Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1865-12-21
We give sketch of the campaign be-
ginning at the Wilderness z,-

~ We5give sketch of the campaign be-
ginning at the Wilderness. s-
The antagonist armies of Meade and Lee
met in confict near Mine Run on the 9th
day Of May. .Forty-three days Of despsrs
ste fighting or marching by day and night
forced back the rebel army from the Rapi-
dan to their entertainments around Rich
mond, and carried the army of the Potomac
to the south side of the James river. The
strength of the enemy's force when the
campaign opened, or the extent of his loss
"a not known to this department. Any in,
equality of numbers between Lees army
and the army of the Potomac was fully
compensated by the advantage Of position
=Resolute purpose and desperate vslor were
exhibited on both sides. In. the battles OF
the wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House,
Jericho Ford, Hawe's Shop, and Cold Har,
Dor, many brave soldiers and gallant officers
pefished. Among them were Brigadier
General Wadesworth, Brigadier General
HAYS and Major General SedgWick. Lieu
tenant General Grant in hisrepors observes:
aThe battles of the Wilderness, Spotsyl.
yanis, North Anna and Cold Harbor bloody
and terrible as they we're on our side, were
even more damaging to the enemy, aud so
crippled him rs to make him wary ever at:
ter of taking the offensive. His losses in
men we're probably not so great, owing to
the fact that We were, save in the Wilder.
ness, almost invariably the attacking party,
and when he did attack, it was in the open
field" :.
Although expectations of destroying Lee,
army and the speedy capture of Richmond
and Petersburg were disappointed and the
enemy had found refuge behind impregna
ble fortifcations, the campaign was still
prosecuted with determined purpose towards
the same object. While the rebel army was
sheltered in his entrenchments the nationa
forces were busy at work outside strength
enipg and advancing their position, break
ing the communications of the enemy, cut
ting off and destroying his supplies, mar
rowing his limits, harassing him by raids
occupying his attention to prevent detach
ments or reinforcements being sent to oper
ate elsewhere.
Next comes an account Of the operatiob'
of siegeps, Hunters and sheridan's oper
alton in the Valley Of Virgins, and Sber
mans in the South. On this latter teac
We make one extract:
For military reasons, stated in the repor
of the Lieutenant-G General, it was deter
mined that Atlanta should be destroyed
and Shermsn's armies push forward to Sa
yannah or some other point on the Atlantic
coast. s-e
THE oAArAIas OF 1865.
At the commencement of the year ls6;
all hearts were more anxious than ever II
bring the war to q speedy close. Ever,
preparation to that end was made by th'
department and by the military comman
.ders in the field. Adequate appropriation
yers voted and new popular loans author
lied By Congress. Further measures TO
recruiting the army, prompted BY exper'
.apce. were enacted A new draft for
half million of men was put into promp
execution The State executives renewe'
their labors in calling for volunteers. Th
people responded to the demands OF tn
occasion, and rapid recruitment began il
all the States, and it was its height whe
Richmond fell. Troops were at that tim
being raised, organized, armed and equip
ped as fast as they could be convenient
transported to the field. To the comm