Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-12-22

Gen. Grants Report.
In submitting his report of the operations of
the United States from the date of his appoint
ment to the chief command. Lieut.. Gen. Grant
remarks that from an early period in the re-
bellion had been impressed with the idea that
active and continuous operations OF all the
troops that could be brought into the field, re-
gardless of season and weather, were necessary
to a speedy termination of the war. The re-
sources of the enemy and his numerical
strength, were far inferior to ours but as an
offset to this, we had vast territory with a
population hostile to the government, to garn-
son, and long lines of river and railroad COM
munications to protect to enable us TO supply
the operating armies.
The armies in the east ard west acted indie
pendently and without concert like a balky
team, no two ever pulling together, enabling
the enemy to use to great advantage his inferi-
or lines of communication for transporting |
troops from east to west, re-enforcing the ar
my most vigorously pressed, and to furlough |
large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on |
our part, to 90 to their homes and do the work |
of producing, for the support of their armies. !
1t was a question whether our numerical
strength and resources were not more than bal |
anced BY these disadvantages and the enemy's |
superior position.
He was convinced that no peace could be OBJ
tanned, until the military power of the rebellion
was entirely broken. lie determined first TO
use the greatest number Of troops practicable |
against the armed force Of the enemy, prevent
ing him from using the same force at different
seasons against first one and then another OF
our armies, and the possibility OF repose; sec
ond, to hammer continually against the armed
force of the enemy and his resources, until Ivy
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. These views, Gen. Grant
says, were kept constantly in mind and orders
given and campaigns made to carry them out.
Gen. Grant then refers to the situation of the
contending forces and the territory held by
each at the date of his assuming command.
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 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
small garrison at and near the mouth of the
! Rio Grande All the balance of the vast ter
ritory OF Arkansas. Louisiana, and Texas was
in the almost undisputed possession otthe enc
my, with an army of probably not less than So
600 effective men that could have been brought
into the field had there been sufficient opposi-
ton TO have brought them out.
To the east of the Mississippi we held sub
stantialy 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 obtain
ed in Georgia. West Virginia was substantial
" within our lines. Virginia, with the except.
ion of the northern border, the Potomac river,
and the territory covered by the Army OF the
Potomac living along the Rapidan. was in the
possession of the enemy. Along the sea coast
foo,holds had been obtained at Plymouth.
Washington and Ncwbern, in North Carolina
Beaufort. Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton
Head. Fort Pulaski. and Por, Royal IN South
Corolina Fernaodino. and 81. Augustine, in
FIorida. Kew West ard Pensacola were also
in onr nossession. while all the important por,s
,yere hiockaded bv the navy
In thc South regn of military desnotism
nrevoileh which mnde everv man and how On.
nohle of hearing arms n soldier. and those who
ronId NOT bear arms in the Geld acted as pro.
vosts for collecting deserters and returning
,hcm This enabled the enemy 70 hiring al,
mosi his entire strencth into the field.
The enemy had concentrated the hulk of his
forces eost of the Nississinni into two armies
commanded by r. L. Lee and J. e. Johnston
These tvo armies and the cities covered and
deianJe1 NV ,bem we're T 'II the e' main obiec,iye
. noin,s oC ,bs comnni,n.
Con sherman Vas instructed to move
against Johnston's army. TO break il nm. and 90
into tho intc,ior of the pnemy,s comnIry os for
os he coul1 inaictinp ali the damoges he could
mon tbn,r war ro,onTces If the rnemy in his
front showed sirns of Joining Lee. TO follow him
~, to tbo Gll eyte,t Of his oIiIit, vbila Gnn
Giant rould prevent the concnnir,tion of Leo
5 unon him if II wos in the mower of ,he Army Of
tbe potomnc TO do SO. More sneciol written