+LEFT FLANK MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CHICKAHOMINY AND JAMES--GENERAL
+LEE--VISIT TO BUTLER--THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG--THE INVESTMENT
+OF PETERSBURG.
+
+Lee's position was now so near Richmond, and the intervening
+swamps of the Chickahominy so great an obstacle to the movement
+of troops in the face of an enemy, that I determined to make my
+next left flank move carry the Army of the Potomac south of the
+James River. (*34)  Preparations for this were promptly
+commenced. The move was a hazardous one to make:  the
+Chickahominy River, with its marshy and heavily timbered
+approaches, had to be crossed; all the bridges over it east of
+Lee were destroyed; the enemy had a shorter line and better
+roads to travel on to confront me in crossing; more than fifty
+miles intervened between me and Butler, by the roads I should
+have to travel, with both the James and the Chickahominy
+unbridged to cross; and last, the Army of the Potomac had to be
+got out of a position but a few hundred yards from the enemy at
+the widest place.  Lee, if he did not choose to follow me,
+might, with his shorter distance to travel and his bridges over
+the Chickahominy and the James, move rapidly on Butler and crush
+him before the army with me could come to his relief.  Then too
+he might spare troops enough to send against Hunter who was
+approaching Lynchburg, living upon the country he passed
+through, and without ammunition further than what he carried
+with him.
+
+But the move had to be made, and I relied upon Lee's not seeing
+my danger as I saw it.  Besides we had armies on both sides of
+the James River and not far from the Confederate capital.  I
+knew that its safety would be a matter of the first
+consideration with the executive, legislative and judicial
+branches of the so-called Confederate government, if it was not
+with the military commanders.  But I took all the precaution I
+knew of to guard against all dangers.
+
+Sheridan was sent with two divisions, to communicate with Hunter
+and to break up the Virginia Central Railroad and the James River
+Canal, on the 7th of June, taking instructions to Hunter to come
+back with him (*35).  Hunter was also informed by way of
+Washington and the Valley that Sheridan was on the way to meet
+him.  The canal and Central Road, and the regions penetrated by
+them, were of vast importance to the enemy, furnishing and
+carrying a large per cent. of all the supplies for the Army of
+Northern Virginia and the people of Richmond.  Before Sheridan
+got off on the 7th news was received from Hunter reporting his
+advance to Staunton and successful engagement with the enemy
+near that place on the 5th, in which the Confederate commander,
+W. S. Jones, was killed.  On the 4th of June the enemy having
+withdrawn his left corps, Burnside on our right was moved up
+between Warren and Smith.  On the 5th Birney returned to
+Hancock, which extended his left now to the Chickahominy, and
+Warren was withdrawn to Cold Harbor.  Wright was directed to
+send two divisions to the left to extend down the banks of that
+stream to Bottom's Bridge.  The cavalry extended still farther
+east to Jones's Bridge.
+
+On the 7th Abercrombie--who was in command at White House, and
+who had been in command at our base of supplies in all the
+changes made from the start--was ordered to take up the iron
+from the York River Railroad and put it on boats, and to be in
+readiness to move by water to City Point.
+
+On the 8th Meade was directed to fortify a line down the bank
+overlooking the Chickahominy, under cover of which the army
+could move.
+
+On the 9th Abercrombie was directed to send all organized troops
+arriving at White House, without debarking from their transports,
+to report to Butler.  Halleck was at this time instructed to send
+all reinforcements to City Point.
+
+On the 11th I wrote:
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. B. F. BUTLER,
+Commanding Department of Va. and N. C.
+
+The movement to transfer this army to the south side of the
+James River will commence after dark to-morrow night.  Col.
+Comstock, of my staff, was sent specially to ascertain what was
+necessary to make your position secure in the interval during
+which the enemy might use most of his force against you, and
+also, to ascertain what point on the river we should reach to
+effect a crossing if it should not be practicable to reach this
+side of the river at Bermuda Hundred.  Colonel Comstock has not
+yet returned, so that I cannot make instructions as definite as
+I would wish, but the time between this and Sunday night being
+so short in which to get word to you, I must do the best I
+can.  Colonel Dent goes to the Chickahominy to take to you the
+18th corps.  The corps will leave its position in the trenches
+as early in the evening, tomorrow, as possible, and make a
+forced march to Cole's Landing or Ferry, where it should reach
+by ten A.M. the following morning.  This corps numbers now
+15,300 men.  They take with them neither wagons nor artillery;
+these latter marching with the balance of the army to the James
+River.  The remainder of the army will cross the Chickahominy at
+Long Bridge and at Jones's, and strike the river at the most
+practicable crossing below City Point.
+
+I directed several days ago that all reinforcements for the army
+should be sent to you.  I am not advised of the number that may
+have gone, but suppose you have received from six to ten
+thousand.  General Smith will also reach you as soon as the
+enemy could, going by the way of Richmond.
+
+The balance of the force will not be more than one day behind,
+unless detained by the whole of Lee's army, in which case you
+will be strong enough.
+
+I wish you would direct the proper staff officers, your
+chief-engineer and your chief-quartermaster, to commence at once
+the collection of all the means in their reach for crossing the
+army on its arrival.  If there is a point below City Point where
+a pontoon bridge can be thrown, have it laid.
+
+Expecting the arrival of the 18th corps by Monday night, if you
+deem it practicable from the force you have to seize and hold
+Petersburg, you may prepare to start, on the arrival of troops
+to hold your present lines.  I do not want Petersburg visited,
+however, unless it is held, nor an attempt to take it, unless
+you feel a reasonable degree of confidence of success.  If you
+should go there, I think troops should take nothing with them
+except what they can carry, depending upon supplies being sent
+after the place is secured.  If Colonel Dent should not succeed
+in securing the requisite amount of transportation for the 18th
+corps before reaching you, please have the balance supplied.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--On reflection I will send the 18th corps by way of White
+House.  The distance which they will have to march will be
+enough shorter to enable them to reach you about the same time,
+and the uncertainty of navigation on the Chickahominy will be
+avoided.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+COLD HARBOR, VA., June 11,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL G. G. MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Colonel Comstock, who visited the James River for the purpose of
+ascertaining the best point below Bermuda Hundred to which to
+march the army has not yet returned.  It is now getting so late,
+however, that all preparations may be made for the move to-morrow
+night without waiting longer.
+
+The movement will be made as heretofore agreed upon, that is,
+the 18th corps make a rapid march with the infantry alone, their
+wagons and artillery accompanying the balance of the army to
+Cole's Landing or Ferry, and there embark for City Point, losing
+no time for rest until they reach the latter point.
+
+The 5th corps will seize Long Bridge and move out on the Long
+Bridge Road to its junction with Quaker Road, or until stopped
+by the enemy.
+
+The other three corps will follow in such order as you may
+direct, one of them crossing at Long Bridge, and two at Jones's
+Bridge.  After the crossing is effected, the most practicable
+roads will be taken to reach about Fort Powhattan.  Of course,
+this is supposing the enemy makes no opposition to our
+advance.  The 5th corps, after securing the passage of the
+balance of the army, will join or follow in rear of the corps
+which crosses the same bridge with themselves.  The wagon trains
+should be kept well east of the troops, and if a crossing can be
+found, or made lower down than Jones's they should take it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+P. S.--In view of the long march to reach Cole's Landing, and
+the uncertainty of being able to embark a large number of men
+there, the direction of the 18th corps may be changed to White
+House.  They should be directed to load up transports, and start
+them as fast as loaded without waiting for the whole corps or
+even whole divisions to go together.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+About this time word was received (through the Richmond papers
+of the 11th) that Crook and Averell had united and were moving
+east.  This, with the news of Hunter's successful engagement
+near Staunton, was no doubt known to Lee before it was to me.
+Then Sheridan leaving with two divisions of cavalry, looked
+indeed threatening, both to Lee's communications and supplies.
+Much of his cavalry was sent after Sheridan, and Early with
+Ewell's entire corps was sent to the Valley.  Supplies were
+growing scarce in Richmond, and the sources from which to draw
+them were in our hands.  People from outside began to pour into
+Richmond to help eat up the little on hand.  Consternation
+reigned there.
+
+On the 12th Smith was ordered to move at night to White House,
+not to stop until he reached there, and to take boats at once
+for City Point, leaving his trains and artillery to move by land.
+
+Soon after dark some of the cavalry at Long Bridge effected a
+crossing by wading and floundering through the water and mud,
+leaving their horses behind, and drove away the cavalry
+pickets.  A pontoon bridge was speedily thrown across, over
+which the remainder of the army soon passed and pushed out for a
+mile or two to watch and detain any advance that might be made
+from the other side.  Warren followed the cavalry, and by the
+morning of the 13th had his whole corps over.  Hancock followed
+Warren.  Burnside took the road to Jones's Bridge, followed by
+Wright.  Ferrero's division, with the wagon train, moved farther
+east, by Window Shades and Cole's Ferry, our rear being covered
+by cavalry.
+
+It was known that the enemy had some gunboats at Richmond. These
+might run down at night and inflict great damage upon us before
+they could be sunk or captured by our navy.  General Butler had,
+in advance, loaded some vessels with stone ready to be sunk so as
+to obstruct the channel in an emergency.  On the 13th I sent
+orders to have these sunk as high up the river as we could guard
+them, and prevent their removal by the enemy.
+
+As soon as Warren's corps was over the Chickahominy it marched
+out and joined the cavalry in holding the roads from Richmond
+while the army passed.  No attempt was made by the enemy to
+impede our march, however, but Warren and Wilson reported the
+enemy strongly fortified in their front.  By the evening of the
+13th Hancock's corps was at Charles City Court House on the
+James River.  Burnside's and Wright's corps were on the
+Chickahominy, and crossed during the night, Warren's corps and
+the cavalry still covering the army.  The material for a pontoon
+bridge was already at hand and the work of laying it was
+commenced immediately, under the superintendence of
+Brigadier-General Benham, commanding the engineer brigade.  On
+the evening of the 14th the crossing commenced, Hancock in
+advance, using both the bridge and boats.
+
+When the Wilderness campaign commenced the Army of the Potomac,
+including Burnside's--which was a separate command until the
+24th of May when it was incorporated with the main
+army--numbered about 116,000 men.  During the progress of the
+campaign about 40,000 reinforcements were received.  At the
+crossing of the James River June 14th-15th the army numbered
+about 115,000.  Besides the ordinary losses incident to a
+campaign of six weeks' nearly constant fighting or skirmishing,
+about one-half of the artillery was sent back to Washington, and
+many men were discharged by reason of the expiration of their
+term of service.* In estimating our strength every enlisted man
+and every commissioned officer present is included, no matter
+how employed; in bands, sick in field hospitals, hospital
+attendants, company cooks and all.  Operating in an enemy's
+country, and being supplied always from a distant base, large
+detachments had at all times to be sent from the front, not only
+to guard the base of supplies and the roads to it, but all the
+roads leading to our flanks and rear.  We were also operating in
+a country unknown to us, and without competent guides or maps
+showing the roads accurately.
+
+The manner of estimating numbers in the two armies differs
+materially.  In the Confederate army often only bayonets are
+taken into account, never, I believe, do they estimate more than
+are handling the guns of the artillery and armed with muskets
+(*36) or carbines.  Generally the latter are far enough away to
+be excluded from the count in any one field.  Officers and
+details of enlisted men are not included.  In the Northern
+armies the estimate is most liberal, taking in all connected
+with the army and drawing pay.
+
+Estimated in the same manner as ours, Lee had not less than
+80,000 men at the start.  His reinforcements were about equal to
+ours during the campaign, deducting the discharged men and those
+sent back.  He was on the defensive, and in a country in which
+every stream, every road, every obstacle to the movement of
+troops and every natural defence was familiar to him and his
+army.  The citizens were all friendly to him and his cause, and
+could and did furnish him with accurate reports of our every
+move.  Rear guards were not necessary for him, and having always
+a railroad at his back, large wagon trains were not required. All
+circumstances considered we did not have any advantage in
+numbers.
+
+General Lee, who had led the Army of Northern Virginia in all
+these contests, was a very highly estimated man in the
+Confederate army and States, and filled also a very high place
+in the estimation of the people and press of the Northern
+States.  His praise was sounded throughout the entire North
+after every action he was engaged in:  the number of his forces
+was always lowered and that of the National forces
+exaggerated.  He was a large, austere man, and I judge difficult
+of approach to his subordinates.  To be extolled by the entire
+press of the South after every engagement, and by a portion of
+the press North with equal vehemence, was calculated to give him
+the entire confidence of his troops and to make him feared by his
+antagonists.  It was not an uncommon thing for my staff-officers
+to hear from Eastern officers, "Well, Grant has never met Bobby
+Lee yet."  There were good and true officers who believe now
+that the Army of Northern Virginia was superior to the Army of
+the Potomac man to man.  I do not believe so, except as the
+advantages spoken of above made them so.  Before the end I
+believe the difference was the other way.  The Army of Northern
+Virginia became despondent and saw the end.  It did not please
+them.  The National army saw the same thing, and were encouraged
+by it.
+
+The advance of the Army of the Potomac reached the James on the
+14th of June.  Preparations were at once commenced for laying
+the pontoon bridges and crossing the river.  As already stated,
+I had previously ordered General Butler to have two vessels
+loaded with stone and carried up the river to a point above that
+occupied by our gunboats, where the channel was narrow, and sunk
+there so as to obstruct the passage and prevent Confederate
+gunboats from coming down the river.  Butler had had these boats
+filled and put in position, but had not had them sunk before my
+arrival.  I ordered this done, and also directed that he should
+turn over all material and boats not then in use in the river to
+be used in ferrying the troops across.
+
+I then, on the 14th, took a steamer and ran up to Bermuda
+Hundred to see General Butler for the purpose of directing a
+movement against Petersburg, while our troops of the Army of the
+Potomac were crossing.
+
+I had sent General W. F. Smith back from Cold Harbor by the way
+of White House, thence on steamers to City Point for the purpose
+of giving General Butler more troops with which to accomplish
+this result.  General Butler was ordered to send Smith with his
+troops reinforced, as far as that could be conveniently done,
+from other parts of the Army of the James.  He gave Smith about
+six thousand reinforcements, including some twenty-five hundred
+cavalry under Kautz, and about thirty-five hundred colored
+infantry under Hinks.
+
+The distance which Smith had to move to reach the enemy's lines
+was about six miles, and the Confederate advance line of works
+was but two miles outside of Petersburg.  Smith was to move
+under cover of night, up close to the enemy's works, and assault
+as soon as he could after daylight.  I believed then, and still
+believe, that Petersburg could have been easily captured at that
+time.  It only had about 2,500 men in the defences besides some
+irregular troops, consisting of citizens and employees in the
+city who took up arms in case of emergency.  Smith started as
+proposed, but his advance encountered a rebel force intrenched
+between City Point and their lines outside of Petersburg.  This
+position he carried, with some loss to the enemy; but there was
+so much delay that it was daylight before his troops really got
+off from there.  While there I informed General Butler that
+Hancock's corps would cross the river and move to Petersburg to
+support Smith in case the latter was successful, and that I
+could reinforce there more rapidly than Lee could reinforce from
+his position.
+
+I returned down the river to where the troops of the Army of the
+Potomac now were, communicated to General Meade, in writing, the
+directions I had given to General Butler and directed him
+(Meade) to cross Hancock's corps over under cover of night, and
+push them forward in the morning to Petersburg; halting them,
+however, at a designated point until they could hear from
+Smith.  I also informed General Meade that I had ordered rations
+from Bermuda Hundred for Hancock's corps, and desired him to
+issue them speedily, and to lose no more time than was
+absolutely necessary.  The rations did not reach him, however,
+and Hancock, while he got all his corps over during the night,
+remained until half-past ten in the hope of receiving them.  He
+then moved without them, and on the road received a note from
+General W. F. Smith, asking him to come on.  This seems to be
+the first information that General Hancock had received of the
+fact that he was to go to Petersburg, or that anything
+particular was expected of him.  Otherwise he would have been
+there by four o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+Smith arrived in front of the enemy's lines early in the
+forenoon of the 15th, and spent the day until after seven
+o'clock in the evening in reconnoitering what appeared to be
+empty works.  The enemy's line consisted of redans occupying
+commanding positions, with rifle-pits connecting them.  To the
+east side of Petersburg, from the Appomattox back, there were
+thirteen of these redans extending a distance of several miles,
+probably three.  If they had been properly manned they could
+have held out against any force that could have attacked them,
+at least until reinforcements could have got up from the north
+of Richmond.
+
+Smith assaulted with the colored troops, and with success.  By
+nine o'clock at night he was in possession of five of these
+redans and, of course, of the connecting lines of rifle-pits.
+All of them contained artillery, which fell into our hands.
+Hancock came up and proposed to take any part assigned to him;
+and Smith asked him to relieve his men who were in the trenches.
+
+Next morning, the 16th, Hancock himself was in command, and
+captured another redan.  Meade came up in the afternoon and
+succeeded Hancock, who had to be relieved, temporarily, from the
+command of his corps on account of the breaking out afresh of the
+wound he had received at Gettysburg.  During the day Meade
+assaulted and carried one more redan to his right and two to his
+left.  In all this we lost very heavily.  The works were not
+strongly manned, but they all had guns in them which fell into
+our hands, together with the men who were handling them in the
+effort to repel these assaults.
+
+Up to this time Beauregard, who had commanded south of Richmond,
+had received no reinforcements, except Hoke's division from
+Drury's Bluff,(*37) which had arrived on the morning of the
+16th; though he had urged the authorities very strongly to send
+them, believing, as he did, that Petersburg would be a valuable
+prize which we might seek.
+
+During the 17th the fighting was very severe and the losses
+heavy; and at night our troops occupied about the same position
+they had occupied in the morning, except that they held a redan
+which had been captured by Potter during the day.  During the
+night, however, Beauregard fell back to the line which had been
+already selected, and commenced fortifying it.  Our troops
+advanced on the 18th to the line which he had abandoned, and
+found that the Confederate loss had been very severe, many of
+the enemy's dead still remaining in the ditches and in front of
+them.
+
+Colonel J. L. Chamberlain, of the 20th Maine, was wounded on the
+18th.  He was gallantly leading his brigade at the time, as he
+had been in the habit of doing in all the engagements in which
+he had previously been engaged.  He had several times been
+recommended for a brigadier-generalcy for gallant and
+meritorious conduct.  On this occasion, however, I promoted him
+on the spot, and forwarded a copy of my order to the War
+Department, asking that my act might be confirmed and
+Chamberlain's name sent to the Senate for confirmation without
+any delay.  This was done, and at last a gallant and meritorious
+officer received partial justice at the hands of his government,
+which he had served so faithfully and so well.
+
+If General Hancock's orders of the 15th had been communicated to
+him, that officer, with his usual promptness, would undoubtedly
+have been upon the ground around Petersburg as early as four
+o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th.  The days were long and it
+would have given him considerable time before night.  I do not
+think there is any doubt that Petersburg itself could have been
+carried without much loss; or, at least, if protected by inner
+detached works, that a line could have been established very
+much in rear of the one then occupied by the enemy.  This would
+have given us control of both the Weldon and South Side
+railroads.  This would also have saved an immense amount of hard
+fighting which had to be done from the 15th to the 18th, and
+would have given us greatly the advantage in the long siege
+which ensued.
+
+I now ordered the troops to be put under cover and allowed some
+of the rest which they had so long needed.  They remained quiet,
+except that there was more or less firing every day, until the
+22d, when General Meade ordered an advance towards the Weldon
+Railroad.  We were very anxious to get to that road, and even
+round to the South Side Railroad if possible.
+
+Meade moved Hancock's corps, now commanded by Birney, to the
+left, with a view to at least force the enemy to stay within the
+limits of his own line.  General Wright, with the 6th corps, was
+ordered by a road farther south, to march directly for the
+Weldon road.  The enemy passed in between these two corps and
+attacked vigorously, and with very serious results to the
+National troops, who were then withdrawn from their advanced
+position.
+
+The Army of the Potomac was given the investment of Petersburg,
+while the Army of the James held Bermuda Hundred and all the
+ground we possessed north of the James River.  The 9th corps,
+Burnside's, was placed upon the right at Petersburg; the 5th,
+Warren's, next; the 2d, Birney's, next; then the 6th, Wright's,
+broken off to the left and south.  Thus began the siege of
+Petersburg.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVII.
+
+RAID ON THE VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD--RAID ON THE WELDON
+RAILROAD--EARLY 'S MOVEMENT UPON WASHINGTON--MINING THE WORKS
+BEFORE PETERSBURG--EXPLOSION OF THE MINE BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--CAMPAIGN IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY--CAPTURE OF THE
+WELDON RAILROAD.
+
+On the 7th of June, while at Cold Harbor, I had as already
+indicated sent Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry to destroy
+as much as he could of the Virginia Central Railroad.  General
+Hunter had been operating up the Shenandoah Valley with some
+success, having fought a battle near Staunton where he captured
+a great many prisoners, besides killing and wounding a good many
+men.  After the battle he formed a junction at Staunton with
+Averell and Crook, who had come up from the Kanawha, or Gauley
+River.  It was supposed, therefore, that General Hunter would be
+about Charlottesville, Virginia, by the time Sheridan could get
+there, doing on the way the damage that he was sent to do.
+
+I gave Sheridan instructions to have Hunter, in case he should
+meet him about Charlottesville, join and return with him to the
+Army of the Potomac.  Lee, hearing of Hunter's success in the
+valley, started Breckinridge out for its defence at once.
+Learning later of Sheridan's going with two divisions, he also
+sent Hampton with two divisions of cavalry, his own and
+Fitz-Hugh Lee's.
+
+Sheridan moved to the north side of the North Anna to get out
+west, and learned of the movement of these troops to the south
+side of the same stream almost as soon as they had started. He
+pushed on to get to Trevilian Station to commence his
+destruction at that point.  On the night of the 10th he
+bivouacked some six or seven miles east of Trevilian, while
+Fitz-Hugh Lee was the same night at Trevilian Station and
+Hampton but a few miles away.
+
+During the night Hampton ordered an advance on Sheridan, hoping,
+no doubt, to surprise and very badly cripple him.  Sheridan,
+however, by a counter move sent Custer on a rapid march to get
+between the two divisions of the enemy and into their rear. This
+he did successfully, so that at daylight, when the assault was
+made, the enemy found himself at the same time resisted in front
+and attacked in rear, and broke in some confusion.  The losses
+were probably very light on both sides in killed and wounded,
+but Sheridan got away with some five hundred prisoners and sent
+them to City Point.
+
+During that day, the 11th, Sheridan moved into Trevilian
+Station, and the following day proceeded to tear up the road
+east and west.  There was considerable fighting during the whole
+of the day, but the work of destruction went on.  In the
+meantime, at night, the enemy had taken possession of the
+crossing which Sheridan had proposed to take to go north when he
+left Trevilian.  Sheridan learned, however, from some of the
+prisoners he had captured here, that General Hunter was about
+Lynchburg, and therefore that there was no use of his going on
+to Charlottesville with a view to meet him.
+
+Sheridan started back during the night of the 12th, and made his
+way north and farther east, coming around by the north side of
+White House, and arriving there on the 21st.  Here he found an
+abundance of forage for his animals, food for his men, and
+security while resting.  He had been obliged to leave about
+ninety of his own men in the field-hospital which he had
+established near Trevilian, and these necessarily fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+White House up to this time had been a depot; but now that our
+troops were all on the James River, it was no longer wanted as a
+store of supplies.  Sheridan was, therefore, directed to break it
+up; which he did on the 22d of June, bringing the garrison and an
+immense wagon train with him.  All these were over the James
+River by the 26th of the month, and Sheridan ready to follow.
+
+In the meantime Meade had sent Wilson's division on a raid to
+destroy the Weldon and South Side roads.  Now that Sheridan was
+safe and Hampton free to return to Richmond with his cavalry,
+Wilson's position became precarious.  Meade therefore, on the
+27th, ordered Sheridan over the river to make a demonstration in
+favor of Wilson.  Wilson got back, though not without severe
+loss, having struck both roads, but the damage done was soon
+repaired.
+
+After these events comparative quiet reigned about Petersburg
+until late in July.  The time, however, was spent in
+strengthening the intrenchments and making our position
+generally more secure against a sudden attack.  In the meantime
+I had to look after other portions of my command, where things
+had not been going on so favorably, always, as I could have
+wished.
+
+General Hunter who had been appointed to succeed Sigel in the
+Shenandoah Valley immediately took up the offensive.  He met the
+enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and defeated him.  On the
+8th he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton,
+from which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington,
+which he reached and invested on the 16th.  Up to this time he
+was very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with
+him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a
+hostile country, he would, no doubt, have captured Lynchburg.
+The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories had
+been very great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter,
+General Lee sent Early with his corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on the 17th and
+18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give
+battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately, this want
+of ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by
+the way of the Gauley and Kanawha rivers, thence up the Ohio
+River, returning to Harper's Ferry by way of the Baltimore and
+Ohio Railroad.  A long time was consumed in making this
+movement.  Meantime the valley was left open to Early's troops,
+and others in that quarter; and Washington also was uncovered.
+Early took advantage of this condition of affairs and moved on
+Washington.
+
+In the absence of Hunter, General Lew Wallace, with headquarters
+at Baltimore, commanded the department in which the Shenandoah
+lay.  His surplus of troops with which to move against the enemy
+was small in number.  Most of these were raw and, consequently,
+very much inferior to our veterans and to the veterans which
+Early had with him; but the situation of Washington was
+precarious, and Wallace moved with commendable promptitude to
+meet the enemy at the Monocacy.  He could hardly have expected
+to defeat him badly, but he hoped to cripple and delay him until
+Washington could be put into a state of preparation for his
+reception.  I had previously ordered General Meade to send a
+division to Baltimore for the purpose of adding to the defences
+of Washington, and he had sent Ricketts's division of the 6th
+corps (Wright's), which arrived in Baltimore on the 8th of
+July.  Finding that Wallace had gone to the front with his
+command, Ricketts immediately took the cars and followed him to
+the Monocacy with his entire division.  They met the enemy and,
+as might have been expected, were defeated; but they succeeded
+in stopping him for the day on which the battle took place.  The
+next morning Early started on his march to the capital of the
+Nation, arriving before it on the 11th.
+
+Learning of the gravity of the situation I had directed General
+Meade to also order Wright with the rest of his corps directly
+to Washington for the relief of that place, and the latter
+reached there the very day that Early arrived before it.  The
+19th corps, which had been stationed in Louisiana, having been
+ordered up to reinforce the armies about Richmond, had about
+this time arrived at Fortress Monroe, on their way to join us. I
+diverted them from that point to Washington, which place they
+reached, almost simultaneously with Wright, on the 11th.  The
+19th corps was commanded by Major-General Emory.
+
+Early made his reconnoissance with a view of attacking on the
+following morning, the 12th; but the next morning he found our
+intrenchments, which were very strong, fully manned.  He at once
+commenced to retreat, Wright following.  There is no telling how
+much this result was contributed to by General Lew Wallace's
+leading what might well be considered almost a forlorn hope.  If
+Early had been but one day earlier he might have entered the
+capital before the arrival of the reinforcements I had sent.
+Whether the delay caused by the battle amounted to a day or not,
+General Wallace contributed on this occasion, by the defeat of
+the troops under him a greater benefit to the cause than often
+falls to the lot of a commander of an equal force to render by
+means of a victory.
+
+Farther west also the troubles were threatening.  Some time
+before, Forrest had met Sturgis in command of some of our
+cavalry in Mississippi and handled him very roughly, gaining a
+very great victory over him.  This left Forrest free to go
+almost where he pleased, and to cut the roads in rear of Sherman
+who was then advancing.  Sherman was abundantly able to look
+after the army that he was immediately with, and all of his
+military division so long as he could communicate with it; but
+it was my place to see that he had the means with which to hold
+his rear.  Two divisions under A. J. Smith had been sent to
+Banks in Louisiana some months before.  Sherman ordered these
+back, with directions to attack Forrest.  Smith met and defeated
+him very badly.  I then directed that Smith should hang to
+Forrest and not let him go; and to prevent by all means his
+getting upon the Memphis and Nashville Railroad.  Sherman had
+anticipated me in this matter, and given the same orders in
+substance; but receiving my directions for this order to Smith,
+he repeated it.
+
+On the 25th of June General Burnside had commenced running a
+mine from about the centre of his front under the Confederate
+works confronting him.  He was induced to do this by Colonel
+Pleasants, of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose regiment was
+mostly composed of miners, and who was himself a practical
+miner.  Burnside had submitted the scheme to Meade and myself,
+and we both approved of it, as a means of keeping the men
+occupied.  His position was very favorable for carrying on this
+work, but not so favorable for the operations to follow its
+completion.  The position of the two lines at that point were
+only about a hundred yards apart with a comparatively deep
+ravine intervening.  In the bottom of this ravine the work
+commenced.  The position was unfavorable in this particular:
+that the enemy's line at that point was re-entering, so that its
+front was commanded by their own lines both to the right and
+left.  Then, too, the ground was sloping upward back of the
+Confederate line for a considerable distance, and it was
+presumable that the enemy had, at least, a detached work on this
+highest point.  The work progressed, and on the 23d of July the
+mine was finished ready for charging; but I had this work of
+charging deferred until we were ready for it.
+
+On the 17th of July several deserters came in and said that
+there was great consternation in Richmond, and that Lee was
+coming out to make an attack upon us the object being to put us
+on the defensive so that he might detach troops to go to Georgia
+where the army Sherman was operating against was said to be in
+great trouble.  I put the army commanders, Meade and Butler, on
+the lookout, but the attack was not made.
+
+I concluded, then, a few days later, to do something in the way
+of offensive movement myself, having in view something of the
+same object that Lee had had.  Wright's and Emory's corps were
+in Washington, and with this reduction of my force Lee might
+very readily have spared some troops from the defences to send
+West.  I had other objects in view, however, besides keeping Lee
+where he was.  The mine was constructed and ready to be exploded,
+and I wanted to take that occasion to carry Petersburg if I
+could.  It was the object, therefore, to get as many of Lee's
+troops away from the south side of the James River as
+possible.  Accordingly, on the 26th, we commenced a movement
+with Hancock's corps and Sheridan's cavalry to the north side by
+the way of Deep Bottom, where Butler had a pontoon bridge laid.
+The plan, in the main, was to let the cavalry cut loose and,
+joining with Kautz's cavalry of the Army of the James, get by
+Lee's lines and destroy as much as they could of the Virginia
+Central Railroad, while, in the mean time, the infantry was to
+move out so as to protect their rear and cover their retreat
+back when they should have got through with their work.  We were
+successful in drawing the enemy's troops to the north side of the
+James as I expected.  The mine was ordered to be charged, and the
+morning of the 30th of July was the time fixed for its
+explosion.  I gave Meade minute orders (*38) on the 24th
+directing how I wanted the assault conducted, which orders he
+amplified into general instructions for the guidance of the
+troops that were to be engaged.
+
+Meade's instructions, which I, of course, approved most
+heartily, were all that I can see now was necessary.  The only
+further precaution which he could have taken, and which he could
+not foresee, would have been to have different men to execute
+them.
+
+The gallery to the mine was over five hundred feet long from
+where it entered the ground to the point where it was under the
+enemy's works, and with a cross gallery of something over eighty
+feet running under their lines.  Eight chambers had been left,
+requiring a ton of powder each to charge them.  All was ready by
+the time I had prescribed; and on the 29th Hancock and Sheridan
+were brought back near the James River with their troops.  Under
+cover of night they started to recross the bridge at Deep Bottom,
+and to march directly for that part of our lines in front of the
+mine.
+
+Warren was to hold his line of intrenchments with a sufficient
+number of men and concentrate the balance on the right next to
+Burnside's corps, while Ord, now commanding the 18th corps,
+temporarily under Meade, was to form in the rear of Burnside to
+support him when he went in.  All were to clear off the parapets
+and the _abatis_ in their front so as to leave the space as open
+as possible, and be able to charge the moment the mine had been
+sprung and Burnside had taken possession.  Burnside's corps was
+not to stop in the crater at all but push on to the top of the
+hill, supported on the right and left by Ord's and Warren's
+corps.
+
+Warren and Ord fulfilled their instructions perfectly so far as
+making ready was concerned.  Burnside seemed to have paid no
+attention whatever to the instructions, and left all the
+obstruction in his own front for his troops to get over in the
+best way they could.  The four divisions of his corps were
+commanded by Generals Potter, Willcox, Ledlie and Ferrero.  The
+last was a colored division; and Burnside selected it to make
+the assault.  Meade interfered with this.  Burnside then took
+Ledlie's division--a worse selection than the first could have
+been.  In fact, Potter and Willcox were the only division
+commanders Burnside had who were equal to the occasion.  Ledlie
+besides being otherwise inefficient, proved also to possess
+disqualification less common among soldiers.
+
+There was some delay about the explosion of the mine so that it
+did not go off until about five o'clock in the morning.  When it
+did explode it was very successful, making a crater twenty feet
+deep and something like a hundred feet in length.  Instantly one
+hundred and ten cannon and fifty mortars, which had been placed
+in the most commanding positions covering the ground to the
+right and left of where the troops were to enter the enemy's
+lines, commenced playing.  Ledlie's division marched into the
+crater immediately on the explosion, but most of the men stopped
+there in the absence of any one to give directions; their
+commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they
+started.  There was some delay on the left and right in
+advancing, but some of the troops did get in and turn to the
+right and left, carrying the rifle-pits as I expected they would
+do.
+
+There had been great consternation in Petersburg, as we were
+well aware, about a rumored mine that we were going to
+explode.  They knew we were mining, and they had failed to cut
+our mine off by countermining, though Beauregard had taken the
+precaution to run up a line of intrenchments to the rear of that
+part of their line fronting where they could see that our men
+were at work.  We had learned through deserters who had come in
+that the people had very wild rumors about what was going on on
+our side.  They said that we had undermined the whole of
+Petersburg; that they were resting upon a slumbering volcano and
+did not know at what moment they might expect an eruption.  I
+somewhat based my calculations upon this state of feeling, and
+expected that when the mine was exploded the troops to the right
+and left would flee in all directions, and that our troops, if
+they moved promptly, could get in and strengthen themselves
+before the enemy had come to a realization of the true
+situation.  It was just as I expected it would be.  We could see
+the men running without any apparent object except to get away.
+It was half an hour before musketry firing, to amount to
+anything, was opened upon our men in the crater.  It was an hour
+before the enemy got artillery up to play upon them; and it was
+nine o'clock before Lee got up reinforcements from his right to
+join in expelling our troops.
+
+The effort was a stupendous failure.  It cost us about four
+thousand men, mostly, however, captured; and all due to
+inefficiency on the part of the corps commander and the
+incompetency of the division commander who was sent to lead the
+assault.
+
+After being fully assured of the failure of the mine, and
+finding that most of that part of Lee's army which had been
+drawn north of the James River were still there, I gave Meade
+directions to send a corps of infantry and the cavalry next
+morning, before Lee could get his forces back, to destroy
+fifteen or twenty miles of the Weldon Railroad.  But misfortunes
+never come singly.  I learned during that same afternoon that
+Wright's pursuit of Early was feeble because of the constant and
+contrary orders he had been receiving from Washington, while I
+was cut off from immediate communication by reason of our cable
+across Chesapeake Bay being broken.  Early, however, was not
+aware of the fact that Wright was not pursuing until he had
+reached Strasburg.  Finding that he was not pursued he turned
+back to Winchester, where Crook was stationed with a small
+force, and drove him out.  He then pushed north until he had
+reached the Potomac, then he sent McCausland across to
+Chambersburg, Pa., to destroy that town.  Chambersburg was a
+purely defenceless town with no garrison whatever, and no
+fortifications; yet McCausland, under Early's orders, burned the
+place and left about three hundred families houseless.  This
+occurred on the 30th of July.  I rescinded my orders for the
+troops to go out to destroy the Weldon Railroad, and directed
+them to embark for Washington City.  After burning Chambersburg
+McCausland retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley and
+driven into Virginia.
+
+The Shenandoah Valley was very important to the Confederates,
+because it was the principal storehouse they now had for feeding
+their armies about Richmond.  It was well known that they would
+make a desperate struggle to maintain it.  It had been the
+source of a great deal of trouble to us heretofore to guard that
+outlet to the north, partly because of the incompetency of some
+of the commanders, but chiefly because of interference from
+Washington.
+
+It seemed to be the policy of General Halleck and Secretary
+Stanton to keep any force sent there, in pursuit of the invading
+army, moving right and left so as to keep between the enemy and
+our capital; and, generally speaking, they pursued this policy
+until all knowledge of the whereabouts of the enemy was lost.
+They were left, therefore, free to supply themselves with
+horses, beef cattle, and such provisions as they could carry
+away from Western Maryland and Pennsylvania.  I determined to
+put a stop to this.  I started Sheridan at once for that field
+of operation, and on the following day sent another division of
+his cavalry.
+
+I had previously asked to have Sheridan assigned to that
+command, but Mr. Stanton objected, on the ground that he was too
+young for so important a command.  On the 1st of August when I
+sent reinforcements for the protection of Washington, I sent the
+following orders:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+
+August 1, 1864, 11.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington D. C.
+
+I am sending General Sheridan for temporary duty whilst the
+enemy is being expelled from the border.  Unless General Hunter
+is in the field in person, I want Sheridan put in command of all
+the troops in the field, with instructions to put himself south
+of the enemy and follow him to the death.  Wherever the enemy
+goes let our troops go also.  Once started up the valley they
+ought to be followed until we get possession of the Virginia
+Central Railroad.  If General Hunter is in the field, give
+Sheridan direct command of the 6th corps and cavalry division.
+All the cavalry, I presume, will reach Washington in the course
+of to-morrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+The President in some way or other got to see this dispatch of
+mine directing certain instructions to be given to the
+commanders in the field, operating against Early, and sent me
+the following very characteristic dispatch:
+
+
+OFFICE U. S. MILITARY TELEGRAPH,
+WAR DEPARTMENT,
+WASHINGTON, D. C., August 3, 1864.
+
+Cypher. 6 P.M.,
+
+LT. GENERAL GRANT,
+City Point, Va.
+
+I have seen your despatch in which you say, "I want Sheridan put
+in command of all the troops in the field, with instructions to
+put himself south of the enemy, and follow him to the death.
+Wherever the enemy goes, let our troops go also."  This, I
+think, is exactly right, as to how our forces should move.  But
+please look over the despatches you may have received from here,
+even since you made that order, and discover, if you can, that
+there is any idea in the head of any one here, of "putting our
+army south of the enemy," or of "following him to the death" in
+any direction.  I repeat to you it will neither be done nor
+attempted unless you watch it every day, and hour, and force it.
+
+A. LINCOLN.
+
+
+I replied to this that "I would start in two hours for
+Washington," and soon got off, going directly to the Monocacy
+without stopping at Washington on my way.  I found General
+Hunter's army encamped there, scattered over the fields along
+the banks of the Monocacy, with many hundreds of cars and
+locomotives, belonging to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which
+he had taken the precaution to bring back and collect at that
+point.  I asked the general where the enemy was.  He replied
+that he did not know.  He said the fact was, that he was so
+embarrassed with orders from Washington moving him first to the
+right and then to the left that he had lost all trace of the
+enemy.
+
+I then told the general that I would find out where the enemy
+was, and at once ordered steam got up and trains made up, giving
+directions to push for Halltown, some four miles above Harper's
+Ferry, in the Shenandoah Valley.  The cavalry and the wagon
+trains were to march, but all the troops that could be
+transported by the cars were to go in that way.  I knew that the
+valley was of such importance to the enemy that, no matter how
+much he was scattered at that time, he would in a very short
+time be found in front of our troops moving south.
+
+I then wrote out General Hunter's instructions. (*39)  I told
+him that Sheridan was in Washington, and still another division
+was on its way; and suggested that he establish the headquarters
+of the department at any point that would suit him best,
+Cumberland, Baltimore, or elsewhere, and give Sheridan command
+of the troops in the field.  The general replied to this, that
+he thought he had better be relieved entirely.  He said that
+General Halleck seemed so much to distrust his fitness for the
+position he was in that he thought somebody else ought to be
+there.  He did not want, in any way, to embarrass the cause;
+thus showing a patriotism that was none too common in the
+army.  There were not many major-generals who would voluntarily
+have asked to have the command of a department taken from them
+on the supposition that for some particular reason, or for any
+reason, the service would be better performed.  I told him,
+"very well then," and telegraphed at once for Sheridan to come
+to the Monocacy, and suggested that I would wait and meet him
+there.
+
+Sheridan came at once by special train, but reached there after
+the troops were all off.  I went to the station and remained
+there until he arrived.  Myself and one or two of my staff were
+about all the Union people, except General Hunter and his staff,
+who were left at the Monocacy when Sheridan arrived.  I hastily
+told Sheridan what had been done and what I wanted him to do,
+giving him, at the same time, the written instructions which had
+been prepared for General Hunter and directed to that officer.
+
+Sheridan now had about 30,000 men to move with, 8,000 of them
+being cavalry.  Early had about the same number, but the
+superior ability of the National commander over the Confederate
+commander was so great that all the latter's advantage of being
+on the defensive was more than counterbalanced by this
+circumstance.  As I had predicted, Early was soon found in front
+of Sheridan in the valley, and Pennsylvania and Maryland were
+speedily freed from the invaders.  The importance of the valley
+was so great to the Confederates that Lee reinforced Early, but
+not to the extent that we thought and feared he would.
+
+To prevent as much as possible these reinforcements from being
+sent out from Richmond, I had to do something to compel Lee to
+retain his forces about his capital.  I therefore gave orders
+for another move to the north side of the James River, to
+threaten Richmond.  Hancock's corps, part of the 10th corps
+under Birney, and Gregg's division of cavalry were crossed to
+the north side of the James during the night of the 13th-14th of
+August.  A threatening position was maintained for a number of
+days, with more or less skirmishing, and some tolerably hard
+fighting; although it was my object and my instructions that
+anything like a battle should be avoided, unless opportunities
+should present themselves which would insure great success.
+General Meade was left in command of the few troops around
+Petersburg, strongly intrenched; and was instructed to keep a
+close watch upon the enemy in that quarter, and himself to take
+advantage of any weakening that might occur through an effort on
+the part of the enemy to reinforce the north side.  There was no
+particular victory gained on either side; but during that time
+no more reinforcements were sent to the valley.
+
+I informed Sheridan of what had been done to prevent
+reinforcements being sent from Richmond against him, and also
+that the efforts we had made had proven that one of the
+divisions which we supposed had gone to the valley was still at
+Richmond, because we had captured six or seven hundred prisoners
+from that division, each of its four brigades having contributed
+to our list of captures.  I also informed him that but one
+division had gone, and it was possible that I should be able to
+prevent the going of any more.
+
+To add to my embarrassment at this time Sherman, who was now
+near Atlanta, wanted reinforcements.  He was perfectly willing
+to take the raw troops then being raised in the North-west,
+saying that he could teach them more soldiering in one day among
+his troops than they would learn in a week in a camp of
+instruction.  I therefore asked that all troops in camps of
+instruction in the North-west be sent to him.  Sherman also
+wanted to be assured that no Eastern troops were moving out
+against him.  I informed him of what I had done and assured him
+that I would hold all the troops there that it was possible for
+me to hold, and that up to that time none had gone.  I also
+informed him that his real danger was from Kirby Smith, who
+commanded the trans-Mississippi Department.  If Smith should
+escape Steele, and get across the Mississippi River, he might
+move against him.  I had, therefore, asked to have an expedition
+ready to move from New Orleans against Mobile in case Kirby Smith
+should get across.  This would have a tendency to draw him to the
+defence of that place, instead of going against Sherman.
+
+Right in the midst of all these embarrassments Halleck informed
+me that there was an organized scheme on foot in the North to
+resist the draft, and suggested that it might become necessary
+to draw troops from the field to put it down.  He also advised
+taking in sail, and not going too fast.
+
+The troops were withdrawn from the north side of the James River
+on the night of the 20th.  Before they were withdrawn, however,
+and while most of Lee's force was on that side of the river,
+Warren had been sent with most of the 5th corps to capture the
+Weldon Railroad.  He took up his line of march well back to the
+rear, south of the enemy, while the troops remaining in the
+trenches extended so as to cover that part of the line which he
+had vacated by moving out.  From our left, near the old line, it
+was about three miles to the Weldon Railroad.  A division was
+ordered from the right of the Petersburg line to reinforce
+Warren, while a division was brought back from the north side of
+the James River to take its place.
+
+This road was very important to the enemy.  The limits from
+which his supplies had been drawn were already very much
+contracted, and I knew that he must fight desperately to protect
+it.  Warren carried the road, though with heavy loss on both
+sides.  He fortified his new position, and our trenches were
+then extended from the left of our main line to connect with his
+new one.  Lee made repeated attempts to dislodge Warren's corps,
+but without success, and with heavy loss.
+
+As soon as Warren was fortified and reinforcements reached him,
+troops were sent south to destroy the bridges on the Weldon
+Railroad; and with such success that the enemy had to draw in
+wagons, for a distance of about thirty miles, all the supplies
+they got thereafter from that source.  It was on the 21st that
+Lee seemed to have given up the Weldon Railroad as having been
+lost to him; but along about the 24th or 25th he made renewed
+attempts to recapture it; again he failed and with very heavy
+losses to him as compared with ours.
+
+On the night of the 20th our troops on the north side of the
+James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg were sent south to
+destroy the Weldon Railroad.  They were attacked on the 25th at
+Reams's Station, and after desperate fighting a part of our line
+gave way, losing five pieces of artillery.  But the Weldon
+Railroad never went out of our possession from the 18th of
+August to the close of the war.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LVIII.
+
+SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE--VISIT TO SHERIDAN--SHERIDAN'S VICTORY IN THE
+SHENANDOAH--SHERIDAN'S RIDE TO WINCHESTER--CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN
+FOR THE WINTER.
+
+We had our troops on the Weldon Railroad contending against a
+large force that regarded this road of so much importance that
+they could afford to expend many lives in retaking it; Sherman
+just getting through to Atlanta with great losses of men from
+casualties, discharges and detachments left along as guards to
+occupy and hold the road in rear of him; Washington threatened
+but a short time before, and now Early being strengthened in the
+valley so as, probably, to renew that attempt.  It kept me pretty
+active in looking after all these points.
+
+On the 10th of August Sheridan had advanced on Early up the
+Shenandoah Valley, Early falling back to Strasburg.  On the 12th
+I learned that Lee had sent twenty pieces of artillery, two
+divisions of infantry and a considerable cavalry force to
+strengthen Early.  It was important that Sheridan should be
+informed of this, so I sent the information to Washington by
+telegraph, and directed a courier to be sent from there to get
+the message to Sheridan at all hazards, giving him the
+information.  The messenger, an officer of the army, pushed
+through with great energy and reached Sheridan just in time. The
+officer went through by way of Snicker's Gap, escorted by some
+cavalry.  He found Sheridan just making his preparations to
+attack Early in his chosen position.  Now, however, he was
+thrown back on the defensive.
+
+On the 15th of September I started to visit General Sheridan in
+the Shenandoah Valley.  My purpose was to have him attack Early,
+or drive him out of the valley and destroy that source of
+supplies for Lee's army.  I knew it was impossible for me to get
+orders through Washington to Sheridan to make a move, because
+they would be stopped there and such orders as Halleck's caution
+(and that of the Secretary of War) would suggest would be given
+instead, and would, no doubt, be contradictory to mine.  I
+therefore, without stopping at Washington, went directly through
+to Charlestown, some ten miles above Harper's Ferry, and waited
+there to see General Sheridan, having sent a courier in advance
+to inform him where to meet me.
+
+When Sheridan arrived I asked him if he had a map showing the
+positions of his army and that of the enemy.  He at once drew
+one out of his side pocket, showing all roads and streams, and
+the camps of the two armies.  He said that if he had permission
+he would move so and so (pointing out how) against the
+Confederates, and that he could "whip them."  Before starting I
+had drawn up a plan of campaign for Sheridan, which I had
+brought with me; but, seeing that he was so clear and so
+positive in his views and so confident of success, I said
+nothing about this and did not take it out of my pocket.
+
+Sheridan's wagon trains were kept at Harper's Ferry, where all
+of his stores were.  By keeping the teams at that place, their
+forage did not have to be hauled to them.  As supplies of
+ammunition, provisions and rations for the men were wanted,
+trains would be made up to deliver the stores to the
+commissaries and quartermasters encamped at Winchester.  Knowing
+that he, in making preparations to move at a given day, would
+have to bring up wagons trains from Harper's Ferry, I asked him
+if he could be ready to get off by the following Tuesday.  This
+was on Friday.  "O Yes," he said, he "could be off before
+daylight on Monday."  I told him then to make the attack at that
+time and according to his own plan; and I immediately started to
+return to the army about Richmond.  After visiting Baltimore and
+Burlington, New Jersey, I arrived at City Point on the 19th.
+
+On the way out to Harper's Ferry I had met Mr. Robert Garrett,
+President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  He seemed very
+anxious to know when workmen might be put upon the road again so
+as to make repairs and put it in shape for running.  It was a
+large piece of property to have standing idle.  I told him I
+could not answer then positively but would try and inform him
+before a great while.  On my return Mr. Garrett met me again with
+the same and I told him I thought that by the Wednesday he might
+send his workmen out on his road.  I gave him no further
+information however, and he had no suspicion of how I expected
+to have the road cleared for his workmen.
+
+Sheridan moved at the time he had fixed upon.  He met Early at the
+crossing of Opequon Creek, a most decisive victory--one which
+the country.  Early had invited this attack himself by his bad
+generalship and made the victory easy.  He had sent G. T.
+Anderson's division east of the Blue Ridge before I went to Harper's
+Ferry; and about the time I arrived there he started other
+divisions (leaving but two in their camps) to march to
+Martinsburg for the purpose destroying the Baltimore and Ohio
+Railroad at that point.  Early here learned that I had been with
+Sheridan and, supposing there was some movement on foot, started
+back as soon as he got the information.  But his forces were
+separated and, as I have said, he was very badly defeated.  He
+fell back to Fisher's Hill, Sheridan following.
+
+The valley is narrow at that point, and Early made another stand
+there, behind works which extended across.  But Sheridan turned
+both his flanks and again sent him speeding up the valley,
+following in hot pursuit.  The pursuit was continued up the
+valley to Mount Jackson and New Market.  Sheridan captured about
+eleven hundred prisoners and sixteen guns.  The houses which he
+passed all along the route were found to be filled with Early's
+wounded, and the country swarmed with his deserters.  Finally,
+on the 25th, Early turned from the valley eastward, leaving
+Sheridan at Harrisonburg in undisputed possession.
+
+Now one of the main objects of the expedition began to be
+accomplished.  Sheridan went to work with his command, gathering
+in the crops, cattle, and everything in the upper part of the
+valley required by our troops; and especially taking what might
+be of use to the enemy.  What he could not take away he
+destroyed, so that the enemy would not be invited to come back
+there.  I congratulated Sheridan upon his recent great victory
+and had a salute of a hundred guns fired in honor of it, the
+guns being aimed at the enemy around Petersburg.  I also
+notified the other commanders throughout the country, who also
+fired salutes in honor of his victory.
+
+I had reason to believe that the administration was a little
+afraid to have a decisive battle at that time, for fear it might
+go against us and have a bad effect on the November elections.
+The convention which had met and made its nomination of the
+Democratic candidate for the presidency had declared the war a
+failure.  Treason was talked as boldly in Chicago at that
+convention as ever been in Charleston.  It was a question
+whether the government would then have had the power to make
+arrests and punish those who talked treason.  But this decisive
+victory was the most effective campaign argument made in the
+canvass.
+
+Sheridan, in his pursuit, got beyond where they could hear from
+him in Washington, and the President became very much frightened
+about him.  He was afraid that the hot pursuit had been a little
+like that of General Cass was said to have been, in one of our
+Indian wars, when he was an officer of army.  Cass was pursuing
+the Indians so closely that the first thing he knew he found
+himself in front, and the Indians pursuing him.  The President
+was afraid that Sheridan had got on the other side of Early and
+that Early was in behind him.  He was afraid that Sheridan was
+getting so far away that reinforcements would be sent out from
+Richmond to enable Early to beat him.  I replied to the
+President that I had taken steps to prevent Lee from sending
+reinforcements to Early, by attacking the former where he was.
+
+On the 28th of September, to retain Lee in his position, I sent
+Ord with the 18th corps and Birney with the 10th corps to make
+an advance on Richmond, to threaten it.  Ord moved with the left
+wing up to Chaffin's Bluff; Birney with the 10th corps took a
+road farther north; while Kautz with the cavalry took the Darby
+road, still farther to the north.  They got across the river by
+the next morning, and made an effort to surprise the enemy.  In
+that, however, they were unsuccessful.
+
+The enemy's lines were very strong and very intricate.
+Stannard's division of the 18th corps with General Burnham's
+brigade leading, tried an assault against Fort Harrison and
+captured it with sixteen guns and a good many prisoners. Burnham
+was killed in the assault.  Colonel Stevens who succeeded him was
+badly wounded; and his successor also fell in the same way.  Some
+works to the right and left were also carried with the guns in
+them--six in number--and a few more prisoners.  Birney's troops
+to the right captured the enemy's intrenched picket-lines, but
+were unsuccessful in their efforts upon the main line.
+
+Our troops fortified their new position, bringing Fort Harrison
+into the new line and extending it to the river.  This brought
+us pretty close to the enemy on the north side of the James, and
+the two opposing lines maintained their relative positions to the
+close of the siege.
+
+In the afternoon a further attempt was made to advance, but it
+failed.  Ord fell badly wounded, and had to be relieved; the
+command devolved upon General Heckman, and later General Weitzel
+was assigned to the command of the 18th corps.  During the night
+Lee reinforced his troops about Fort Gilmer, which was at the
+right of Fort Harrison, by eight additional brigades from
+Petersburg, and attempted to retake the works which we had
+captured by concentrating ten brigades against them.  All their
+efforts failed, their attacks being all repulsed with very heavy
+loss.  In one of these assaults upon us General Stannard, a
+gallant officer who was defending Fort Harrison, lost an arm.
+Our casualties during these operations amounted to 394 killed,
+I,554 wounded and 324 missing.
+
+Whilst this was going on General Meade was instructed to keep up
+an appearance of moving troops to our extreme left.  Parke and
+Warren were kept with two divisions, each under arms, ready to
+move leaving their enclosed batteries manned, with a scattering
+line on the other intrenchments.  The object of this was to
+prevent reinforcements from going to the north side of the
+river.  Meade was instructed to watch the enemy closely and, if
+Lee weakened his lines, to make an attack.
+
+On the 30th these troops moved out, under Warren, and captured
+an advanced intrenched camp at Peeble's farm, driving the enemy
+back to the main line.  Our troops followed and made an attack
+in the hope of carrying the enemy's main line; but in this they
+were unsuccessful and lost a large number of men, mostly
+captured.  The number of killed and wounded was not large.  The
+next day our troops advanced again and established themselves,
+intrenching a new line about a mile in front of the enemy.  This
+advanced Warren's position on the Weldon Railroad very
+considerably.
+
+Sheridan having driven the enemy out of the valley, and taken
+the productions of the valley so that instead of going there for
+supplies the enemy would have to bring his provisions with him if
+he again entered it, recommended a reduction of his own force,
+the surplus to be sent where it could be of more use.  I
+approved of his suggestion, and ordered him to send Wright's
+corps back to the James River.  I further directed him to repair
+the railroad up the Shenandoah Valley towards the advanced
+position which we would hold with a small force.  The troops
+were to be sent to Washington by the way of Culpeper, in order
+to watch the east side of the Blue Ridge, and prevent the enemy
+from getting into the rear of Sheridan while he was still doing
+his work of destruction.
+
+The valley was so very important, however, to the Confederate
+army that, contrary to our expectations, they determined to make
+one more strike, and save it if possible before the supplies
+should be all destroyed.  Reinforcements were sent therefore to
+Early, and this before any of our troops had been withdrawn.
+Early prepared to strike Sheridan at Harrisonburg; but the
+latter had not remained there.
+
+On the 6th of October Sheridan commenced retiring down the
+valley, taking or destroying all the food and forage and driving
+the cattle before him, Early following.  At Fisher's Hill
+Sheridan turned his cavalry back on that of Early, which, under
+the lead of Rosser, was pursuing closely, and routed it most
+completely, capturing eleven guns and a large number of
+prisoners.  Sheridan lost only about sixty men.  His cavalry
+pursued the enemy back some twenty-five miles.  On the 10th of
+October the march down the valley was again resumed, Early again
+following.
+
+I now ordered Sheridan to halt, and to improve the opportunity
+if afforded by the enemy's having been sufficiently weakened, to
+move back again and cut the James River Canal and Virginia
+Central Railroad.  But this order had to go through Washington
+where it was intercepted; and when Sheridan received what
+purported to be a statement of what I wanted him to do it was
+something entirely different.  Halleck informed Sheridan that it
+was my wish for him to hold a forward position as a base from
+which to act against Charlottesville and Gordonsville; that he
+should fortify this position and provision it.
+
+Sheridan objected to this most decidedly; and I was impelled to
+telegraph him, on the 14th, as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+October 14, 1864.--12.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN,
+Cedar Creek, Va.
+
+What I want is for you to threaten the Virginia Central Railroad
+and canal in the manner your judgment tells you is best, holding
+yourself ready to advance, if the enemy draw off their forces.
+If you make the enemy hold a force equal to your own for the
+protection of those thoroughfares, it will accomplish nearly as
+much as their destruction.  If you cannot do this, then the next
+best thing to do is to send here all the force you can.  I deem a
+good cavalry force necessary for your offensive, as well as
+defensive operations.  You need not therefore send here more
+than one division of cavalry.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sheridan having been summoned to Washington City, started on the
+15th leaving Wright in command.  His army was then at Cedar
+Creek, some twenty miles south of Winchester.  The next morning
+while at Front Royal, Sheridan received a dispatch from Wright,
+saying that a dispatch from Longstreet to Early had been
+intercepted.  It directed the latter to be ready to move and to
+crush Sheridan as soon as he, Longstreet, arrived.  On the
+receipt of this news Sheridan ordered the cavalry up the valley
+to join Wright.
+
+On the 18th of October Early was ready to move, and during the
+night succeeded in getting his troops in the rear of our left
+flank, which fled precipitately and in great confusion down the
+valley, losing eighteen pieces of artillery and a thousand or
+more prisoners.  The right under General Getty maintained a firm
+and steady front, falling back to Middletown where it took a
+position and made a stand.  The cavalry went to the rear, seized
+the roads leading to Winchester and held them for the use of our
+troops in falling back, General Wright having ordered a retreat
+back to that place.
+
+Sheridan having left Washington on the 18th, reached Winchester
+that night.  The following morning he started to join his
+command.  He had scarcely got out of town, when he met his men
+returning in panic from the front and also heard heavy firing to
+the south.  He immediately ordered the cavalry at Winchester to
+be deployed across the valley to stop the stragglers.  Leaving
+members of his staff to take care of Winchester and the public
+property there, he set out with a small escort directly for the
+scene of battle.  As he met the fugitives he ordered them to
+turn back, reminding them that they were going the wrong way.
+His presence soon restored confidence.  Finding themselves worse
+frightened than hurt the men did halt and turn back.  Many of
+those who had run ten miles got back in time to redeem their
+reputation as gallant soldiers before night.
+
+When Sheridan got to the front he found Getty and Custer still
+holding their ground firmly between the Confederates and our
+retreating troops.  Everything in the rear was now ordered up.
+Sheridan at once proceeded to intrench his position; and he
+awaited an assault from the enemy.  This was made with vigor,
+and was directed principally against Emory's corps, which had
+sustained the principal loss in the first attack.  By one
+o'clock the attack was repulsed.  Early was so badly damaged
+that he seemed disinclined to make another attack, but went to
+work to intrench himself with a view to holding the position he
+had already gained.  He thought, no doubt, that Sheridan would
+be glad enough to leave him unmolested; but in this he was
+mistaken.
+
+About the middle of the afternoon Sheridan advanced.  He sent
+his cavalry by both flanks, and they penetrated to the enemy's
+rear.  The contest was close for a time, but at length the left
+of the enemy broke, and disintegration along the whole line soon
+followed.  Early tried to rally his men, but they were followed
+so closely that they had to give way very quickly every time
+they attempted to make a stand.  Our cavalry, having pushed on
+and got in the rear of the Confederates, captured twenty-four
+pieces of artillery, besides retaking what had been lost in the
+morning.  This victory pretty much closed the campaigning in the
+Valley of Virginia.  All the Confederate troops were sent back to
+Richmond with the exception of one division of infantry and a
+little cavalry.  Wright's corps was ordered back to the Army of
+the Potomac, and two other divisions were withdrawn from the
+valley.  Early had lost more men in killed, wounded and captured
+in the valley than Sheridan had commanded from first to last.
+
+On more than one occasion in these engagements General R. B.
+Hayes, who succeeded me as President of the United States, bore
+a very honorable part.  His conduct on the field was marked by
+conspicuous gallantry as well as the display of qualities of a
+higher order than that of mere personal daring.  This might well
+have been expected of one who could write at the time he is said
+to have done so:  "Any officer fit for duty who at this crisis
+would abandon his post to electioneer for a seat in Congress,
+ought to be scalped."  Having entered the army as a Major of
+Volunteers at the beginning of the war, General Hayes attained
+by meritorious service the rank of Brevet Major-General before
+its close.
+
+On the north side of the James River the enemy attacked Kautz's
+cavalry on the 7th of October, and drove it back with heavy loss
+in killed, wounded and prisoners, and the loss of all the
+artillery.  This was followed up by an attack on our intrenched
+infantry line, but was repulsed with severe slaughter.  On the
+13th a reconnoissance was sent out by General Butler, with a
+view to drive the enemy from some new works he was constructing,
+which resulted in heavy loss to us.
+
+On the 24th I ordered General Meade to attempt to get possession
+of the South Side Railroad, and for that purpose to advance on
+the 27th.  The attempt proved a failure, however, the most
+advanced of our troops not getting nearer than within six miles
+of the point aimed for.  Seeing the impossibility of its
+accomplishment I ordered the troops to withdraw, and they were
+all back in their former positions the next day.
+
+Butler, by my directions, also made a demonstration on the north
+side of the James River in order to support this move, by
+detaining there the Confederate troops who were on that side. He
+succeeded in this, but failed of further results by not marching
+past the enemy's left before turning in on the Darby road and by
+reason of simply coming up against their lines in place.
+
+This closed active operations around Richmond for the winter. Of
+course there was frequent skirmishing between pickets, but no
+serious battle was fought near either Petersburg or Richmond.
+It would prolong this work to give a detailed account of all
+that took place from day to day around Petersburg and at other
+parts of my command, and it would not interest the general
+reader if given.  All these details can be found by the military
+student in a series of books published by the Scribners, Badeau's
+history of my campaigns, and also in the publications of the War
+Department, including both the National and Confederate reports.
+
+In the latter part of November General Hancock was relieved from
+the command of the 2d corps by the Secretary of War and ordered
+to Washington, to organize and command a corps of veteran troops
+to be designated the 1st corps.  It was expected that this would
+give him a large command to co-operate with in the spring.  It
+was my expectation, at the time, that in the final operations
+Hancock should move either up the valley, or else east of the
+Blue Ridge to Lynchburg; the idea being to make the spring
+campaign the close of the war.  I expected, with Sherman coming
+up from the South, Meade south of Petersburg and around
+Richmond, and Thomas's command in Tennessee with depots of
+supplies established in the eastern part of that State, to move
+from the direction of Washington or the valley towards
+Lynchburg.  We would then have Lee so surrounded that his
+supplies would be cut off entirely, making it impossible for him
+to support his army.
+
+General Humphreys, chief-of-staff of the Army of the Potomac,
+was assigned to the command of the 2d corps, to succeed Hancock.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LIX.
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA--SHERMAN'S MARCH TO THE SEA--WAR
+ANECDOTES--THE MARCH ON SAVANNAH--INVESTMENT OF
+SAVANNAH--CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
+
+Let us now return to the operations in the military division of
+the Mississippi, and accompany Sherman in his march to the sea.
+
+The possession of Atlanta by us narrowed the territory of the
+enemy very materially and cut off one of his two remaining lines
+of roads from east to west.
+
+A short time after the fall of Atlanta Mr. Davis visited
+Palmetto and Macon and made speeches at each place.  He spoke at
+Palmetto on the 20th of September, and at Macon on the 22d.
+Inasmuch as he had relieved Johnston and appointed Hood, and
+Hood had immediately taken the initiative, it is natural to
+suppose that Mr. Davis was disappointed with General Johnston's
+policy.  My own judgment is that Johnston acted very wisely:  he
+husbanded his men and saved as much of his territory as he could,
+without fighting decisive battles in which all might be lost.  As
+Sherman advanced, as I have show, his army became spread out,
+until, if this had been continued, it would have been easy to
+destroy it in detail.  I know that both Sherman and I were
+rejoiced when we heard of the change.  Hood was unquestionably a
+brave, gallant soldier and not destitute of ability; but
+unfortunately his policy was to fight the enemy wherever he saw
+him, without thinking much of the consequences of defeat.
+
+In his speeches Mr. Davis denounced Governor Brown, of Georgia,
+and General Johnston in unmeasured terms, even insinuating that
+their loyalty to the Southern cause was doubtful.  So far as
+General Johnston is concerned, I think Davis did him a great
+injustice in this particular.  I had know the general before the
+war and strongly believed it would be impossible for him to
+accept a high commission for the purpose of betraying the cause
+he had espoused.  There, as I have said, I think that his policy
+was the best one that could have been pursued by the whole
+South--protract the war, which was all that was necessary to
+enable them to gain recognition in the end.  The North was
+already growing weary, as the South evidently was also, but with
+this difference.  In the North the people governed, and could
+stop hostilities whenever they chose to stop supplies.  The
+South was a military camp, controlled absolutely by the
+government with soldiers to back it, and the war could have been
+protracted, no matter to what extent the discontent reached, up
+to the point of open mutiny of the soldiers themselves.  Mr.
+Davis's speeches were frank appeals to the people of Georgia and
+that portion of the South to come to their relief.  He tried to
+assure his frightened hearers that the Yankees were rapidly
+digging their own graves; that measures were already being taken
+to cut them off from supplies from the North; and that with a
+force in front, and cut off from the rear, they must soon starve
+in the midst of a hostile people.  Papers containing reports of
+these speeches immediately reached the Northern States, and they
+were republished.  Of course, that caused no alarm so long as
+telegraphic communication was kept up with Sherman.
+
+When Hood was forced to retreat from Atlanta he moved to the
+south-west and was followed by a portion of Sherman's army.  He
+soon appeared upon the railroad in Sherman's rear, and with his
+whole army began destroying the road.  At the same time also the
+work was begun in Tennessee and Kentucky which Mr. Davis had
+assured his hearers at Palmetto and Macon would take place.  He
+ordered Forrest (about the ablest cavalry general in the South)
+north for this purpose; and Forrest and Wheeler carried out
+their orders with more or less destruction, occasionally picking
+up a garrison.  Forrest indeed performed the very remarkable feat
+of capturing, with cavalry, two gunboats and a number of
+transports, something the accomplishment of which is very hard
+to account for.  Hood's army had been weakened by Governor
+Brown's withdrawing the Georgia State troops for the purpose of
+gathering in the season's crops for the use of the people and
+for the use of the army.  This not only depleted Hood's forces
+but it served a most excellent purpose in gathering in supplies
+of food and forage for the use of our army in its subsequent
+march.  Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go
+himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was
+clearly demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it
+would be impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave
+him any force whatever with which to take the offensive.  Had
+that plan been adhered to, very large reinforcements would have
+been necessary; and Mr. Davis's prediction of the destruction of
+the army would have been realized, or else Sherman would have
+been obliged to make a successful retreat, which Mr. Davis said
+in his speeches would prove more disastrous than Napoleon's
+retreat from Moscow.
+
+These speeches of Mr. Davis were not long in reaching Sherman.
+He took advantage of the information they gave, and made all the
+preparation possible for him to make to meet what now became
+expected, attempts to break his communications.  Something else
+had to be done:  and to Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind
+the idea was not long in dawning upon him, not only that
+something else had to be done, but what that something else
+should be.
+
+On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 10, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN,
+Atlanta, Georgia.
+
+So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations
+can be made, it is desirable that another campaign should be
+commenced.  We want to keep the enemy constantly pressed to the
+end of the war.  If we give him no peace whilst the war lasts,
+the end cannot be distant.  Now that we have all of Mobile Bay
+that is valuable, I do not know but it will be the best move to
+transfer Canby's troops to act upon Savannah, whilst you move on
+Augusta. I should like to hear from you, however, in this matter.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Sherman replied promptly:
+
+"If I could be sure of finding provisions and ammunition at
+Augusta, or Columbus, Georgia, I can march to Milledgeville, and
+compel Hood to give up Augusta or Macon, and then turn on the
+other.  * * * If you can manage to take the Savannah River as
+high up as Augusta, or the Chattahoochee as far up as Columbus,
+I can sweep the whole State of Georgia."
+
+On the 12th I sent a special messenger, one of my own staff,
+with a letter inviting Sherman's views about the next campaign.
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Sept. 12, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Division of the Mississippi.
+
+I send Lieutenant-Colonel Porter, of my staff, with this.
+Colonel Porter will explain to you the exact condition of
+affairs here better than I can do in the limits of a letter.
+Although I feel myself strong enough for offensive operations, I
+am holding on quietly to get advantage of recruits and
+convalescents, who are coming forward very rapidly.  My lines
+are necessarily very long, extending from Deep Bottom north of
+the James across the peninsula formed by the Appomattox and the
+James, and south of the Appomattox to the Weldon Road.  This
+line is very strongly fortified, and can be held with
+comparatively few men, but from its great length takes many in
+the aggregate.  I propose, when I do move, to extend my left so
+as to control what is known as the South Side, or Lynchburg and
+Petersburg Road, then if possible to keep the Danville Road
+cut.  At the same time this move is made, I want to send a force
+of from six to ten thousand men against Wilmington.
+
+The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort
+Fisher, and hold that point.  At the same time a large naval
+fleet will be assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the
+batteries as they did at Mobile.  This will give us the same
+control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now have of the
+harbor of Mobile. What you are to do with the forces at your
+command, I do not see. The difficulties of supplying your army,
+except when you are constantly moving, beyond where you are, I
+plainly see.  If it had not been for Price's movements Canby
+would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile.  From your
+command on the Mississippi an equal number could have been
+taken.  With these forces my idea would have been to divide
+them, sending one half to Mobile and the other half to
+Savannah.  You could then move as proposed in your telegram, so
+as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally.  Whichever was
+abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new base of
+supplies.  My object now in sending a staff officer is not so
+much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and
+have plans matured by the time everything can be got ready.  It
+will probably be the 5th of October before any of the plans
+herein indicated will be executed.
+
+If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward
+and I will approve them. * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+This reached Sherman on September 20th.
+
+On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that
+Hood's troops were in his rear.  He had provided against this by
+sending a division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome,
+Georgia, which was in the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood
+would fall back in the direction from which he had come to reach
+the railroad.  At the same time Sherman and Hood kept up a
+correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners, the
+treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged
+between hostile commanders in the field.  On the 27th of
+September I telegraphed Sherman as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+September 27, 1864--10.30 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN:
+
+I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western
+States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders
+from you.  * * *
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and
+afterwards to Nashville, with another division (Morgan's) of the
+advanced army.  Sherman then suggested that, when he was
+prepared, his movements should take place against Milledgeville
+and then to Savannah.  His expectation at that time was, to make
+this movement as soon as he could get up his supplies.  Hood was
+moving in his own country, and was moving light so that he could
+make two miles to Sherman's one.  He depended upon the country to
+gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays.
+
+As I have said, until this unexpected state of affairs happened,
+Mobile had been looked upon as the objective point of Sherman's
+army.  It had been a favorite move of mine from 1862, when I
+first suggested to the then commander-in-chief that the troops
+in Louisiana, instead of frittering away their time in the
+trans- Mississippi, should move against Mobile.  I recommended
+this from time to time until I came into command of the army,
+the last of March 1864.  Having the power in my own hands, I now
+ordered the concentration of supplies, stores and troops, in the
+department of the Gulf about New Orleans, with a view to a move
+against Mobile, in support of, and in conjunction with, the
+other armies operating in the field.  Before I came into
+command, these troops had been scattered over the
+trans-Mississippi department in such a way that they could not
+be, or were not, gotten back in time to take any part in the
+original movement; hence the consideration, which had caused
+Mobile to be selected as the objective point for Sherman's army
+to find his next base of supplies after having cut loose from
+Atlanta, no longer existed.
+
+General G. M. Dodge, an exceedingly efficient officer, having
+been badly wounded, had to leave the army about the first of
+October. He was in command of two divisions of the 16th corps,
+consolidated into one.  Sherman then divided his army into the
+right and left wings the right commanded by General O. O. Howard
+and the left by General Slocum.  General Dodge's two divisions
+were assigned, one to each of these wings.  Howard's command
+embraced the 15th and 17th corps, and Slocum's the 14th and 20th
+corps, commanded by Generals Jeff. C. Davis and A. S. Williams.
+Generals Logan and Blair commanded the two corps composing the
+right wing.  About this time they left to take part in the
+presidential election, which took place that year, leaving their
+corps to Osterhaus and Ransom.  I have no doubt that their
+leaving was at the earnest solicitation of the War Department.
+General Blair got back in time to resume his command and to
+proceed with it throughout the march to the sea and back to the
+grand review at Washington.  General Logan did not return to his
+command until after it reached Savannah.
+
+Logan felt very much aggrieved at the transfer of General Howard
+from that portion of the Army of the Potomac which was then with
+the Western Army, to the command of the Army of the Tennessee,
+with which army General Logan had served from the battle of
+Belmont to the fall of Atlanta--having passed successively
+through all grades from colonel commanding a regiment to general
+commanding a brigade, division and army corps, until upon the
+death of McPherson the command of the entire Army of the
+Tennessee devolved upon him in the midst of a hotly contested
+battle.  He conceived that he had done his full duty as
+commander in that engagement; and I can bear testimony, from
+personal observation, that he had proved himself fully equal to
+all the lower positions which he had occupied as a soldier.  I
+will not pretend to question the motive which actuated Sherman
+in taking an officer from another army to supersede General
+Logan.  I have no doubt, whatever, that he did this for what he
+considered would be to the good of the service, which was more
+important than that the personal feelings of any individual
+should not be aggrieved; though I doubt whether he had an
+officer with him who could have filled the place as Logan would
+have done.  Differences of opinion must exist between the best
+of friends as to policies in war, and of judgment as to men's
+fitness.  The officer who has the command, however, should be
+allowed to judge of the fitness of the officers under him,
+unless he is very manifestly wrong.
+
+Sherman's army, after all the depletions, numbered about sixty
+thousand effective men.  All weak men had been left to hold the
+rear, and those remaining were not only well men, but strong and
+hardy, so that he had sixty thousand as good soldiers as ever
+trod the earth; better than any European soldiers, because they
+not only worked like a machine but the machine thought.
+European armies know very little what they are fighting for, and
+care less. Included in these sixty thousand troops, there were
+two small divisions of cavalry, numbering altogether about four
+thousand men.  Hood had about thirty-five to forty thousand men,
+independent of Forrest, whose forces were operating in Tennessee
+and Kentucky, as Mr. Davis had promised they should.  This part
+of Mr. Davis's military plan was admirable, and promised the
+best results of anything he could have done, according to my
+judgment. I say this because I have criticised his military
+judgment in the removal of Johnston, and also in the appointment
+of Hood.  I am aware, however, that there was high feeling
+existing at that time between Davis and his subordinate, whom I
+regarded as one of his ablest lieutenants.
+
+On the 5th of October the railroad back from Atlanta was again
+very badly broken, Hood having got on the track with his army.
+Sherman saw after night, from a high point, the road burning for
+miles.  The defence of the railroad by our troops was very
+gallant, but they could not hold points between their intrenched
+positions against Hood's whole army; in fact they made no attempt
+to do so; but generally the intrenched positions were held, as
+well as important bridges, and store located at them.
+Allatoona, for instance, was defended by a small force of men
+under the command of General Corse, one of the very able and
+efficient volunteer officers produced by the war.  He, with a
+small force, was cut off from the remainder of the National army
+and was attacked with great vigor by many times his own number.
+Sherman from his high position could see the battle raging, with
+the Confederate troops between him and his subordinate.  He sent
+men, of course, to raise the temporary siege, but the time that
+would be necessarily consumed in reaching Corse, would be so
+great that all occupying the intrenchments might be dead.  Corse
+was a man who would never surrender.  From a high position some
+of Sherman's signal corps discovered a signal flag waving from a
+hole in the block house at Allatoona.  It was from Corse.  He had
+been shot through the face, but he signalled to his chief a
+message which left no doubt of his determination to hold his
+post at all hazards.  It was at this point probably, that
+Sherman first realized that with the forces at his disposal, the
+keeping open of his line of communication with the North would be
+impossible if he expected to retain any force with which to
+operate offensively beyond Atlanta.  He proposed, therefore, to
+destroy the roads back to Chattanooga, when all ready to move,
+and leave the latter place garrisoned.  Yet, before abandoning
+the railroad, it was necessary that he should repair damages
+already done, and hold the road until he could get forward such
+supplies, ordnance stores and small rations, as he wanted to
+carry with him on his proposed march, and to return to the north
+his surplus artillery; his object being to move light and to have
+no more artillery than could be used to advantage on the field.
+
+Sherman thought Hood would follow him, though he proposed to
+prepare for the contingency of the latter moving the other way
+while he was moving south, by making Thomas strong enough to
+hold Tennessee and Kentucky.  I, myself, was thoroughly
+satisfied that Hood would go north, as he did.  On the 2d of
+November I telegraphed Sherman authorizing him definitely to
+move according to the plan he had proposed:  that is, cutting
+loose from his base, giving up Atlanta and the railroad back to
+Chattanooga.  To strengthen Thomas he sent Stanley (4th corps)
+back, and also ordered Schofield, commanding the Army of the
+Ohio, twelve thousand strong, to report to him.  In addition to
+this, A. J. Smith, who, with two divisions of Sherman's army,
+was in Missouri aiding Rosecrans in driving the enemy from that
+State, was under orders to return to Thomas and, under the most
+unfavorable circumstances, might be expected to arrive there
+long before Hood could reach Nashville.
+
+In addition to this, the new levies of troops that were being
+raised in the  North-west went to Thomas as rapidly as enrolled
+and equipped.  Thomas, without any of these additions spoken of,
+had a garrison at Chattanooga which had been strengthened by one
+division and garrisons at Bridgeport, Stevenson, Decatur,
+Murfreesboro, and Florence.  There were already with him in
+Nashville ten thousand soldiers in round numbers, and many
+thousands of employees in the quartermaster's and other
+departments who could be put in the intrenchments in front of
+Nashville, for its defence.  Also, Wilson was there with ten
+thousand dismounted cavalrymen, who were being equipped for the
+field.  Thomas had at this time about forty-five thousand men
+without any of the reinforcements here above enumerated.  These
+reinforcements gave him  altogether about seventy thousand men,
+without counting what might be added by the new levies already
+spoken of.
+
+About this time Beauregard arrived upon the field, not to
+supersede Hood in command, but to take general charge over the
+entire district in which Hood and Sherman were, or might be,
+operating.  He made the most frantic appeals to the citizens for
+assistance to be rendered in every way:  by sending
+reinforcements, by destroying supplies on the line of march of
+the invaders, by destroying the bridges over which they would
+have to cross, and by, in every way, obstructing the roads to
+their front. But it was hard to convince the people of the
+propriety of destroying supplies which were so much needed by
+themselves, and each one hoped that his own possessions might
+escape.
+
+Hood soon started north, and went into camp near Decatur,
+Alabama, where he remained until the 29th of October, but
+without making an attack on the garrison of that place.
+
+The Tennessee River was patrolled by gunboats, from Muscle
+Shoals east; and, also, below the second shoals out to the Ohio
+River.  These, with the troops that might be concentrated from
+the garrisons along the river at any point where Hood might
+choose to attempt to cross, made it impossible for him to cross
+the Tennessee at any place where it was navigable.  But Muscle
+Shoals is not navigable, and below them again is another shoal
+which also obstructs navigation.  Hood therefore moved down to a
+point nearly opposite Florence, Alabama, crossed over and
+remained there for some time, collecting supplies of food,
+forage and ammunition. All of these had to come from a
+considerable distance south, because the region in which he was
+then situated was mountainous, with small valleys which produced
+but little, and what they had produced had long since been
+exhausted.  On the 1st of November I suggested to Sherman, and
+also asked his views thereon, the propriety of destroying Hood
+before he started on his campaign.
+
+On the 2d of November, as stated, I approved definitely his
+making his proposed campaign through Georgia, leaving Hood
+behind to the tender mercy of Thomas and the troops in his
+command.  Sherman fixed the 10th of November as the day of
+starting.
+
+Sherman started on that day to get back to Atlanta, and on the
+15th the real march to the sea commenced.  The right wing, under
+Howard, and the cavalry went to Jonesboro, Milledgeville, then
+the capital of Georgia, being Sherman's objective or stopping
+place on the way to Savannah.  The left wing moved to Stone
+Mountain, along roads much farther east than those taken by the
+right wing. Slocum was in command, and threatened Augusta as the
+point to which he was moving, but he was to turn off and meet the
+right wing at Milledgeville.
+
+Atlanta was destroyed so far as to render it worthless for
+military purposes before starting, Sherman himself remaining
+over a day to superintend the work, and see that it was well
+done. Sherman's orders for this campaign were perfect.  Before
+starting, he had sent back all sick, disabled and weak men,
+retaining nothing but the hardy, well-inured soldiers to
+accompany him on his long march in prospect.  His artillery was
+reduced to sixty-five guns. The ammunition carried with them was
+two hundred rounds for musket and gun.  Small rations were taken
+in a small wagon train, which was loaded to its capacity for
+rapid movement.  The army was expected to live on the country,
+and to always keep the wagons full of forage and provisions
+against a possible delay of a few days.
+
+The troops, both of the right and left wings, made most of their
+advance along the line of railroads, which they destroyed.  The
+method adopted to perform this work, was to burn and destroy all
+the bridges and culverts, and for a long distance, at places, to
+tear up the track and bend the rails.  Soldiers to do this
+rapidly would form a line along one side of the road with
+crowbars and poles, place these under the rails and, hoisting
+all at once, turn over many rods of road at one time.  The ties
+would then be placed in piles, and the rails, as they were
+loosened, would be carried and put across these log heaps.  When
+a sufficient number of rails were placed upon a pile of ties it
+would be set on fire.  This would heat the rails very much more
+in the middle, that being over the main part of the fire, than
+at the ends, so that they would naturally bend of their own
+weight; but the soldiers, to increase the damage, would take
+tongs and, one or two men at each end of the rail, carry it with
+force against the nearest tree and twist it around, thus leaving
+rails forming bands to ornament the forest trees of Georgia.
+All this work was going on at the same time, there being a
+sufficient number of men detailed for that purpose. Some piled
+the logs and built the fire; some put the rails upon the fire;
+while others would bend those that were sufficiently heated: so
+that, by the time the last bit of road was torn up, that it was
+designed to destroy at a certain place, the rails previously
+taken up were already destroyed.
+
+The organization for supplying the army was very complete.  Each
+brigade furnished a company to gather supplies of forage and
+provisions for the command to which they belonged.  Strict
+injunctions were issued against pillaging, or otherwise
+unnecessarily annoying the people; but everything in shape of
+food for man and forage for beast was taken.  The supplies were
+turned over to the brigade commissary and quartermaster, and
+were issued by them to their respective commands precisely the
+same as if they had been purchased.  The captures consisted
+largely of cattle, sheep, poultry, some bacon, cornmeal, often
+molasses, and occasionally coffee or other small rations.
+
+The skill of these men, called by themselves and the army
+"bummers," in collecting their loads and getting back to their
+respective commands, was marvellous.  When they started out in
+the morning, they were always on foot; but scarcely one of them
+returned in the evening without being mounted on a horse or
+mule. These would be turned in for the general use of the army,
+and the next day these men would start out afoot and return
+again in the evening mounted.
+
+Many of the exploits of these men would fall under the head of
+romance; indeed, I am afraid that in telling some of their
+experiences, the romance got the better of the truth upon which
+the story was founded, and that, in the way many of these
+anecdotes are told, very little of the foundation is left.  I
+suspect that most of them consist chiefly of the fiction added
+to make the stories better.  In one instance it was reported
+that a few men of Sherman's army passed a house where they
+discovered some chickens under the dwelling.  They immediately
+proceeded to capture them, to add to the army's supplies.  The
+lady of the house, who happened to be at home, made piteous
+appeals to have these spared, saying they were a few she had put
+away to save by permission of other parties who had preceded and
+who had taken all the others that she had.  The soldiers seemed
+moved at her appeal; but looking at the chickens again they were
+tempted and one of them replied:  "The rebellion must be
+suppressed if it takes the last chicken in the Confederacy," and
+proceeded to appropriate the last one.
+
+Another anecdote characteristic of these times has been told.
+The South, prior to the rebellion, kept bloodhounds to pursue
+runaway slaves who took refuge in the neighboring swamps, and
+also to hunt convicts.  Orders were issued to kill all these
+animals as they were met with.  On one occasion a soldier picked
+up a poodle, the favorite pet of its mistress, and was carrying
+it off to execution when the lady made a strong appeal to him to
+spare it. The soldier replied, "Madam, our orders are to kill
+every bloodhound."  "But this is not a bloodhound," said the
+lady.  "Well, madam, we cannot tell what it will grow into if we
+leave it behind," said the soldier as he went off with it.
+
+Notwithstanding these anecdotes, and the necessary hardship they
+would seem to imply, I do not believe there was much
+unwarrantable pillaging considering that we were in the enemy's
+territory and without any supplies except such as the country
+afforded.
+
+On the 23d Sherman, with the left wing, reached Milledgeville.
+The right wing was not far off:  but proceeded on its way
+towards Savannah destroying the road as it went.  The troops at
+Milledgeville remained over a day to destroy factories,
+buildings used for military purposes, etc., before resuming its
+march.
+
+The governor, who had been almost defying Mr. Davis before this,
+now fled precipitately, as did the legislature of the State and
+all the State officers.  The governor, Sherman says, was careful
+to carry away even his garden vegetables, while he left the
+archives of the State to fall into our hands.  The only military
+force that was opposed to Sherman's forward march was the Georgia
+militia, a division under the command of General G. W. Smith, and
+a battalion under Harry Wayne.  Neither the quality of the forces
+nor their numbers was sufficient to even retard the progress of
+Sherman's army.
+
+The people at the South became so frantic at this time at the
+successful invasion of Georgia that they took the cadets from
+the military college and added them to the ranks of the
+militia.  They even liberated the State convicts under promise
+from them that they would serve in the army.  I have but little
+doubt that the worst acts that were attributed to Sherman's army
+were committed by these convicts, and by other Southern people
+who ought to have been under sentence--such people as could be
+found in every community, North and South--who took advantage of
+their country being invaded to commit crime.  They were in but
+little danger of detection, or of arrest even if detected.
+
+The Southern papers in commenting upon Sherman's movements
+pictured him as in the most deplorable condition:  stating that
+his men were starving, that they were demoralized and wandering
+about almost without object, aiming only to reach the sea coast
+and get under the protection of our navy.  These papers got to
+the North and had more or less effect upon the minds of the
+people, causing much distress to all loyal persons particularly
+to those who had husbands, sons or brothers with Sherman.  Mr.
+Lincoln seeing these accounts, had a letter written asking me if
+I could give him anything that he could say to the loyal people
+that would comfort them.  I told him there was not the slightest
+occasion for alarm; that with 60,000 such men as Sherman had with
+him, such a commanding officer as he was could not be cut off in
+the open country.  He might possibly be prevented from reaching
+the point he had started out to reach, but he would get through
+somewhere and would finally get to his chosen destination:  and
+even if worst came to worst he could return North.  I heard
+afterwards of Mr. Lincoln's saying, to those who would inquire
+of him as to what he thought about the safety of Sherman's army,
+that Sherman was all right:  "Grant says they are safe with such
+a general, and that if they cannot get out where they want to,
+they can crawl back by the hole they went in at."
+
+While at Milledgeville the soldiers met at the State House,
+organized a legislature, and proceeded to business precisely as
+if they were the legislative body belonging to the State of
+Georgia. The debates were exciting, and were upon the subject of
+the situation the South was in at that time, particularly the
+State of Georgia.  They went so far as to repeal, after a
+spirited and acrimonious debate, the ordinance of secession.
+
+The next day (24th) Sherman continued his march, going by the
+way of Waynesboro and Louisville, Millen being the next
+objective and where the two columns (the right and left wings)
+were to meet.  The left wing moved to the left of the direct
+road, and the cavalry still farther off so as to make it look as
+though Augusta was the point they were aiming for.  They moved on
+all the roads they could find leading in that direction.  The
+cavalry was sent to make a rapid march in hope of surprising
+Millen before the Union prisoners could be carried away; but
+they failed in this.
+
+The distance from Milledgeville to Millen was about one hundred
+miles.  At this point Wheeler, who had been ordered from
+Tennessee, arrived and swelled the numbers and efficiency of the
+troops confronting Sherman.  Hardee, a native of Georgia, also
+came, but brought no troops with him.  It was intended that he
+should raise as large an army as possible with which to
+intercept Sherman's march.  He did succeed in raising some
+troops, and with these and those under the command of Wheeler
+and Wayne, had an army sufficient to cause some annoyance but no
+great detention. Our cavalry and Wheeler's had a pretty severe
+engagement, in which Wheeler was driven towards Augusta, thus
+giving the idea that Sherman was probably making for that point.
+
+Millen was reached on the 3d of December, and the march was
+resumed the following day for Savannah, the final objective.
+Bragg had now been sent to Augusta with some troops.  Wade
+Hampton was there also trying to raise cavalry sufficient to
+destroy Sherman's army.  If he ever raised a force it was too
+late to do the work expected of it.  Hardee's whole force
+probably numbered less than ten thousand men.
+
+From Millen to Savannah the country is sandy and poor, and
+affords but very little forage other than rice straw, which was
+then growing.  This answered a very good purpose as forage, and
+the rice grain was an addition to the soldier's rations.  No
+further resistance worthy of note was met with, until within a
+few miles of Savannah.  This place was found to be intrenched
+and garrisoned.  Sherman proceeded at once on his arrival to
+invest the place, and found that the enemy had placed torpedoes
+in the ground, which were to explode when stepped on by man or
+beast. One of these exploded under an officer's horse, blowing
+the animal to pieces and tearing one of the legs of the officer
+so badly that it had to be amputated.  Sherman at once ordered
+his prisoners to the front, moving them in a compact body in
+advance, to either explode the torpedoes or dig them up.  No
+further explosion took place.
+
+On the 10th of December the siege of Savannah commenced. Sherman
+then, before proceeding any further with operations for the
+capture of the place, started with some troops to open
+communication with our fleet, which he expected to find in the
+lower harbor or as near by as the forts of the enemy would
+permit. In marching to the coast he encountered Fort McAllister,
+which it was necessary to reduce before the supplies he might
+find on shipboard could be made available.  Fort McAllister was
+soon captured by an assault made by General Hazen's division.
+Communication was then established with the fleet.  The capture
+of Savannah then only occupied a few days, and involved no great
+loss of life.  The garrison, however, as we shall see, was
+enabled to escape by crossing the river and moving eastward.
+
+When Sherman had opened communication with the fleet he found
+there a steamer, which I had forwarded to him, carrying the
+accumulated mails for his army, also supplies which I supposed
+he would be in need of.  General J. G. Foster, who commanded all
+the troops south of North Carolina on the Atlantic sea-board,
+visited General Sherman before he had opened communication with
+the fleet, with the view of ascertaining what assistance he
+could be to him.  Foster returned immediately to his own
+headquarters at Hilton Head, for the purpose of sending Sherman
+siege guns, and also if he should find he had them to spare,
+supplies of clothing, hard bread, etc., thinking that these
+articles might not be found outside.  The mail on the steamer
+which I sent down, had been collected by Colonel A. H. Markland
+of the Post Office Department, who went in charge of it.  On
+this same vessel I sent an officer of my staff (Lieutenant Dunn)
+with the following letter to General Sherman:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., Dec. 3, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T.  SHERMAN,
+Commanding Armies near Savannah, Ga.
+
+The little information gleaned from the Southern press,
+indicating no great obstacle to your progress, I have directed
+your mails (which had been previously collected at Baltimore by
+Colonel Markland, Special Agent of the Post Office Department)
+to be sent as far as the blockading squadron off Savannah, to be
+forwarded to you as soon as heard from on the coast.
+
+Not liking to rejoice before the victory is assured, I abstain
+from congratulating you and those under your command, until
+bottom has been struck.  I have never had a fear, however, for
+the result.
+
+Since you left Atlanta, no very great progress has been made
+here. The enemy has been closely watched though, and prevented
+from detaching against you.  I think not one man has gone from
+here, except some twelve or fifteen hundred dismounted
+cavalry.  Bragg has gone from Wilmington.  I am trying to take
+advantage of his absence to get possession of that place.  Owing
+to some preparations Admiral Porter and General Butler are making
+to blow up Fort Fisher (which, while hoping for the best, I do
+not believe a particle in), there is a delay in getting this
+expedition off.  I hope they will be ready to start by the 7th,
+and that Bragg will not have started back by that time.
+
+In this letter I do not intend to give you anything like
+directions for future action, but will state a general idea I
+have, and will get your views after you have established
+yourself on the sea-coast. With your veteran army I hope to get
+control of the only two through routes from east to west
+possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta.  The
+condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by
+holding any other port to the east of Savannah and
+Branchville.  If Wilmington falls, a force from there can
+co-operate with you.
+
+Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood
+close upon him.  Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the
+roads except the main one leading to Chattanooga.  Part of this
+falling back was undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have
+been.  It did not look so, however, to me.  In my opinion,
+Thomas far outnumbers Hood in infantry.  In cavalry, Hood has
+the advantage in morale and numbers.  I hope yet that Hood will
+be badly crippled if not destroyed.  The general news you will
+learn from the papers better than I could give it.
+
+After all becomes quiet, and roads become so bad up here that
+there is likely to be a week or two when nothing can be done, I
+will run down the coast to see you.  If you desire it, I will
+ask Mrs. Sherman to go with me.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General
+
+
+I quote this letter because it gives the reader a full knowledge
+of the events of that period.
+
+Sherman now (the 15th) returned to Savannah to complete its
+investment and insure the surrender of the garrison.  The
+country about Savannah is low and marshy, and the city was well
+intrenched from the river above to the river below; and assaults
+could not be made except along a comparatively narrow causeway.
+For this reason assaults must have resulted in serious
+destruction of life to the Union troops, with the chance of
+failing altogether. Sherman therefore decided upon a complete
+investment of the place.  When he believed this investment
+completed, he summoned the garrison to surrender.  General
+Hardee, who was in command, replied in substance that the
+condition of affairs was not such as Sherman had described.  He
+said he was in full communication with his department and was
+receiving supplies constantly.
+
+Hardee, however, was cut off entirely from all communication
+with the west side of the river, and by the river itself to the
+north and south.  On the South Carolina side the country was all
+rice fields, through which it would have been impossible to bring
+supplies so that Hardee had no possible communication with the
+outside world except by a dilapidated plank road starting from
+the west bank of the river.  Sherman, receiving this reply,
+proceeded in person to a point on the coast, where General
+Foster had troops stationed under General Hatch, for the purpose
+of making arrangements with the latter officer to go through by
+one of the numerous channels running inland along that part of
+the coast of South Carolina, to the plank road which General
+Hardee still possessed, and thus to cut him off from the last
+means he had of getting supplies, if not of communication.
+
+While arranging for this movement, and before the attempt to
+execute the plan had been commenced, Sherman received
+information through one of his staff officers that the enemy had
+evacuated Savannah the night before.  This was the night of the
+21st of December.  Before evacuating the place Hardee had blown
+up the navy yard.  Some iron-clads had been destroyed, as well
+as other property that might have been valuable to us; but he
+left an immense amount of stores untouched, consisting of
+cotton, railroad cars, workshops, numerous pieces of artillery,
+and several thousand stands of small arms.
+
+A little incident occurred, soon after the fall of Savannah,
+which Sherman relates in his Memoirs, and which is worthy of
+repetition. Savannah was one of the points where blockade
+runners entered. Shortly after the city fell into our
+possession, a blockade runner came sailing up serenely, not
+doubting but the Confederates were still in possession.  It was
+not molested, and the captain did not find out his mistake until
+he had tied up and gone to the Custom House, where he found a new
+occupant of the building, and made a less profitable disposition
+of his vessel and cargo than he had expected.
+
+As there was some discussion as to the authorship of Sherman's
+march to the sea, by critics of his book when it appeared before
+the public, I want to state here that no question upon that
+subject was ever raised between General Sherman and myself.
+Circumstances made the plan on which Sherman expected to act
+impracticable, as as commander of the forces he necessarily had
+to devise a new on which would give more promise of success:
+consequently he recommended the destruction of the railroad back
+to Chattanooga, and that he should be authorized then to move, as
+he did, from Atlanta forward.  His suggestions were finally
+approved, although they did not immediately find favor in
+Washington.  Even when it came to the time of starting, the
+greatest apprehension, as to the propriety of the campaign he
+was about commence, filled the mind of the President, induced no
+doubt by his advisers.  This went so far as to  move the
+President to ask me to suspend Sherman's march for a day or two
+until I could think the matter over.  My recollection is, though
+I find no record to show it, that out of deference to the
+President's wish I did send a dispatch to Sherman asking him to
+wait a day or two, or else the connections between us were
+already cut so that I could not do so.  However this may be, the
+question of who devised the plan of march from Atlanta to
+Savannah is easily answered:  it was clearly Sherman, and to him
+also belongs the credit of its brilliant execution.  It was
+hardly possible that any one else than those on the spot could
+have devised a new plan of campaign to supersede one that did
+not promise success. (*40)
+
+I was in favor of Sherman's plan from the time it was first
+submitted to me.  My chief of staff, however, was very bitterly
+opposed to it and, as I learned subsequently, finding that he
+could not move me, he appealed to the authorities at Washington
+to stop it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LX.
+
+THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN--THE BATTLE OF NASHVILLE.
+
+As we have seen, Hood succeeded in crossing the Tennessee River
+between Muscle Shoals and the lower shoals at the end of
+October, 1864.  Thomas sent Schofield with the 4th and 23d
+corps, together with three brigades of Wilson's cavalry to
+Pulaski to watch him.  On the 17th of November Hood started and
+moved in such a manner as to avoid Schofield, thereby turning
+his position.  Hood had with him three infantry corps, commanded
+respectively by Stephen D. Lee, Stewart and Cheatham.  These,
+with his cavalry, numbered about forty-five thousand men.
+Schofield had, of all arms, about thirty thousand.  Thomas's
+orders were, therefore, for Schofield to watch the movements of
+the enemy, but not to fight a battle if he could avoid it; but
+to fall back in case of an advance on Nashville, and to fight
+the enemy, as he fell back, so as to retard the enemy's
+movements until he could be reinforced by Thomas himself.  As
+soon as Schofield saw this movement of Hood's, he sent his
+trains to the rear, but did not fall back himself until the
+21st, and then only to Columbia.  At Columbia there was a slight
+skirmish but no battle.  From this place Schofield then retreated
+to Franklin.  He had sent his wagons in advance, and Stanley had
+gone with them with two divisions to protect them.  Cheatham's
+corps of Hood's army pursued the wagon train and went into camp
+at Spring Hill, for the night of the 29th.
+
+Schofield retreating from Columbia on the 29th, passed Spring
+Hill, where Cheatham was bivouacked, during the night without
+molestation, though within half a mile of where the Confederates
+were encamped.  On the morning of the 30th he had arrived at
+Franklin.
+
+Hood followed closely and reached Franklin in time to make an
+attack the same day.  The fight was very desperate and
+sanguinary.  The Confederate generals led their men in the
+repeated charges, and the loss among them was of unusual
+proportions.  This fighting continued with great severity until
+long after the night closed in, when the Confederates drew
+off.  General Stanley, who commanded two divisions of the Union
+troops, and whose troops bore the brunt of the battle, was
+wounded in the fight, but maintained his position.
+
+The enemy's loss at Franklin, according to Thomas's report, was
+1,750 buried upon the field by our troops, 3,800 in the
+hospital, and 702 prisoners besides.  Schofield's loss, as
+officially reported, was 189 killed, 1,033 wounded, and 1,104
+captured and missing.
+
+Thomas made no effort to reinforce Schofield at Franklin, as it
+seemed to me at the time he should have done, and fight out the
+battle there.  He simply ordered Schofield to continue his
+retreat to Nashville, which the latter did during that night and
+the next day.
+
+Thomas, in the meantime, was making his preparations to receive
+Hood.  The road to Chattanooga was still well guarded with
+strong garrisons at Murfreesboro, Stevenson, Bridgeport and
+Chattanooga.  Thomas had previously given up Decatur and had
+been reinforced by A. J. Smith's two divisions just returned
+from Missouri.  He also had Steedman's division and R. S.
+Granger's, which he had drawn from the front.  His
+quartermaster's men, about ten thousand in number, had been
+organized and armed under the command of the chief
+quartermaster, General J. L. Donaldson, and placed in the
+fortifications under the general supervision of General Z. B.
+Tower, of the United States Engineers.
+
+Hood was allowed to move upon Nashville, and to invest that
+place almost without interference.  Thomas was strongly
+fortified in his position, so that he would have been safe
+against the attack of Hood.  He had troops enough even to
+annihilate him in the open field.  To me his delay was
+unaccountable--sitting there and permitting himself to be
+invested, so that, in the end, to raise the siege he would have
+to fight the enemy strongly posted behind fortifications.  It is
+true the weather was very bad.  The rain was falling and freezing
+as it fell, so that the ground was covered with a sheet of ice,
+that made it very difficult to move.  But I was afraid that the
+enemy would find means of moving, elude Thomas and manage to get
+north of the Cumberland River.  If he did this, I apprehended
+most serious results from the campaign in the North, and was
+afraid we might even have to send troops from the East to head
+him off if he got there, General Thomas's movements being always
+so deliberate and so slow, though effective in defence.
+
+I consequently urged Thomas in frequent dispatches sent from
+City Point(*41) to make the attack at once.  The country was
+alarmed, the administration was alarmed, and I was alarmed lest
+the very thing would take place which I have just described that
+is, Hood would get north.  It was all without avail further than
+to elicit dispatches from Thomas saying that he was getting
+ready to move as soon as he could, that he was making
+preparations, etc.  At last I had to say to General Thomas that
+I should be obliged to remove him unless he acted promptly.  He
+replied that he was very sorry, but he would move as soon as he
+could.
+
+General Logan happening to visit City Point about that time, and
+knowing him as a prompt, gallant and efficient officer, I gave
+him an order to proceed to Nashville to relieve Thomas.  I
+directed him, however, not to deliver the order or publish it
+until he reached there, and if Thomas had moved, then not to
+deliver it at all, but communicate with me by telegraph.  After
+Logan started, in thinking over the situation, I became
+restless, and concluded to go myself.  I went as far as
+Washington City, when a dispatch was received from General
+Thomas announcing his readiness at last to move, and designating
+the time of his movement.  I concluded to wait until that time.
+He did move, and was successful from the start.  This was on the
+15th of December.  General Logan was at Louisville at the time
+this movement was made, and telegraphed the fact to Washington,
+and proceeded no farther himself.
+
+The battle during the 15th was severe, but favorable to the
+Union troops, and continued until night closed in upon the
+combat.  The next day the battle was renewed.  After a
+successful assault upon Hood's men in their intrenchments the
+enemy fled in disorder, routed and broken, leaving their dead,
+their artillery and small arms in great numbers on the field,
+besides the wounded that were captured.  Our cavalry had fought
+on foot as infantry, and had not their horses with them; so that
+they were not ready to join in the pursuit the moment the enemy
+retreated.  They sent back, however, for their horses, and
+endeavored to get to Franklin ahead of Hood's broken army by the
+Granny White Road, but too much time was consumed in getting
+started.  They had got but a few miles beyond the scene of the
+battle when they found the enemy's cavalry dismounted and behind
+intrenchments covering the road on which they were advancing.
+Here another battle ensued, our men dismounting and fighting on
+foot, in which the Confederates were again routed and driven in
+great disorder.  Our cavalry then went into bivouac, and renewed
+the pursuit on the following morning.  They were too late.  The
+enemy already had possession of Franklin, and was beyond them.
+It now became a chase in which the Confederates had the lead.
+
+Our troops continued the pursuit to within a few miles of
+Columbia, where they found the rebels had destroyed the railroad
+bridge as well as all other bridges over Duck River.  The heavy
+rains of a few days before had swelled the stream into a mad
+torrent, impassable except on bridges.  Unfortunately, either
+through a mistake in the wording of the order or otherwise, the
+pontoon bridge which was to have been sent by rail out to
+Franklin, to be taken thence with the pursuing column, had gone
+toward Chattanooga.  There was, consequently, a delay of some
+four days in building bridges out of the remains of the old
+railroad bridge.  Of course Hood got such a start in this time
+that farther pursuit was useless, although it was continued for
+some distance, but without coming upon him again.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXI.
+
+EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT FISHER--ATTACK ON THE FORT--FAILURE OF
+THE EXPEDITION--SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST THE FORT--CAPTURE OF
+FORT FISHER.
+
+Up to January, 1865, the enemy occupied Fort Fisher, at the
+mouth of Cape Fear River and below the City of Wilmington.  This
+port was of immense importance to the Confederates, because it
+formed their principal inlet for blockade runners by means of
+which they brought in from abroad such supplies and munitions of
+war as they could not produce at home.  It was equally important
+to us to get possession of it, not only because it was desirable
+to cut off their supplies so as to insure a speedy termination of
+the war, but also because foreign governments, particularly the
+British Government, were constantly threatening that unless ours
+could maintain the blockade of that coast they should cease to
+recognize any blockade.  For these reasons I determined, with
+the concurrence of the Navy Department, in December, to send an
+expedition against Fort Fisher for the purpose of capturing it.
+
+To show the difficulty experienced in maintaining the blockade,
+I will mention a circumstance that took place at Fort Fisher
+after its fall.  Two English blockade runners came in at
+night.  Their commanders, not supposing the fort had fallen,
+worked their way through all our fleet and got into the river
+unobserved.  They then signalled the fort, announcing their
+arrival.  There was a colored man in the fort who had been there
+before and who understood these signals.  He informed General
+Terry what reply he should make to have them come in, and Terry
+did as he advised.  The vessels came in, their officers entirely
+unconscious that they were falling into the hands of the Union
+forces.  Even after they were brought in to the fort they were
+entertained in conversation for some little time before
+suspecting that the Union troops were occupying the fort.  They
+were finally informed that their vessels and cargoes were prizes.
+
+I selected General Weitzel, of the Army of the James, to go with
+the expedition, but gave instructions through General Butler.  He
+commanded the department within whose geographical limits Fort
+Fisher was situated, as well as Beaufort and other points on
+that coast held by our troops; he was, therefore, entitled to
+the right of fitting out the expedition against Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler conceived the idea that if a steamer loaded
+heavily with powder could be run up to near the shore under the
+fort and exploded, it would create great havoc and make the
+capture an easy matter.  Admiral Porter, who was to command the
+naval squadron, seemed to fall in with the idea, and it was not
+disapproved of in Washington; the navy was therefore given the
+task of preparing the steamer for this purpose.  I had no
+confidence in the success of the scheme, and so expressed
+myself; but as no serious harm could come of the experiment, and
+the authorities at Washington seemed desirous to have it tried, I
+permitted it.  The steamer was sent to Beaufort, North Carolina,
+and was there loaded with powder and prepared for the part she
+was to play in the reduction of Fort Fisher.
+
+General Butler chose to go in command of the expedition himself,
+and was all ready to sail by the 9th of December (1864).  Very
+heavy storms prevailed, however, at that time along that part of
+the sea-coast, and prevented him from getting off until the 13th
+or 14th.  His advance arrived off Fort Fisher on the 15th.  The
+naval force had been already assembled, or was assembling, but
+they were obliged to run into Beaufort for munitions, coal,
+etc.; then, too, the powder-boat was not yet fully prepared. The
+fleet was ready to proceed on the 18th; but Butler, who had
+remained outside from the 15th up to that time, now found
+himself out of coal, fresh water, etc., and had to put into
+Beaufort to replenish.  Another storm overtook him, and several
+days more were lost before the army and navy were both ready at
+the same time to co-operate.
+
+On the night of the 23d the powder-boat was towed in by a
+gunboat as near to the fort as it was safe to run.  She was then
+propelled by her own machinery to within about five hundred yards
+of the shore.  There the clockwork, which was to explode her
+within a certain length of time, was set and she was
+abandoned.  Everybody left, and even the vessels put out to sea
+to prevent the effect of the explosion upon them.  At two
+o'clock in the morning the explosion took place--and produced no
+more effect on the fort, or anything else on land, than the
+bursting of a boiler anywhere on the Atlantic Ocean would have
+done.  Indeed when the troops in Fort Fisher heard the explosion
+they supposed it was the bursting of a boiler in one of the
+Yankee gunboats.
+
+Fort Fisher was situated upon a low, flat peninsula north of
+Cape Fear River.  The soil is sandy.  Back a little the
+peninsula is very heavily wooded, and covered with fresh-water
+swamps.  The fort ran across this peninsula, about five hundred
+yards in width, and extended along the sea coast about thirteen
+hundred yards.  The fort had an armament of 21 guns and 3
+mortars on the land side, and 24 guns on the sea front.  At that
+time it was only garrisoned by four companies of infantry, one
+light battery and the gunners at the heavy guns less than seven
+hundred men with a reserve of less than a thousand men five
+miles up the peninsula.  General Whiting of the Confederate army
+was in command, and General Bragg was in command of the force at
+Wilmington.  Both commenced calling for reinforcements the
+moment they saw our troops landing.  The Governor of North
+Carolina called for everybody who could stand behind a parapet
+and shoot a gun, to join them.  In this way they got two or
+three hundred additional men into Fort Fisher; and Hoke's
+division, five or six thousand strong, was sent down from
+Richmond.  A few of these troops arrived the very day that
+Butler was ready to advance.
+
+On the 24th the fleet formed for an attack in arcs of concentric
+circles, their heavy iron-clads going in very close range, being
+nearest the shore, and leaving intervals or spaces so that the
+outer vessels could fire between them.  Porter was thus enabled
+to throw one hundred and fifteen shells per minute.  The damage
+done to the fort by these shells was very slight, only two or
+three cannon being disabled in the fort.  But the firing
+silenced all the guns by making it too hot for the men to
+maintain their positions about them and compelling them to seek
+shelter in the bomb-proofs.
+
+On the next day part of Butler's troops under General Adelbert
+Ames effected a landing out of range of the fort without
+difficulty.  This was accomplished under the protection of
+gunboats sent for the purpose, and under cover of a renewed
+attack upon the fort by the fleet.  They formed a line across
+the peninsula and advanced, part going north and part toward the
+fort, covering themselves as they did so.  Curtis pushed forward
+and came near to Fort Fisher, capturing the small garrison at
+what was called the Flag Pond Battery.  Weitzel accompanied him
+to within a half a mile of the works.  Here he saw that the fort
+had not been injured, and so reported to Butler, advising against
+an assault.  Ames, who had gone north in his advance, captured
+228 of the reserves.  These prisoners reported to Butler that
+sixteen hundred of Hoke's division of six thousand from Richmond
+had already arrived and the rest would soon be in his rear.
+
+Upon these reports Butler determined to withdraw his troops from
+the peninsula and return to the fleet.  At that time there had
+not been a man on our side injured except by one of the shells
+from the fleet.  Curtis had got within a few yards of the
+works.  Some of his men had snatched a flag from the parapet of
+the fort, and others had taken a horse from the inside of the
+stockade.  At night Butler informed Porter of his withdrawal,
+giving the reasons above stated, and announced his purpose as
+soon as his men could embark to start for Hampton Roads.  Porter
+represented to him that he had sent to Beaufort for more
+ammunition.  He could fire much faster than he had been doing,
+and would keep the enemy from showing himself until our men were
+within twenty yards of the fort, and he begged that Butler would
+leave some brave fellows like those who had snatched the flag
+from the parapet and taken the horse from the fort.
+
+Butler was unchangeable.  He got all his troops aboard, except
+Curtis's brigade, and started back.  In doing this, Butler made
+a fearful mistake.  My instructions to him, or to the officer
+who went in command of the expedition, were explicit in the
+statement that to effect a landing would be of itself a great
+victory, and if one should be effected, the foothold must not be
+relinquished; on the contrary, a regular siege of the fort must
+be commenced and, to guard against interference by reason of
+storms, supplies of provisions must be laid in as soon as they
+could be got on shore.  But General Butler seems to have lost
+sight of this part of his instructions, and was back at Fort
+Monroe on the 28th.
+
+I telegraphed to the President as follows:
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA.,
+Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable
+failure.  Many of the troops are back here.  Delays and free
+talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move
+troops to Wilmington to defeat it.  After the expedition sailed
+from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather were squandered,
+during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself.
+Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+Porter sent dispatches to the Navy Department in which he
+complained bitterly of having been abandoned by the army just
+when the fort was nearly in our possession, and begged that our
+troops might be sent back again to cooperate, but with a
+different commander.  As soon as I heard this I sent a messenger
+to Porter with a letter asking him to hold on.  I assured him
+that I fully sympathized with him in his disappointment, and
+that I would send the same troops back with a different
+commander, with some reinforcements to offset those which the
+enemy had received.  I told him it would take some little time
+to get transportation for the additional troops; but as soon as
+it could be had the men should be on their way to him, and there
+would be no delay on my part.  I selected A. H. Terry to command.
+
+It was the 6th of January before the transports could be got
+ready and the troops aboard.  They sailed from Fortress Monroe
+on that day.  The object and destination of the second
+expedition were at the time kept a secret to all except a few in
+the Navy Department and in the army to whom it was necessary to
+impart the information.  General Terry had not the slightest
+idea of where he was going or what he was to do.  He simply knew
+that he was going to sea and that he had his orders with him,
+which were to be opened when out at sea.
+
+He was instructed to communicate freely with Porter and have
+entire harmony between army and navy, because the work before
+them would require the best efforts of both arms of service.
+They arrived off Beaufort on the 8th. A heavy storm, however,
+prevented a landing at Forth Fisher until the 13th.  The navy
+prepared itself for attack about as before, and the same time
+assisted the army in landing, this time five miles away.  Only
+iron-clads fired at first; the object being to draw the fire of
+the enemy's guns so as to ascertain their positions. This object
+being accomplished, they then let in their shots thick and
+fast.  Very soon the guns were all silenced, and the fort showed
+evident signs of being much injured.
+
+Terry deployed his men across the peninsula as had been done
+before, and at two o'clock on the following morning was up
+within two miles of the fort with a respectable abatis in front
+of his line. His artillery was all landed on that day, the
+14th.  Again Curtis's brigade of Ame's division had the lead. By
+noon they had carried an unfinished work less than a half mile
+from the fort, and turned it so as to face the other way.
+
+Terry now saw Porter and arranged for an assault on the
+following day.  The two commanders arranged their signals so
+that they could communicate with each other from time to time as
+they might have occasion.  At day light the fleet commenced its
+firing.  The time agreed upon for the assault was the middle of
+the afternoon, and Ames who commanded the assaulting column
+moved at 3.30.  Porter landed a force of sailors and marines to
+move against the sea-front in co-operation with Ames's
+assault.  They were under Commander Breese of the navy.  These
+sailors and marines had worked their way up to within a couple
+of hundred yards of the fort before the assault.  The signal was
+given and the assault was made; but the poor sailors and marines
+were repulsed and very badly handled by the enemy, losing 280
+killed and wounded out of their number.
+
+Curtis's brigade charged successfully though met by a heavy
+fire, some of the men having to wade through the swamp up to
+their waists to reach the fort.  Many were wounded, of course,
+and some killed; but they soon reached the palisades.  These
+they cut away, and pushed on through.  The other troops then
+came up, Pennypacker's following Curtis, and Bell, who commanded
+the 3d brigade of Ames's division, following Pennypacker.  But
+the fort was not yet captured though the parapet was gained.
+
+The works were very extensive.  The large parapet around the
+work would have been but very little protection to those inside
+except when they were close up under it.  Traverses had,
+therefore, been run until really the work was a succession of
+small forts enclosed by a large one.  The rebels made a
+desperate effort to hold the fort, and had to be driven from
+these traverses one by one.  The fight continued till long after
+night.  Our troops gained first one traverse and then another,
+and by 10 o'clock at night the place was carried.  During this
+engagement the sailors, who had been repulsed in their assault
+on the bastion, rendered the best service they could by
+reinforcing Terry's northern line--thus enabling him to send a
+detachment to the assistance of Ames.  The fleet kept up a
+continuous fire upon that part of the fort which was still
+occupied by the enemy.  By means of signals they could be
+informed where to direct their shots.
+
+During the succeeding nights the enemy blew up Fort Caswell on
+the opposite side of Cape Fear River, and abandoned two
+extensive works on Smith's Island in the river.
+
+Our captures in all amounted to 169 guns, besides small-arms,
+with full supplies of ammunition, and 2,083 prisoners.  In
+addition to these, there were about 700 dead and wounded left
+there.  We had lost 110 killed and 536 wounded.
+
+In this assault on Fort Fisher, Bell, one of the brigade
+commanders, was killed, and two, Curtis and Pennypacker, were
+badly wounded.
+
+Secretary Stanton, who was on his way back from Savannah,
+arrived off Fort Fisher soon after it fell.  When he heard the
+good news he promoted all the officers of any considerable rank
+for their conspicuous gallantry.  Terry had been nominated for
+major-general, but had not been confirmed.  This confirmed him;
+and soon after I recommended him for a brigadier-generalcy in
+the regular army, and it was given to him for this victory.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXII.
+
+SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY
+ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND
+THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE
+CAROLINAS.
+
+When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the
+North, distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to
+see him.  Among others who went was the Secretary of War, who
+seemed much pleased at the result of his campaign.  Mr. Draper,
+the collector of customs of New York, who was with Mr. Stanton's
+party, was put in charge of the public property that had been
+abandoned and captured.  Savannah was then turned over to
+General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his
+own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the
+future.  I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac
+(General Barnard) with letters to General Sherman.  He remained
+some time with the general, and when he returned brought back
+letters, one of which contained suggestions from Sherman as to
+what ought to be done in co-operation with him, when he should
+have started upon his march northward.
+
+I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea
+originally of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or
+even to North Carolina.  The season was bad, the roads impassable
+for anything except such an army as he had, and I should not have
+thought of ordering such a move.  I had, therefore, made
+preparations to collect transports to carry Sherman and his army
+around to the James River by water, and so informed him.  On
+receiving this letter he went to work immediately to prepare for
+the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to collect
+the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north
+through the Carolinas.  I was only too happy to approve this;
+for if successful, it promised every advantage.  His march
+through Georgia had thoroughly destroyed all lines of
+transportation in that State, and had completely cut the enemy
+off from all sources of supply to the west of it.  If North and
+South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as capacity for
+feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison at
+Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw
+supplies, to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and,
+although that section of the country was fertile, it was already
+well exhausted of both forage and food.  I approved Sherman's
+suggestion therefore at once.
+
+The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load
+the wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long
+distance.  Sherman would now have to march through a country
+furnishing fewer provisions than that he had previously been
+operating in during his march to the sea.  Besides, he was
+confronting, or marching toward, a force of the enemy vastly
+superior to any his troops had encountered on their previous
+march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now
+become of such vast importance to the very existence of the
+Confederate army, that the most desperate efforts were to be
+expected in order to save it.
+
+Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to
+start with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who
+commanded that part of the navy on the South Carolina and
+Georgia coast, and General Foster, commanding the troops, to
+take positions, and hold a few points on the sea coast, which he
+(Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of Charleston.
+
+This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea
+coast, in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop
+his onward progress.  He also wrote me a letter, making
+suggestions as to what he would like to have done in support of
+his movement farther north.  This letter was brought to City
+Point by General Barnard at a time when I happened to be going
+to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of January.  I
+cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate with
+Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than
+by giving my reply to this letter.
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+Jan. 21, 1865.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received
+at City Point, and read with interest.  Not having them with me,
+however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you
+on all points of recommendation.  As I arrived here at one P.M.,
+and must leave at six P.M., having in the meantime spent over
+three hours with the Secretary and General Halleck, I must be
+brief.  Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign
+into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis,
+Md., with his corps.  The advance (six thousand) will reach the
+seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as
+railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati.  The
+corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men.  I was induced to do
+this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off
+before spring.  His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness
+that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your
+campaigns.  The command of the advance of the pursuit was left
+to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far behind.  When Hood
+had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it,
+Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from
+whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He
+is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty,
+but he is not good on a pursuit.  He also reported his troops
+fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up.  This report and
+a determination to give the enemy no rest determined me to use
+his surplus troops elsewhere.
+
+Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to
+Selma under an energetic leader.  He has been telegraphed to, to
+know whether he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes
+he would select.  No reply is yet received.  Canby has been
+ordered to act offensively from the sea-coast to the interior,
+towards Montgomery and Selma.  Thomas's forces will move from
+the north at an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to
+Canby.  Without further reinforcements Canby will have a moving
+column of twenty thousand men.
+
+Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured.  We have a force
+there of eight thousand effective.  At New Bern about half the
+number.  It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also
+has fallen.  I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the
+17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort
+Caswell, and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington.
+
+If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there.  If not, he
+will be sent to New Bern.  In either event, all the surplus
+forces at the two points will move to the interior toward
+Goldsboro' in co-operation with your movements.  From either
+point, railroad communications can be run out, there being here
+abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads.
+
+There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army
+south.  Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you,
+if Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort
+Fisher having overtaken about two thousand.
+
+All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in
+communication with them.  They will be so instructed.  From
+about Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much
+more, or attempts to evacuate, will pitch in.  In the meantime,
+should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps
+of thirty thousand effective men to your support, from the
+troops about Richmond.
+
+To resume:  Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the
+Gulf.  A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it
+doubtful.  A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will
+co-operate with you from New Bern or Wilmington, or both.  You
+can call for reinforcements.
+
+This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will
+return with any message you may have for me.  If there is
+anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on
+ship-board, at any point on the sea-coast, ready for you, let me
+know it.
+
+Yours truly,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving
+him the news of the battle of Nashville.  He was much pleased at
+the result, although, like myself, he had been very much
+disappointed at Thomas for permitting Hood to cross the
+Tennessee River and nearly the whole State of Tennessee, and
+come to Nashville to be attacked there.  He, however, as I had
+done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.
+
+On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to
+Sherman and his army passed by Congress were approved.
+
+Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up,
+commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from
+the river, and taking up all obstructions.  He had then
+intrenched the city, so that it could be held by a small
+garrison.  By the middle of January all his work was done,
+except the accumulation of supplies to commence his movement
+with.
+
+He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going
+along by the river of the same name, and the other by roads
+farther east, threatening Charleston.  He commenced the advance
+by moving his right wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to
+Pocotaligo by water.  This column, in moving north, threatened
+Charleston, and, indeed, it was not determined at first that
+they would have a force visit Charleston.  South Carolina had
+done so much to prepare the public mind of the South for
+secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision
+of the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it,
+that there was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and
+also largely entertained by people of the South, that the State
+of South Carolina, and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in
+particular, ought to have a heavy hand laid upon them.  In fact,
+nothing but the decisive results that followed, deterred the
+radical portion of the people from condemning the movement,
+because Charleston had been left out.  To pass into the interior
+would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the city, and its
+possession by the navy and Foster's troops.  It is so situated
+between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have
+held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold
+out.  Sherman therefore passed it by.
+
+By the first of February all preparations were completed for the
+final march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective;
+Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or
+neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be
+determined upon.  The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the
+left from about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns
+taking a pretty direct route for Columbia.  The cavalry,
+however, were to threaten Charleston on the right, and Augusta
+on the left.
+
+On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which
+Sherman had received before starting out on his march.  We
+already had New Bern and had soon Wilmington, whose fall
+followed that of Fort Fisher; as did other points on the sea
+coast, where the National troops were now in readiness to
+co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed
+Fayetteville.
+
+On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New
+Orleans, to move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama,
+for the purpose of destroying roads, machine shops, etc.  On the
+8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the Valley of
+Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit
+and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg; and
+on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the
+roads would permit, saying:  "As soon as it is possible to
+travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching
+Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone.  From there you could
+destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be
+of no further use to the rebellion. * * * This additional raid,
+with one starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering
+about four or five thousand cavalry; one from Eastport,
+Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with
+about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter pushing
+for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large
+army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will
+be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I
+would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish
+this.  Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last."
+
+On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had
+received his orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was
+extremely anxious to hear of his being in Alabama.  I notified
+him, also, that I had sent Grierson to take command of his
+cavalry, he being a very efficient officer.  I further suggested
+that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, and if he was there, he
+would find him an officer of great courage and capacity whom it
+would be difficult to get by.  I still further informed him that
+Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into Mississippi
+on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter.  This
+force did not get off however.
+
+All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's
+march, the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the
+West from leaving there.  But neither Canby nor Thomas could be
+got off in time.  I had some time before depleted Thomas's army
+to reinforce Canby, for the reason that Thomas had failed to
+start an expedition which he had been ordered to send out, and
+to have the troops where they might do something.  Canby seemed
+to be equally deliberate in all of his movements.  I ordered him
+to go in person; but he prepared to send a detachment under
+another officer.  General Granger had got down to New Orleans,
+in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put him
+in command of troops.  In spite of this he asked the War
+Department to assign Granger to the command of a corps.
+
+Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the
+cause in that quarter, I said to Canby:  "I am in receipt of a
+dispatch * * * informing me that you have made requisitions for
+a construction corps and material to build seventy miles of
+railroad.  I have directed that none be sent.  Thomas's army has
+been depleted to send a force to you that they might be where
+they could act in winter, and at least detain the force the
+enemy had in the West.  If there had been any idea of repairing
+railroads, it could have been done much better from the North,
+where we already had the troops.  I expected your movements to
+be co-operative with Sherman's last.  This has now entirely
+failed.  I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly
+and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine
+shops, etc., not to build them.  Take Mobile and hold it, and
+push your forces to the interior--to Montgomery and to Selma.
+Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for
+carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such
+positions as can be supplied by water.  By this means alone you
+can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the
+interior can be kept broken."
+
+Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to
+render any service in the direction for which they were designed.
+
+The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's
+troops and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand
+men in all; but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as
+I was sure would be the case, to retard Sherman's movements.
+Everything possible was being done to raise troops in the
+South.  Lee dispatched against Sherman the troops which had been
+sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including those of the other
+defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, amounted, after
+deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, to
+fourteen thousand men.  After Thomas's victory at Nashville what
+remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as
+rapidly as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces;
+and, finally, General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest
+commanders of the South though not in favor with the
+administration (or at least with Mr. Davis), was put in command
+of all the troops in North and South Carolina.
+
+Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January,
+but before sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him
+down the coast to see the situation of affairs, as I could give
+fuller directions after being on the ground than I could very
+well have given without.  We soon returned, and the troops were
+sent by sea to Cape Fear River.  Both New Bern and Wilmington
+are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite at
+Goldsboro.  Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the
+mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to
+secure the Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad.  This column
+took their pontoon bridges with them, to enable them to cross
+over to the island south of the city of Wilmington.  A large
+body was sent by the north side to co-operate with them.  They
+succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of February.  I took the
+precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case he should be
+forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching North
+Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was
+liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected
+march.  I also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a
+great abundance, now that we were not operating the roads in
+Virginia.  The gauge of the North Carolina railroads being the
+same as the Virginia railroads had been altered too; these cars
+and locomotives were ready for use there without any change.
+
+On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to
+Thomas to move south to Alabama and Georgia.  (I had previously
+reduced his force by sending a portion of it to Terry.)  I
+directed in lieu of this movement, that he should send Stoneman
+through East Tennessee, and push him well down toward Columbia,
+South Carolina, in support of Sherman.  Thomas did not get
+Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I had supposed
+he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his being
+in Louisville, Kentucky.  I immediately changed the order, and
+directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg.  Finally, however,
+on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western
+end of South Carolina, creating some consternation.  I also
+ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and
+to destroy no more roads east of that.  I also directed him to
+concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable
+movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.
+
+Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah.
+Sherman's march was without much incident until he entered
+Columbia, on the 17th of February.  He was detained in his
+progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild
+the bridges.  There was constant skirmishing and fighting between
+the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the
+advance of the infantry.  Four days, also, were lost in making
+complete the destruction of the most important railroads south
+of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water,
+and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road.  A
+formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in
+the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton.  There
+was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high
+water in the stream.  Hampton left as Sherman approached, and
+the city was found to be on fire.
+
+There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in
+discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire.
+Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies
+it on the part of the Confederates.  One thing is certain:  as
+soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to
+extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the
+limited means at hand.  In any case, the example set by the
+Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town
+which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act
+of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible
+for the conflict then raging, not imperative.
+
+The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took
+possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the
+National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making
+terms for the protection of property, etc.  Sherman paid no
+attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took
+the town without making any conditions whatever with its
+citizens.  He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in
+extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were
+rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes.  When he
+left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to
+be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some
+arrangement could be made for their future supplies.  He
+remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings,
+workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were
+destroyed.  While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first
+time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting him,
+under the command of General Beauregard.
+
+Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster
+garrisoned the place.  Wilmington was captured on the 22d.
+Columbia and Cheraw farther north, were regarded as so secure
+from invasion that the wealthy people of Charleston and Augusta
+had sent much of their valuable property to these two points to
+be stored.  Among the goods sent there were valuable carpets,
+tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture.  I am afraid
+much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops.  There
+was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery,
+small-arms and fixed ammunition.  These, of course were among
+the articles destroyed.  While here, Sherman also learned of
+Johnston's restoration to command.  The latter was given, as
+already stated, all troops in North and South Carolina.  After
+the completion of the destruction of public property about
+Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his march and reached Cheraw
+without any special opposition and without incident to relate.
+The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed on the
+way.  Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on
+the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced
+straight for Fayetteville.  Hardee and Hampton were there, and
+barely escaped.  Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of
+March.  He had dispatched scouts from Cheraw with letters to
+General Terry, at Wilmington, asking him to send a steamer with
+some supplies of bread, clothing and other articles which he
+enumerated.  The scouts got through successfully, and a boat was
+sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had asked
+as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those
+stores did not contain clothing.
+
+Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for
+Goldsboro.  The march, now, had to be made with great caution,
+for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that
+still remained open to the enemy.  Besides, he was confronting
+all that he had had to confront in his previous march up to that
+point, reinforced by the garrisons along the road and by what
+remained of Hood's army.  Frantic appeals were made to the
+people to come in voluntarily and swell the ranks of our foe.  I
+presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all over 35,000
+or 40,000 men.  The people had grown tired of the war, and
+desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous
+than the voluntary accessions.
+
+There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between
+Johnston's troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at
+Bentonville on the 19th and 21st of March, but Johnston withdrew
+from the contest before the morning of the 22d.  Sherman's loss
+in these last engagements in killed, wounded, and missing, was
+about sixteen hundred.  Sherman's troops at last reached
+Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; and
+there his men were destined to have a long rest.  Schofield was
+there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to
+Wilmington.
+
+Sherman was no longer in danger.  He had Johnston confronting
+him; but with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers
+and morale.  He had Lee to the north of him with a force largely
+superior; but I was holding Lee with a still greater force, and
+had he made his escape and gotten down to reinforce Johnston,
+Sherman, with the reinforcements he now had from Schofield and
+Terry, would have been able to hold the Confederates at bay for
+an indefinite period.  He was near the sea-shore with his back
+to it, and our navy occupied the harbors.  He had a railroad to
+both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly
+protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country
+and deepen as they approach the sea.  Then, too, Sherman knew
+that if Lee should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and
+Johnson together would be crushed in one blow if they attempted
+to make a stand.  With the loss of their capital, it is doubtful
+whether Lee's army would have amounted to much as an army when it
+reached North Carolina.  Johnston's army was demoralized by
+constant defeat and would hardly have made an offensive
+movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on
+duty.  The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like
+their brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man
+is so brave that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as
+to discourage him and dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter
+how just he deems it.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIII.
+
+ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE
+COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE
+PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE
+PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF
+WHITE OAK ROAD.
+
+On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the
+so-called Confederate States presented themselves on our lines
+around Petersburg, and were immediately conducted to my
+headquarters at City Point.  They proved to be Alexander H.
+Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, Judge Campbell,
+Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly United
+States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.
+
+It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at
+once conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River
+boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of
+passengers.  I at once communicated by telegraph with Washington
+and informed the Secretary of War and the President of the
+arrival of these commissioners and that their object was to
+negotiate terms of peace between he United States and, as they
+termed it, the Confederate Government.  I was instructed to
+retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom
+he would designate, should come to meet them.  They remained
+several days as guests on board the boat.  I saw them quite
+frequently, though I have no recollection of having had any
+conversation whatever with them on the subject of their
+mission.  It was something I had nothing to do with, and I
+therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject.  For
+my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit,
+that they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT.  There had
+been too great a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything
+of the kind.  As long as they remained there, however, our
+relations were pleasant and I found them all very agreeable
+gentlemen.  I directed the captain to furnish them with the best
+the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort in every
+way possible.  No guard was placed over them and no restriction
+was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked
+that they would not abuse the privileges extended to them.  They
+were permitted to leave the boat when they felt like it, and did
+so, coming up on the bank and visiting me at my headquarters.
+
+I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but
+knew them well by reputation and through their public services,
+and I had been a particular admirer of Mr. Stephens.  I had
+always supposed that he was a very small man, but when I saw him
+in the dusk of the evening I was very much surprised to find so
+large a man as he seemed to be.  When he got down on to the boat
+I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen overcoat, a
+manufacture that had been introduced into the South during the
+rebellion.  The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I
+had ever seen, even in Canada.  The overcoat extended nearly to
+his feet, and was so large that it gave him the appearance of
+being an average-sized man.  He took this off when he reached
+the cabin of the boat, and I was struck with the apparent change
+in size, in the coat and out of it.
+
+After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a
+dispatch from Washington, directing me to send the commissioners
+to Hampton Roads to meet the President and a member of the
+cabinet.  Mr. Lincoln met them there and had an interview of
+short duration.  It was not a great while after they met that
+the President visited me at City Point.  He spoke of his having
+met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there
+would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they
+would recognize, first:  that the Union as a whole must be
+forever preserved, and second:  that slavery must be abolished.
+If they were willing to concede these two points, then he was
+ready to enter into negotiations and was almost willing to hand
+them a blank sheet of paper with his signature attached for them
+to fill in the terms upon which they were willing to live with us
+in the Union and be one people.  He always showed a generous and
+kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I never heard him
+abuse an enemy.  Some of the cruel things said about President
+Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the
+heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful
+disposition and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he
+seemed glad to get away from the cares and anxieties of the
+capital.
+
+Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln.  It was on
+the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the
+peace commissioners at Hampton Roads.  After a little
+conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of
+Stephens's.  I replied that I had.  "Well," said he, "did you
+see him take it off?"  I said yes.  "Well," said he, "didn't you
+think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you
+did see?"  Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate
+General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate.  He
+repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens
+laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.
+
+The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace
+commissioners, passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for
+two or three little incidents.  On one occasion during this
+period, while I was visiting Washington City for the purpose of
+conferring with the administration, the enemy's cavalry under
+General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left and then going to
+the south, got in east of us.  Before their presence was known,
+they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were
+grazing in that section.  It was a fair capture, and they were
+sufficiently needed by the Confederates.  It was only
+retaliating for what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a
+time, when out of supplies taking what the Confederate army
+otherwise would have gotten.  As appears in this book, on one
+single occasion we captured five thousand head of cattle which
+were crossing the Mississippi River near Port Hudson on their
+way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in the East.
+
+One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the
+rebellion was the last few weeks before Petersburg.  I felt that
+the situation of the Confederate army was such that they would
+try to make an escape at the earliest practicable moment, and I
+was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to
+hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but a picket
+line.  He had his railroad by the way of Danville south, and I
+was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores and
+ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him
+for his immediate defence.  I knew he could move much more
+lightly and more rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start,
+he would leave me behind so that we would have the same army to
+fight again farther south and the war might be prolonged another
+year.
+
+I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it
+was possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where
+they were.  There is no doubt that Richmond would have been
+evacuated much sooner than it was, if it had not been that it
+was the capital of the so-called Confederacy, and the fact of
+evacuating the capital would, of course, have had a very
+demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army.  When it was
+evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once
+began to crumble and fade away.  Then, too, desertions were
+taking place, not only among those who were with General Lee in
+the neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole
+Confederacy.  I remember that in a conversation with me on one
+occasion long prior to this, General Butler remarked that the
+Confederates would find great difficulty in getting more men for
+their army; possibly adding, though I am not certain as to this,
+"unless they should arm the slave."
+
+The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied
+man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they
+had passed a law for the further conscription of boys from
+fourteen to eighteen, calling them the junior reserves, and men
+from forty-five to sixty to be called the senior reserves.  The
+latter were to hold the necessary points not in immediate
+danger, and especially those in the rear.  General Butler, in
+alluding to this conscription, remarked that they were thus
+"robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I
+afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.
+
+It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits
+they were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout
+the entire army, by desertions alone.  Then by casualties of
+war, sickness, and other natural causes, their losses were much
+heavier.  It was a mere question of arithmetic to calculate how
+long they could hold out while that rate of depletion was going
+on.  Of course long before their army would be thus reduced to
+nothing the army which we had in the field would have been able
+to capture theirs.  Then too I knew from the great number of
+desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so gallantly
+and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as
+earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which
+they were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent.  Many of
+them were making application to be sent North where they might
+get employment until the war was over, when they could return to
+their Southern homes.
+
+For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for
+the time to come when I could commence the spring campaign,
+which I thoroughly believed would close the war.
+
+There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and
+which detained me.  One was the fact that the winter had been
+one of heavy rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery
+and teams.  It was necessary to wait until they had dried
+sufficiently to enable us to move the wagon trains and artillery
+necessary to the efficiency of an army operating in the enemy's
+country.  The other consideration was that General Sheridan with
+the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was operating on the north
+side of the James River, having come down from the Shenandoah. It
+was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, and I was
+therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the
+James River.
+
+Let us now take account of what he was doing.
+
+On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan.  He had met Early
+between Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing
+nearly his entire command.  Early and some of his officers
+escaped by finding refuge in the neighboring houses or in the
+woods.
+
+On the 12th I heard from him again.  He had turned east, to come
+to White House.  He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because
+the rains had been so very heavy and the streams were so very
+much swollen.  He had a pontoon train with him, but it would not
+reach half way across some of the streams, at their then stage of
+water, which he would have to get over in going south as first
+ordered.
+
+I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the
+depot there open until he arrived.  We had intended to abandon
+it because the James River had now become our base of supplies.
+
+Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into
+two divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin.
+General Merritt was acting as chief of cavalry.  Sheridan moved
+very light, carrying only four days' provisions with him, with a
+larger supply of coffee, salt and other small rations, and a very
+little else besides ammunition.  They stopped at Charlottesville
+and commenced tearing up the railroad back toward Lynchburg.  He
+also sent a division along the James River Canal to destroy
+locks, culverts etc.  All mills and factories along the lines of
+march of his troops were destroyed also.
+
+Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a
+march to White House was now somewhat hazardous.  He determined
+therefore to fight his way along the railroad and canal till he
+was as near to Richmond as it was possible to get, or until
+attacked.  He did this, destroying the canal as far as
+Goochland, and the railroad to a point as near Richmond as he
+could get.  On the 10th he was at Columbia.  Negroes had joined
+his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they
+assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads
+and the canal.  His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when
+he started, because he had been able to find plenty of forage.
+He had captured most of Early's horses and picked up a good many
+others on the road.  When he reached Ashland he was assailed by
+the enemy in force.  He resisted their assault with part of his
+command, moved quickly across the South and North Anna, going
+north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.
+
+The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to
+the time he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was.
+Supplies had to be got up to him which would last him through a
+long march, as there would probably not be much to be obtained
+in the country through which he would pass.  I had to arrange,
+therefore, that he should start from where he was, in the
+neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the earliest day
+at which he supposed he could be ready.
+
+Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he
+could come up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined
+to move as soon as the roads and weather would admit of my doing
+so.  I had been tied down somewhat in the matter of fixing any
+time at my pleasure for starting, until Sheridan, who was on his
+way from the Shenandoah Valley to join me, should arrive, as both
+his presence and that of his cavalry were necessary to the
+execution of the plans which I had in mind.  However, having
+arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to
+make my plans.
+
+Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night
+before I was aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into
+North Carolina to join with Johnston in attempting to crush out
+Sherman, I had, as early as the 1st of the month of March, given
+instructions to the troops around Petersburg to keep a sharp
+lookout to see that such a movement should not escape their
+notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was undertaken.
+
+It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and
+General Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in
+and about and Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no
+longer tenable for them, and that they must get away as soon as
+possible.  They, too, were waiting for dry roads, or a condition
+of the roads which would make it possible to move.
+
+General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider
+opening to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater
+security than he would have in the way the two armies were
+situated, determined upon an assault upon the right of our lines
+around Petersburg.  The night of the 24th of March was fixed upon
+for this assault, and General Gordon was assigned to the
+execution of the plan.  The point between Fort Stedman and
+Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was
+selected as the point of his attack.  The attack was to be made
+at night, and the troops were to get possession of the higher
+ground in the rear where they supposed we had intrenchments,
+then sweep to the right and left, create a panic in the lines of
+our army, and force me to contract my lines.  Lee hoped this
+would detain me a few days longer and give him an opportunity of
+escape.  The plan was well conceived and the execution of it very
+well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our
+line.
+
+Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the
+point at which they were to make their charge, and got
+possession of our picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of
+the troops inside of our main line of intrenchments; this reduced
+the distance he would have to charge over to not much more than
+fifty yards.  For some time before the deserters had been coming
+in with great frequency, often bringing their arms with them, and
+this the Confederate general knew.  Taking advantage of this
+knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through
+to ours as if to desert.  When they got to our lines they at once
+took possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In
+the main line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great
+security.  This plan was to have been executed and much damage
+done before daylight; but the troops that were to reinforce
+Gordon had to be brought from the north side of the James River
+and, by some accident on the railroad on their way over, they
+were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to be
+nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.
+
+The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the
+enemy passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery
+No. 10.  Then turning to the right and left they captured the
+fort and the battery, with all the arms and troops in them.
+Continuing the charge, they also carried batteries Eleven and
+Twelve to our left, which they turned toward City Point.
+
+Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in
+his line cut him off from all communication with his
+headquarters.  Parke, however, commanding the 9th corps when
+this breach took place, telegraphed the facts to Meade's
+headquarters, and learning that the general was away, assumed
+command himself and with commendable promptitude made all
+preparations to drive the enemy back.  General Tidball gathered
+a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them in rear
+of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground
+between the lines very thoroughly.  Hartranft was soon out with
+his division, as also was Willcox.  Hartranft to the right of
+the breach headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly
+drove them back into Fort Stedman.  On the other side they were
+driven back into the intrenchments which they had captured, and
+batteries eleven and twelve were retaken by Willcox early in the
+morning.
+
+Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and
+batteries, and communication was once more established.  The
+artillery fire was kept up so continuously that it was
+impossible for the Confederates to retreat, and equally
+impossible for reinforcements to join them.  They all,
+therefore, fell captives into our hands.  This effort of Lee's
+cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing,
+wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.
+
+After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates,
+our troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched
+picket line, which they strengthened and held.  This, in turn,
+gave us but a short distance to charge over when our attack came
+to be made a few days later.
+
+The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack
+(24th of March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence
+on the 29th.  Ord, with three divisions of infantry and
+Mackenzie's cavalry, was to move in advance on the night of the
+27th, from the north side of the James River and take his place
+on our extreme left, thirty miles away.  He left Weitzel with
+the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda Hundred and
+the north of the James River.  The engineer brigade was to be
+left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about
+Petersburg. (*42)
+
+Ord was at his place promptly.  Humphreys and Warren were then
+on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps.  They were
+directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position
+in their places, to cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west
+toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from
+which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the
+Danville Railroad.  There was considerable fighting in taking up
+these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army
+of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses
+were quite severe.
+
+This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIV.
+
+INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE
+POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE
+FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE
+PETERSBURG.
+
+Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March.  His
+horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their
+shoes.  A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the
+animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for
+moving.  Immediately on General Sheridan's arrival at City Point
+I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided
+upon.  The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.
+
+After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked
+out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with
+him by himself--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a
+member of my staff.  In preparing his instructions I
+contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing
+Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and
+terminating the contest before separating from the enemy.  But
+the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the
+prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never
+terminate except by compromise.  Knowing that unless my plan
+proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous
+defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event
+he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of
+supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of
+the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the
+rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with
+Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces
+to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had
+received, to act in cooperation with the armies around
+Petersburg and Richmond.
+
+I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed
+somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut
+loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself
+between the two main armies of the enemy.  I said to him:
+"General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely
+as a blind;" and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore
+described.  I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to
+close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should
+go no farther.  His face at once brightened up, and slapping his
+hand on his leg he said:  "I am glad to hear it, and we can do
+it."
+
+Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks
+until he got further instructions from me.
+
+One day, after the movement I am about to describe had
+commenced, and when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far
+to the rear, south, Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters
+were then established, at Dabney's Mills.  He met some of my
+staff officers outside, and was highly jubilant over the
+prospects of success, giving reasons why he believed this would
+prove the final and successful effort.  Although my
+chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our
+position about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he
+asked Sheridan to come in to see me and say to me what he had
+been saying to them.  Sheridan felt a little modest about giving
+his advice where it had not been asked; so one of my staff came
+in and told me that Sheridan had what they considered important
+news, and suggested that I send for him.  I did so, and was glad
+to see the spirit of confidence with which he was imbued. Knowing
+as I did from experience, of what great value that feeling of
+confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a movement
+at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen after
+I had started out the roads were still very heavy.  Orders were
+given accordingly.
+
+Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having
+been a few days free from rain, the surface of the ground was
+dry, giving indications that the time had come when we could
+move.  On that date I moved out with all the army available
+after leaving sufficient force to hold the line about
+Petersburg.  It soon set in raining again however, and in a very
+short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and
+almost so for cavalry.  Sometimes a horse or mule would be
+standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot
+would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all
+his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of
+the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other
+southern States.  It became necessary therefore to build
+corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our
+artillery upon.  The army had become so accustomed to this kind
+of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very
+rapidly.  The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient
+progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan
+with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then
+come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus
+menacing the right of Lee's line.
+
+This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to
+the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right,
+or Five Forks.  The column moving detached from the army still in
+the trenches was, excluding the cavalry, very small.  The forces
+in the trenches were themselves extending to the left flank.
+Warren was on the extreme left when the extension began, but
+Humphreys was marched around later and thrown into line between
+him and Five Forks.
+
+My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get
+on the enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken
+their centre to protect their right so that an assault in the
+centre might be successfully made.  General Wright's corps had
+been designated to make this assault, which I intended to order
+as soon as information reached me of Sheridan's success.  He was
+to move under cover as close to the enemy as he could get.
+
+It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to
+be to get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville
+Railroad, as soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on
+the 29th.  These roads were so important to his very existence
+while he remained in Richmond and Petersburg, and of such vital
+importance to him even in case of retreat, that naturally he
+would make most strenuous efforts to defend them.  He did on the
+30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce Five Forks.  He
+also sent around to the right of his army some two or three other
+divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in
+readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on
+call.  He came over himself to superintend in person the defence
+of his right flank.
+
+Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the
+30th, and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks.  He
+had only his cavalry with him.  Soon encountering the rebel
+cavalry he met with a very stout resistance.  He gradually drove
+them back however until in the neighborhood of Five Forks.  Here
+he had to encounter other troops besides those he had been
+contending with, and was forced to give way.
+
+In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken
+place and stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie
+gradually and slowly, and asked me to send Wright's corps to his
+assistance.  I replied to him that it was impossible to send
+Wright's corps because that corps was already in line close up
+to the enemy, where we should want to assault when the proper
+time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but the 2d
+(Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left
+and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the
+left flank of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send
+Warren.
+
+Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that
+night (the 31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in
+communication with Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to
+him.  He was very slow in moving, some of his troops not
+starting until after 5 o'clock next morning.  When he did move
+it was done very deliberately, and on arriving at Gravelly Run
+he found the stream swollen from the recent rains so that he
+regarded it as not fordable.  Sheridan of course knew of his
+coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as
+possible, sent orders to him to hasten.  He was also hastened or
+at least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade.  He now
+felt that he could not cross that creek without bridges, and his
+orders were changed to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in
+flank or get in their rear; but he was so late in getting up that
+Sheridan determined to move forward without him.  However,
+Ayres's division of Warren's corps reached him in time to be in
+the fight all day, most of the time separated from the remainder
+of the 5th corps and fighting directly under Sheridan.
+
+Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the
+whole of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until
+late in the afternoon.  Griffin's division in backing to get out
+of the way of a severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching
+away from the fighting.  This did not continue long, however; the
+division was brought back and with Ayres's division did most
+excellent service during the day.  Crawford's division of the
+same corps had backed still farther off, and although orders
+were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was late before it
+finally got to where it could be of material assistance.  Once
+there it did very excellent service.
+
+Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little
+later, in advancing up to the point from which to make his
+designed assault upon Five Forks itself.  He was very impatient
+to make the assault and have it all over before night, because
+the ground he occupied would be untenable for him in bivouac
+during the night.  Unless the assault was made and was
+successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie
+Court-House, or even further than that for the night.
+
+It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get
+Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren.  He sent
+staff officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing
+that general to report to him, but they were unable to find
+him.  At all events Sheridan was unable to get that officer to
+him.  Finally he went himself.  He issued an order relieving
+Warren and assigning Griffin to the command of the 5th corps.
+The troops were then brought up and the assault successfully
+made.
+
+I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in
+the battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach
+Sheridan in time, that I was very much afraid that at the last
+moment he would fail Sheridan.  He was a man of fine
+intelligence, great earnestness, quick perception, and could
+make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, under
+difficulties where he was forced to act.  But I had before
+discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very
+prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just
+before us.  He could see every danger at a glance before he had
+encountered it.  He would not only make preparations to meet the
+danger which might occur, but he would inform his commanding
+officer what others should do while he was executing his move.
+
+I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his
+attention to these defects, and to say that as much as I liked
+General Warren, now was not a time when we could let our
+personal feelings for any one stand in the way of success; and
+if his removal was necessary to success, not to hesitate.  It
+was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed Warren.  I was
+very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still more that I
+had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another field
+of duty.
+
+It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the
+parapets of the enemy.  The two armies were mingled together
+there for a time in such manner that it was almost a question
+which one was going to demand the surrender of the other.  Soon,
+however, the enemy broke and ran in every direction; some six
+thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms in large
+quantities, falling into our hands.  The flying troops were
+pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under
+Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.
+
+This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when
+Sheridan halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of
+the part of the enemy's line which had been captured, returned,
+sending the 5th corps across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of
+Petersburg, and facing them toward it.  Merritt, with the
+cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of Five Forks.
+
+This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the
+1st of April.  I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and
+Parke at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d.  I also ordered
+the 2d corps, General Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army
+of the James, on the left, to hold themselves in readiness to
+take any advantage that could be taken from weakening in their
+front.
+
+I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day;
+in fact I had reported to him during the day and evening as I
+got news, because he was so much interested in the movements
+taking place that I wanted to relieve his mind as much as I
+could.  I notified Weitzel on the north side of the James River,
+directing him, also, to keep close up to the enemy, and take
+advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to promptly
+enter the city of Richmond.
+
+I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks
+as of so much importance that he would make a last desperate
+effort to retake it, risking everything upon the cast of a
+single die.  It was for this reason that I had ordered the
+assault to take place at once, as soon as I had received the
+news of the capture of Five Forks.  The corps commanders,
+however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not see
+to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But
+we kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the
+whole line including that north of the James River, until it was
+light enough to move, which was about a quarter to five in the
+morning.
+
+At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed,
+brushed the abatis from their front as they advanced under a
+heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and went without flinching
+directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves
+inside of the enemy's line.  Parke, who was on the right, swept
+down to the right and captured a very considerable length of
+line in that direction, but at that point the outer was so near
+the inner line which closely enveloped the city of Petersburg
+that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a very
+serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the
+defence of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in
+this.
+
+Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run,
+sweeping everything before him.  The enemy had traverses in rear
+of his captured line, under cover of which he made something of a
+stand, from one to another, as Wright moved on; but the latter
+met no serious obstacle.  As you proceed to the left the outer
+line becomes gradually much farther from the inner one, and
+along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly two miles apart.
+Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of
+artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of
+them.
+
+In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the
+instructions they had received, had succeeded by daylight, or
+very early in the morning, in capturing the intrenched
+picket-lines in their front; and before Wright got up to that
+point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of the enemy's
+intrenchments.  The second corps soon followed; and the outer
+works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops,
+never to be wrenched from them again.  When Wright reached
+Hatcher's Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side
+Railroad just outside of the city.
+
+My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills.  As soon as I
+received the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches
+announcing the fact to all points around the line, including the
+troops at Bermuda Hundred and those on the north side of the
+James, and to the President at City Point.  Further dispatches
+kept coming in, and as they did I sent the additional news to
+these points.  Finding at length that they were all in, I
+mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works.
+When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as
+Wright's three thousand prisoners were coming out.  I was soon
+joined inside by General Meade and his staff.
+
+Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost
+ground.  Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but
+repulsed every effort.  Before noon Longstreet was ordered up
+from the north side of the James River thus bringing the bulk of
+Lee's army around to the support of his extreme right.  As soon
+as I learned this I notified Weitzel and directed him to keep up
+close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, commanding the Bermuda
+Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they found any break
+to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this would
+separate Richmond and Petersburg.
+
+Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to
+Petersburg, coming in on our left.  This gave us a continuous
+line from the Appomattox River below the city to the same river
+above.  At eleven o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I
+reinforced Parke with two brigades from City Point.  With this
+additional force he completed his captured works for better
+defence, and built back from his right, so as to protect his
+flank.  He also carried in and made an abatis between himself
+and the enemy.  Lee brought additional troops and artillery
+against Parke even after this was done, and made several
+assaults with very heavy losses.
+
+The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to
+Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and
+Fort Whitworth.  We thought it had now become necessary to carry
+them by assault.  About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was
+assaulted by Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's),
+supported by two brigades from Ord's command.  The battle was
+desperate and the National troops were repulsed several times;
+but it was finally carried, and immediately the troops in Fort
+Whitworth evacuated the place.  The guns of Fort Gregg were
+turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding officer
+with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.
+
+I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan.  In
+moving to execute this order he came upon the enemy at the
+intersection of the White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road.  The
+enemy fell back to Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and
+were followed by Miles.  This position, naturally a strong and
+defensible one, was also strongly intrenched.  Sheridan now came
+up and Miles asked permission from him to make the assault, which
+Sheridan gave.  By this time Humphreys had got through the outer
+works in his front, and came up also and assumed command over
+Miles, who commanded a division in his corps.  I had sent an
+order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards
+Petersburg.  This order he now got, and started off, thus
+leaving Miles alone.  The latter made two assaults, both of
+which failed, and he had to fall back a few hundred yards.
+
+Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed
+Humphreys to send a division back to his relief.  He went
+himself.
+
+Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent
+Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate
+cavalry that had assembled there.  Merritt drove them north to
+the Appomattox River.  Sheridan then took the enemy at
+Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and
+the two together captured the place, with a large number of
+prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder,
+portions of three Confederate corps, to flight.  Sheridan
+followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was
+stopped.  Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he
+with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault.  I cannot
+explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to
+City Point that evening:
+
+
+BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG,
+April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M.
+
+COLONEL T. S. BOWERS,
+City Point.
+
+We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few
+hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to
+the river above.  Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of
+them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either
+designedly on their part or because they could not help it.
+Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them.  Miles's
+division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to
+Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met
+them, and at last accounts was engaged with them.  Not knowing
+whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was
+sent with another division from here.  The whole captures since
+the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve
+thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery.  I do not
+know the number of men and guns accurately however.  * * *  I
+think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the
+river above to the river below.  I ordered a bombardment to be
+commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an
+assault at six o'clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early
+in the morning.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXV.
+
+THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN
+PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--
+VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.
+
+General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d
+and took a position under cover of a house which protected us
+from the enemy's musketry which was flying thick and fast
+there.  As we would occasionally look around the corner we could
+see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the
+bridge, packed with the Confederate army.  I did not have
+artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make
+his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit.  At all
+events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass
+of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.
+
+Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man
+came in who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of
+Northern Virginia.  He said that Lee had for some time been at
+work preparing a strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he
+would throw himself when forced out of Petersburg, and fight his
+final battle there; that he was actually at that time drawing his
+troops from Richmond, and falling back into this prepared work.
+This statement was made to General Meade and myself when we were
+together.  I had already given orders for the movement up the
+south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading off Lee;
+but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he
+thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move
+against Lee in his new position.  I knew that Lee was no fool,
+as he would have been to have put himself and his army between
+two formidable streams like the James and Appomattox rivers, and
+between two such armies as those of the Potomac and the James.
+Then these streams coming together as they did to the east of
+him, it would be only necessary to close up in the west to have
+him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or possibility of
+reinforcement.  It would only have been a question of days, and
+not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him
+by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to
+surrender his army.  Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war
+to deceive your antagonist.  My judgment was that Lee would
+necessarily have to evacuate Richmond, and that the only course
+for him to pursue would be to follow the Danville Road.
+Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that road south
+of Lee, and I told Meade this.  He suggested that if Lee was
+going that way we would follow him.  My reply was that we did
+not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut
+him off, and if he would only stay in the position he (Meade)
+believed him to be in at that time, I wanted nothing better;
+that when we got in possession of the Danville Railroad, at its
+crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still found him between
+the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward and close
+him up.  That we would then have all the advantage we could
+possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg,
+even if he remained in the position assigned him by the engineer
+officer.
+
+I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so
+as to start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning,
+supposing that Lee would be gone during the night.  During the
+night I strengthened Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.
+
+Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond,
+during the day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it
+would be impossible for him to hold out longer than night, if he
+could hold out that long.  Davis was at church when he received
+Lee's dispatch.  The congregation was dismissed with the notice
+that there would be no evening service.  The rebel government
+left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d.
+
+At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court
+House, his object being to get away, join Johnston if possible,
+and to try to crush Sherman before I could get there.  As soon
+as I was sure of this I notified Sheridan and directed him to
+move out on the Danville Railroad to the south side of the
+Appomattox River as speedily as possible.  He replied that he
+already had some of his command nine miles out.  I then ordered
+the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the
+same road in the morning.  Parke's corps followed by the same
+road, and the Army of the James was directed to follow the road
+which ran alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's
+Station, and to repair the railroad and telegraph as they
+proceeded.  That road was a 5 feet gauge, while our rolling
+stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; consequently the
+rail on one side of the track had to be taken up throughout the
+whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of our
+cars and locomotives.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some
+days.  I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only
+while I felt a strong conviction that the move was going to be
+successful, yet it might not prove so; and then I would have
+only added another to the many disappointments he had been
+suffering for the past three years.  But when we started out he
+saw that we were moving for a purpose, and bidding us Godspeed,
+remained there to hear the result.
+
+The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed
+Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I
+would await his arrival.  I had started all the troops out early
+in the morning, so that after the National army left Petersburg
+there was not a soul to be seen, not even an animal in the
+streets.  There was absolutely no one there, except my staff
+officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry.  We had
+selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until
+the President arrived.
+
+About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm
+congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and
+to the army which had accomplished it, was:  "Do you know,
+general, that I have had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days
+that you intended to do something like this."  Our movements
+having been successful up to this point, I no longer had any
+object in concealing from the President all my movements, and
+the objects I had in view.  He remained for some days near City
+Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by
+telegraph.
+
+Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join
+me at a fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's
+army.  I told him that I had been very anxious to have the
+Eastern armies vanquish their old enemy who had so long resisted
+all their repeated and gallant attempts to subdue them or drive
+them from their capital.  The Western armies had been in the
+main successful until they had conquered all the territory from
+the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and were
+now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking
+admittance.  I said to him that if the Western armies should be
+even upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the
+credit would be given to them for the capture, by politicians
+and non-combatants from the section of country which those
+troops hailed from.  It might lead to disagreeable bickerings
+between members of Congress of the East and those of the West in
+some of their debates.  Western members might be throwing it up
+to the members of the East that in the suppression of the
+rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to
+accomplish much in the way of contributing toward that end, but
+had to wait until the Western armies had conquered all the
+territory south and west of them, and then come on to help them
+capture the only army they had been engaged with.
+
+Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it
+before, because his anxiety was so great that he did not care
+where the aid came from so the work was done.
+
+The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four
+years' record in the suppression of the rebellion.  The army it
+had to fight was the protection to the capital of a people which
+was attempting to found a nation upon the territory of the United
+States.  Its loss would be the loss of the cause.  Every energy,
+therefore, was put forth by the Confederacy to protect and
+maintain their capital.  Everything else would go if it went.
+Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to maintain its
+position, no matter what territory was wrested from the South in
+another quarter.
+
+I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between
+the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has
+been none between the politicians.  Possibly I am the only one
+who thought of the liability of such a state of things in
+advance.
+
+When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his
+horse and started on his return to City Point, while I and my
+staff started to join the army, now a good many miles in
+advance.  Up to this time I had not received the report of the
+capture of Richmond.
+
+Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from
+General Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession
+of Richmond at about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day,
+the 3d, and that he had found the city on fire in two places.
+The city was in the most utter confusion.  The authorities had
+taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter,
+and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government
+had left, for the people to gather up.  The city had been
+deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any
+notice whatever that they were about to leave.  In fact, up to
+the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to
+believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere
+around Petersburg.
+
+Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in
+Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers
+in the town.  The city was on fire.  Our troops were directed to
+extinguish the flames, which they finally succeeded in doing.
+The fire had been started by some one connected with the
+retreating army.  All authorities deny that it was authorized,
+and I presume it was the work of excited men who were leaving
+what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it
+was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of
+their enemy.  Be that as it may, the National troops found the
+city in flames, and used every effort to extinguish them.
+
+The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them,
+were cut off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued
+by our cavalry so hotly and closely that they threw away
+caissons, ammunition, clothing, and almost everything to lighten
+their loads, and pushed along up the Appomattox River until
+finally they took water and crossed over.
+
+I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join
+the command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine
+miles out.  We had still time to march as much farther, and time
+was an object; but the roads were bad and the trains belonging to
+the advance corps had blocked up the road so that it was
+impossible to get on.  Then, again, our cavalry had struck some
+of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the orders were that
+the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever they
+appeared.  This caused further delay.
+
+General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which
+were left back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into
+bivouac and trying to get up some rations for them, and clearing
+out the road, so that when they did start they would be
+uninterrupted.  Humphreys, who was far ahead, was also out of
+rations.  They did not succeed in getting them up through the
+night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were so
+elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a
+victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations
+to running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them.  So
+the march was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.
+
+Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven
+them north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were
+forced to cross.
+
+On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations
+up from Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to
+meet him at Farmville.  This showed that Lee had already
+abandoned the idea of following the railroad down to Danville,
+but had determined to go farther west, by the way of
+Farmville.  I notified Sheridan of this and directed him to get
+possession of the road before the supplies could reach Lee.  He
+responded that he had already sent Crook's division to get upon
+the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face north
+and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought
+Crook must be there now.  The bulk of the army moved directly
+for Jetersville by two roads.
+
+After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that
+Crook was on the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to
+make a forced march with the Army of the Potomac, and to send
+Parke's corps across from the road they were on to the South
+Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the Army of the James and
+to protect the railroad which that army was repairing as it went
+along.
+
+Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph
+office, they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred
+thousand rations from Danville.  The dispatch had not been sent,
+but Sheridan sent a special messenger with it to Burkesville and
+had it forwarded from there.  In the meantime, however,
+dispatches from other sources had reached Danville, and they
+knew there that our army was on the line of the road; so that
+they sent no further supplies from that quarter.
+
+At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off
+between the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on
+and the Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in
+flank.  They picked up a great many prisoners and forced the
+abandonment of some property.
+
+Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his
+advance north of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect
+forage.  The country was very poor and afforded but very
+little.  His foragers scattered a great deal; many of them were
+picked up by our men, and many others never returned to the Army
+of Northern Virginia.
+
+Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of
+Jetersville, and Sheridan notified me of the situation.  I again
+ordered Meade up with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one
+corps of infantry with a little cavalry confronting Lee's entire
+army.  Meade, always prompt in obeying orders, now pushed forward
+with great energy, although he was himself sick and hardly able
+to be out of bed.  Humphreys moved at two, and Wright at three
+o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have said, the
+wagons being far in the rear.
+
+I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side
+Railroad.  On the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of
+the progress Meade was making, and suggested that he might now
+attack Lee.  We had now no other objective than the Confederate
+armies, and I was anxious to close the thing up at once.
+
+On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about
+ten miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I
+then received from Sheridan the following dispatch:
+
+"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and
+on this side of it.  General Davies, whom I sent out to
+Painesville on their right flank, has just captured six pieces
+of artillery and some wagons.  We can capture the Army of
+Northern Virginia if force enough can be thrown to this point,
+and then advance upon it.  My cavalry was at Burkesville
+yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last
+night.  General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person.  They
+are out of rations, or nearly so.  They were advancing up the
+railroad towards Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them
+at this point."
+
+It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to
+his provisions.
+
+Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards
+Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him.
+Davies found the movement had already commenced.  He attacked
+and drove away their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the
+west, capturing and burning 180 wagons.  He also captured five
+pieces of artillery.  The Confederate infantry then moved
+against him and probably would have handled him very roughly,
+but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of cavalry to follow
+Davies, and they came to his relief in time.  A sharp engagement
+took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the
+enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.
+
+Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the
+afternoon, but in advance of all his troops.  The head of
+Humphreys's corps followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan
+stationed the troops as they came up, at Meade's request, the
+latter still being very sick.  He extended two divisions of this
+corps off to the west of the road to the left of Griffin's corps,
+and one division to the right.  The cavalry by this time had also
+come up, and they were put still farther off to the left,
+Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the
+enemy intended to escape.  He wanted to attack, feeling that if
+time was given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented
+this, preferring to wait till his troops were all up.
+
+At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed
+to him by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he
+wished I was there myself.  The letter was dated Amelia Court
+House, April 5th, and signed by Colonel Taylor.  It was to his
+mother, and showed the demoralization of the Confederate army.
+Sheridan's note also gave me the information as here related of
+the movements of that day.  I received a second message from
+Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more emphatically the
+importance of my presence.  This was brought to me by a scout in
+gray uniform.  It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up in
+tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in.  This was a
+precaution taken so that if the scout should be captured he
+could take this tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into
+his mouth, chew it.  It would cause no surprise at all to see a
+Confederate soldier chewing tobacco.  It was nearly night when
+this letter was received.  I gave Ord directions to continue his
+march to Burkesville and there intrench himself for the night,
+and in the morning to move west to cut off all the roads between
+there and Farmville.
+
+I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of
+cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's
+army.  The distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being
+dark our progress was slow through the woods in the absence of
+direct roads.  However, we got to the outposts about ten o'clock
+in the evening, and after some little parley convinced the
+sentinels of our identity and were conducted in to where
+Sheridan was bivouacked.  We talked over the situation for some
+little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was
+trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to
+the right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of
+escaping us and putting us in rear of him.
+
+We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about
+midnight.  I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow
+the enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders
+would allow the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no
+doubt that Lee was moving right then.  Meade changed his orders
+at once.  They were now given for an advance on Amelia Court
+House, at an early hour in the morning, as the army then lay;
+that is, the infantry being across the railroad, most of it to
+the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out still farther
+to the left.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVI.
+
+BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE
+--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.
+
+The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the
+south-west from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville
+Railroad bridge, and then trends north-westerly.  Sailor's
+Creek, an insignificant stream, running northward, empties into
+the Appomattox between the High Bridge and Jetersville.  Near
+the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to Lynchburg
+crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge.  The railroad
+runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles
+west, and from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of
+it.  The roads coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross
+the Appomattox River there on a bridge and run on the north
+side, leaving the Lynchburg and Petersburg Railroad well to the
+left.
+
+Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of
+all the roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to
+move upon, and never permitted the head of his columns to stop
+because of any fighting that might be going on in his rear.  In
+this way he came very near succeeding in getting to his
+provision trains and eluding us with at least part of his army.
+
+As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and
+our army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered
+them.  There was a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek
+was reached.  Our cavalry charged in upon a body of theirs which
+was escorting a wagon train in order to get it past our left.  A
+severe engagement ensued, in which we captured many prisoners,
+and many men also were killed and wounded.  There was as much
+gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in these little
+engagements as was displayed at any time during the war,
+notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.
+
+The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy
+engagement took place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry
+were all brought into action.  Our men on the right, as they
+were brought in against the enemy, came in on higher ground, and
+upon his flank, giving us every advantage to be derived from the
+lay of the country.  Our firing was also very much more rapid,
+because the enemy commenced his retreat westward and in firing
+as he retreated had to turn around every time he fired.  The
+enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded as in
+captures.  Some six general officers fell into our hands in this
+engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners.  This
+engagement was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the
+6th, and the retreat and pursuit were continued until nightfall,
+when the armies bivouacked upon the ground where the night had
+overtaken them.
+
+When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that
+morning, I ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme
+right, to be moved to the left past the whole army, to take the
+place of Griffin's, and ordered the latter at the same time to
+move by and place itself on the right.  The object of this
+movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, next to the
+cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously and
+so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.
+
+The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's
+direct command until after the surrender.
+
+Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads
+southward between Burkesville and the High Bridge.  On the
+morning of the 6th he sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry
+regiments with instructions to destroy High Bridge and to return
+rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he prepared himself to resist
+the enemy there.  Soon after Washburn had started Ord became a
+little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel Read, of his
+staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and bring
+him back.  Very shortly after this he heard that the head of
+Lee's column had got up to the road between him and where
+Washburn now was, and attempted to send reinforcements, but the
+reinforcements could not get through.  Read, however, had got
+through ahead of the enemy.  He rode on to Farmville and was on
+his way back again when he found his return cut off, and
+Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's army.  Read
+drew his men up into line of battle, his force now consisting of
+less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode along
+their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the
+same enthusiasm that he himself felt.  He then gave the order to
+charge.  This little band made several charges, of course
+unsuccessful ones, but inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than
+equal to their own entire number.  Colonel Read fell mortally
+wounded, and then Washburn; and at the close of the conflict
+nearly every officer of the command and most of the rank and
+file had been either killed or wounded.  The remainder then
+surrendered.  The Confederates took this to be only the advance
+of a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to
+intrench; so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked
+the progress of a strong detachment of the Confederate army.
+
+This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains
+following.  Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road
+bridge near the High Bridge, and attempted to destroy it.  He
+did set fire to it, but the flames had made but little headway
+when Humphreys came up with his corps and drove away the
+rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it was being
+burned up.  Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, and
+followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at
+Farmville with the one from Petersburg.  Here Lee held a
+position which was very strong, naturally, besides being
+intrenched.  Humphreys was alone, confronting him all through
+the day, and in a very hazardous position.  He put on a bold
+face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was not
+assaulted in return.
+
+Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's
+Court House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in
+between Griffin and the Appomattox.  Crook's division of cavalry
+and Wright's corps pushed on west of Farmville.  When the
+cavalry reached Farmville they found that some of the
+Confederates were in ahead of them, and had already got their
+trains of provisions back to that point; but our troops were in
+time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, although
+they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did
+not get them for some time.  These troops retreated to the north
+side of the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying
+the bridge after them.  Considerable fighting ensued there
+between Wright's corps and a portion of our cavalry and the
+Confederates, but finally the cavalry forded the stream and
+drove them away.  Wright built a foot-bridge for his men to
+march over on and then marched out to the junction of the roads
+to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night.  I had stopped
+the night before at Burkesville Junction.  Our troops were then
+pretty much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital
+there, and Ord's command was extended from that point towards
+Farmville.
+
+Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular
+army, who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one
+of the prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when
+we had got across the James River he knew their cause was lost,
+and it was the duty of their authorities to make the best terms
+they could while they still had a right to claim concessions.
+The authorities thought differently, however.  Now the cause was
+lost and they had no right to claim anything.  He said further,
+that for every man that was killed after this in the war
+somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little better
+than murder.  He was not sure that Lee would consent to
+surrender his army without being able to consult with the
+President, but he hoped he would.
+
+I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the
+day.  Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the
+south.  Meade was back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys
+confronting Lee as before stated.  After having gone into
+bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, Sheridan learned that
+seven trains of provisions and forage were at Appomattox, and
+determined to start at once and capture them; and a forced march
+was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could
+secure them.  He wrote me a note telling me this.  This fact,
+together with the incident related the night before by Dr.
+Smith, gave me the idea of opening correspondence with General
+Lee on the subject of the surrender of his army.  I therefore
+wrote to him on this day, as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+5 P.M., April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:
+
+
+April 7, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I have received your note of this day.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+R. E. LEE,
+General.
+
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT,
+Commanding Armies of the U. S.
+
+
+This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving
+another letter and wrote him as follows:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of last evening in reply to mine of same date, asking
+the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army
+of Northern Virginia is just received.  In reply I would say
+that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I
+would insist upon, namely:  that the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia
+will be received.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+Lee's army was rapidly crumbling.  Many of his soldiers had
+enlisted from that part of the State where they now were, and
+were continually dropping out of the ranks and going to their
+homes.  I know that I occupied a hotel almost destitute of
+furniture at Farmville, which had probably been used as a
+Confederate hospital.  The next morning when I came out I found
+a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and said that he
+was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel of a
+regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood.  He said
+that when he came along past home, he found that he was the only
+man of the regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped
+out, and now wanted to surrender himself.  I told him to stay
+there and he would not be molested.  That was one regiment which
+had been eliminated from Lee's force by this crumbling process.
+
+Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved
+with alacrity and without any straggling.  They began to see the
+end of what they had been fighting four years for.  Nothing
+seemed to fatigue them.  They were ready to move without rations
+and travel without rest until the end.  Straggling had entirely
+ceased, and every man was now a rival for the front.  The
+infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry could.
+
+Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of
+Appomattox Station, which is about five miles south-west of the
+Court House, to get west of the trains and destroy the roads to
+the rear.  They got there the night of the 8th, and succeeded
+partially; but some of the train men had just discovered the
+movement of our troops and succeeded in running off three of the
+trains.  The other four were held by Custer.
+
+The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning
+of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union
+soldiers near.  The Confederates were surprised to find our
+cavalry had possession of the trains.  However, they were
+desperate and at once assaulted, hoping to recover them.  In the
+melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one of the trains,
+but not in getting anything from it.  Custer then ordered the
+other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the
+fight continued.
+
+So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were
+engaged.  Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the
+rear, no doubt expecting they had nothing to meet but our
+cavalry.  But our infantry had pushed forward so rapidly that by
+the time the enemy got up they found Griffin's corps and the Army
+of the James confronting them.  A sharp engagement ensued, but
+Lee quickly set up a white flag.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVII.
+
+NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S
+HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH
+LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.
+
+On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of
+Lee.  I was suffering very severely with a sick headache, and
+stopped at a farmhouse on the road some distance in rear of the
+main body of the army.  I spent the night in bathing my feet in
+hot water and mustard, and putting mustard plasters on my wrists
+and the back part of my neck, hoping to be cured by morning.
+During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter of the
+8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following
+morning. (*43)  But it was for a different purpose from that of
+surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S.,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. A.
+
+Your note of yesterday is received.  As I have no authority to
+treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M.
+to-day could lead to no good.  I will state, however, General,
+that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole
+North entertains the same feeling.  The terms upon which peace
+can be had are well understood.  By the South laying down their
+arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands
+of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet
+destroyed.  Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be
+settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself,
+etc.,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering
+with the headache, to get to the head of the column.  I was not
+more than two or three miles from Appomattox Court House at the
+time, but to go direct I would have to pass through Lee's army,
+or a portion of it.  I had therefore to move south in order to
+get upon a road coming up from another direction.
+
+When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I
+was in this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and
+consequently could not be communicated with immediately, and be
+informed of what Lee had done.  Lee, therefore, sent a flag to
+the rear to advise Meade and one to the front to Sheridan,
+saying that he had sent a message to me for the purpose of
+having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his army, and
+asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be
+communicated with.  As they had heard nothing of this until the
+fighting had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of
+these commanders hesitated very considerably about suspending
+hostilities at all.  They were afraid it was not in good faith,
+and we had the Army of Northern Virginia where it could not
+escape except by some deception.  They, however, finally
+consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours to give
+an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if
+possible.  It was found that, from the route I had taken, they
+would probably not be able to communicate with me and get an
+answer back within the time fixed unless the messenger should
+pass through the rebel lines.
+
+Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this
+message through his lines to me.
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:  I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in
+your letter of yesterday for that purpose.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT
+Commanding U. S. Armies.
+
+
+When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick
+headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was
+cured.  I wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:
+
+
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL R. E. LEE,
+Commanding C. S. Armies.
+
+Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received,
+in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and
+Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road.  I am at
+this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will
+push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice
+sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take
+place will meet me.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his
+troops drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army
+near by.  They were very much excited, and expressed their view
+that this was all a ruse employed to enable the Confederates to
+get away.  They said they believed that Johnston was marching up
+from North Carolina now, and Lee was moving to join him; and they
+would whip the rebels where they now were in five minutes if I
+would only let them go in.  But I had no doubt about the good
+faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he was.  I
+found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court
+House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers,
+awaiting my arrival.  The head of his column was occupying a
+hill, on a portion of which was an apple orchard, beyond a
+little valley which separated it from that on the crest of which
+Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle to the south.
+
+Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I
+will give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.
+
+Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told
+until they are believed to be true.  The war of the rebellion
+was no exception to this rule, and the story of the apple tree
+is one of those fictions based on a slight foundation of fact.
+As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the
+hill occupied by the Confederate forces.  Running diagonally up
+the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, ran very near
+one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on that
+side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little
+embankment.  General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that
+when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this
+embankment with his feet in the road below and his back resting
+against the tree.  The story had no other foundation than
+that.  Like many other stories, it would be very good if it was
+only true.
+
+I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him
+in the Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference
+in our age and rank, that he would remember me, while I would
+more naturally remember him distinctly, because he was the chief
+of staff of General Scott in the Mexican War.
+
+When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the
+result that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough
+garb.  I was without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback
+on the field, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the
+shoulder straps of my rank to indicate to the army who I was.
+When I went into the house I found General Lee.  We greeted each
+other, and after shaking hands took our seats.  I had my staff
+with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the
+whole of the interview.
+
+What General Lee's feelings were I do not know.  As he was a man
+of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to
+say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come,
+or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it.
+Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my
+observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant
+on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed.  I felt
+like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who
+had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a
+cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for
+which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the
+least excuse.  I do not question, however, the sincerity of the
+great mass of those who were opposed to us.
+
+General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely
+new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely
+the sword which had been presented by the State of Virginia; at
+all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that
+would ordinarily be worn in the field.  In my rough traveling
+suit, the uniform of a private with the straps of a
+lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a
+man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of faultless form.
+But this was not a matter that I thought of until afterwards.
+
+We soon fell into a conversation about old army times.  He
+remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I
+told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly,
+but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about
+sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very
+likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be
+remembered by him after such a long interval.  Our conversation
+grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our
+meeting.  After the conversation had run on in this style for
+some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our
+meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the
+purpose of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his
+army.  I said that I meant merely that his army should lay down
+their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of
+the war unless duly and properly exchanged.  He said that he had
+so understood my letter.
+
+Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters
+foreign to the subject which had brought us together.  This
+continued for some little time, when General Lee again
+interrupted the course of the conversation by suggesting that
+the terms I proposed to give his army ought to be written out. I
+called to General Parker, secretary on my staff, for writing
+materials, and commenced writing out the following terms:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+
+Ap 19th, 1865.
+
+GEN. R. E. LEE,
+Comd'g C. S. A.
+
+GEN:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of
+the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of
+N. Va. on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls of all the officers
+and men to be made in duplicate.  One copy to be given to an
+officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such
+officer or officers as you may designate.  The officers to give
+their individual paroles not to take up arms against the
+Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and
+each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the
+men of their commands.  The arms, artillery and public property
+to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer
+appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace the
+side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+Very respectfully,
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lt. Gen.
+
+
+When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word
+that I should make use of in writing the terms.  I only knew
+what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that
+there could be no mistaking it.  As I wrote on, the thought
+occurred to me that the officers had their own private horses
+and effects, which were important to them, but of no value to
+us; also that it would be an unnecessary humiliation to call
+upon them to deliver their side arms.
+
+No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and
+myself, either about private property, side arms, or kindred
+subjects.  He appeared to have no objections to the terms first
+proposed; or if he had a point to make against them he wished to
+wait until they were in writing to make it.  When he read over
+that part of the terms about side arms, horses and private
+property of the officers, he remarked, with some feeling, I
+thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his army.
+
+Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked
+to me again that their army was organized a little differently
+from the army of the United States (still maintaining by
+implication that we were two countries); that in their army the
+cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses; and he asked
+if he was to understand that the men who so owned their horses
+were to be permitted to retain them.  I told him that as the
+terms were written they would not; that only the officers were
+permitted to take their private property.  He then, after
+reading over the terms a second time, remarked that that was
+clear.
+
+I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last
+battle of the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I
+took it that most of the men in the ranks were small farmers.
+The whole country had been so raided by the two armies that it
+was doubtful whether they would be able to put in a crop to
+carry themselves and their families through the next winter
+without the aid of the horses they were then riding.  The United
+States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the
+officers I left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to
+let every man of the Confederate army who claimed to own a horse
+or mule take the animal to his home.  Lee remarked again that
+this would have a happy effect.
+
+He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
+April 9, 1865.
+
+GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the
+terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted.  I
+will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the
+stipulations into effect.
+
+R. E. LEE, General.
+LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.
+
+
+While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union
+generals present were severally presented to General Lee.
+
+The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it
+back, this and much more that has been said about it is the
+purest romance.  The word sword or side arms was not mentioned
+by either of us until I wrote it in the terms.  There was no
+premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I
+wrote it down.  If I had happened to omit it, and General Lee
+had called my attention to it, I should have put it in the terms
+precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers
+retaining their horses.
+
+General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his
+leave, remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for
+want of food, and that they were without forage; that his men
+had been living for some days on parched corn exclusively, and
+that he would have to ask me for rations and forage.  I told him
+"certainly," and asked for how many men he wanted rations.  His
+answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I authorized him to
+send his own commissary and quartermaster to Appomattox Station,
+two or three miles away, where he could have, out of the trains
+we had stopped, all the provisions wanted.  As for forage, we
+had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.
+
+Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to
+carry into effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they
+should start for their homes--General Lee leaving Generals
+Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for them to confer with in
+order to facilitate this work.  Lee and I then separated as
+cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and all
+went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.
+
+Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as
+follows:
+
+
+HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,
+April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War,
+Washington.
+
+General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this
+afternoon on terms proposed by myself.  The accompanying
+additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men
+commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the
+victory.  I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped.  The
+Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult
+over their downfall.
+
+I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to
+putting a stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now
+deemed other useless outlay of money.  Before leaving, however,
+I thought I (*44) would like to see General Lee again; so next
+morning I rode out beyond our lines towards his headquarters,
+preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer carrying a white flag.
+
+Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me.  We
+had there between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very
+pleasant conversation of over half an hour, in the course of
+which Lee said to me that the South was a big country and that
+we might have to march over it three or four times before the
+war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do it as
+they could no longer resist us.  He expressed it as his earnest
+hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more
+loss and sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the
+result.  I then suggested to General Lee that there was not a
+man in the Confederacy whose influence with the soldiery and the
+whole people was as great as his, and that if he would now advise
+the surrender of all the armies I had no doubt his advice would
+be followed with alacrity.  But Lee said, that he could not do
+that without consulting the President first.  I knew there was
+no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of what was
+right.
+
+I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom
+seemed to have a great desire to go inside the Confederate
+lines.  They finally asked permission of Lee to do so for the
+purpose of seeing some of their old army friends, and the
+permission was granted.  They went over, had a very pleasant
+time with their old friends, and brought some of them back with
+them when they returned.
+
+When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I
+returned to the house of Mr. McLean.  Here the officers of both
+armies came in great numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as
+much as though they had been friends separated for a long time
+while fighting battles under the same flag.  For the time being
+it looked very much as if all thought of the war had escaped
+their minds.  After an hour pleasantly passed in this way I set
+out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort,
+for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by
+this time been repaired.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXVIII.
+
+MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND
+SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT
+WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT
+JOHNSON'S POLICY.
+
+After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac
+and the James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale
+of the National troops had greatly improved.  There was no more
+straggling, no more rear guards.  The men who in former times
+had been falling back, were now, as I have already stated,
+striving to get to the front.  For the first time in four weary
+years they felt that they were now nearing the time when they
+could return to their homes with their country saved.  On the
+other hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly
+depressed.  Their despondency increased with each returning day,
+and especially after the battle of Sailor's Creek.  They threw
+away their arms in constantly increasing numbers, dropping out
+of the ranks and betaking themselves to the woods in the hope of
+reaching their homes.  I have already instanced the case of the
+entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met at
+Farmville.  As a result of these and other influences, when Lee
+finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356
+officers and men left to be paroled, and many of these were
+without arms.  It was probably this latter fact which gave rise
+to the statement sometimes made, North and South, that Lee
+surrendered a smaller number of men than what the official
+figures show.  As a matter of official record, and in addition
+to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March
+29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say
+nothing of Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing,
+during the series of desperate conflicts which marked his
+headlong and determined flight.  The same record shows the
+number of cannon, including those at Appomattox, to have been
+689 between the dates named.
+
+There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the
+number of troops engaged in every battle, or all important
+battles, fought between the sections, the South magnifying the
+number of Union troops engaged and belittling their own.
+Northern writers have fallen, in many instances, into the same
+error.  I have often heard gentlemen, who were thoroughly loyal
+to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South had made
+and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with
+their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the
+twelve four being colored slaves, non-combatants.  I will add to
+their argument.  We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who
+volunteered under great difficulty from the twelve million
+belonging to the South.
+
+But the South had rebelled against the National government.  It
+was not bound by any constitutional restrictions.  The whole
+South was a military camp.  The occupation of the colored people
+was to furnish supplies for the army.  Conscription was resorted
+to early, and embraced every male from the age of eighteen to
+forty-five, excluding only those physically unfit to serve in
+the field, and the necessary number of civil officers of State
+and intended National government.  The old and physically
+disabled furnished a good portion of these.  The slaves, the
+non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in
+the field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to
+age.  Children from the age of eight years could and did handle
+the hoe; they were not much older when they began to hold the
+plough.  The four million of colored non-combatants were equal
+to more than three times their number in the North, age for age
+and sex for sex, in supplying food from the soil to support
+armies.  Women did not work in the fields in the North, and
+children attended school.
+
+The arts of peace were carried on in the North.  Towns and
+cities grew during the war.  Inventions were made in all kinds
+of machinery to increase the products of a day's labor in the
+shop, and in the field.  In the South no opposition was allowed
+to the government which had been set up and which would have
+become real and respected if the rebellion had been
+successful.  No rear had to be protected.  All the troops in
+service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of
+ground threatened with invasion.  The press of the South, like
+the people who remained at home, were loyal to the Southern
+cause.
+
+In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented
+about the same appearance they do in time of peace.  The furnace
+was in blast, the shops were filled with workmen, the fields were
+cultivated, not only to supply the population of the North and
+the troops invading the South, but to ship abroad to pay a part
+of the expense of the war.  In the North the press was free up
+to the point of open treason.  The citizen could entertain his
+views and express them.  Troops were necessary in the Northern
+States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being
+released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by
+fire our Northern cities.  Plans were formed by Northern and
+Southern citizens to burn our cities, to poison the water
+supplying them, to spread infection by importing clothing from
+infected regions, to blow up our river and lake steamers
+--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives.  The
+copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel
+successes, and belittled those of the Union army.  It was, with
+a large following, an auxiliary to the Confederate army.  The
+North would have been much stronger with a hundred thousand of
+these men in the Confederate ranks and the rest of their kind
+thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment was in the South,
+than we were as the battle was fought.
+
+As I have said, the whole South was a military camp.  The
+colored people, four million in number, were submissive, and
+worked in the field and took care of the families while the
+able-bodied white men were at the front fighting for a cause
+destined to defeat.  The cause was popular, and was
+enthusiastically supported by the young men.  The conscription
+took all of them.  Before the war was over, further
+conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of
+age as junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty
+as senior reserves.  It would have been an offence, directly
+after the war, and perhaps it would be now, to ask any
+able-bodied man in the South, who was between the ages of
+fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, whether he had
+been in the Confederate army.  He would assert that he had, or
+account for his absence from the ranks.  Under such
+circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a
+superiority of force in every battle fought.  I know they did
+not.
+
+During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no
+military education, but possessed of courage and endurance,
+operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and
+Tennessee.  He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at
+home wherever he went.  The army operating against the South, on
+the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the
+North, from which all supplies had to come to the front.  Every
+foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient
+distances apart.  These guards could not render assistance beyond
+the points where stationed.  Morgan Was foot-loose and could
+operate where, his information--always correct--led him to
+believe he could do the greatest damage.  During the time he was
+operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several
+times the number he ever had under his command at any one
+time.  He destroyed many millions of property in addition.
+Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by
+him.  Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held
+from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for
+offensive operations.  It is safe to say that more than half the
+National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were
+on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their
+bearing arms.  Then, again, large forces were employed where no
+Confederate army confronted them.  I deem it safe to say that
+there were no large engagements where the National numbers
+compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment
+occupied by the enemy.
+
+While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to
+Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his
+flagship.  He found the people of that city in great
+consternation.  The leading citizens among the people who had
+remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should
+be done to relieve them from suspense.  General Weitzel was not
+then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring
+villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the
+conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the
+Confederate capital.  The President sent for him, and, on his
+arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral
+Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present.
+After this interview the President wrote an order in about these
+words, which I quote from memory:  "General Weitzel is authorized
+to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to
+meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the
+Confederate armies."
+
+Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out
+a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers.  This
+call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had
+contemplated, as he did not say the "Legislature of Virginia"
+but "the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia."
+Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the
+very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order
+authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body,
+and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer
+the spot than he was.
+
+This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton.  He was a man who never
+questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time
+what he wanted to do.  He was an able constitutional lawyer and
+jurist; but the Constitution was not an impediment to him while
+the war lasted.  In this latter particular I entirely agree with
+the view he evidently held.  The Constitution was not framed with
+a view to any such rebellion as that of 1861-5.  While it did not
+authorize rebellion it made no provision against it.  Yet the
+right to resist or suppress rebellion is as inherent as the
+right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an
+individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy.  The
+Constitution was therefore in abeyance for the time being, so
+far as it in any way affected the progress and termination of
+the war.
+
+Those in rebellion against the government of the United States
+were not restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other,
+except the acts of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted
+to the cause for which the South was then fighting.  It would be
+a hard case when one-third of a nation, united in rebellion
+against the national authority, is entirely untrammeled, that
+the other two-thirds, in their efforts to maintain the Union
+intact, should be restrained by a Constitution prepared by our
+ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the permanency of
+the confederation of the States.
+
+After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my
+staff and a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way
+to Washington.  The road from Burkesville back having been newly
+repaired and the ground being soft, the train got off the track
+frequently, and, as a result, it was after midnight of the
+second day when I reached City Point.  As soon as possible I
+took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.
+
+While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the
+necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating
+with my different commanders of separate departments, bodies of
+troops, etc.  But by the 14th I was pretty well through with
+this work, so as to be able to visit my children, who were then
+in Burlington, New Jersey, attending school.  Mrs. Grant was
+with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by
+President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on
+the evening of that day.  I replied to the President's verbal
+invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would
+take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very
+anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get
+through my work during the day I should do so.  I did get
+through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending
+Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.
+
+At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on
+Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the
+Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they
+took the cars again.  When I reached the ferry, on the east side
+of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival
+there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of
+the President and Mr. Seward, and of the probable assassination
+of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and requesting my immediate
+return.
+
+It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that
+overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially
+the assassination of the President.  I knew his goodness of
+heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to
+have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the
+people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges
+of citizenship with equality among all.  I knew also the feeling
+that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation
+against the Southern people, and I feared that his course
+towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling
+citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a
+long while.  I felt that reconstruction had been set back, no
+telling how far.
+
+I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to
+Washington City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after
+midnight and Burlington was but an hour away.  Finding that I
+could accompany her to our house and return about as soon as
+they would be ready to take me from the Philadelphia station, I
+went up with her and returned immediately by the same special
+train.  The joy that I had witnessed among the people in the
+street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had
+been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of
+mourning.  I have stated what I believed then the effect of this
+would be, and my judgment now is that I was right.  I believe the
+South would have been saved from very much of the hardness of
+feeling that was engendered by Mr. Johnson's course towards them
+during the first few months of his administration.  Be this as it
+may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was particularly unfortunate for
+the entire nation.
+
+Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness
+of feeling.  His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready
+remark, "Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was
+repeated to all those men of the South who came to him to get
+some assurances of safety so that they might go to work at
+something with the feeling that what they obtained would be
+secure to them.  He uttered his denunciations with great
+vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of
+safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond
+endurance.
+
+The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or
+ought to be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and
+judgment of those over whom he presides; and the Southerners who
+read the denunciations of themselves and their people must have
+come to the conclusion that he uttered the sentiments of the
+Northern people; whereas, as a matter of fact, but for the
+assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great majority of
+the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would have
+been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be
+the least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against
+their government.  They believed, I have no doubt, as I did,
+that besides being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.
+
+The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back
+into the Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the
+nation.  Naturally the nearer they were placed to an equality
+with the people who had not rebelled, the more reconciled they
+would feel with their old antagonists, and the better citizens
+they would be from the beginning.  They surely would not make
+good citizens if they felt that they had a yoke around their
+necks.
+
+I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at
+that time were in favor of negro suffrage.  They supposed that
+it would naturally follow the freedom of the negro, but that
+there would be a time of probation, in which the ex-slaves could
+prepare themselves for the privileges of citizenship before the
+full right would be conferred; but Mr. Johnson, after a complete
+revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard the South not only as
+an oppressed people, but as the people best entitled to
+consideration of any of our citizens.  This was more than the
+people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were
+prepared for, and they became more radical in their views.  The
+Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr.
+Johnson having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and
+such sympathy and support as they could get from the North, they
+felt that they would be able to control the nation at once, and
+already many of them acted as if they thought they were entitled
+to do so.
+
+Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and
+receiving the support of the South on the other, drove Congress,
+which was overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one
+measure and then another to restrict his power.  There being a
+solid South on one side that was in accord with the political
+party in the North which had sympathized with the rebellion, it
+finally, in the judgment of Congress and of the majority of the
+legislatures of the States, became necessary to enfranchise the
+negro, in all his ignorance.  In this work, I shall not discuss
+the question of how far the policy of Congress in this
+particular proved a wise one.  It became an absolute necessity,
+however, because of the foolhardiness of the President and the
+blindness of the Southern people to their own interest.  As to
+myself, while strongly favoring the course that would be the
+least humiliating to the people who had been in rebellion, I
+gradually worked up to the point where, with the majority of the
+people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXIX.
+
+SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE
+OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON
+DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.
+
+When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed
+leisurely back to Burkesville Station with the Army of the
+Potomac and the Army of the James, and to go into camp there
+until further orders from me.  General Johnston, as has been
+stated before, was in North Carolina confronting General
+Sherman.  It could not be known positively, of course, whether
+Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though
+I supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was
+the natural point from which to move to attack him.  The army
+which I could have sent against him was superior to his, and
+that with which Sherman confronted him was also superior; and
+between the two he would necessarily have been crushed, or
+driven away.  With the loss of their capital and the Army of
+Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether Johnston's men would
+have the spirit to stand.  My belief was that he would make no
+such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution against
+what might happen, however improbable.
+
+Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a
+messenger to North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General
+Sherman, informing him of the surrender of Lee and his army;
+also of the terms which I had given him; and I authorized
+Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston if the latter chose
+to accept them.  The country is familiar with the terms that
+Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a
+political question as well as a military one and he would
+therefore have to confer with the government before agreeing to
+them definitely.
+
+General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting
+there to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what
+Mr. Lincoln had said to the peace commissioners when he met them
+at Hampton Roads, viz.:  that before he could enter into
+negotiations with them they would have to agree to two points:
+one being that the Union should be preserved, and the other that
+slavery should be abolished; and if they were ready to concede
+these two points he was almost ready to sign his name to a blank
+piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance of the
+terms upon which we would live together.  He had also seen
+notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond,
+and had read in the same papers that while there he had
+authorized the convening of the Legislature of Virginia.
+
+Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had
+made with general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes
+of the President of the United States.  But seeing that he was
+going beyond his authority, he made it a point that the terms
+were only conditional.  They signed them with this
+understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms could be
+sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper
+authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved,
+then he would give due notice, before resuming hostilities.  As
+the world knows, Sherman, from being one of the most popular
+generals of the land (Congress having even gone so far as to
+propose a bill providing for a second lieutenant-general for the
+purpose of advancing him to that grade), was denounced by the
+President and Secretary of War in very bitter terms.  Some
+people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor--a most
+preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much
+service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in
+granting such terms as he did to Johnston and his army.  If
+Sherman had taken authority to send Johnston with his army home,
+with their arms to be put in the arsenals of their own States,
+without submitting the question to the authorities at
+Washington, the suspicions against him might have some
+foundation.  But the feeling against Sherman died out very
+rapidly, and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the
+fullest confidence of the American people.
+
+When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson
+and the Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman
+had forwarded for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately
+called and I was sent for.  There seemed to be the greatest
+consternation, lest Sherman would commit the government to terms
+which they were not willing to accede to and which he had no
+right to grant.  A message went out directing the troops in the
+South not to obey General Sherman.  I was ordered to proceed at
+once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there myself.
+Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as
+possible.  I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly
+as possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of
+my presence.
+
+When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at
+once closeted together.  I showed him the instruction and orders
+under which I visited him.  I told him that I wanted him to
+notify General Johnston that the terms which they had
+conditionally agreed upon had not been approved in Washington,
+and that he was authorized to offer the same terms I had given
+General Lee.  I sent Sherman to do this himself.  I did not wish
+the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army generally; so
+I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender
+solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was
+anywhere near the field.  As soon as possible I started to get
+away, to leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.
+
+At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last
+newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement
+in the North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and
+harsh orders that had been promulgated by the President and
+Secretary of War.  I knew that Sherman must see these papers,
+and I fully realized what great indignation they would cause
+him, though I do not think his feelings could have been more
+excited than were my own.  But like the true and loyal soldier
+that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given him,
+obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in
+his camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.
+
+There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could
+not be communicated with, and had to be left to act according to
+the judgment of their respective commanders.  With these it was
+impossible to tell how the news of the surrender of Lee and
+Johnston, of which they must have heard, might affect their
+judgment as to what was best to do.
+
+The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from
+the commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off:  one under
+Canby himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman
+from East Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson,
+starting from Eastport, Mississippi, on the 22d of March.  They
+were all eminently successful, but without any good result.
+Indeed much valuable property was destroyed and many lives lost
+at a time when we would have liked to spare them. The war was
+practically over before their victories were gained.  They were
+so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any
+troops away that otherwise would have been operating against the
+armies which were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a
+surrender.  The only possible good that we may have experienced
+from these raids was by Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about
+the time the armies of the Potomac and the James were closing in
+on Lee at Appomattox.
+
+Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike
+the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.  He got upon that road,
+destroyed its bridges at different places and rendered the road
+useless to the enemy up to within a few miles of Lynchburg.  His
+approach caused the evacuation of that city about the time we
+were at Appomattox, and was the cause of a commotion we heard of
+there.  He then pushed south, and was operating in the rear of
+Johnston's army about the time the negotiations were going on
+between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's surrender.  In
+this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount of
+stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners
+were the trophies of his success.
+
+Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March.  The city of
+Mobile was protected by two forts, besides other
+intrenchments--Spanish Fort, on the east side of the bay, and
+Fort Blakely, north of the city.  These forts were invested.  On
+the night of the 8th of April, the National troops having carried
+the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was evacuated; and
+on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was carried
+by assault, with a considerable loss to us.  On the 11th the city
+was evacuated.
+
+I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent
+against Mobile when its possession by us would have been of
+great advantage.  It finally cost lives to take it when its
+possession was of no importance, and when, if left alone, it
+would within a few days have fallen into our hands without any
+bloodshed whatever.
+
+Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well
+armed.  He was an energetic officer and accomplished his work
+rapidly.  Forrest was in his front, but with neither his
+old-time army nor his old-time prestige.  He now had principally
+conscripts.  His conscripts were generally old men and boys.  He
+had a few thousand regular cavalry left, but not enough to even
+retard materially the progress of Wilson's cavalry.  Selma fell
+on the 2d of April, with a large number of prisoners and a large
+quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to be disposed of
+by the victors.  Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point fell in
+quick succession.  These were all important points to the enemy
+by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies,
+and because of their manufactories of war material.  They were
+fortified or intrenched, and there was considerable fighting
+before they were captured.  Macon surrendered on the 21st of
+April.  Here news was received of the negotiations for the
+surrender of Johnston's army.  Wilson belonged to the military
+division commanded by Sherman, and of course was bound by his
+terms.  This stopped all fighting.
+
+General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate
+officer still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on
+the 4th of May he surrendered everything within the limits of
+this extensive command.  General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the
+trans-Mississippi department on the 26th of May, leaving no
+other Confederate army at liberty to continue the war.
+
+Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president
+of the defunct confederacy before he got out of the country.
+This occurred at Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May.  For
+myself, and I believe Mr. Lincoln shared the feeling, I would
+have been very glad to have seen Mr. Davis succeed in escaping,
+but for one reason:  I feared that if not captured, he might get
+into the trans-Mississippi region and there set up a more
+contracted confederacy.  The young men now out of homes and out
+of employment might have rallied under his standard and
+protracted the war yet another year.  The Northern people were
+tired of the war, they were tired of piling up a debt which
+would be a further mortgage upon their homes.
+
+Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he
+did not wish to deal with the matter of his punishment.  He knew
+there would be people clamoring for the punishment of the
+ex-Confederate president, for high treason.  He thought blood
+enough had already been spilled to atone for our wickedness as a
+nation.  At all events he did not wish to be the judge to decide
+whether more should be shed or not.  But his own life was
+sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president
+of the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government
+which he had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.
+
+All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best
+interest of all concerned.  This reflection does not, however,
+abate in the slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely
+loss of so good and great a man as Abraham Lincoln.
+
+He would have proven the best friend the South could have had,
+and saved much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling
+brought out by reconstruction under a President who at first
+wished to revenge himself upon Southern men of better social
+standing than himself, but who still sought their recognition,
+and in a short time conceived the idea and advanced the
+proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly out
+of all their difficulties.
+
+The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction
+period to stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the
+minds of the people to be told now.  Much of it, no doubt, was
+unconstitutional; but it was hoped that the laws enacted would
+serve their purpose before the question of constitutionality
+could be submitted to the judiciary and a decision obtained.
+These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a dead
+letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one
+taking interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.
+
+Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing
+when he was captured.  I cannot settle this question from
+personal knowledge of the facts; but I have been under the
+belief, from information given to me by General Wilson shortly
+after the event, that when Mr. Davis learned that he was
+surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed in a
+gentleman's dressing gown.  Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted
+to escape, and would not reflect much how this should be
+accomplished provided it might be done successfully.  If
+captured, he would be no ordinary prisoner.  He represented all
+there was of that hostility to the government which had caused
+four years of the bloodiest war--and the most costly in other
+respects of which history makes any record.  Every one supposed
+he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he would be
+executed.  Had he succeeded in making his escape in any disguise
+it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his
+admirers.
+
+As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as
+my remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling
+somewhat upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to
+him, that I give my estimate of him as a soldier.  The same
+remark will apply also in the case of General Canby.  I had been
+at West Point with Thomas one year, and had known him later in
+the old army.  He was a man of commanding appearance, slow and
+deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest and brave.  He
+possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent degree.  He
+gained the confidence of all who served under him, and almost
+their love.  This implies a very valuable quality.  It is a
+quality which calls out the most efficient services of the
+troops serving under the commander possessing it.
+
+Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good.
+He could not be driven from a point he was given to hold.  He
+was not as good, however, in pursuit as he was in action.  I do
+not believe that he could ever have conducted Sherman's army
+from Chattanooga to Atlanta against the defences and the
+commander guarding that line in 1864.  On the other hand, if it
+had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to
+hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer
+could have done it better.
+
+Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has
+received, the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played
+in the great tragedy of 1861-5.
+
+General Canby was an officer of great merit.  He was naturally
+studious, and inclined to the law.  There have been in the army
+but very few, if any, officers who took as much interest in
+reading and digesting every act of Congress and every regulation
+for the government of the army as he.  His knowledge gained in
+this way made him a most valuable staff officer, a capacity in
+which almost all his army services were rendered up to the time
+of his being assigned to the Military Division of the Gulf.  He
+was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and
+learning.  I presume his feelings when first called upon to
+command a large army against a fortified city, were somewhat
+like my own when marching a regiment against General Thomas
+Harris in Missouri in 1861.  Neither of us would have felt the
+slightest trepidation in going into battle with some one else
+commanding.  Had Canby been in other engagements afterwards, he
+would, I have no doubt, have advanced without any fear arising
+from a sense of the responsibility.  He was afterwards killed in
+the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the hostile
+Modoc Indians.  His character was as pure as his talent and
+learning were great.  His services were valuable during the war,
+but principally as a bureau officer.  I have no idea that it was
+from choice that his services were rendered in an office, but
+because of his superior efficiency there.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER LXX.
+
+THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S
+ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF
+LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.
+
+Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there
+would be no more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in
+North Carolina and Virginia were ordered to march immediately to
+the capital, and go into camp there until mustered out.  Suitable
+garrisons were left at the prominent places throughout the South
+to insure obedience to the laws that might be enacted for the
+government of the several States, and to insure security to the
+lives and property of all classes.  I do not know how far this
+was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, that
+such a course should be pursued.  I think now that these
+garrisons were continued after they ceased to be absolutely
+required; but it is not to be expected that such a rebellion as
+was fought between the sections from 1861 to 1865 could
+terminate without leaving many serious apprehensions in the mind
+of the people as to what should be done.
+
+Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on
+the south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there
+put them in camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the
+situation was there.
+
+It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon
+him.  Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and
+had issued orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from
+obeying his, Sherman's, orders.  Sherman met the papers on his
+return, containing this order of Halleck, and very justly felt
+indignant at the outrage.  On his arrival at Fortress Monroe
+returning from Savannah, Sherman received an invitation from
+Halleck to come to Richmond and be his guest.  This he
+indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, that he
+had seen his order.  He also stated that he was coming up to
+take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would
+probably be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he
+(Sherman) would not be responsible for what some rash person
+might do through indignation for the treatment he had
+received.  Very soon after that, Sherman received orders from me
+to proceed to Washington City, and to go into camp on the south
+side of the city pending the mustering-out of the troops.
+
+There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from
+Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington
+City.  The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been
+engaged in all the battles of the West and had marched from the
+Mississippi through the Southern States to the sea, from there
+to Goldsboro, and thence to Washington City, had passed over
+many of the battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, thus
+having seen, to a greater extent than any other body of troops,
+the entire theatre of the four years' war for the preservation
+of the Union.
+
+The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to
+Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was
+anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally
+magnificent in the way it was conducted.  It had an important
+bearing, in various ways, upon the great object we had in view,
+that of closing the war.  All the States east of the Mississippi
+River up to the State of Georgia, had felt the hardships of the
+war.  Georgia, and South Carolina, and almost all of North
+Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from invasion by the
+Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts.  Their
+newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success,
+that the people who remained at home had been convinced that the
+Yankees had been whipped from first to last, and driven from
+pillar to post, and that now they could hardly be holding out
+for any other purpose than to find a way out of the war with
+honor to themselves.
+
+Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front
+were proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a
+mob of men who were frightened out of their wits and hastening,
+panic-stricken, to try to get under the cover of our navy for
+protection against the Southern people.  As the army was seen
+marching on triumphantly, however, the minds of the people
+became disabused and they saw the true state of affairs.  In
+turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to
+submit without compromise.
+
+Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was
+calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great
+storehouse of Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate
+armies.  As the troops advanced north from Savannah, the
+destruction of the railroads in South Carolina and the southern
+part of North Carolina, further cut off their resources and left
+the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina dependent for
+supplies upon a very small area of country, already very much
+exhausted of food and forage.
+
+In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and
+the other from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina,
+arrived and went into camp near the Capital, as directed.  The
+troops were hardy, being inured to fatigue, and they appeared in
+their respective camps as ready and fit for duty as they had ever
+been in their lives.  I doubt whether an equal body of men of any
+nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, was ever
+gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great
+battle.
+
+The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the
+officers capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of
+the nations of Europe are taken from a class of people who are
+not very intelligent and who have very little interest in the
+contest in which they are called upon to take part.  Our armies
+were composed of men who were able to read, men who knew what
+they were fighting for, and could not be induced to serve as
+soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the nation
+was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal
+to men who fought merely because they were brave and because
+they were thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.
+
+There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the
+time these troops were in camp before starting North.
+
+I remember one little incident which I will relate as an
+anecdote characteristic of Mr. Lincoln.  It occurred a day after
+I reached Washington, and about the time General Meade reached
+Burkesville with the army.  Governor Smith of Virginia had left
+Richmond with the Confederate States government, and had gone to
+Danville.  Supposing I was necessarily with the army at
+Burkesville, he addressed a letter to me there informing me
+that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia,
+he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond to
+Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the
+functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal
+authorities.  I give this letter only in substance.  He also
+inquired of me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the
+duties of his office, he with a few others might not be permitted
+to leave the country and go abroad without interference.  General
+Meade being informed that a flag of truce was outside his pickets
+with a letter to me, at once sent out and had the letter brought
+in without informing the officer who brought it that I was not
+present.  He read the letter and telegraphed me its contents.
+Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this dispatch, I
+repeated its contents to him.  Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was
+asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor
+Smith's letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would
+be permitted to leave the country unmolested, that his position
+was like that of a certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in
+Springfield who was very popular with the people, a man of
+considerable promise, and very much liked.  Unfortunately he had
+acquired the habit of drinking, and his friends could see that
+the habit was growing on him.  These friends determined to make
+an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a pledge to
+abstain from all alcoholic drinks.  They asked Pat to join them
+in signing the pledge, and he consented.  He had been so long
+out of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he
+resorted to soda-water as a substitute.  After a few days this
+began to grow distasteful to him.  So holding the glass behind
+him, he said:  "Doctor, couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in
+that unbeknownst to myself."
+
+I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave
+me, but I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform
+the duties of his office.  I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had
+been spared, there would have been no efforts made to prevent
+any one from leaving the country who desired to do so.  He would
+have been equally willing to permit the return of the same
+expatriated citizens after they had time to repent of their
+choice.
+
+On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general
+for a grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's
+and Meade's armies.  The review commenced on the 23d and lasted
+two days.  Meade's army occupied over six hours of the first day
+in passing the grand stand which had been erected in front of the
+President's house.  Sherman witnessed this review from the grand
+stand which was occupied by the President and his cabinet.  Here
+he showed his resentment for the cruel and harsh treatment that
+had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by the Secretary of
+War, by refusing to take his extended hand.
+
+Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the
+Potomac.  During the night of the 23d he crossed over and
+bivouacked not far from the Capitol.  Promptly at ten o'clock on
+the morning of the 24th, his troops commenced to pass in
+review.  Sherman's army made a different appearance from that of
+the Army of the Potomac.  The latter had been operating where
+they received directly from the North full supplies of food and
+clothing regularly:  the review of this army therefore was the
+review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and
+orderly soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but
+without the experience of gathering their own food and supplies
+in an enemy's country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's
+army was not so well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but
+their marching could not be excelled; they gave the appearance
+of men who had been thoroughly drilled to endure hardships,
+either by long and continuous marches or through exposure to any
+climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp.  They exhibited
+also some of the order of march through Georgia where the "sweet
+potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went
+marching through.  In the rear of a company there would be a
+captured horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils,
+captured chickens and other food picked up for the use of the
+men.  Negro families who had followed the army would sometimes
+come along in the rear of a company, with three or four children
+packed upon a single mule, and the mother leading it.
+
+The sight was varied and grand:  nearly all day for two
+successive days, from the Capitol to the Treasury Building,
+could be seen a mass of orderly soldiers marching in columns of
+companies.  The National flag was flying from almost every house
+and store; the windows were filled with spectators; the
+door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored people and
+poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters from
+which to get a view of the grand armies.  The city was about as
+full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually
+is on inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.
+
+It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln
+and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great
+conspicuous figures in the executive branch of the government.
+There is no great difference of opinion now, in the public mind,
+as to the characteristics of the President.  With Mr. Stanton the
+case is different.  They were the very opposite of each other in
+almost every particular, except that each possessed great
+ability.  Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them
+feel that it was a pleasure to serve him.  He preferred yielding
+his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon having
+his own way.  It distressed him to disappoint others.  In matters
+of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least
+offensive way.  Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority
+to command, unless resisted.  He cared nothing for the feeling
+of others.  In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to
+disappoint than to gratify.  He felt no hesitation in assuming
+the functions of the executive, or in acting without advising
+with him.  If his act was not sustained, he would change it--if
+he saw the matter would be followed up until he did so.
+
+It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the
+complement of each other.  The Secretary was required to prevent
+the President's being imposed upon.  The President was required
+in the more responsible place of seeing that injustice was not
+done to others.  I do not know that this view of these two men
+is still entertained by the majority of the people.  It is not a
+correct view, however, in my estimation.  Mr. Lincoln did not
+require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a public
+trust.
+
+Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his
+generals in making and executing their plans.  The Secretary was
+very timid, and it was impossible for him to avoid interfering
+with the armies covering the capital when it was sought to
+defend it by an offensive movement against the army guarding the
+Confederate capital.  He could see our weakness, but he could not
+see that the enemy was in danger.  The enemy would not have been
+in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field.  These
+characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly
+after Early came so near getting into the capital.
+
+Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during
+the war between the States, and who attracted much public
+attention, but of whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given
+any estimate, are Meade, Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and
+Hooker.  There were others of great merit, such as Griffin,
+Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie.  Of those first named, Burnside
+at one time had command of the Army of the Potomac, and later of
+the Army of the Ohio.  Hooker also commanded the Army of the
+Potomac for a short time.
+
+General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to
+his usefulness that were beyond his control.  He had been an
+officer of the engineer corps before the war, and consequently
+had never served with troops until he was over forty-six years
+of age.  He never had, I believe, a command of less than a
+brigade.  He saw clearly and distinctly the position of the
+enemy, and the topography of the country in front of his own
+position.  His first idea was to take advantage of the lay of
+the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we
+wanted to move afterwards.  He was subordinate to his superiors
+in rank to the extent that he could execute an order which
+changed his own plans with the same zeal he would have displayed
+if the plan had been his own.  He was brave and conscientious,
+and commanded the respect of all who knew him.  He was
+unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his control, at
+times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the most
+offensive manner.  No one saw this fault more plainly than he
+himself, and no one regretted it more.  This made it unpleasant
+at times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him
+even with information.  In spite of this defect he was a most
+valuable officer and deserves a high place in the annals of his
+country.
+
+General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and
+respected.  He was not, however, fitted to command an army.  No
+one knew this better than himself.  He always admitted his
+blunders, and extenuated those of officers under him beyond what
+they were entitled to.  It was hardly his fault that he was ever
+assigned to a separate command.
+
+Of Hooker I saw but little during the war.  I had known him very
+well before, however.  Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his
+achievement in bringing his command around the point of Lookout
+Mountain and into Chattanooga Valley was brilliant.  I
+nevertheless regarded him as a dangerous man.  He was not
+subordinate to his superiors.  He was ambitious to the extent of
+caring nothing for the rights of others.  His disposition was,
+when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main body of
+the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his
+standard all he could of his juniors.
+
+Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general
+officers who did not exercise a separate command.  He commanded
+a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never
+mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he
+was responsible.  He was a man of very conspicuous personal
+appearance.  Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now
+write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that
+would attract the attention of an army as he passed.  His genial
+disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his
+presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for
+him the confidence of troops serving under him.  No matter how
+hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander
+was looking after them.
+
+Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity
+of forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from
+personal observation.  I had known him in Mexico when both of us
+were lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that
+either of us would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He
+stood very high in the army, however, as an officer and a man.
+He was brave and conscientious.  His ambition was not great, and
+he seemed to dread responsibility.  He was willing to do any
+amount of battling, but always wanted some one else to direct.
+He declined the command of the Army of the Potomac once, if not
+oftener.
+
+General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer
+without a military education.  His way was won without political
+influence up to an important separate command--the expedition
+against Fort Fisher, in January, 1865.  His success there was
+most brilliant, and won for him the rank of brigadier-general in
+the regular army and of major-general of volunteers.  He is a man
+who makes friends of those under him by his consideration of
+their wants and their dues.  As a commander, he won their
+confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of
+perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed
+at any given time.
+
+Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders,
+but came into that position so near to the close of the war as
+not to attract public attention.  All three served as such, in
+the last campaign of the armies of the Potomac and the James,
+which culminated at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th of April,
+1865.  The sudden collapse of the rebellion monopolized attention
+to the exclusion of almost everything else.  I regarded Mackenzie
+as the most promising young officer in the army.  Graduating at
+West Point, as he did, during the second year of the war, he had
+won his way up to the command of a corps before its close.  This
+he did upon his own merit and without influence.
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION.
+
+The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United
+Status will have to be attributed to slavery.  For some years
+before the war began it was a trite saying among some
+politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot
+exist."  All must become slave or all free, or the state will go
+down.  I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the
+time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I
+have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.
+
+Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for
+its security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours
+where the larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by
+an intelligent and well-to-do population, the people would
+naturally have but little sympathy with demands upon them for
+its protection.  Hence the people of the South were dependent
+upon keeping control of the general government to secure the
+perpetuation of their favorite institution.  They were enabled
+to maintain this control long after the States where slavery
+existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the
+assistance they received from odd men here and there throughout
+the Northern States.  They saw their power waning, and this led
+them to encroach upon the prerogatives and independence of the
+Northern States by enacting such laws as the Fugitive Slave
+Law.  By this law every Northern man was obliged, when properly
+summoned, to turn out and help apprehend the runaway slave of a
+Southern man.  Northern marshals became slave-catchers, and
+Northern courts had to contribute to the support and protection
+of the institution.
+
+This was a degradation which the North would not permit any
+longer than until they could get the power to expunge such laws
+from the statute books.  Prior to the time of these
+encroachments the great majority of the people of the North had
+no particular quarrel with slavery, so long as they were not
+forced to have it themselves.  But they were not willing to play
+the role of police for the South in the protection of this
+particular institution.
+
+In the early days of the country, before we had railroads,
+telegraphs and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any
+sort--the States were each almost a separate nationality.  At
+that time the subject of slavery caused but little or no
+disturbance to the public mind.  But the country grew, rapid
+transit was established, and trade and commerce between the
+States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of
+the National government became more felt and recognized and,
+therefore, had to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.
+
+It is probably well that we had the war when we did.  We are
+better off now than we would have been without it, and have made
+more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made.  The
+civilized nations of Europe have been stimulated into unusual
+activity, so that commerce, trade, travel, and thorough
+acquaintance among people of different nationalities, has become
+common; whereas, before, it was but the few who had ever had the
+privilege of going beyond the limits of their own country or who
+knew anything about other people.  Then, too, our republican
+institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking out
+of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that
+our republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the
+slightest strain was brought upon it.  Now it has shown itself
+capable of dealing with one of the greatest wars that was ever
+made, and our people have proven themselves to be the most
+formidable in war of any nationality.
+
+But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the
+necessity of avoiding wars in the future.
+
+The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles
+shows the lack of conscience of communities where the
+responsibility does not come upon a single individual.  Seeing a
+nation that extended from ocean to ocean, embracing the better
+part of a continent, growing as we were growing in population,
+wealth and intelligence, the European nations thought it would
+be well to give us a check.  We might, possibly, after a while
+threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their
+institutions.  Hence, England was constantly finding fault with
+the administration at Washington because we were not able to
+keep up an effective blockade.  She also joined, at first, with
+France and Spain in setting up an Austrian prince upon the
+throne in Mexico, totally disregarding any rights or claims that
+Mexico had of being treated as an independent power.  It is true
+they trumped up grievances as a pretext, but they were only
+pretexts which can always be found when wanted.
+
+Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that
+protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would
+have liked to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had
+forced loans from them.  Under pretence of protecting their
+citizens, these nations seized upon Mexico as a foothold for
+establishing a European monarchy upon our continent, thus
+threatening our peace at home.  I, myself, regarded this as a
+direct act of war against the United States by the powers
+engaged, and supposed as a matter of course that the United
+States would treat it as such when their hands were free to
+strike.  I often spoke of the matter to Mr. Lincoln and the
+Secretary of War, but never heard any special views from them to
+enable me to judge what they thought or felt about it.  I
+inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were unwilling
+to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our
+hands.
+
+All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the
+armed intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince
+upon the throne of Mexico; but the governing people of these
+countries continued to the close of the war to throw obstacles
+in our way.  After the surrender of Lee, therefore, entertaining
+the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan with a corps to the
+Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in expelling
+the French from Mexico.  These troops got off before they could
+be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan
+distributed them up and down the river, much to the
+consternation of the troops in the quarter of Mexico bordering
+on that stream.  This soon led to a request from France that we
+should withdraw our troops from the Rio Grande and to
+negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs.  Finally Bazaine was
+withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government.  From
+that day the empire began to totter.  Mexico was then able to
+maintain her independence without aid from us.
+
+France is the traditional ally and friend of the United
+States.  I did not blame France for her part in the scheme to
+erect a monarchy upon the ruins of the Mexican Republic.  That
+was the scheme of one man, an imitator without genius or
+merit.  He had succeeded in stealing the government of his
+country, and made a change in its form against the wishes and
+instincts of his people.  He tried to play the part of the first
+Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role.  He sought by
+new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal
+failure of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own
+overthrow.
+
+Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was
+an expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her
+people.  It was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon
+III.  The beginning was when he landed troops on this
+continent.  Failing here, the prestige of his name--all the
+prestige he ever had--was gone.  He must achieve a success or
+fall.  He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and fell.
+
+I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I
+recognize his great genius.  His work, too, has left its impress
+for good on the face of Europe.  The third Napoleon could have no
+claim to having done a good or just act.
+
+To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared
+for war.  There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict,
+such as the last one, occurring among our own people again; but,
+growing as we are, in population, wealth and military power, we
+may become the envy of nations which led us in all these
+particulars only a few years ago; and unless we are prepared for
+it we may be in danger of a combined movement being some day made
+to crush us out.  Now, scarcely twenty years after the war, we
+seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on
+as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an
+invasion by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time
+until we could prepare for them.
+
+We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be
+put in the finest possible condition.  Neither of these cost much
+when it is considered where the money goes, and what we get in
+return.  Money expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our
+security and tends to prevent war in the future, but is very
+material aid to our commerce with foreign nations in the
+meantime.  Money spent upon sea-coast defences is spent among
+our own people, and all goes back again among the people.  The
+work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a
+feeling of security.
+
+England's course towards the United States during the rebellion
+exasperated the people of this country very much against the
+mother country.  I regretted it.  England and the United States
+are natural allies, and should be the best of friends.  They
+speak one language, and are related by blood and other ties.  We
+together, or even either separately, are better qualified than
+any other people to establish commerce between all the
+nationalities of the world.
+
+England governs her own colonies, and particularly those
+embracing the people of different races from her own, better
+than any other nation.  She is just to the conquered, but
+rigid.  She makes them self-supporting, but gives the benefit of
+labor to the laborer.  She does not seem to look upon the
+colonies as outside possessions which she is at liberty to work
+for the support and aggrandizement of the home government.
+
+The hostility of England to the United States during our
+rebellion was not so much real as it was apparent.  It was the
+hostility of the leaders of one political party.  I am told that
+there was no time during the civil war when they were able to get
+up in England a demonstration in favor of secession, while these
+were constantly being gotten up in favor of the Union, or, as
+they called it, in favor of the North.  Even in Manchester,
+which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off from
+her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the
+North at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.
+
+It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may
+come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery
+before.  The condition of the colored man within our borders may
+become a source of anxiety, to say the least.  But he was brought
+to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as
+having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our
+citizens.  It was looking to a settlement of this question that
+led me to urge the annexation of Santo Domingo during the time I
+was President of the United States.
+
+Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the
+administration, but by all the people, almost without price. The
+island is upon our shores, is very fertile, and is capable of
+supporting fifteen millions of people.  The products of the soil
+are so valuable that labor in her fields would be so compensated
+as to enable those who wished to go there to quickly repay the
+cost of their passage.  I took it that the colored people would
+go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states
+governed by their own race.  They would still be States of the
+Union, and under the protection of the General Government; but
+the citizens would be almost wholly colored.
+
+By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen,
+territory almost equal in extent to that we already possessed.
+It was seen that the volunteers of the Mexican war largely
+composed the pioneers to settle up the Pacific coast country.
+Their numbers, however, were scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus
+for the population of the important points of the territory
+acquired by that war.  After our rebellion, when so many young
+men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found they
+were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of
+the villages, but wanted larger fields.  The mines of the
+mountains first attracted them; but afterwards they found that
+rich valleys and productive grazing and farming lands were
+there.  This territory, the geography of which was not known to
+us at the close of the rebellion, is now as well mapped as any
+portion of our country.  Railroads traverse it in every
+direction, north, south, east, and west.  The mines are
+worked.  The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich
+agricultural lands are found in many of the valleys.  This is
+the work of the volunteer.  It is probable that the Indians
+would have had control of these lands for a century yet but for
+the war.  We must conclude, therefore, that wars are not always
+evils unmixed with some good.
+
+Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were
+satisfied to remain near the scenes of their birth.  In fact an
+immense majority of the whole people did not feel secure against
+coming to want should they move among entire strangers.  So much
+was the country divided into small communities that localized
+idioms had grown up, so that you could almost tell what section
+a person was from by hearing him speak.  Before, new territories
+were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with
+others; people who, when the country began to settle up around
+them, would push out farther from civilization.  Their guns
+furnished meat, and the cultivation of a very limited amount of
+the soil, their bread and vegetables.  All the streams abounded
+with fish.  Trapping would furnish pelts to be brought into the
+States once a year, to pay for necessary articles which they
+could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, tobacco and some store
+goods.  Occasionally some little articles of luxury would enter
+into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, two or three
+pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if
+anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.
+
+Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the
+settlements of these frontiersmen.  This is all changed now. The
+war begot a spirit of independence and enterprise.  The feeling
+now is, that a youth must cut loose from his old surroundings to
+enable him to get up in the world.  There is now such a
+commingling of the people that particular idioms and
+pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; the
+country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea";
+railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior;
+maps, nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now
+furnished the student of geography.
+
+The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We
+have but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity
+at home, and the respect of other nations.  Our experience ought
+to teach us the necessity of the first; our power secures the
+latter.
+
+I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be
+great harmony between the Federal and Confederate.  I cannot
+stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy;
+but I feel it within me that it is to be so.  The universally
+kind feeling expressed for me at a time when it was supposed
+that each day would prove my last, seemed to me the beginning of
+the answer to "Let us have peace."
+
+The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a
+section of the country, nor to a division of the people.  They
+came from individual citizens of all nationalities; from all
+denominations--the Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and
+from the various societies of the land--scientific, educational,
+religious or otherwise.  Politics did not enter into the matter
+at all.
+
+I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should
+be given because I was the object of it.  But the war between
+the States was a very bloody and a very costly war.  One side or
+the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life
+before it could be brought to an end.  I commanded the whole of
+the mighty host engaged on the victorious side.  I was, no
+matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative of that
+side of the controversy.  It is a significant and gratifying
+fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this
+spontaneous move.  I hope the good feeling inaugurated may
+continue to the end.
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES
+ARMIES 1864-65.
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+July 22, 1865.
+
+HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+SIR:  I have the honor to submit the following report of the
+operations of the Armies of the United States from the date of
+my appointment to command the same.
+
+From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with
+the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops
+that could be brought into the field, regardless of season and
+weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of the war.  The
+resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far
+inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast
+territory, with a population hostile to the government, to
+garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to
+protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.
+
+The armies in the East and West acted independently and without
+concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together,
+enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his interior lines
+of communication for transporting troops from East to West,
+reinforcing the army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough
+large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on our part, to go
+to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of
+their armies.  It was a question whether our numerical strength
+and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages
+and the enemy's superior position.
+
+From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could
+be had that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the
+people, both North and South, until the military power of the
+rebellion was entirely broken.
+
+I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of
+troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy;
+preventing him from using the same force at different seasons
+against first one and then another of our armies, and the
+possibility of repose for refitting and producing necessary
+supplies for carrying on resistance.  Second, to hammer
+continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his
+resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there
+should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the
+loyal section of our common country to the constitution and laws
+of the land.
+
+These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given
+and campaigns made to carry them out.  Whether they might have
+been better in conception and execution is for the people, who
+mourn the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the
+pecuniary cost, to say.  All I can say is, that what I have done
+has been done conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in
+what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole
+country.
+
+At the date when this report begins, the situation of the
+contending forces was about as follows:  The Mississippi River
+was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops, from St.  Louis,
+Missouri, to its mouth.  The line of the Arkansas was also held,
+thus giving us armed possession of all west of the Mississippi,
+north of that stream.  A few points in Southern Louisiana, not
+remote from the river, were held by us, together with a small
+garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande.  All the
+balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas
+was in the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an
+army of probably not less than eighty thousand effective men,
+that could have been brought into the field had there been
+sufficient opposition to have brought them out.  The let-alone
+policy had demoralized this force so that probably but little
+more than one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one
+time.  But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of
+guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along the
+Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the
+population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to
+keep navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal
+people to the west of it.  To the east of the Mississippi we
+held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston
+rivers, running eastward to include nearly all of the State of
+Tennessee.  South of Chattanooga, a small foothold had been
+obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East Tennessee from
+incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West
+Virginia was substantially within our lines.  Virginia, with the
+exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area
+about the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk
+and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the
+Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the
+enemy.  Along the sea-coast footholds had been obtained at
+Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in North Carolina; Beaufort,
+Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Port
+Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in
+Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our possession,
+while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy.  The
+accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman
+and other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the
+territory occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and
+at the opening of the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are
+the lines which it was proposed to occupy.
+
+Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a
+large population disloyal to the government, making it necessary
+to guard every foot of road or river used in supplying our
+armies.  In the South, a reign of military despotism prevailed,
+which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier;
+and those who could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts
+for collecting deserters and returning them.  This enabled the
+enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the field.
+
+The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the
+Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and
+J. E. Johnston, his ablest and best generals.  The army commanded
+by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from
+Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending
+Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac.
+The army under Johnston occupied a strongly intrenched position
+at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defending Atlanta, Georgia, a
+place of great importance as a railroad centre, against the
+armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman.  In addition to these
+armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in North-east
+Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme eastern
+part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons,
+and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.
+
+These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them,
+were the main objective points of the campaign.
+
+Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of
+the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the
+armies and territory east of the Mississippi River to the
+Alleghanies and the Department of Arkansas, west of the
+Mississippi, had the immediate command of the armies operating
+against Johnston.
+
+Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the
+Army of the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision
+of the movements of all our armies.
+
+General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army,
+to break it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's
+country as far as he could, inflicting all the damage he could
+upon their war resources.  If the enemy in his front showed
+signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his
+ability, while I would prevent the concentration of Lee upon him,
+if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do so.  More
+specific written instructions were not given, for the reason that
+I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was
+satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the
+fullest extent possible.
+
+Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River
+against Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous
+to my appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of
+March, of the importance it was that Shreveport should be taken
+at the earliest possible day, and that if he found that the
+taking of it would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time
+than General Sherman had given his troops to be absent from
+their command, he would send them back at the time specified by
+General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main
+object of the Red River expedition, for this force was necessary
+to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his expedition
+prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River
+with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the
+balance of his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans,
+commencing no move for the further acquisition of territory,
+unless it was to make that then held by him more easily held;
+that it might be a part of the spring campaign to move against
+Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops enough could be
+obtained to make it without embarrassing other movements; that
+New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an
+expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a
+real move from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks),
+instead of a demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.
+
+On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification
+and directions, he was instructed as follows:
+
+
+"1st.  If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that
+you turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and
+the navy.
+
+"2d.  That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of
+your hold upon the Rio Grande.  This can be held with four
+thousand men, if they will turn their attention immediately to
+fortifying their positions.  At least one-half of the force
+required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.
+
+"3d.  By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force
+to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten
+thousand men, if not to a less number.  Six thousand more would
+then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until
+active operations can again be resumed west of the river.
+According to your last return, this would give you a force of
+over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against
+Mobile.  To this I expect to add five thousand men from
+Missouri.  If however, you think the force here stated too small
+to hold the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession
+of, I would say concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of
+your present command for operations against Mobile.  With these
+and such additions as I can give you from elsewhere, lose no
+time in making a demonstration, to be followed by an attack upon
+Mobile.  Two or more iron-clads will be ordered to report to
+Admiral Farragut.  This gives him a strong naval fleet with
+which to co-operate.  You can make your own arrangements with
+the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of
+approach.  My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should
+be your base; but, from your long service in the Gulf
+Department, you will know best about the matter.  It is intended
+that your movements shall be co-operative with movements
+elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon.  All I would now
+add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at
+once.  Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and
+start at the earliest possible moment.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."
+
+
+Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his
+objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also.  For
+his movement two plans presented themselves:  One to cross the
+Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above,
+moving by his left.  Each presented advantages over the other,
+with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee would be
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a
+raid.  But if we took this route, all we did would have to be
+done whilst the rations we started with held out; besides, it
+separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how
+to cooperate.  If we took the other route, Brandy Station could
+be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the
+York or James rivers.  Of these, however, it was decided to take
+the lower route.
+
+The following letter of instruction was addressed to
+Major-General B. F. Butler:
+
+
+"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall
+commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to
+have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far
+as this object can be accomplished.
+
+"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three
+large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute
+necessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the
+enemy.  But, generally speaking, concentration can be
+practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the
+enemy's country from the territory they have to guard.  By such
+movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy and the
+country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to
+guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a
+part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's
+army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our
+attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable
+to unite all the force we can against them.  The necessity of
+covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of
+covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to
+unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose,
+therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems
+practicable:  The Army of the Potomac will act from its present
+base, Lee's army being the objective point.  You will collect
+all the forces from your command that can be spared from
+garrison duty--I should say not less than twenty thousand
+effective men--to operate on the south side of James River,
+Richmond being your objective point.  To the force you already
+have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina,
+under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person.
+Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to
+command the troops sent into the field from your own department.
+
+"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress
+Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant,
+or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Should you not receive
+notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of
+them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to
+deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.
+
+"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much
+force as possible.  Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and
+concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as
+you can.  From City Point directions cannot be given at this
+time for your further movements.
+
+"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond
+is to be your objective point, and that there is to be
+co-operation between your force and the Army of the
+Potomac--must be your guide.  This indicates the necessity of
+your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you
+advance.  Then, should the enemy be forced into his
+intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow,
+and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.
+
+"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your
+direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your
+cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford,
+about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense
+advantage.
+
+"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest
+practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may
+give for the execution of this order.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On
+the 19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army
+and that of General Meade, he was informed that I expected him
+to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade moved
+from Culpeper.  The exact time I was to telegraph him as soon as
+it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27th of
+April; that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper
+and Richmond, if he would stand.  Should he, however, fall back
+into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his
+(General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be
+certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side,
+so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I
+would form the junction there; that circumstances might make
+this course advisable anyhow; that he should use every exertion
+to secure footing as far up the south side of the river as he
+could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to
+move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least
+detain as large a force there as possible.
+
+In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and
+Johnston, I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily
+kept in departments remote from the fields of immediate
+operations, and also those kept in the background for the
+protection of our extended lines between the loyal States and
+the armies operating against them.
+
+A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel,
+was so held for the protection of West Virginia, and the
+frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania.  Whilst these troops
+could not be withdrawn to distant fields without exposing the
+North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of the enemy,
+they could act directly to their front, and give better
+protection than if lying idle in garrison.  By such a movement
+they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the
+protection of his supplies and lines of communication, or he
+would lose them.  General Sigel was therefore directed to
+organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move
+from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and
+Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad.
+Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own
+request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to
+give up the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one
+under General Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten
+thousand men, and one on the Shenandoah, numbering about seven
+thousand men.  The one on the Shenandoah to assemble between
+Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery
+advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made
+available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah
+Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook would
+take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down
+the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could,
+destroying the New River Bridge and the salt-works, at
+Saltville, Va.
+
+Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations
+were delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in
+readiness and the roads favorable, orders were given for a
+general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of May.
+
+My first object being to break the military power of the
+rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made
+me desirous that General Butler should succeed in his movement
+against Richmond, as that would tend more than anything else,
+unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to accomplish this
+desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my
+determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to
+retreat, or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large
+force to go north, and still retain enough for the defence of
+Richmond.  It was well understood, by both Generals Butler and
+Meade, before starting on the campaign, that it was my intention
+to put both their armies south of the James River, in case of
+failure to destroy Lee without it.
+
+Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at
+Fort Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent
+importance of getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying
+railroad communication as far south as possible.  Believing,
+however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it
+was reinforced, I made that the objective point of his
+operations.  As the Army of the Potomac was to move
+simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with
+safety, and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to
+the defence of the city in time to meet a rapid movement from
+the north of James River.
+
+I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I
+tried, as far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent
+command of the Army of the Potomac.  My instructions for that
+army were all through him, and were general in their nature,
+leaving all the details and the execution to him.  The campaigns
+that followed proved him to be the right man in the right
+place.  His commanding always in the presence of an officer
+superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that public
+attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he
+would otherwise have received.
+
+The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the
+morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and
+orders of Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions.  Before
+night, the whole army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth
+corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's
+Ford, the cavalry, under Major-General Sheridan, moving in
+advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about
+four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition.  The
+average distance travelled by the troops that day was about
+twelve miles.  This I regarded as a great success, and it
+removed from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had
+entertained, that of crossing the river in the face of an
+active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how
+so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country,
+and protected.  Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth,
+Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy
+outside his intrenchments near Mine Run.  The battle raged
+furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight
+as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which,
+considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the
+roads, was done with commendable promptness.
+
+General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the
+Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at
+the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad,
+holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move
+until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was
+secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was
+received.  This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of
+the 4th.  By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was
+leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some
+of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles,
+crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers.  Considering
+that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was
+composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the
+accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.
+
+The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock
+on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury
+until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same
+position that they had on the evening of the 5th.  After dark,
+the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank,
+capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable
+confusion.  But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was
+personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon
+reformed it and restored order.  On the morning of the 7th,
+reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his
+intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of
+the battle-field.  From this it was evident to my mind that the
+two days' fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further
+maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his
+advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind
+his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my whole
+force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued
+for a movement by his right flank.  On the night of the 7th, the
+march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth
+corps moving on the most direct road.  But the enemy having
+become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line,
+was enabled to reach there first.  On the 8th, General Warren
+met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and
+delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at
+Spottsylvania.  This force was steadily driven back on the main
+force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable
+fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides.  On the morning
+of the 9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the
+enemy's lines of communication with Richmond.  The 9th, 10th,
+and 11th were spent in manoeuvring and fighting, without
+decisive results.  Among the killed on the 9th was that able and
+distinguished soldier Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the
+sixth army corps.  Major-General H. G. Wright succeeded him in
+command.  Early on the morning of the 12th a general attack was
+made on the enemy in position.  The second corps, Major-General
+Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, capturing
+most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces of
+artillery.  But the resistance was so obstinate that the
+advantage gained did not prove decisive.  The 13th, 14th, 15th,
+16th, 17th, and 18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting
+the arrival of reinforcements from Washington.  Deeming it
+impracticable to make any further attack upon the enemy at
+Spottsylvania Court House, orders were issued on the 15th with a
+view to a movement to the North Anna, to commence at twelve
+o'clock on the night of the 19th.  Late in the afternoon of the
+19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our extreme right
+flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy loss.
+This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of
+the 21st, when it was commenced.  But the enemy again, having
+the shorter line, and being in possession of the main roads, was
+enabled to reach the North Anna in advance of us, and took
+position behind it.  The fifth corps reached the North Anna on
+the afternoon of the 23d, closely followed by the sixth corps.
+The second and ninth corps got up about the same time, the
+second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying between
+that and Jericho Ford.  General Warren effected a crossing the
+same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon
+after getting into position he was violently attacked, but
+repulsed the enemy with great slaughter.  On the 25th, General
+Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac from the raid on which
+he started from Spottsylvania, having destroyed the depots at
+Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, large
+supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track;
+recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to
+Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's
+cavalry at Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around
+Richmond (but finding the second line too strong to be carried by
+assault), recrossed to the north bank of the Chickahominy at
+Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, and moved by a detour to
+Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he communicated with
+General Butler.  This raid had the effect of drawing off the
+whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy
+to guard our trains.
+
+General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in
+pursuance of instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore
+having joined him with the tenth corps.  At the same time he
+sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way of
+West Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a
+foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, under General
+Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of
+Petersburg and Richmond.  On the 5th, he occupied, without
+opposition, both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement
+being a complete surprise.  On the 6th, he was in position with
+his main army, and commenced intrenching.  On the 7th he made a
+reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad,
+destroying a portion of it after some fighting.  On the 9th he
+telegraphed as follows:
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING,
+May 9, 1864.
+
+"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
+
+"Our operations may be summed up in a few words.  With one
+thousand seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the
+Peninsula, forced the Chickahominy, and have safely, brought
+them to their present position.  These were colored cavalry, and
+are now holding our advance pickets towards Richmond.
+
+"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the
+same day with our movement up James River, forced the Black
+Water, burned the railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below
+Petersburg, cutting into Beauregard's force at that point.
+
+"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles
+of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we
+can hold out against the whole of Lee's army.  I have ordered up
+the supplies.
+
+"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south
+by the cutting of the railroads by Kautz.  That portion which
+reached Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and
+wounding many, and taking many prisoners, after a severe and
+well-contested fight.
+
+"General Grant will not be troubled with any further
+reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's force.
+
+"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."
+
+
+On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a
+portion of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff,
+or Fort Darling, with small loss.  The time thus consumed from
+the 6th lost to us the benefit of the surprise and capture of
+Richmond and Petersburg, enabling, as it did, Beauregard to
+collect his loose forces in North and South Carolina, and bring
+them to the defence of those places.  On the 16th, the enemy
+attacked General Butler in his position in front of Drury's
+Bluff.  He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments
+between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy
+intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads,
+the city, and all that was valuable to him.  His army,
+therefore, though in a position of great security, was as
+completely shut off from further operations directly against
+Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked.  It
+required but a comparatively small force of the enemy to hold it
+there.
+
+On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a
+raid against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at
+Coalfield, Powhatan, and Chula Stations, destroying them, the
+railroad-track, two freight trains, and one locomotive, together
+with large quantities of commissary and other stores; thence,
+crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at Wilson's,
+Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the
+road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point,
+which he reached on the 18th.
+
+On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General
+Butler, the enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an
+iron-clad ram, attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H.
+W. Wessells, and our gunboats there, and, after severe fighting,
+the place was carried by assault, and the entire garrison and
+armament captured.  The gunboat Smithfield was sunk, and the
+Miami disabled.
+
+The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically
+sealed itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to
+bring the most, if not all, the reinforcements brought from the
+south by Beauregard against the Army of the Potomac. In addition
+to this reinforcement, a very considerable one, probably not less
+than fifteen thousand men, was obtained by calling in the
+scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of
+Virginia.
+
+The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was
+difficult to operate from against the enemy.  I determined,
+therefore, to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough
+only to secure what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d,
+I directed that they be sent forward, under command of
+Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by
+Major-General A. E. Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the
+Potomac, and from this time forward constituted a portion of
+Major-General Meade's command.
+
+Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than
+either of his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th
+to the north bank of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town
+to turn the enemy's position by his right.
+
+Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under
+Sheridan, and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the
+Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and
+on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe, but
+successful engagement with the enemy at Hawes's Shop.  On the
+29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy skirmishing, to the
+Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the
+enemy's position north of the Chickahominy.  Late on the evening
+of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but was
+repulsed with very considerable loss.  An attack was immediately
+ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted
+in driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.
+
+On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the
+railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the
+enemy's cavalry.  General Sheridan, on the same day, reached
+Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and
+General Smith's command, which had just arrived, via White
+House, from General Butler's army.
+
+On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the
+6th corps and the troops under General Smith, the other corps
+being held in readiness to advance on the receipt of orders.
+This resulted in our carrying and holding the enemy's first line
+of works in front of the right of the 6th corps, and in front of
+General Smith.  During the attack the enemy made repeated
+assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack,
+but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance.  That night
+he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the day,
+but failed.  The 2d was spent in getting troops into position
+for an attack on the 3d.  On the 3d of June we again assaulted
+the enemy's works, in the hope of driving him from his
+position.  In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of the
+enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light.  It was
+the only general attack made from the Rapidan to the James which
+did not inflict upon the enemy losses to compensate for our own
+losses.  I would not be understood as saying that all previous
+attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished as
+much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy
+severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete
+overthrow of the rebellion.
+
+From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond,
+it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between
+him and the city.  I was still in a condition to either move by
+his left flank, and invest Richmond from the north side, or
+continue my move by his right flank to the south side of the
+James.  While the former might have been better as a covering
+for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground satisfied me
+that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and east of
+Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long,
+vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to
+guard, and that would have to be protected to supply the army,
+and would leave open to the enemy all his lines of communication
+on the south side of the James.  My idea, from the start, had
+been to beat Lee's army north of Richmond, if possible.  Then,
+after destroying his lines of communication north of the James
+River, to transfer the army to the south side, and besiege Lee
+in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat.  After
+the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that the enemy
+deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army
+he then had.  He acted purely on the defensive, behind
+breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of
+them, and where, in case of repulse, he could easily retire
+behind them.  Without a greater sacrifice of life than I was
+willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had
+designed north of Richmond.  I therefore determined to continue
+to hold substantially the ground we then occupied, taking
+advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present
+themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville
+and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection
+between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and
+when the cavalry  got well off, to move the army to the south
+side of the James River, by the enemy's right flank, where I
+felt I could cut off all his sources of supply, except by the
+canal.
+
+On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan,
+got off on the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad,
+with instructions to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near
+Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and after the
+work laid out for them was thoroughly done, to join the Army of
+the Potomac by the route laid down in Sheridan's instructions.
+
+On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry,
+under General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to
+capture Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and
+common bridges across the Appomattox.  The cavalry carried the
+works on the south side, and penetrated well in towards the
+town, but were forced to retire.  General Gillmore, finding the
+works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault
+impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting
+one.
+
+Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I
+sent back to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's
+command by water, via the White House, to reach there in advance
+of the Army of the Potomac.  This was for the express purpose of
+securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our
+intention, could reinforce the place.
+
+The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the
+evening of the 12th.  One division of cavalry, under General
+Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long
+Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossings
+of the other corps.  The advance corps reached James River, at
+Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, on the night of
+the 13th.
+
+During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern
+Virginia had been confronting each other.  In that time they had
+fought more desperate battles than it probably ever before fell
+to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing
+the vantage ground of either.  The Southern press and people,
+with more shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding
+that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New
+York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they only
+defended their Capital and Southern territory.  Hence, Antietam,
+Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were
+by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for
+them.  Their army believed this.  It produced a morale which
+could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard
+fighting.  The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North
+Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our
+side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him
+as to make him wary ever after of taking the offensive.  His
+losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that
+we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking
+party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field.  The
+details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the
+part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in
+the report of Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports
+accompanying it.
+
+During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the
+James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting
+base, by wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded
+country, with a lack of wharves at each new base from which to
+conveniently discharge vessels.  Too much credit cannot,
+therefore, be awarded to the quartermaster and commissary
+departments for the zeal and efficiency displayed by them. Under
+the general supervision of the chief quartermaster,
+Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to occupy all
+the available roads between the army and our water-base, and but
+little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.
+
+The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under
+General Sigel, commenced on the 1st of May.  General Crook, who
+had the immediate command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his
+forces into two columns, giving one, composed of cavalry, to
+General Averell.  They crossed the mountains by separate routes.
+Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near
+Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and
+Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges
+and depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with
+Crook at Union on the 15th.  General Sigel moved up the
+Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and,
+after a severe engagement, was defeated with heavy loss, and
+retired behind Cedar Creek.  Not regarding the operations of
+General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal from command,
+and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him.  His
+instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to
+Major-General H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:
+
+
+"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA.
+"May 20, 1864.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+"The enemy are evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as
+are brought over the branch road running through Staunton.  On
+the whole, therefore, I think it would be better for General
+Hunter to move in that direction; reach Staunton and
+Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too much
+opposition.  If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he
+will be doing good service.  * * *
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.
+
+"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he
+should do so, living on the country.  The railroads and canal
+should be destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks.
+Completing this, he could find his way back to his original
+base, or from about Gordonsville join this army.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."
+
+
+General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up
+the Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at
+Piedmont, and, after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated
+him, capturing on the field of battle one thousand five hundred
+men, three pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small
+arms.  On the 8th of the same month he formed a junction with
+Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct
+on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he reached and invested
+on the 16th day of June.  Up to this time he was very successful;
+and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance
+stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would,
+no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, point.  The
+destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was very
+great.  To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee
+sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached
+Lynchburg a short time before Hunter.  After some skirmishing on
+the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition
+to give battle, retired from before the place.  Unfortunately,
+this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his
+return but by way of Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his
+troops for several weeks from the defence of the North.
+
+Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of
+Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been
+in a position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the
+enemy, should the force he met have seemed to endanger it.  If
+it did not, he would have been within easy distance of the James
+River Canal, on the main line of communication between Lynchburg
+and the force sent for its defence.  I have never taken
+exception to the operations of General Hunter, and am not now
+disposed to find fault with him, for I have no doubt he acted
+within what he conceived to be the spirit of his instructions
+and the interests of the service.  The promptitude of his
+movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the
+commendation of his country.
+
+To return to the Army of the Potomac:  The 2d corps commenced
+crossing the James River on the morning of the 14th by
+ferry-boats at Wilcox's Landing.  The laying of the pontoon-
+bridge was completed about midnight of the 14th, and the
+crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly pushed forward
+by both bridge and ferry.
+
+After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to
+Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate
+capture of Petersburg.
+
+The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him
+to send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the
+troops he could give him without sacrificing the position he
+then held.  I told him that I would return at once to the Army
+of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and throw it forward to
+Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be done, that we
+could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the enemy
+could bring troops against us.  General Smith got off as
+directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg
+before daylight next morning, but for some reason that I have
+never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready
+to assault his main lines until near sundown.  Then, with a part
+of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines
+north-east of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a
+distance of over two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces
+of artillery and three hundred prisoners.  This was about seven
+P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no
+other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had
+reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The
+night was clear the moon shining brightly and favorable to
+further operations.  General Hancock, with two divisions of the
+2d corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the
+service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to
+the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the
+position of affairs, and what to do with the troops.  But
+instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into
+Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of
+his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.
+
+By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force.
+An attack was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by
+the troops under Smith and the 2d and 9th corps.  It required
+until that time for the 9th corps to get up and into position.
+The attack was made as ordered, and the fighting continued with
+but little intermission until six o'clock the next morning, and
+resulted in our carrying the advance and some of the main works
+of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously
+captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over
+four hundred prisoners.
+
+The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and
+persisted in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only
+resulted in forcing the enemy into an interior line, from which
+he could not be dislodged.  The advantages of position gained by
+us were very great.  The army then proceeded to envelop
+Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far as possible
+without attacking fortifications.
+
+On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a
+part of his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting,
+no doubt, to get troops from north of the James to take the place
+of those withdrawn before we could discover it.  General Butler,
+taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad
+between Petersburg and Richmond.  As soon as I was apprised of
+the advantage thus gained, to retain it I ordered two divisions
+of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that were embarking
+at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to report to
+General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was
+notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of
+his present line urged upon him.
+
+About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced
+back to the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning.
+General Wright, with his two divisions, joined General Butler on
+the forenoon of the 17th, the latter still holding with a strong
+picket-line the enemy's works.  But instead of putting these
+divisions into the enemy's works to hold them, he permitted them
+to halt and rest some distance in the rear of his own line.
+Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy
+attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.
+
+On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was
+effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the
+north bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by
+pontoon-bridge with Bermuda Hundred.
+
+On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition
+against the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House
+just as the enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled
+it to retire.  The result of this expedition was, that General
+Sheridan met the enemy's cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the
+morning of the 11th of June, whom he attacked, and after an
+obstinate contest drove from the field in complete rout.  He
+left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and about
+four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses.  On the 12th
+he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court
+House.  This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced
+in the direction of Gordonsville.  He found the enemy reinforced
+by infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles
+from the latter place and too strong to successfully assault.  On
+the extreme right, however, his reserve brigade carried the
+enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by
+infantry.  Night closed the contest.  Not having sufficient
+ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals being
+without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing),
+and hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command
+to the north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return
+march, reaching White House at the time before stated.  After
+breaking up the depot at that place, he moved to the James
+River, which he reached safely after heavy fighting.  He
+commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, without
+further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.
+
+On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of
+the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry
+of the Army of the James moved against the enemy's railroads
+south of Richmond.  Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's
+Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and
+the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near
+Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the
+enemy's cavalry.  He reached Burkesville Station on the
+afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville
+Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles,
+where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which
+he could not dislodge him.  He then commenced his return march,
+and on the 28th met the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon
+Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not
+decisive engagement.  Thence he made a detour from his left with
+a view of reaching Reams's Station (supposing it to be in our
+possession).  At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry,
+supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of
+his artillery and trains.  In this last encounter, General
+Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made
+his way into our lines.  General Wilson, with the remainder of
+his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming
+in safely on our left and rear.  The damage to the enemy in this
+expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained.  It
+severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several
+weeks.
+
+With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond
+to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his
+army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to
+take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from
+Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of
+the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the
+night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the
+cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank
+of the James River and joined the force General Butler had
+there.  On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched
+position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery.  On the
+28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market
+Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in
+heavy force.  The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in
+considerable loss to both sides.  The first object of this move
+having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by
+the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made,
+by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back
+there.  One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night
+of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th
+corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be
+foot-loose in the assault to be made.  The other two divisions
+of the 2d corps and Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the
+night of the 29th and moved in front of Petersburg.  On the
+morning of the 30th, between four and five o'clock, the mine was
+sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a regiment, and the
+advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th corps,
+immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion,
+and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a
+detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to
+advance promptly to the ridge beyond.  Had they done this, I
+have every reason to believe that Petersburg would have
+fallen.  Other troops were immediately pushed forward, but the
+time consumed in getting them up enabled the enemy to rally from
+his surprise (which had been complete), and get forces to this
+point for its defence.  The captured line thus held being
+untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were withdrawn,
+but not without heavy loss.  Thus terminated in disaster what
+promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.
+
+Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter
+was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus
+laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and
+Pennsylvania, he returned northward and moved down that
+valley.  As soon as this movement of the enemy was ascertained,
+General Hunter, who had reached the Kanawha River, was directed
+to move his troops without delay, by river and railroad, to
+Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of navigation by
+reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great delay was
+experienced in getting there.  It became necessary, therefore,
+to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy.  For
+this purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating
+against Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then
+fortunately beginning to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf
+Department, under orders issued immediately after the
+ascertainment of the result of the Red River expedition.  The
+garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time made up
+of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments
+from the invalid corps.  One division under command of General
+Ricketts, of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the
+remaining two divisions of the 6th corps, under General Wright,
+were subsequently sent to Washington.  On the 3d of July the
+enemy approached Martinsburg.  General Sigel, who was in command
+of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac at
+Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry,
+crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards
+Frederick City.  General Wallace, with Rickett's division and
+his own command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops,
+pushed out from Baltimore with great promptness, and met the
+enemy in force on the Monocacy, near the crossing of the
+railroad bridge.  His force was not sufficient to insure
+success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and although it
+resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and
+thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with
+two division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th
+corps, before him.  From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington,
+his cavalry advance reaching Rockville on the evening of the
+10th.  On the 12th a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of
+Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position and force.  A
+severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred and
+eighty in killed and wounded.  The enemy's loss was probably
+greater.  He commenced retreating during the night.  Learning
+the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by
+telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th,
+the assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of
+all the troops that could be made available to operate in the
+field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside
+of the trenches with all the force he could, and push Early to
+the last moment.  General Wright commenced the pursuit on the
+13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on
+the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 20th,
+General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of the rebel
+army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and
+several hundred prisoners.
+
+Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or
+Richmond, I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to
+the armies operating against Richmond, so that they might be
+used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops
+sent by him into the valley; and that Hunter should remain in
+the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between any force of the enemy
+and Washington, acting on the defensive as much as possible.  I
+felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the fact
+would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave
+Washington.  Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the
+order to return to the James.
+
+About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again
+advancing upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps,
+then at Washington, was ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's
+Ferry.  The rebel force moved down the valley, and sent a raiding
+party into Pennsylvania which on the 30th burned Chambersburg,
+and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards
+Cumberland.  They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and
+with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West
+Virginia.  From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires
+were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making
+it necessary to transmit messages a part of the way by boat.  It
+took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches
+through and return answers would be received showing a
+different state of facts from those on which they were based,
+causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that must
+have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and
+rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they
+otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident
+to my mind that some person should have the supreme command of
+all the forces in the Department of West Virginia, Washington,
+Susquehanna, and the Middle Department, and I so recommended.
+
+On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in
+person to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington,
+with a view to his assignment to the command of all the forces
+against Early.  At this time the enemy was concentrated in the
+neighborhood of Winchester, while our forces, under General
+Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of
+the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy
+Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania.  From where I was, I
+hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces
+at Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington.
+Therefore, on the 4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's
+command, and determine for myself what was best to be done.  On
+arrival there, and after consultation with General Hunter, I
+issued to him the following instructions:
+
+
+"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND,
+August 5, 1864--8 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in
+the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards
+and garrisons for public property as may be necessary.  Use, in
+this concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be
+saved.  From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has
+moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following
+him and attacking him wherever found; follow him, if driven south
+of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so.  If it is
+ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the
+Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a
+competent commander, a sufficient force to look after the
+raiders, and drive them to their homes.  In detaching such a
+force, the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington
+via Rockville may be taken into account.
+
+"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of
+the best cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and
+horses.  These will be instructed, in the absence of further
+orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac.  One
+brigade will probably start to-morrow.  In pushing up the
+Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go
+first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to
+invite the enemy to return.  Take all provisions, forage, and
+stock wanted for the use of your command; such as cannot be
+consumed, destroy.  It is not desirable that the buildings
+should be destroyed--they should rather be protected; but the
+people should be informed that, so long as an army can subsist
+among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and we
+are determined to stop them at all hazards.
+
+"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do
+this you want to keep him always in sight.  Be guided in your
+course by the course he takes.
+
+"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving
+regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in
+the country through which you march.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."
+
+
+The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance
+reached Halltown that night.
+
+General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a
+willingness to be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have
+General Sheridan, then at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by
+the morning train, with orders to take general command of all
+the troops in the field, and to call on General Hunter at
+Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of
+instructions.  I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan
+arrived, on the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with
+him in relation to military affairs in that vicinity, I returned
+to City Point by way of Washington.
+
+On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments
+of West Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted
+into the "Middle Military Division," and  Major-General Sheridan
+was assigned to temporary command of the same.
+
+Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and
+Wilson, were sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The
+first reached him at Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.
+
+His operations during the month of August and the fore part of
+September were both of an offensive and defensive character,
+resulting in many severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry,
+in which we were generally successful, but no general engagement
+took place.  The two armies lay in such a position--the enemy on
+the west bank of the Opequon Creek covering Winchester, and our
+forces in front of Berryville--that either could bring on a
+battle at any time.  Defeat to us would lay open to the enemy
+the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances
+before another army could be interposed to check him.  Under
+these circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to
+be taken.  Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
+and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by
+the enemy, became so indispensably necessary to us, and the
+importance of relieving Pennsylvania and Maryland from
+continuously threatened invasion so great, that I determined the
+risk should be taken.  But fearing to telegraph the order for an
+attack without knowing more than I did of General Sheridan's
+feelings as to what would be the probable result, I left City
+Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his headquarters,
+to decide, after conference with him, what should be done.  I met
+him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each
+army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and
+expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but
+two words of instructions necessary--Go in!  For the
+conveniences of forage, the teams for supplying the army were
+kept at Harper's Ferry.  I asked him if he could get out his
+teams and supplies in time to make an attack on the ensuing
+Tuesday morning.  His reply was, that he could before daylight
+on Monday.  He was off promptly to time, and I may here add,
+that the result was such that I have never since deemed it
+necessary to visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.
+
+Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked
+General Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a
+most sanguinary and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in
+the evening, defeated him with heavy loss, carrying his entire
+position from Opequon Creek to Winchester, capturing several
+thousand prisoners and five pieces of artillery.  The enemy
+rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at Fisher's Hill,
+where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss on the
+20th [22d].  Sheridan pursued him with great energy through
+Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge.  After
+stripping the upper valley of most of the supplies and
+provisions for the rebel army, he returned to Strasburg, and
+took position on the north side of Cedar Creek.
+
+Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again
+returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry
+encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated,
+with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and
+fifty prisoners.  On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the
+mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded
+the North Fork, and early on the morning of the 19th, under
+cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised and turned our left
+flank, and captured the batteries which enfiladed our whole
+line.  Our troops fell back with heavy loss and in much
+confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and
+Newtown.  At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at
+Winchester when the battle commenced arrived on the field,
+arranged his lines just in time to repulse a heavy attack of the
+enemy, and immediately assuming the offensive, he attacked in
+turn with great vigor.  The enemy was defeated with great
+slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and
+the trophies he had captured in the morning.  The wreck of his
+army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of
+Staunton and Lynchburg.  Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus
+ended this, the enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the
+Shenandoah Valley.  I was now enabled to return the 6th corps to
+the Army of the Potomac, and to send one division from Sheridan's
+army to the Army of the James, and another to Savannah, Georgia,
+to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the sea-coast, and thus
+enable him to move without detaching from his force for that
+purpose.
+
+Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy
+had detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early
+in the Shenandoah Valley.  I therefore sent the 2d corps and
+Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a
+force of General Butler's army, on the night of the 13th of
+August, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James,
+to prevent him from sending troops away, and, if possible, to
+draw back those sent.  In this move we captured six pieces of
+artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that
+were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one
+division (Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.
+
+The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist
+this movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was
+moved out on the 18th, and took possession of the Weldon
+Railroad.  During the day he had considerable fighting.  To
+regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and
+desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great
+loss.  On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of
+the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the
+front at Petersburg.  On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's
+division of cavalry, while at Reams's Station destroying the
+railroad, were attacked, and after desperate fighting, a part of
+our line gave way, and five pieces of artillery fell into the
+hands of the enemy.
+
+By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from
+the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad,
+enabling us to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the
+army in front of Petersburg.
+
+The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled
+the enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few
+troops north of the James for the defence of Richmond.  On the
+night of the 28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the
+18th corps, Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's
+army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced
+on the morning of the 29th, carrying the very strong
+fortifications and intrenchments below Chaffin's Farm, known as
+Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery, and the
+New Market Road and intrenchments.  This success was followed up
+by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front of
+the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with
+heavy loss.  Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to
+the right of this, supported by infantry, and reached the
+enemy's inner line, but was unable to get further.  The position
+captured from the enemy was so threatening to Richmond, that I
+determined to hold it.  The enemy made several desperate
+attempts to dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, and for
+which he paid dearly.  On the morning of the 30th, General Meade
+sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the enemy's
+line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of
+troops to the north side.  In this reconnoissance we captured
+and held the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church.  In the
+afternoon, troops moving to get to the left of the point gained
+were attacked by the enemy in heavy force, and compelled to fall
+back until supported by the forces holding the captured works.
+Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, but repulsed the
+enemy with great loss.
+
+On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north
+of the James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed,
+wounded, and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight
+or nine pieces.  This he followed up by an attack on our
+intrenched infantry line, but was repulsed with severe
+slaughter.  On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent out by
+General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new
+works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to
+us.
+
+On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient
+men to hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right
+flank.  The 2d corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th
+corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering our left flank,
+forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, and moved up the south side
+of it towards the South Side Railroad, until the 2d corps and
+part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it
+crosses Hatcher's Run.  At this point we were six miles distant
+from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement
+to reach and hold.  But finding that we had not reached the end
+of the enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself
+for a successful assault by which he might be doubled up and
+shortened, I determined to withdraw to within our fortified
+line.  Orders were given accordingly.  Immediately upon
+receiving a report that General Warren had connected with
+General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters.  Soon after I
+left the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap
+between Generals Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as
+reported, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right
+and rear.  General Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet
+it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works,
+and withdrew that night to his old position.
+
+In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration
+on the north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the
+Williamsburg Road, and also on the York River Railroad.  In the
+former he was unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in
+carrying a work which was afterwards abandoned, and his forces
+withdrawn to their former positions.
+
+From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and
+Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the
+defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements
+for crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent
+his detaching any considerable force to send south.  By the 7th
+of February, our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the
+Weldon Railroad had been destroyed to Hicksford.
+
+General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with
+the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded,
+respectively, by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon
+Johnston's army at Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at
+Buzzard's Roost, covering Dalton, too strong to be assaulted,
+General McPherson was sent through Snake Gap to turn it, while
+Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it in front and on the
+north.  This movement was successful.  Johnston, finding his
+retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified
+position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of
+May 15th.  A heavy battle ensued.  During the night the enemy
+retreated south.  Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken
+near Adairsville, and heavy skirmishing followed.  The next
+morning, however, he had again disappeared.  He was vigorously
+pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville on the 19th, but during
+the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah.  While these
+operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's division
+of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts
+and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries.  General
+Sherman, having give his army a few days' rest at this point,
+again put it in motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of
+turning the difficult pass at Allatoona.  On the afternoon of
+the 25th, the advance, under General Hooker, had a severe battle
+with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope Church, near
+Dallas.  Several sharp encounters occurred at this point.  The
+most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General
+McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.
+
+On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position
+at New Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of
+Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains.  He was forced to yield the
+two last-named places, and concentrate his army on Kenesaw,
+where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and McPherson made a
+determined but unsuccessful assault.  On the night of the 2d of
+July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, and
+on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence
+of this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the
+Chattahoochee.
+
+General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men
+rest and get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed
+his operations, crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large
+portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy back to
+Atlanta. At this place General Hood succeeded General Johnston
+in command of the rebel army, and assuming the
+offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon
+Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and
+determined of which was on the 22d of July.  About one P.M. of
+this day the brave, accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson
+was killed.  General Logan succeeded him, and commanded the Army
+of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and until he was
+superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same
+success and ability that had characterized him in the command of
+a corps or division.
+
+In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss.
+Finding it impossible to entirely invest the place, General
+Sherman, after securing his line of communications across the
+Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's left
+flank upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy
+from his fortifications.  In this he succeeded, and after
+defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and
+Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of
+September occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.
+
+About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler,
+attempted to cut his communications in the rear, but was
+repulsed at Dalton, and driven into East Tennessee, whence it
+proceeded west to McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and
+was finally driven south of the Tennessee.  The damage done by
+this raid was repaired in a few days.
+
+During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau
+joined General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur,
+having made a successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery
+Railroad, and its branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also
+made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the
+remaining Railroad communication with Atlanta.  The first two
+were successful the latter, disastrous.
+
+General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was
+prompt, skilful, and brilliant.  The history of his flank
+movements and battles during that memorable campaign will ever
+be read with an interest unsurpassed by anything in history.
+
+His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders,
+accompanying it, give the details of that most successful
+campaign.
+
+He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a
+single-track railroad from Nashville to the point where he was
+operating.  This passed the entire distance through a hostile
+country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. The
+cavalry force of the enemy under Forrest, in Northern
+Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to advance far
+enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat
+disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the
+possibility of further use.  To guard against this danger,
+Sherman left what he supposed to be a sufficient force to
+operate against Forrest in West Tennessee.  He directed General
+Washburn, who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D.
+Sturgis in command of this force to attack him.  On the morning
+of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near Guntown,
+Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout and
+confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles,
+hotly pursued by the enemy.  By this, however, the enemy was
+defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications.
+The persistency with which he followed up this success exhausted
+him, and made a season for rest and repairs necessary.  In the
+meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, with the troops of the Army
+of the Tennessee that had been sent by General Sherman to General
+Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return from Red River, where
+they had done most excellent service.  He was directed by
+General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against
+Forrest.  This he did with the promptness and effect which has
+characterized his whole military career.  On the 14th of July,
+he met the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him
+badly.  The fighting continued through three days.  Our loss was
+small compared with that of the enemy.  Having accomplished the
+object of his expedition, General Smith returned to Memphis.
+
+During the months of March and April this same force under
+Forrest annoyed us considerably.  On the 24th of March it
+captured Union City, Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th
+attacked Paducah, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois
+Volunteers.  Colonel H., having but a small force, withdrew to
+the forts near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and
+drove him from the place.
+
+On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel
+General Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to
+surrender, but received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th
+New Jersey Volunteers, that being placed there by his Government
+with adequate force to hold his post and repel all enemies from
+it, surrender was out of the question.
+
+On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow,
+Tennessee, garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and
+the 1st Regiment Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major
+Booth.  The garrison fought bravely until about three o'clock in
+the afternoon, when the enemy carried the works by assault; and,
+after our men threw down their arms, proceeded to an inhuman and
+merciless massacre of the garrison.
+
+On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared
+before Paducah, but was again driven off.
+
+Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's
+operations, were also very active in Kentucky.  The most noted
+of these was Morgan.  With a force of from two to three thousand
+cavalry, he entered the State through Pound Gap in the latter
+part of May.  On the 11th of June they attacked and captured
+Cynthiana, with its entire garrison.  On the 12th he was
+overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy
+loss, and was finally driven out of the State.  This notorious
+guerilla was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville,
+Tennessee, and his command captured and dispersed by General
+Gillem.
+
+In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the
+Red River expedition, except so far as relates to the movements
+of the troops sent by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith,
+I am unable to give the date of its starting.  The troops under
+General Smith, comprising two divisions of the 16th and a
+detachment of the 17th army corps, left Vicksburg on the 10th of
+March, and reached the designated point on Red River one day
+earlier than that appointed by General Banks.  The rebel forces
+at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the
+14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying
+the enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed
+forward to Fort de Russy, which had been left with a weak
+garrison, and captured it with its garrison about three hundred
+and fifty men, eleven pieces of artillery, and many
+small-arms.  Our loss was but slight.  On the 15th he pushed
+forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th.  On
+the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's
+Hill, in which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten
+prisoners and four pieces of artillery.
+
+On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the
+rebel General Taylor, at Cane River.  By the 26th, General Banks
+had assembled his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to
+Grand Ecore.  On the morning of April 6th he moved from Grand
+Ecore.  On the afternoon of the 7th, he advanced and met the
+enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him from the field.  On the
+same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight miles beyond
+Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat.  On the 8th,
+at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and
+defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and
+an immense amount of transportation and stores.  During the
+night, General Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another
+battle was fought on the 9th, and the enemy repulsed with great
+loss.  During the night, General Banks continued his retrograde
+movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to Alexandria, which he
+reached on the 27th of April.  Here a serious difficulty arose
+in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the
+expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much
+since they passed up as to prevent their return.  At the
+suggestion of Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under
+his superintendence, wing-dams were constructed, by which the
+channel was contracted so that the fleet passed down the rapids
+in safety.
+
+The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after
+considerable skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached
+Morganzia and Point Coupee near the end of the month.  The
+disastrous termination of this expedition, and the lateness of
+the season, rendered impracticable the carrying out of my plans
+of a movement in force sufficient to insure the capture of
+Mobile.
+
+On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with
+the 7th army corps, to  cooperate with General Banks's
+expedition on the Red River, and reached Arkadelphia on the
+28th.  On the 16th of April, after driving the enemy before him,
+he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in Washita County, by General
+Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith.  After several severe
+skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele
+reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April.
+
+On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks
+on Red River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's
+Mill, in Dallas County, General Steele determined to fall back
+to the Arkansas River.  He left Camden on the 26th of April, and
+reached Little Rock on the 2d of May.  On the 30th of April, the
+enemy attacked him while crossing Saline River at Jenkins's
+Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable loss.  Our loss was
+about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.
+
+Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the
+"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore
+directed to send the 19th army corps to join the armies
+operating against Richmond, and to limit the remainder of his
+command to such operations as might be necessary to hold the
+positions and lines of communications he then occupied.
+
+Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman,
+General Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy
+that was collecting near the Mississippi River.  General Smith
+met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of
+June.  Our loss was about forty killed and seventy wounded.
+
+In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General
+Gordon Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to
+co-operate with Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile
+Bay.  On the 8th of August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the
+combined naval and land forces.  Fort Powell was blown up and
+abandoned.
+
+On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe
+bombardment, surrendered on the 23d.  The total captures
+amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four prisoners,
+and one hundred and four pieces of artillery.
+
+About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel
+General Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had
+reached Jacksonport, on his way to invade Missouri, General A.
+J. Smith's command, then en route from Memphis to join Sherman,
+was ordered to Missouri.  A cavalry force was also, at the same
+time, sent from Memphis, under command of Colonel Winslow.  This
+made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those of Price, and
+no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price and
+drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in
+Arkansas, would cut off his retreat.  On the 26th day of
+September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to
+retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and
+continued up that river towards Kansas.  General Curtis,
+commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such
+forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while
+General Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.
+
+The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated,
+with the loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large
+number of prisoners.  He made a precipitate retreat to Northern
+Arkansas.  The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam
+over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable
+mischief done by him, show to how little purpose a superior force
+may be used.  There is no reason why General Rosecrans should not
+have concentrated his forces, and beaten and driven Price before
+the latter reached Pilot Knob.
+
+September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the
+Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the
+garrison at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which
+capitulated on the 24th.  Soon after the surrender two regiments
+of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were
+compelled to surrender.  Forrest destroyed the railroad
+westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle,
+skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the
+same day cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near
+Tullahoma and Dechard.  On the morning of the 30th, one column
+of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before Huntsville,
+and summoned the surrender of the garrison.  Receiving an answer
+in the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until
+next morning, when he again summoned its surrender, and received
+the same reply as on the night before.  He withdrew in the
+direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, and
+attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without
+success.  On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but
+was handsomely repulsed.
+
+Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the
+morning of the 1st, but did not make an attack.  On the morning
+of the 3d he moved towards Mount Pleasant.  While these
+operations were going on, every exertion was made by General
+Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest before he could
+recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his escape to
+Corinth, Mississippi.
+
+In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to
+destroy the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy
+on the 2d of October, about three miles and a half from
+Saltville, and drove him into his strongly intrenched position
+around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge
+him.  During the night he withdrew his command and returned to
+Kentucky.
+
+General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his
+armies in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations
+for refitting and supplying them for future service.  The great
+length of road from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however,
+which had to be guarded, allowed the troops but little rest.
+
+During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon,
+Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon
+became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the
+enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them.  He
+exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been
+beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt at the
+defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against
+the army that had so often defeated it.
+
+In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon
+reported to the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's
+right, he succeeded in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty,
+and moved north on it.
+
+General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the
+remainder of his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden,
+Alabama. Seeing the constant annoyance he would have with the
+roads to his rear if he attempted to hold Atlanta, General
+Sherman proposed the abandonment and destruction of that place,
+with all the railroads leading to it, and telegraphed me as
+follows:
+
+
+"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA
+"October 10--noon.
+
+"Dispatch about Wilson just received.  Hood is now crossing
+Coosa River, twelve miles below Rome, bound west.  If he passes
+over the Mobile and Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan
+of my letter sent by Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas
+with the troops now in Tennessee to defend the State?  He will
+have an ample force when the reinforcements ordered reach
+Nashville.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this
+dispatch, I quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:
+
+"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's
+should be reinforced to the maximum; that after you get
+Wilmington, you strike for Savannah and the river; that Canby be
+instructed to hold the Mississippi River, and send a force to get
+Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of the Alabama or the
+Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put my army in
+final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to
+be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the
+city of Savannah is in our possession."  This was in reply to a
+letter of mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch
+of his containing substantially the same proposition, and in
+which I informed him of a proposed movement against Wilmington,
+and of the situation in Virginia, etc.
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+
+"October 11, 1864--11 A.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of October 10th received.  Does it not look as if
+Hood was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using
+the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply
+his base on the Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur?  If
+he does this, he ought to be met and prevented from getting
+north of the Tennessee River.  If you were to cut loose, I do
+not believe you would meet Hood's army, but would be bushwhacked
+by all the old men and little boys, and such railroad guards as
+are still left at home.  Hood would probably strike for
+Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater
+damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south.  If
+there is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that,
+but I must trust to your own judgment.  I find I shall not be
+able to send a force from here to act with you on Savannah. Your
+movements, therefore, will be independent of mine; at least until
+the fall of Richmond takes place.  I am afraid Thomas, with such
+lines of road as he has to protect, could not prevent Hood from
+going north.  With Wilson turned loose, with all your cavalry,
+you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive than
+heretofore.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+"KINGSTON, GEORGIA,
+"October 11--11 A.M.
+
+"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and
+Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome.  He
+threw one corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to
+follow.  I hold Atlanta with the 20th corps, and have strong
+detachments along my line.  This reduces my active force to a
+comparatively small army.  We cannot remain here on the
+defensive.  With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold
+cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads.  I would
+infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the
+country from Chattanooga to Atlanta including the latter city
+send back all my wounded and worthless, and with my effective
+army, move through Georgia, smashing things, to the sea. Hood
+may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be
+forced to follow me.  Instead of my being on the defensive, I
+would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means
+to do, he would have to guess at my plans.  The difference in
+war is full twenty-five per cent.  I can make Savannah,
+Charleston, or the mouth of the Chattahoochee.
+
+"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.
+
+"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+"October 11,1864--11.30 P.M.
+
+"Your dispatch of to-day received.  If you are satisfied the
+trip to the sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the
+Tennessee River firmly, you may make it, destroying all the
+railroad south of Dalton or Chattanooga, as you think best.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting
+through to the coast, with a garrison left on the southern
+railroads, leading east and west, through Georgia, to
+effectually sever the east from the west.  In other words, cut
+the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had been cut once
+by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River.  General
+Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.
+
+General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his
+proposed movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime
+to watch Hood.  Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward
+from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th
+corps,  Major-General Stanley commanding, and the 23d corps,
+Major-General Schofield commanding, back to Chattanooga to
+report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed
+in command of all the troops of his military division, save the
+four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with
+through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal,
+there was little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line
+of the Tennessee, or, in the event Hood should force it, would
+be able to concentrate and beat him in battle.  It was therefore
+readily consented to that Sherman should start for the sea-coast.
+
+Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of
+November, he commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and
+Macon.  His coming-out point could not be definitely fixed.
+Having to gather his subsistence as he marched through the
+country, it was not impossible that a force inferior to his own
+might compel him to head for such point as he could reach,
+instead of such as he might prefer.  The blindness of the enemy,
+however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the
+only considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the
+Mississippi River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the
+whole country open, and Sherman's route to his own choice.
+
+How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met
+with, the condition of the country through which the armies
+passed, the capture of Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River,
+and the occupation of Savannah on the 21st of December, are all
+clearly set forth in General Sherman's admirable report.
+
+Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two
+expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from
+Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the
+enemy's lines of communication with Mobile and detain troops in
+that field.  General Foster, commanding Department of the South,
+also sent an expedition, via Broad River, to destroy the railroad
+between Charleston and Savannah.  The expedition from Vicksburg,
+under command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (colonel
+3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on the 27th of
+November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge
+and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles
+of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of
+stores.  The expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable
+results.  The expedition from the Department of the South, under
+the immediate command of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch,
+consisting of about five thousand men of all arms, including a
+brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad River and debarked at
+Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it moved to
+strike the railroad at Grahamsville.  At Honey Hill, about three
+miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a
+strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe
+fighting, in our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and
+forty-six in killed, wounded, and missing.  During the night
+General Hatch withdrew.  On the 6th of December General Foster
+obtained a position covering the Charleston and Savannah
+Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifinny rivers.
+
+Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move
+northward, which seemed to me to be leading to his certain
+doom.  At all events, had I had the power to command both
+armies, I should not have changed the orders under which he
+seemed to be acting.  On the 26th of October, the advance of
+Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but
+failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and
+succeeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment
+on the north side of the Tennessee River, near Florence.  On the
+28th, Forrest reached the Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured
+a gunboat and three transports.  On the 2d of November he planted
+batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of
+the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports.  On
+the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, and was
+replied to from the gunboats and the garrison.  The gunboats
+becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports,
+to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy.  About a
+million and a half dollars' worth of store and property on the
+levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire.  On the 5th the
+enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee
+River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and
+subsequently joined Hood.  On the night of the 5th, General
+Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached
+Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to
+Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with
+instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his
+advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival
+of General A. J. Smith's command from Missouri, and until
+General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.
+
+On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance.  General
+Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards
+Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and
+gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements.  The enemy
+coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield,
+at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during
+the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance
+repulsed.  His loss in this battle was one thousand seven
+hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and
+three thousand eight hundred wounded.  Among his losses were six
+general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured.  Our
+entire loss was two thousand three hundred.  This was the first
+serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was
+the fatal blow to all his expectations.  During the night,
+General Schofield fell back towards Nashville.  This left the
+field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily
+abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought
+together.  The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment
+of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.
+
+As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the
+Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri,
+General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the
+troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops
+as he could spare.  The advance of this reinforcement reached
+Nashville on the 30th of November.
+
+On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked
+Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated
+and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners,
+including four general officers.
+
+Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it
+appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.  This impatience was
+increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of
+cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky.  I feared Hood
+would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there.
+After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately
+assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters
+there in person.  Reaching Washington City, I received General
+Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the
+result as far as the battle had progressed.  I was delighted.
+All fears and apprehensions were dispelled.  I am not yet
+satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the
+appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to
+fortify, should have moved out with his whole force and given
+him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which
+delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it
+impracticable to attack earlier than he did.  But his final
+defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a
+vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.
+
+After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued
+by cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to
+abandon many pieces of artillery and most of his
+transportation.  On the 28th of December our advanced forces
+ascertained that he had made good his escape to the south side
+of the river.
+
+About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee
+and North Alabama, making it difficult to move army
+transportation and artillery, General Thomas stopped the pursuit
+by his main force at the Tennessee River.  A small force of
+cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th Pennsylvania
+Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance,
+capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's
+pontoon-bridge.  The details of these operations will be found
+clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.
+
+A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson,
+started from Memphis on the 21st of December.  On the 25th he
+surprised and captured Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona,
+Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroyed the
+railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for
+Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large
+amounts of public stores.  On the morning of the 28th he
+attacked and captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and
+destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the
+south-west, he struck the Mississippi Central Railroad at
+Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at
+Bankston, and the machine-shops and public property at Grenada,
+arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.
+
+During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a
+force under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee.  On
+the 13th of November he attacked General Gillem, near
+Morristown, capturing his artillery and several hundred
+prisoners.  Gillem, with what was left of his command, retreated
+to Knoxville.  Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to
+near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General
+Ammen.  Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman
+concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near
+Bean's Station to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or
+drive him into Virginia--destroy the salt-works at Saltville,
+and the railroad into Virginia as far as he could go without
+endangering his command.  On the 12th of December he commenced
+his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces
+wherever he met them.  On the 16th he struck the enemy, under
+Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to
+Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred
+and ninety-eight prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its
+stores and supplies, and the extensive lead-works near there.
+Returning to Marion, he met a force under Breckinridge,
+consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville,
+that had started in pursuit.  He at once made arrangements to
+attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge
+gone.  He then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the
+extensive salt-works at that place, a large amount of stores,
+and captured eight pieces of artillery.  Having thus
+successfully executed his instructions, he returned General
+Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.
+
+Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast
+port left to the enemy through which to get supplies from
+abroad, and send cotton and other products out by
+blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic
+value.  The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the
+harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect.  The nature
+of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required
+watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the
+land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for
+the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of
+blockade-runners.
+
+To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation
+of a land force, which I agreed to furnish.  Immediately
+commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D.
+Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for
+concentration upon one given point.  This necessarily attracted
+the attention of the enemy, as well as that of the loyal North;
+and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely
+of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the
+expedition became a subject of common discussion in the
+newspapers both North and South.  The enemy, thus warned,
+prepared to meet it.  This caused a postponement of the
+expedition until the later part of November, when, being again
+called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
+I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself,
+in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we
+had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and
+the time of starting.  A force of six thousand five hundred men
+was regarded as sufficient.  The time of starting was not
+definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by
+the 6th of December, if not before.  Learning, on the 30th of
+November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most
+of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost
+importance that the expedition should reach its destination
+before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make
+all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who
+had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy
+might not be detained one moment.
+
+On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.
+
+"GENERAL:  The first object of the expedition under General
+Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington.  If
+successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington
+itself.  There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if
+advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the
+enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia.  The
+directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the
+expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of
+where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be
+taken.  The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting
+a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the
+Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river.  Should such
+landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and
+the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the
+troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the
+navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places.  These in
+our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of
+Wilmington would be sealed.  Should Fort Fisher and the point of
+land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops
+immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to
+capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise.  If time is
+consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the
+second will become a matter of after consideration.
+
+"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer
+immediately in command of the troops.
+
+"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a
+landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the
+armies operating against Richmond without delay.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."
+
+
+General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were
+taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they
+were to operate, military courtesy required that all orders and
+instructions should go through him.  They were so sent, but
+General Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never
+received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their
+existence, until he read General Butler's published official
+report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorsement and
+papers accompanying it.  I had no idea of General Butler's
+accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off
+from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General
+Weitzel had received all the instructions, and would be in
+command.  I rather formed the idea that General Butler was
+actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of
+the powder-boat.  The expedition was detained several days at
+Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat.
+
+The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without
+any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon
+General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.
+
+The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and
+arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort
+Fisher, on the evening of the 15th.  Admiral Porter arrived on
+the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get
+ammunition for the monitors.  The sea becoming rough, making it
+difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being
+about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to
+replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the
+return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th.  The
+powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the
+return of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from
+the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the
+enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion
+until they were informed by the Northern press.
+
+On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a
+reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up
+towards the fort.  But before receiving a full report of the
+result of this reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct
+violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation
+of the troops and the return of the expedition.  The
+re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 27th.
+
+On the return of the expedition officers and men among them
+Brevet Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M.
+Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York
+Volunteers, First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and
+Second-Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers
+voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly
+into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken
+without much loss.
+
+Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch
+from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral
+Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher,
+and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the
+place could be taken.  The natural supposition with me was, that
+when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so
+also.  Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of
+December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would
+send a force and make another attempt to take the place.  This
+time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H.
+Terry to command the expedition.  The troops composing it
+consisted of the same that composed the former, with the
+addition of a small brigade, numbering about one thousand five
+hundred, and a small siege train.  The latter it was never found
+necessary to land.  I communicated direct to the commander of the
+expedition the following instructions:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  The expedition intrusted to your command has been
+fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C.,
+and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls.  You will then
+proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet
+lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself
+and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic
+Blockading Squadron.
+
+"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete
+understanding should exist between yourself and the naval
+commander.  I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral
+Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each
+branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of
+action.  It would be well to have the whole programme laid down
+in writing.  I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that
+you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he
+proposes.  I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is
+consistent with your own responsibilities.  The first object to
+be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on
+which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against
+that fort.  You want to look to the practicability of receiving
+your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces
+sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If
+such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will
+not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another
+plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.
+
+"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought
+to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the
+balance of it operates on the outside.  Land forces cannot
+invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or
+reinforcements, while the river is in possession of the enemy.
+
+"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort
+Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required.  All other
+supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.
+
+"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is
+assured.  When you find they can be spared, order them back, or
+such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for
+orders.
+
+"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back
+to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further
+instructions.  You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.
+
+"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops
+to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels.  These troops
+will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels
+until you are heard from.  Should you require them, they will be
+sent to you.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."
+
+
+Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet
+brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, was
+assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.
+
+It will be seen that these instructions did not differ
+materially from those given for the first expedition, and that
+in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher.
+This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the
+commanding officer.
+
+The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the
+6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th,
+where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until
+the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its
+destination that evening.  Under cover of the fleet, the
+disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the
+13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without loss.  On
+the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred
+yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession
+of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that
+might be made from the fort.  This reconnoissance disclosed the
+fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by
+the navy fire.  In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was
+assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with
+its entire garrison and armament.  Thus was secured, by the
+combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important
+successes of the war.  Our loss was:  killed, one hundred and
+ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six.  On the 16th and the
+17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works
+on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us.  This
+gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.
+
+At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and
+Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of
+Virginia and North Carolina.
+
+The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the
+force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now
+threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation
+for General Thomas's surplus troops--fields from which they
+would co-operate with other movements.  General Thomas was
+therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold
+his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders.  On the
+7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of
+the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General
+Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as
+possible.  This direction was promptly complied with, and the
+advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same
+month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern.  On the
+26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith's command and a
+division of cavalry to report to General Canby.  By the 7th of
+February the whole force was en route for its destination.
+
+The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military
+department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and
+placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman.  The following
+instructions were given him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:-- *    *    *    Your movements are intended as
+co-operative with Sherman's through the States of South and
+North Carolina.  The first point to be attained is to secure
+Wilmington.  Goldsboro' will then be your objective point,
+moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, or both, as you deem
+best.  Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you will
+advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place
+with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road
+behind you.  The enterprise under you has two objects:  the
+first is to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his
+march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on
+his line of march.  As soon, therefore, as you can determine
+which of the two points, Wilmington or New Bern, you can best
+use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you will
+commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for
+sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals.  You will get of
+these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the
+interior as you may be able to occupy.  I believe General Palmer
+has received some instructions direct from General Sherman on the
+subject of securing supplies for his army.  You will learn what
+steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions
+accordingly.  A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary.
+
+"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective
+departments in the field with me at City Point.  Communicate
+with me by every opportunity, and should you deem it necessary
+at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which
+point you can communicate by telegraph.
+
+"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of
+those required for your own command.
+
+"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your
+imperative duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the
+interior to aid Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own
+judgment without waiting for instructions.  You will report,
+however, what you purpose doing.  The details for carrying out
+these instructions are necessarily left to you.  I would urge,
+however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to
+the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be looked for
+in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the
+28th of February; this limits your time very materially.
+
+"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington,
+it can be supplied from Washington.  A large force of railroad
+men have already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will
+go to Fort Fisher in a day or two.  On this point I have informed
+you by telegraph.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."
+
+
+Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher,
+accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for
+myself the condition of things, and personally conferring with
+General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.
+
+Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army
+entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee,
+the Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several
+months to re-establish a through line from west to east, and
+regarding the capture of Lee's army as the most important
+operation towards closing the rebellion--I sent orders to
+General Sherman on the 6th of December, that after establishing
+a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to include all
+his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point with
+the balance of his command.
+
+On the 18th of December, having received information of the
+defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and
+that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean
+transportation, it would take over two months to transport
+Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as
+much towards the desired result by operating from where he was,
+I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to
+what would be best to do.  A few days after this I received a
+communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December,
+acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing
+me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he
+could get transportation.  Also that he had expected, upon
+reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South
+Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but
+that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of
+Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the
+middle of January.  The confidence he manifested in this letter
+of being able to march up and join me pleased me, and, without
+waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on
+the 28th of December, to make preparations to start as he
+proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and
+South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond
+as soon as he could.
+
+On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had
+ordered the 23d corps,  Major-General Schofield commanding,
+east; that it numbered about twenty-one thousand men; that we
+had at Fort Fisher, about eight thousand men; at New Bern, about
+four thousand; that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofield
+would go there; if not, he would be sent to New Bern; that, in
+either event, all the surplus force at both points would move to
+the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his
+movement; that from either point railroad communication could be
+run out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders
+as he came into communication with them.
+
+In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to
+reduce Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy
+under Admiral Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the
+Cape Fear River.  Fort Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the
+west bank of the river, was occupied on the morning of the 19th,
+the enemy having evacuated it after our appearance before it.
+
+After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington
+on the morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards
+Goldsboro' during the night.  Preparations were at once made for
+a movement on Goldsboro' in two columns--one from Wilmington, and
+the other from New Bern--and to repair the railroad leading there
+from each place, as well as to supply General Sherman by Cape
+Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became necessary.  The
+column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, at Wise's
+Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred
+prisoners.  On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our
+intrenched position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell
+back during the night.  On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed
+and Kinston occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered.
+The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse
+River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d.
+
+By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in
+motion from Savannah.  He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on
+the 17th; thence moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via
+Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March,
+opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape
+Fear River.  On the 15th he resumed his march on Goldsboro'.  He
+met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a severe fight
+defeated and compelled it to retreat.  Our loss in this
+engagement was about six hundred.  The enemy's loss was much
+greater.  On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under
+Joe Johnston, attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing
+three guns and driving it back upon the main body.  General
+Slocum, who was in the advance ascertaining that the whole of
+Johnston's army was in the front, arranged his troops on the
+defensive, intrenched himself and awaited reinforcements, which
+were pushed forward.  On the night of the 21st the enemy
+retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our
+hands.  From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place
+had been occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the
+Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General
+Terry had got possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d),
+thus forming a junction with the columns from New Bern and
+Wilmington.
+
+Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of
+Charleston, South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the
+night of the 17th of February, and occupied by our forces on the
+18th.
+
+On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was
+directed to send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman,
+from East Tennessee, to penetrate South Carolina well down
+towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military
+resources of the country, and return, if he was able, to East
+Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing our
+prisoners there, if possible.  Of the feasibility of this
+latter, however, General Stoneman was to judge.  Sherman's
+movements, I had no doubt, would attract the attention of all
+the force the enemy could collect, and facilitate the execution
+of this.  General Stoneman was so late in making his start on
+this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of
+South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed General
+Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of
+last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he
+could.  This would keep him between our garrisons in East
+Tennessee and the enemy.  I regarded it not impossible that in
+the event of the enemy being driven from Richmond, he might fall
+back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through East
+Tennessee.  On the 14th of February the following communication
+was sent to General Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.
+
+"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against
+Mobile and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of
+about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command.  The
+cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg.
+It, with the available cavalry already in that section, will
+move from there eastward, in co-operation.  Hood's army has been
+terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in
+Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by
+the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman.  (I take it a
+large portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn.  It is so
+asserted in the Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel
+Congress said a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it
+had been brought to South Carolina to oppose Sherman.)  This
+being true, or even if it is not true, Canby's movement will
+attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance
+from your standpoint easy.  I think it advisable, therefore,
+that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare,
+and hold it in readiness to go south.  The object would be
+threefold:  first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as
+possible, to insure success to Canby; second, to destroy the
+enemy's line of communications and military resources; third, to
+destroy or capture their forces brought into the field.
+Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the points to direct the
+expedition against.  This, however, would not be so important as
+the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama.  Discretion
+should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go
+where, according to the information he may receive, he will best
+secure the objects named above.
+
+"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know
+what number of men you can put into the field.  If not more than
+five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be
+sufficient.  It is not desirable that you should start this
+expedition until the one leaving Vicksburg has been three or
+four days out, or even a week.  I do not know when it will
+start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn.  If
+you should hear through other sources before hearing from me,
+you can act on the information received.
+
+"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little
+wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for
+supplies.  I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery,
+or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns
+taken.  No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight
+horses.
+
+"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force
+you think you will be able to send under these directions.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon
+after the 20th as he could get it off.
+
+I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement
+of the armies operating against Richmond, that all
+communications with the city, north of James River, should be
+cut off.  The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from
+the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent
+from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable,
+whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the
+enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which,
+if successful. would accomplish the first at least, and possibly
+the latter of the objects.  I therefore telegraphed General
+Sheridan as follows:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will
+have no difficulty about reaching Lychburg with a cavalry force
+alone.  From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in
+every direction, so as to be of no further use to the
+rebellion.  Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look
+after Mosby's gang.  From Lynchburg, if information you might
+get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the
+streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and
+join General Sherman.  This additional raid, with one now about
+starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or
+give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or
+eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then
+thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight
+thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa,
+Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out
+the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to
+leave mothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise
+you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston
+was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan,
+inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him
+definite information as to the points he might be expected to
+move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina.  In answer, the
+following telegram was sent him:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of
+opposition he meets with from the enemy.  If strongly opposed,
+he may possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit
+out for a new start.  I think, however, all danger for the
+necessity of going to that point has passed.  I believe he has
+passed Charlotte.  He may take Fayetteville on his way to
+Goldsboro'.  If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided
+in your after movements by the information you obtain.  Before
+you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him
+moving from Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy
+strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with
+railroad communications opened from his army to Wilmington or
+New Bern.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February,
+with two divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand
+each.  On the 1st of March he secured the bridge, which the
+enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the
+Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d,
+the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'.  Thence he pushed on
+to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an
+intrenched position, under General Early.  Without stopping to
+make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the
+position was carried, and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven
+pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons complete, two
+hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence, and seventeen
+battle-flags, were captured.  The prisoners, under an escort of
+fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester.  Thence he
+marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the railroad
+and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d.  Here
+he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond
+and Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north
+and south forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of
+his trains.  This necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea
+of capturing Lynchburg.  On the morning of the 6th, dividing his
+force into two columns, he sent one to Scottsville, whence it
+marched up the James River Canal to New Market, destroying every
+lock, and in many places the bank of the canal.  From here a
+force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to
+obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that
+place, but failed.  The enemy burned it on our approach.  The
+enemy also burned the bridge across the river at
+Hardwicksville.  The other column moved down the railroad
+towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Court House,
+sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, uniting
+with the column at New Market.  The river being very high, his
+pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having
+destroyed the bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river
+and get on the South Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy
+it to Appomattox Court House, the only thing left for him was to
+return to Winchester or strike a base at the White House.
+Fortunately, he chose the latter.  From New Market he took up
+his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond,
+destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever
+practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland,
+concentrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th.  Here he
+rested one day, and sent through by scouts information of his
+whereabouts and purposes, and a request for supplies to meet him
+at White House, which reached me on the night of the 12th.  An
+infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White
+House, and supplies were forwarded.  Moving from Columbia in a
+direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, he
+crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges
+and many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of
+the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.
+
+Previous to this the following communication was sent to General
+Thomas:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M.
+
+"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair
+the railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to
+Bull's Gap and fortify there.  Supplies at Knoxville could
+always be got forward as required.  With Bull's Gap fortified,
+you can occupy as outposts about all of East Tennessee, and be
+prepared, if it should be required of you in the spring, to make
+a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North Carolina.  I do not
+think Stoneman should break the road until he gets into
+Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may
+be caught west of that.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."
+
+
+Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was
+moving an adequate force against Mobile and the army defending
+it under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large
+and well-appointed cavalry expeditions--one from Middle
+Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's
+vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee, under
+Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and assembling the
+remainder of his available forces, preparatory to commence
+offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's
+cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James
+were confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of
+Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies,
+reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro';
+General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign
+against the enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the
+Mississippi; and General Hancock was concentrating a force in
+the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion
+or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.
+
+After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter
+roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at White House.  At
+this time the greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear
+that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg and
+Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, and before he
+was driven from them by battle, or I was prepared to make an
+effectual pursuit.  On the 24th of March, General Sheridan moved
+from White House, crossed the James River at Jones's Landing, and
+formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in front of
+Petersburg on the 27th.  During this move, General Ord sent
+forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.
+
+On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general
+movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,
+March 24, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  On the 29th instant the armies operating against
+Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of
+turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg,
+and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan,
+which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and
+destroy the South Side and Danville railroads.  Two corps of the
+Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking
+the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest where the present
+line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.
+
+"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now
+under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon
+Road and the Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter
+before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column
+before reaching Stony Creek.  General Sheridan will then move
+independently, under other instructions which will be given
+him.  All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the
+Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military
+Division not required for guarding property belonging to their
+arm of service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be
+added to the defences of City Point.  Major-General Parke will
+be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines
+about Petersburg and City Point, subject of course to orders
+from the commander of the Army of the Potomac.  The 9th army
+corps will be left intact, to hold the present line of works so
+long as the whole line now occupied by us is held.  If, however,
+the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the
+left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the
+position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon
+Road.  All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in
+readiness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be
+designated when the order is given.
+
+"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one
+colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present
+lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the
+Potomac.  In the absence of further orders, or until further
+orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left
+column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the
+right column.  During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be
+left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army
+of the James.
+
+"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence
+on the night of the 27th instant.  General Ord will leave behind
+the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the
+absence of the main army.  A cavalry expedition, from General
+Ord's command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there
+on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the
+purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford.  This, if
+accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from
+three to five hundred men will be sufficient.  They should,
+however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared
+from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry
+crosses the Blackwater.  The crossing should probably be at
+Uniten.  Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon
+Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the
+triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston.  The
+railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of
+carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation
+of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke.
+All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks
+and eight days' in wagons.  To avoid as much hauling as
+possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of
+days' supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will
+direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient
+supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in
+passing.  Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in
+wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will
+carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies.  The
+densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making
+the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with
+the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division,
+at the option of the army commanders.
+
+"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into
+operation may be commenced at once.  The reserves of the 9th
+corps should be massed as much as possible.  While I would not
+now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them,
+they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy
+weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders.  In
+case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could
+follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the
+army.  To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations
+issued to them, same as the balance of the army.  General
+Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at
+all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so.  A
+success north of the James should be followed up with great
+promptness.  An attack will not be feasible unless it is found
+that the enemy has detached largely.  In that case it may be
+regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local
+reserves principally for the defence of Richmond.  Preparations
+may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James,
+except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a
+break is made in the lines of the enemy.
+
+"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating
+against Richmond is left behind.  The enemy, knowing this, may,
+as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in
+the hope of advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl
+everything against the moving column, and return.  It cannot be
+impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the
+trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of
+it.  The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does
+so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a
+weakening of his lines.  I would have it particularly enjoined
+upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the enemy,
+those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding
+officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move
+promptly, and notify the commander of their action.  I would also
+enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when
+other parts of their corps are engaged.  In like manner, I would
+urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines
+in front of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River
+towards our left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the
+line to the right and left of it, established themselves and
+turned the guns of the fort against us, but our troops on either
+flank held their ground until the reserves were brought up, when
+the enemy was driven back with a heavy loss in killed and
+wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners.  Our loss was
+sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and
+five hundred and six missing.  General Meade at once ordered the
+other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective
+fronts.  Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's
+strongly intrenched picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th
+corps, and eight hundred and thirty-four prisoners.  The enemy
+made desperate attempts to retake this line, but without
+success.  Our loss in front of these was fifty-two killed, eight
+hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven
+missing.  The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.
+
+General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about
+Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them
+perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and
+stated that he would be ready to move, as he had previously
+written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed
+for twenty days, if it should become necessary to bring his
+command to bear against Lee's army, in co-operation with our
+forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg.  General Sherman
+proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, by
+turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or
+thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and
+Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville,
+or join the armies operating against Richmond, as might be
+deemed best.  This plan he was directed to carry into execution,
+if he received no further directions in the meantime.  I
+explained to him the movement I had ordered to commence on the
+29th of March.  That if it should not prove as entirely
+successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy
+the Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the
+enemy of further supplies, and also to prevent the rapid
+concentration of Lee's and Johnston's armies.
+
+I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the
+report that the enemy had retreated the night before.  I was
+firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be
+the signal for Lee to leave.  With Johnston and him combined, a
+long, tedious, and expensive campaign, consuming most of the
+summer, might become necessary.  By moving out I would put the
+army in better condition for pursuit, and would at least, by the
+destruction of the Danville Road, retard the concentration of the
+two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to abandon
+much material that he might otherwise save.  I therefore
+determined not to delay the movement ordered.
+
+On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions
+of the 24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one
+division of the 25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding,
+and MacKenzie's cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance
+of the foregoing instructions, and reached the position assigned
+him near Hatcher's Run on the morning of the 29th.  On the 28th
+the following instructions were given to General Sheridan:
+
+
+"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at
+three A.M. to-morrow morning.  The 2d moves at about nine A.M.,
+having but about three miles to march to reach the point
+designated for it to take on the right of the 5th corps, after
+the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House.  Move your cavalry at
+as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any
+particular road or roads.  You may go out by the nearest roads
+in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to
+or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as
+soon as you can.  It is not the intention to attack the enemy in
+his intrenched position, but to force him out, if possible.
+Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be
+attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and
+with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow, as
+circumstances will dictate.  I shall be on the field, and will
+probably be able to communicate with you.  Should I not do so,
+and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched
+line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road.  If you
+find it practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side
+Road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some
+extent.  I would not advise much detention, however, until you
+reach the Danville Road, which I would like you to strike as
+near to the Appomattox as possible.  Make your destruction on
+that road as complete as possible.  You can then pass on to the
+South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like
+manner.
+
+"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads,
+which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may
+return to this army, selecting your road further south, or you
+may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman.  Should
+you select the latter course, get the information to me as early
+as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced.  At night the
+cavalry was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our
+infantry line extended to the Quaker Road, near its intersection
+with the Boydton Plank Road.  The position of the troops from
+left to right was as follows:  Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord,
+Wright, Parke.
+
+Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the
+capture of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was
+made.  I therefore addressed the following communication to
+General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not to
+cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until he
+received notice from me to do so:
+
+
+"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to
+Dinwiddie.  We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the
+Jerusalem Plank Road to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can
+be used advantageously.  After getting into line south of
+Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position.
+General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker Road
+intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing
+about one hundred men.  Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was
+pushing on when last heard from.
+
+"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so,
+before going back.  I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose
+and go after the enemy's roads at present.  In the morning push
+around the enemy, if you can, and get on to his right rear.  The
+movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify your
+action.  We will act all together as one army here, until it is
+seen what can be done with the enemy.  The signal-officer at
+Cobb's Hill reported, at half-past eleven A.M., that a cavalry
+column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg,
+taking forty minutes to pass.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."
+
+
+From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain
+fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled
+vehicle, except as corduroy roads were laid in front of them.
+During the 30th, Sheridan advanced from Dinwiddie Court House
+towards Five Forks, where he found the enemy in full force.
+General Warren advanced and extended his line across the Boydton
+Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of getting
+across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front
+and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he
+was, and fortify.  General Humphreys drove the enemy from his
+front into his main line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills.
+Generals Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their
+fronts to determine the feasibility of an assault on the enemy's
+lines.  The two latter reported favorably.  The enemy confronting
+us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our extreme left, I
+conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated
+if my estimate of his forces was correct.  I determined,
+therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce
+General Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him
+to cut loose and turn the enemy's right flank, and with the
+other corps assault the enemy's lines.  The result of the
+offensive effort of the enemy the week before, when he assaulted
+Fort Stedman, particularly favored this.  The enemy's
+intrenched  picket-line captured by us at that time threw the
+lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some
+points that it was but a moment's run from one to the other.
+Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphreys's
+corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the
+roads prevented immediate movement.  On the morning of the 31st,
+General Warren reported favorably to getting possession of the
+White Oak Road, and was directed to do so.  To accomplish this,
+he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, which
+was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on
+the 2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn,
+forced back upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked.  A
+division of the 2d corps was immediately sent to his support, the
+enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the White
+Oak Road gained.  Sheridan advanced, and with a portion of his
+cavalry got possession of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after
+the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced the rebel cavalry,
+defending that point with infantry, and forced him back towards
+Dinwiddie Court House.  Here General Sheridan displayed great
+generalship.  Instead of retreating with his whole command on
+the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered,
+he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough
+to take charge of the horses.  This compelled the enemy to
+deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made
+his progress slow.  At this juncture he dispatched to me what had
+taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie
+Court House.  General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of
+the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance.  Soon
+after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could
+hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two
+divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so
+ordered at once.  Thus the operations of the day necessitated
+the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of
+Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended
+movements.  On the morning of the 1st of April, General
+Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on
+Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried
+his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and
+between five and six thousand prisoners.
+
+About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles
+Griffin relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th
+corps.  The report of this reached me after nightfall.  Some
+apprehensions filled my mind lest the enemy might desert his
+lines during the night, and by falling upon General Sheridan
+before assistance could reach him, drive him from his position
+and open the way for retreat.  To guard against this, General
+Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him,
+and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in
+the morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's
+lines.  General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps,
+sweeping everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's
+Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners.  He was
+closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command,
+until he met the other division of General Ord's that had
+succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near Hatcher's Run.
+Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and
+closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg,
+while General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and
+joined General Wright on the left.  General Parke succeeded in
+carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners,
+but was unable to carry his inner line.  General Sheridan being
+advised of the condition of affairs, returned General Miles to
+his proper command.  On reaching the enemy's lines immediately
+surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by
+a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the
+most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially
+shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the
+city.  The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to
+Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles's
+division.  A severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his
+right and left flanks were threatened by the approach of General
+Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station towards Petersburg,
+and a division sent by General Meade from the front of
+Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in
+our hands his guns and many prisoners.  This force retreated by
+the main road along the Appomattox River.  During the night of
+the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and
+retreated towards Danville.  On the morning of the 3d pursuit
+was commenced.  General Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road,
+keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General Meade with the
+2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for Burkesville, along
+the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along that road
+behind him.  On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville
+Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia
+Court House.  He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the
+arrival of General Meade, who reached there the next day.
+General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.
+
+On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the
+following communication:
+
+
+"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  All indications now are that Lee will attempt to
+reach Danville with the remnant of his force.  Sheridan, who was
+up with him last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot,
+and dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized.  We hope to
+reduce this number one-half.  I shall push on to Burkesville,
+and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go
+there.  If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are,
+and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and
+Johnston's armies.  Whether it will be better for you to strike
+for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able
+to judge when you receive this.  Rebel armies now are the only
+strategic points to strike at.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."
+
+
+On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was
+moving west of Jetersville, towards Danville.  General Sheridan
+moved with his cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to
+General Meade on his reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank,
+followed by the 6th corps, while the 2d and 5th corps pressed
+hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and
+several pieces of artillery.  General Ord advanced from
+Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry
+and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General
+Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges.  This advance
+met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically
+attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small
+force overpowered.  This caused a delay in the enemy's movements,
+and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his
+force, on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched
+himself.  In the afternoon, General Sheridan struck the enemy
+south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery
+and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th
+corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was
+made, which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand
+prisoners, among whom were many general officers.  The movements
+of the 2d corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to
+the day's success.
+
+On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry,
+except one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's
+Court House; the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one
+division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High
+Bridge Road.  It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to
+the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit,
+that the 2d corps got possession of the common bridge at High
+Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately
+crossed over.  The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed
+at Farmville to its support.
+
+Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly
+hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from
+Farmville:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL--The result of the last week must convince you of the
+hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of
+Northern Virginia in this struggle.  I feel that it is so, and
+regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of
+any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of
+that portion of the Confederate States army known as the Army of
+Northern Virginia.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at
+Farmville the following:
+
+
+"April 7, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your note of this date.  Though not
+entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of
+further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia,
+I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and
+therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you
+will offer on condition of its surrender.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+To this I immediately replied:
+
+
+"April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same
+date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender
+of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received.  In reply, I
+would say, that peace being my great desire, there is but one
+condition I would insist upon--namely, That the men and officers
+surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged.  I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet
+any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point
+agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the
+terms upon which the surrender of the Army of the Northern
+Virginia will be received.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General
+Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan,
+with all the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox
+Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps.
+During the day General Meade's advance had considerable fighting
+with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general
+engagement.  Late in the evening General Sheridan struck the
+railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and
+captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and
+four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army.  During
+this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight
+received the following communication from General Lee:
+
+
+April 8, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day.  In
+mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of
+the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your
+proposition.  To be frank, I do not think the emergency has
+arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the
+restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired
+to know whether your proposals would lead to that end.  I cannot,
+therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of
+Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the
+Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the
+restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten
+A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the
+picket-lines of the two armies.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as
+follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the
+Appomattox:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received.  I have no
+authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed
+for ten A.M. to-day could lead to no good.  I will state,
+however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with
+yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling.  The
+terms upon which peace can be had are well understood.  By the
+South laying down their arms they will hasten that most
+desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of
+millions of property not yet destroyed.  Seriously hoping that
+all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another
+life, I subscribe myself, etc.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th
+corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a
+desperate effort to break through our cavalry.  The infantry was
+at once thrown in.  Soon after a white flag was received,
+requesting a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for
+a surrender.
+
+Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the
+following from General Lee:
+
+
+"April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the
+picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain
+definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of
+yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army.  I now
+ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your
+letter of yesterday, for that purpose.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of
+which is set forth in the following correspondence:
+
+
+APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  In accordance with the substance of my letter to you
+of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the
+Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit:  Rolls
+of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to
+be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be
+retained by such officer or officers as you may designate.  The
+officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms
+against the Government of the United States until properly
+exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like
+parole for the men of their commands.  The arms, artillery, and
+public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the
+officers appointed by me to receive them.  This will not embrace
+the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or
+baggage.  This done, each officer and man will be allowed to
+return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States
+authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in
+force where they may reside.
+
+"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
+"GENERAL R. E. LEE."
+
+
+"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.
+
+"GENERAL:  I have received your letter of this date containing
+the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as
+proposed by you.  As they are substantially the same as those
+expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are
+accepted.  I will proceed to designate the proper officers to
+carry the stipulations into effect.
+
+"R. E. LEE, General.
+"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."
+
+
+The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under
+Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at
+Appomattox Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered
+army was completed, and to take charge of the public property.
+The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity
+of Burkesville.
+
+General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused
+his example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the
+armies lately under his leadership are at their homes, desiring
+peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ordnance
+officers.
+
+On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved
+directly against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and
+through Raleigh, which place General Sherman occupied on the
+morning of the 13th.  The day preceding, news of the surrender
+of General Lee reached him at Smithfield.
+
+On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman
+and General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement
+for a suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for
+peace, subject to the approval of the President.  This agreement
+was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval,
+together with your instructions, was communicated to General
+Sherman by me in person on the morning of the 24th, at Raleigh,
+North Carolina, in obedience to your orders.  Notice was at once
+given by him to General Johnston for the termination of the truce
+that had been entered into.  On the 25th another meeting between
+them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which
+terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army
+upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.
+
+The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got
+off on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North
+Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg,
+and Big Lick.  The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to
+within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important
+bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed it
+between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro',
+on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and destroyed
+the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between
+Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies
+along it, and captured four hundred prisoners.  At Salisbury he
+attacked and defeated a force of the enemy under General
+Gardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one
+thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and destroyed
+large amounts of army stores.  At this place he destroyed
+fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte.
+Thence he moved to Slatersville.
+
+General Canby, who had been directed in January to make
+preparations for a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and
+the interior of Alabama, commenced his movement on the 20th of
+March.  The 16th corps, Major-General A. J. Smith commanding,
+moved from Fort Gaines by water to Fish River; the 13th corps,
+under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved from Fort Morgan and
+joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving thence on
+Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General
+Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading
+from Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and
+partially invested Fort Blakely.  After a severe bombardment of
+Spanish Fort, a part of its line was carried on the 8th of
+April.  During the night the enemy evacuated the fort.  Fort
+Blakely was carried by assault on the 9th, and many prisoners
+captured; our loss was considerable.  These successes
+practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to
+approach Mobile from the north.  On the night of the 11th the
+city was evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on
+the morning of the 12th.
+
+The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson,
+consisting of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was
+delayed by rains until March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw,
+Alabama.  On the 1st of April, General Wilson encountered the
+enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in
+confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and
+destroyed the central bridge over the Cahawba River.  On the 2d
+he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended
+by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns,
+destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops,
+vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand
+prisoners.  On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa.  On
+the 10th he crossed the Alabama River, and after sending
+information of his operations to General Canby, marched on
+Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy
+having abandoned it.  At this place many stores and five
+steamboats fell into our hands.  Thence a force marched direct
+on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places
+were assaulted and captured on the 16th.  At the former place we
+got one thousand five hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns,
+destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many
+factories, and much other public property.  At the latter place
+we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed
+nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars.  On the 20th he
+took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one
+thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by
+General Howell Cobb.  General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis
+was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and
+succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11th.
+
+On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to
+General Canby all the remaining rebel forces east of the
+Mississippi.
+
+A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy
+under Kirby Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put
+in motion for Texas, and Major-General Sheridan designated for
+its immediate command; but on the 26th day of May, and before
+they reached their destination, General Kirby Smith surrendered
+his entire command to Major-General Canby.  This surrender did
+not take place, however, until after the capture of the rebel
+President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of
+first disbanding most of his army and permitting an
+indiscriminate plunder of public property.
+
+Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against
+the government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico,
+carrying with them arms rightfully belonging to the United
+States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement among them
+some of the leaders who had surrendered in person and the
+disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio Grande, the orders for
+troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.
+
+There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and
+movements to defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most
+of them reflecting great credit on our arms, and which
+contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not
+mentioned.  Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the
+reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and brief
+dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have
+not as yet been officially reported.
+
+For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would
+respectfully refer to the reports of the commanders of
+departments in which they have occurred.
+
+It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and
+the East fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there
+is no difference in their fighting qualities.  All that it was
+possible for men to do in battle they have done.  The Western
+armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and
+received the final surrender of the remnant of the principal
+army opposed to them in North Carolina.  The armies of the East
+commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the
+Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of
+their old antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.  The
+splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories
+removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately
+experienced too much), and the cause of crimination and
+recrimination that might have followed had either section failed
+in its duty.  All have a proud record, and all sections can well
+congratulate themselves and each other for having done their
+full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of
+territory belonging to the United States.  Let them hope for
+perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood,
+however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of
+valor.
+
+I have the honor to be,
+Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+__________
+FOOTNOTES
+
+(*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A.
+
+
+(*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to
+General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to
+the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have
+more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced.  Deeming the
+return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it,
+so he called for a volunteer.  Lieutenant Grant offered his
+services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and
+General Worth.--PUBLISHERS.
+
+
+(*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a
+great many years before the Mexican war to have established in
+the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of
+the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France.  He
+recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his
+annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any
+hearing.  Now, as he had conquered the state, he made
+assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied
+by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and
+appointed officers to receive the money.  In addition to the sum
+thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo,
+sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled
+the fund to a total of about $220,000.  Portions of this fund
+were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded
+in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some
+$118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war.  After the
+war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to
+have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury
+of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he
+had previously recommended.  This fund was the foundation of the
+Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh,
+Kentucky.
+
+The latter went into disuse many years ago.  In fact it never
+had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold.
+
+
+(*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott,
+Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high
+office.  It made also governors of States, members of the
+cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both
+in state and nation.  The rebellion, which contained more war in
+a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican
+war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results
+to those engaged on the Union side.  On the other side, the side
+of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort
+whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a
+Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the
+fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few
+people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it.
+
+
+(*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me.
+
+
+(*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs.
+W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in
+the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from
+General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th.  At
+the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates
+had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's
+landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near
+Shiloh.  This letter shows that at that time General Lew.
+Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might
+happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his
+position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends
+it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg
+landing and Purdy road.  These two roads intersect nearly a mile
+west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our
+right rested.  In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises
+General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his
+letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter
+was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the
+4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and
+suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a
+company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at
+the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that
+they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and
+from the different camps."
+
+This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has
+been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at
+the battle of Shiloh.  It shows that he naturally, with no more
+experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms,
+would take the particular road that he did start upon in the
+absence of orders to move by a different road.
+
+The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent
+dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found
+that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front
+and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very
+much in rear of the position of his advance.  This falling back
+had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up
+to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the
+road nearest the river.  But my order was verbal, and to a staff
+officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am
+not competent to say just what order the General actually
+received.
+
+General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at
+Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and
+a half miles out.  Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace
+early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the
+Second.  If the position of our front had not changed, the road
+which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right
+than the River road.
+
+U. S. GRANT.
+
+MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885.
+
+
+(*8) NOTE:  In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote
+for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook,
+who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some
+unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because
+of the condition of his troops.  General Badeau, in his history,
+also makes the same statement, on my authority.  Out of justice
+to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a
+point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the
+6th.  From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the
+passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep
+in mud, which made marching slow.  The division had not only
+marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the
+rain all night without rest.  It was engaged in the battle of
+the second day and did as good service as its position
+allowed.  In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a
+conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest
+commendation from division commanders in the Army of the
+Tennessee.  General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes
+mention of this fact.  General McCook himself belongs to a family
+which furnished many volunteers to the army.  I refer to these
+circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook
+injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent
+one would suppose from the public press.  I am not willing to do
+any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I
+am always willing to make the fullest admission.
+
+
+(*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the
+time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my
+recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were
+promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th
+Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri,
+M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and
+John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers.
+
+
+(*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate
+battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats,
+the De Soto.  Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his
+vessel.  However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew
+her up.  Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy.
+With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the
+New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf
+and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg.
+
+
+(*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade
+on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River.
+
+
+(*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of
+Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied
+me to Carthage.  I furnished an ambulance for his use and that
+of some of the State officers who accompanied him.
+
+
+(*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I
+proposed to make, he called to see me about it.  I recollect
+that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river
+to a house a short distance back from the levee.  I was seated
+on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman
+came up.  After a few moments' conversation he said that he would
+like to see me alone.  We passed into the house together and shut
+the door after us.  Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move
+I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position
+voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or
+a long time--to get me in.  I was going into the enemy's country,
+with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points
+strongly fortified above and below.  He said that it was an
+axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an
+enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would
+guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc.  He pointed out
+all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign
+proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to
+make.  This was, in substance, to go back until high ground
+could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there
+and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being
+always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster.  I
+said this would take us back to Memphis.  Sherman then said that
+was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad
+from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced.  To
+this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the
+lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election
+went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary
+enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and
+conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far
+as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of
+supplies would be of no use:  neither men to hold them nor
+supplies to put in them would be furnished.  The problem for us
+was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was
+lost.  No progress was being made in any other field, and we had
+to go on.
+
+Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins,
+embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and
+asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals
+upon the subject.  Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I
+did not see any reason for changing my plans.  The letter was
+not answered and the subect was not subsequently mentioned
+between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I
+remember of.  I did not regard the letter as official, and
+consequently did not preserve it.  General Sherman furnished a
+copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of
+my campaigns.  I did not regard either the conversation between
+us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply
+friendly advice which the relations between us fully
+justified.  Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a
+success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered
+by himself.  I make this statement here to correct an impression
+which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's
+prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation.
+
+
+(*14) Meant Edward's Station.
+
+(*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJ0R-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN:
+
+Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to
+Major-General Thomas.  You having been over the ground in
+person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further
+instructions will not be necessary for you.  It is particularly
+desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad
+between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from
+communication with the South, but being confronted by a large
+force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is
+to be effected until the result of our first effort is known.
+
+I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to
+Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which,
+if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above
+Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or
+thereabouts.
+
+U. S. GRANT
+Maj.-Gen'l.
+
+
+CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga:
+
+All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's
+position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight.  Not being
+provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the
+mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot
+be given as might be desirable.  However, the general plan, you
+understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him
+strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a
+crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of
+Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the
+heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your
+chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern
+extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can
+concentrate against him.  You will co-operate with Sherman.  The
+troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your
+left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend
+fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of
+one division in readiness to move wherever ordered.  This
+division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the
+most practicable line for making an attack up the valley.  Your
+effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your
+advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and
+moving as near simultaneously with him as possible.  The
+junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will
+be at once established between the two armies by roads on the
+south bank of the river.  Further movements will then depend on
+those of the enemy.  Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily
+held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have
+there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland.  Howard's
+corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at
+Chattanooga or with Sherman.  It should be marched on Friday
+night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower
+down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness
+for such orders as may become necessary.  All these troops will
+be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one
+hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry
+soldier.  Special care should be taken by all officers to see
+that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away.  You
+will call on the engineer department for such preparations as
+you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery
+over the creek.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform
+after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying
+the ridge.
+
+(*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS,
+Chattanooga
+
+General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel
+with only slight skirmishing.  His right now rests at the tunnel
+and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek.  I have
+instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in
+the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will
+be in cooperation.  Your command will either carry the
+rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the
+left, as the presence of the enemy may require.  If Hooker's
+position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small
+force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where
+he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with
+all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable
+road.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Major-General.
+
+
+(*18) WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga
+is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command,
+my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill,
+courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great
+difficulties, have effected that important object.  God bless you
+all,
+
+A. LINCOLN,
+
+President U. S.
+
+
+(*19) General John G. Foster.
+
+
+(*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill.,
+subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General
+Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword.  The
+scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running
+nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the
+names of the battles in which General Grant had participated.
+
+Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at
+Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and
+Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the
+government at Washington.
+
+
+(*21) WASHINGTON, D. C.
+December 29, 1863.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT:
+
+General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on
+account of disability from old wounds.  Should his request be
+granted, who would you like as his successor?  It is possible
+that Schofield will be sent to your command.
+
+H. W. HALLECK
+General-in-Chief.
+(OFFICIAL.)
+
+
+(*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix.
+
+
+(*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.]
+
+HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.,
+April 4, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN,
+Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi.
+
+GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me
+to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts
+of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre.  For
+your information I now write you my programme, as at present
+determined upon.
+
+I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up
+his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to
+turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the
+navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New
+Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to
+hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the
+number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number
+necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less
+than twenty-five thousand men.  To this I will add five thousand
+men from Missouri.  With this force he is to commence operations
+against Mobile as soon as he can.  It will be impossible for him
+to commence too early.
+
+Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate
+against Richmond from the south side of the James River.  This
+will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W.
+F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore
+the left wing.  I will stay with the Army of the Potomac,
+increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five
+thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army,
+wherever it may be found.
+
+Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one,
+under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the
+other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to
+move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
+
+Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about
+Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord.  His force will
+be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand
+men of all arms.
+
+You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up
+and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as
+you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war
+resources.
+
+I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but
+simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave
+you free to execute it in your own way.  Submit to me, however,
+as early as you can, your plan of operations.
+
+As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he
+can.  Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the
+18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable.  Sigel is
+concentrating now.  None will move from their places of
+rendezvous until I direct, except Banks.  I want to be ready to
+move by the 25th inst., if possible.  But all I can now direct
+is that you get ready as soon as possible.  I know you will have
+difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to
+where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish
+it.
+
+From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do
+not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I
+can take troops from there.  With the long line of railroad
+Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move
+directly to his front.  In this way he must get through to
+inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from
+one of his armies a large force to prevent it.  In other words,
+if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one
+else skins.
+
+I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report,
+Appendix.
+
+
+(*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA.,
+April 9, 1864.
+
+MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE
+Com'd'g Army of the Potomac.
+
+For information and as instruction to govern your preparations
+for the coming campaign, the following is communicated
+confidentially for your own perusal alone.
+
+So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and
+towards one common centre.  Banks has been instructed to turn
+over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the
+navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and
+to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to
+move on Mobile.  This he is to do without reference to other
+movements.  From the scattered condition of his command,
+however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans
+before the 1st of May, if so soon.  Sherman will move at the same
+time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army
+being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate
+aim.  If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to
+Mobile with the aid of Banks.
+
+Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of
+the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his
+front.  This he has been directed to do, and is now making
+preparations for it.  Two columns of his command will make south
+at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from
+ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the
+other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under
+Brig.-General Crook.  The former of these will endeavor to reach
+the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington,
+and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and
+return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join
+you.  The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward
+to join Ord.  The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries
+would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to
+within easy hauling distance of every position the army could
+occupy from the Rapidan to the James River.  But Lee could, if
+he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather
+interior to the one I would have to take in following.  A
+movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all
+that was done would have to be done with the supplies and
+ammunition we started with.  All idea of adopting this latter
+plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies
+possible to take with us was considered.  The country over which
+we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that
+we would be obliged to carry everything with us.
+
+While these preparations were going on the enemy was not
+entirely idle.  In the West Forrest made a raid in West
+Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of
+four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an
+attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio.  While he
+was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any
+part of the garrison.  On the first intelligence of Forrest's
+raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him,
+and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself
+into.  Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him
+before he got my order.
+
+Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at
+Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of
+the Mississippi River.  The garrison to force a passage
+southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and
+Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting
+Richmond with all the South and South-west.
+
+Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South
+Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000
+men into the field directly to his front.  The force will be
+commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith.  With Smith and Gillmore,
+Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from
+the south side of the river.  His movement will be simultaneous
+with yours.
+
+Lee's army will be your objective point.  Wherever Lee goes,
+there you will go also.  The only point upon which I am now in
+doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above
+or below him.  Each plan presents great advantages over the
+other with corresponding objections.  By crossing above, Lee is
+cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on
+a raid.  But if we take this route, all we do must be done
+whilst the rations we start with hold out.  We separate from
+Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate.  By the
+other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies
+until another is secured on the York or James rivers.
+
+These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more
+fully than I can write them.
+
+Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce
+you.  Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after
+the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from
+Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it.  This will enable
+you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the
+front.
+
+There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and
+transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall
+back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and
+yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such.
+What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing
+baggage to the very lowest possible standard.  Two wagons to a
+regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should
+be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and
+ordnance stores.  One wagon to brigade and one to division
+headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters.
+
+Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make
+arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded
+to White House on the Pamunkey.  Your estimates for this
+contingency should be made at once.  If not wanted there, there
+is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or
+elsewhere.
+
+If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made
+for ordnance stores.  I would say not much short of five hundred
+rounds of infantry ammunition would do.  By the other, half the
+amount would be sufficient.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+(*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of
+the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave
+our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and
+estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000:  and
+General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman
+the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and
+was broken by his depleted command, remarks:  "The disparity of
+forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my
+two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners,
+representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and
+three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the
+enemy."
+
+
+(*27)
+UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864.
+
+[COMPILED.]
+
+LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow.
+          First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank.
+          Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll.
+
+     Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays.
+
+     Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott.
+          First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford.
+          First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler.
+          Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice.
+          Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright.
+          First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant.
+          Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill.
+          Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris.
+          Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour.
+
+          Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin.
+          Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg.
+          First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson.
+          First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman.
+
+
+MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps.
+
+     First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson.
+          First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure.
+
+     Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter.
+          First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin.
+
+     Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox.
+          First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ.
+
+     Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero.
+          First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried.
+          Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas.
+
+          Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall.
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery.
+
+     Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton.
+          First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching.
+          Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins.
+          First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson.
+          Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom.
+          Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh.
+
+
+GENERAL HEADQUARTERS.......
+          Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick.
+          Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham.
+
+
+
+CONFEDERATE ARMY.
+
+Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by
+GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834.
+
+    First Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a)
+     Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's      "
+          "     Eppa Hunton's      "
+          "     Wm. R. Terry's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b)
+     Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade
+           "    E. M. Law's (c)     "
+           "    John Bratton's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d)
+     Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade
+           "    B. G. Humphreys'   "
+           "    Goode Bryan's      "
+           "    Kershaw's (Old)    "
+
+
+    Second Army Corps:  MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding
+
+MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e)
+         "      John Pegram 's   "   (f)
+         "      Gordon's         "   (g)
+     Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division.
+     Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h)
+     Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h)
+         "      Geo H. Stewart's "  (h)
+         "      L. A. Stafford's "  (e)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i)
+         "      Geo. Dole's      "   (k)
+         "      S. D. Ramseur's Brigade.
+         "      C. A. Battle's   "
+         "      R. D. Johnston's " (f)
+
+
+    Third Army Corps:  LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding.
+
+MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade.
+                Mahone's             "
+     Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's       "  (m)
+        "       A. R. Wright's       "
+        "       Joseph Finegan's     "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n)
+        "       James H. Lane's   "
+        "       Sam'l McCowan's   "
+        "       Alfred M. Scale's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o)
+     Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade.
+        "       John R. Cooke's  "
+        "       D. McRae's       "
+        "       J. J. Archer's   "
+        "       H. H. Walker's   "
+
+           _unattached_:  5th Alabama Battalion.
+
+
+  Cavalry Corps:  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p)
+
+MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division
+     Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade
+        "      L. L. Lomax's      "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade.
+        "       P. M. B. Young's   "
+        "       Thomas L. Rosser's "
+
+MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division.
+     Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade.
+        "      J. R. Chambliss's    "
+
+
+  Artillery Reserve:  BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding.
+
+BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.*
+     Cabell's Battalion.
+          Manly's Battery.
+          1st Co. Richmond Howitzers.
+          Carleton's Battery.
+          Calloway's Battery.
+
+     Haskell's Battalion.
+          Branch's Battery.
+          Nelson's    "
+          Garden's    "
+          Rowan       "
+
+     Huger's Battalion.
+          Smith's Battery.
+          Moody      "
+          Woolfolk   "
+          Parker's   "
+          Taylor's   "
+          Fickling's "
+          Martin's   "
+
+     Gibb's Battalion.
+          Davidson's Battery.
+          Dickenson's   "
+          Otey's        "
+
+
+BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION.
+
+     Braxton's Battalion.
+          Lee Battery.
+          1st Md. Artillery.
+          Stafford    "
+          Alleghany   "
+
+     Cutshaw's Battalion.
+          Charlotteville Artillery.
+          Staunton           "
+          Courtney           "
+
+     Carter's Battalion.
+          Morris Artillery.
+          Orange      "
+          King William Artillery.
+          Jeff Davis        "
+
+    Nelson's Battalion.
+          Amherst Artillery.
+          Milledge     "
+          Fluvauna     "
+
+     Brown's Battalion.
+          Powhatan Artillery.
+          2d Richmond Howitzers.
+          3d    "         "
+          Rockbridge Artillery.
+          Salem Flying Artillery.
+
+
+COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION.
+
+     Cutt's Battalion.
+          Ross's Battery.
+          Patterson's Battery.
+          Irwin Artillery.
+
+     Richardson's Battalion.
+          Lewis Artillery.
+          Donaldsonville Artillery.
+          Norfolk Light       "
+          Huger               "
+
+     Mclntosh 's Battalion.
+          Johnson's Battery.
+          Hardaway Artillery.
+          Danville      "
+          2d Rockbridge Artillery.
+
+     Pegram's Battalion.
+          Peedee Artillery.
+          Fredericksburg Artillery.
+          Letcher             "
+          Purcell Battery.
+          Crenshaw's Battery.
+
+     Poague's Battalion.
+          Madison Artillery.
+          Albemarle    "
+          Brooke       "
+          Charlotte    "
+
+
+NOTE.
+(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at
+above date.
+(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also
+contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by
+Colonel P. D. Bowles.
+(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not
+indicated.
+
+Organization of the Army of the Valley District.
+(e) Constituting York's Brigade.
+(f) In Ramseur's Division.
+(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and
+containing 12th Georgia Battalion.
+(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's
+Division.
+(i) Grimes' Brigade.
+(k) Cook's    "
+
+(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty;
+name not indicated.
+(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding.
+(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four
+brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not
+indicated.
+(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's,
+Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade.
+
+*But one general officer reported present for duty in the
+artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original.
+
+
+(*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May II, 1864.--3 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding Army of the Potomac.
+
+Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and
+6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in
+a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow.
+will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with
+Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and
+vigorous attack.  Warren and Wright should hold their corps as
+close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any
+diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any
+opportunity presents itself.  There is but little doubt in my
+mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely
+successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been
+heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S.,
+May 11, 1864.-4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE,
+Commanding 9th Army Corps.
+
+Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under
+cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the
+enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow.  You will move against the
+enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible
+vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the 12th inst.  Let
+your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost
+secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy.
+
+I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock,
+in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the
+direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you
+and General Hancock with instructions to render you every
+assistance in their power.  Generals Warren and Wright will hold
+their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage
+of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will
+push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S.,
+May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and
+four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work,
+including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of
+artillery.  The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the
+last ditch.  We have lost no organizations, not even that of a
+company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division
+(Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from
+the enemy.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864.
+
+HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for
+gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days'
+battles, to wit:  Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and
+Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S.
+S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York
+Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves,
+to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W.
+S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army.  His
+services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this
+recognition.  In making these recommendations I do not wish the
+claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but
+recommend his name to be sent in at the same time.  I would also
+ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth
+Army Corps.  I would further ask the confirmation of General
+Humphreys to the rank of Major-General.
+
+General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations.
+He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I
+have come in contact with.  If their services can be rewarded by
+promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the
+honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally
+gratified.  I would not like to see one of these promotions at
+this time without seeing both.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's
+right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg
+road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox
+Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little
+River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps
+and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford
+and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th
+corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges
+above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are
+held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army
+with equal facility.  The 5th and 6th corps with one division of
+the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short
+distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and
+near to the enemy.
+
+To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter
+of our men that even success would not justify.  To turn the
+enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on
+account of the swamp upon which his right rests.  To turn him by
+the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna
+River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to
+the movement of our army, to be crossed.  I have determined
+therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near
+Hanover Town.  This crosses all three streams at once, and
+leaves us still where we can draw supplies.
+
+During the last night the teams and artillery not in position,
+belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of
+that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river
+and moved down to the rear of the left.  As soon as it is dark
+this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced
+march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings.  The
+balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and
+follow as rapidly as possible.  The left wing will also withdraw
+from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of
+the right wing.  Lee's army is really whipped.  The prisoners we
+now take show it, and the action of his army shows it
+unmistakably.  A battle with them outside of intrenchments
+cannot be had.  Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE
+over the enemy, and attack him with confidence.  I may be
+mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already
+assured.  The promptness and rapidity with which you have
+forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling
+of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the
+enemy.
+
+We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and
+Fredericksburg roads.  I want to leave a gap on the roads north
+of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to
+import rail from elsewhere.  Even if a crossing is not effected
+at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on
+down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected.  I think it
+advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port
+Royal to the White House.  I wish you would direct this change
+at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there
+in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to
+hold it.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding A. P.
+
+The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed,
+suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it
+vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful
+point from wherever they can be taken.  I shall go to where you
+are in the course of an hour.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington,
+D. C.
+
+A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be
+impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would
+protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that
+road for supplying the army.  To do so would give us a long
+vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our
+strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of
+his lines of communication on the south side of the James.  My
+idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible
+north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of
+communication on the north side of the James River to transfer
+the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or
+follow him south if he should retreat.
+
+I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it
+of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now
+have.  They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or
+feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where
+in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them.
+Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to
+make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of
+the city.  I have therefore resolved upon the following plan:
+
+I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by
+the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable
+circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be
+sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about
+Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west.  When this
+is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James
+River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to
+City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on
+north side and crossing there.  To provide for this last and
+most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest
+class ought to be immediately provided.
+
+Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all
+sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the
+canal.  If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be
+lost to him also.  Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make
+the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south
+side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they
+can.
+
+The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels
+can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our
+army is not only confident of protecting itself without
+intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever
+and whenever he can be found without this protection.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER
+
+Commanding Dept. W. Va.
+
+General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with
+instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence
+there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way
+as much as possible.  The complete destruction of this road and
+of the canal on James River is of great importance to us.
+According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your
+guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It
+would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for
+a single day.  But that point is of so much importance to the
+enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met
+as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all.  I see,
+in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of
+your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route
+should be from Staunton via Charlottesville.  If you have so
+understood it, you will be doing just what I want.  The
+direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you
+in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately
+turn east by the most practicable road.  From thence move
+eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely
+and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan.  After the work
+laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done,
+proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in
+General Sheridan's instructions.
+
+If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed
+back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back.
+
+If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem
+it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal.
+Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE
+ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE.
+
+FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE.  | KILLED.  | WOUNDED.  | MISSING. |
+AGGREGATE.  |
+
+
+Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 |
+Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601|
+North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 |
+Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold
+Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 |
+Total ................  | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 |
+
+
+(*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864.  11 A.M.
+
+MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK,
+Washington, D. C.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned
+their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred.  They no doubt
+expected troops from north of the James River to take their
+place before we discovered it.  General Butler took advantage of
+this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road
+between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain
+possession of.
+
+Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their
+commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the
+last five days.  Day and night has been all the same, no delays
+being allowed on any account.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieut.-General.
+
+
+(*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE,
+Commanding, etc.
+
+The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from
+Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from
+an attack there.  The chances they think will be better on
+Burnside's front.  If this is attempted it will be necessary to
+concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's
+line we expect to penetrate.  All officers should be fully
+impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond
+the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating
+it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they
+should not succeed in breaking through.
+
+To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery
+possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front
+during the assault.  Their lines would be sufficient for the
+support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought
+on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault,
+ready to follow in if successful.  The field artillery and
+infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in
+readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or
+to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders.  One
+thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders.  If
+they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it
+to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they
+should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without
+waiting for orders from army commanders.  General Ord can
+co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five
+thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce
+you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox
+and James rivers, as may be deemed best.
+
+This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all.  If not
+attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy
+the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if
+possible.
+
+        *        *        *        *        *        *        *
+
+Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at
+Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up....
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th.
+
+
+(*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville Tenn.
+
+If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will
+lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to
+abandon the line of the Tennessee.  Should he attack you it is
+all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he
+fortifies.  Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster
+employees, citizens, etc.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville
+with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon
+ground of your own choosing.  After the repulse of Hood at
+Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to
+Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy
+where he was.  At this distance, however, I may err as to the
+best method of dealing with the enemy.  You will now suffer
+incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily
+disposed of.  Put forth therefore every possible exertion to
+attain this end.  Should you get him to retreating give him no
+peace.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to
+where he can cross it?  It seems to me whilst you should be
+getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after
+Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is.  Time strengthens
+him in all possibility as much as it does you.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your
+cavalry.  There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign
+back to the Ohio River.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+Your dispatch of yesterday received.  It looks to me evident the
+enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are
+scattered.  Why not attack at once?  By all means avoid the
+contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat
+to the Ohio.  If you think necessary call on the governors of
+States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he
+should cross the river.  You clearly never should cross except
+in rear of the enemy.  Now is one of the finest opportunities
+ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the
+enemy.  If destroyed he never can replace it.  Use the means at
+your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that
+will resound from one end of the land to the other.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be
+witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you
+will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find.  Let
+there be no further delay.  Hood cannot even stand a drawn
+battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores.  If he
+retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of
+his army.  I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day
+announcing that you have moved.  Delay no longer for weather or
+reinforcements.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864.
+
+MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS,
+Nashville, Tenn.
+
+I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from
+Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go
+no further.  Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is
+entirely destroyed.  Your army will cheerfully suffer many
+privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for
+future operations.  Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take
+them from the country as the enemy have done.  Much is now
+expected.
+
+U. S. GRANT,
+Lieutenant-General.
+
+
+(*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan,
+March 24th, Appendix.
+
+
+(*43) See Appendix.
+
+
+(*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender
+inserted at this place, was copied from the original document
+furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S.
+Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time
+of the surrender.
+
+Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold
+order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations
+and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of
+General Grant.  After such alteration it was handed to General
+Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to
+General Grant.  The original was then transcribed by General
+Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General
+Lee.
+
+The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the
+original document and all interlineations and erasures.
+
+There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and
+Lee each signed the articles of surrender.  The document in the
+form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor
+of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and
+General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and
+handed it to General Grant.
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant
+Volume Two
+
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