Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-06-09
THRCOHsFITUFIOH-sTATK kISATS:
RICHMOND WHIG.
rnURsDAY MORNING, JUNE ., lss4.
The Butchers Flag Of Truce.

Grant has at last come to Gag Of truce. After suf
fsvpR hig dead to lie unburcd In the thickets Of the
wilderness and to pOllu,e the air about SPotsylvanla
Court House; after letting his wounded perish Of thirst
or neglect, or in the deVOuring flames, on the spot
whore they had fallen, rather than, BY sending Dag OF
truce expose his own mendaety, he has finally allow
ed himsef to make this fst but most conclusive adm s.
sion Oi.dsleaL Nobody suPpcsas that motives OF hu-
mainly have prompted The Butcher Of the wilderness
in this matter. Hh past history shows that no such
sentiment has ever Il aGenOed his brutal soul What
the Yankees themselves think Of him may be inferred
from the answer invented for him In reply to ianr
oatsd application from Gen. Lse"he had not time to
bury his own dead; bat PurPosSd TO advance immo-
dlatsly" Taere was Of course, truth in the st'te-
msnt except in 80 far that Grant had no
time to bury his own dead. No such communications
passed between the two Generals at the time referred
to- for the simple that L9e was never In posi-
ton requiring him to ask permission to bury his dead;
nor was Grant ever master Of the field after action
Bat rather than cons his repeated defeats aud thus
give the lie to his assertions of victory where he en-
couneFed Only repulses be let his dead tester in the
rsekng sun rays and bis wounded die Ike dogs on the
ground where tdey had been stricken down by Confed
crate bullets Nevertheless the story shows 'xletly
what his own eounsrymen think Of their vorte leader
end the enthusiastic prOVal with which IL Was re-
eeiVed by the Yankee public illustrates the eharactsr
Of thai extraordinary people.
Bat the great Butcher has bad to ask for truce,
and We may be sure that be had reason for the
asking other than the ordinary and obvious one of hu
mainly to the wounded and the dead. Perhaps be has
been forced to t BY the complaints remonstrances
Of bis army, Il Of concern 70 Grant that
In their Wild but fruitess attack the Confederate
lns the YANKEES stumbled puTid cOrpSes or trod
tae remaining life out Of their Agonzsd aud imploIing
comrades; but on his soldiers the tsot must have been
very serious. It Is not in human nature, not in
Yankee nature, stand such sights unmoVed can
We doubt that the brutal indh rsnes with which the
Butcher imposed this horribly trying ordeal on his men
must have incensed them far against their leaders
than against their enemies. The growing iSebeuess Of
their assaults may have been due to this well
as to the ascSrtaned mpOssibity Of breaking through
the Confederate Army. At all events, we may be sure
that without some powerful motive Of this kind
Grant never could hsVs bCea forced to send flag Il
truce TO General Lee. To be sure, who
In the habit Of telling the tcuih do not attach much
Importance to The &C. We know that the facts will
speak for themselves at last and that results will stand
In the place Of confessions. We know, Likewise, that
our Arst duties after battle due to the brave men
who have sealed wish their lives testified with their
blood their devotion to their eountry's cause But
with Ike Gsa9t, ~ho cares nothing for The lives
Of his sod ers and all Of whose energies are engaged
Ia bOl5.erirg up fictitious reputation, by means Of she
mes. unparalleled lies the obligations Of humanity are
a secondary cansidsrstOn-iG fact, no confederation al
all. Hence, if he has been forced 10 admit the TRUTH
BY eone5siog daiest. he lnust have acted uuder
exhaoidnAry pressure.