Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-12-28
Abstract of Gen. Grants Official Report.

Abstract OF Gen, tTa1C' s U1lClal h6p0fG
General Grants report of the army opera
tons while under his command as Lieutenan
General fills forty-four closely printed page,
in pamphlet. The document opens with
GEN. GRANTS IDEA OF FIGHTING.
"From an early period in the rebellion
became impressed with the idea that active
and continuous operations of all the troops that
could be brought into the field, REGARDLESS q
the season and weather, were necessary to ,
speedy termination of the war. The rescue
ccs Of the enemy and his numerical strength
were far Inferior to ours, but as an Offset tC
this we had vast territory, with Il pOpula.
ton hostile to the Government, to garrison
and long lines of river and railroad commuui
cations to protect, to enable US to supply the
operating armies.
The armies in the East and West actnd
independently, and without concert. like 4
balky team, no two ever pulling together
enabling the enemy 10 use this great advan.
tace on his nteriGt lines Of communication
for transportating troops from east to west,
re-cnforring the army when most vigorous
pressed, and to furlough large numbers during
seasons of inactivity on our part. to 20 to then
homes and do the work Of producing for the
support of their armies. u vas question
whether our numerical strength and resources
were not more than balanced by these adyan-
tages and the encny's superior position.
/ :. From the first was firmly of the convic-
ton that no peace could he had that would be
stable and conducive to the happiness Of the
Z people, both NORTH and South, until the mil
! itary power of the rebellion was entirely bro
/ ken. | therefore determined to use the great
est number of the 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 reposc for
rcttting and producing n"ccssa'y supplies
for carrying on resistance secondly, to ham
mcr continuously against the armed forces of
the enemy and his resources, until by mere
attrition. if 10 other way, there should be
nothing left to him but an equal submission
with the local section of our common country
to the Constitution and laws of the land
These views have beer kept constantly
in mind, and orders given and campaigns
made to t;trry them out. Whether they
might have been bettescd ir conception and
execution is for the people who tnonrn the
loss Of friends fallen, and who have to pay
the becunary cost. to say. All that | can
say is, that what have done has been done
conscientdnsly, td the best of my ability,
and in what | considered to be for the best
interests of the whole country"
The report proceeds to state the condition
Of affairs, with the position and relative
strength of the Federal and rebel armies.
,fT I I'll NIL 81,
territory dcfrudcd ly them respectively, are
stated to have been tie main objective points
of the campaign.
THE CAMPAIGN or 1864
The general Instructions Of his subordiraia
commanders are next given:
General Sherman was instructed to mcrc
against .johnson's army, to break it up, a'id
go into the interior of the cncmys country as
far as he could. nhicting all possible damage
upon their war resources. If the enemy in
his front showed signs of joining Lee, to fol,
low him up to the full extent Of his ability,
while | would prevent the concentration of
Lee uron him. if it was in the power Of the
army of the Potomac tJ do so. More spe.
cifc instructions were not given, ft!t the rea-
son that had talked over with General Shcr-
man the plans Of the campaign, and was sat
isfied that he understood and would execute
them to the fullest extent possible"
The instructions to General Banks are sub
stant'aly as stated BY that Officer in his official
repoft.
General Meade was instructed that lees
army would be his objective point; that
wherever Lee went he w.s to 90 also Butler
4 D.. IL Oh
600 effective men to operate on the south
bank of the James, having Richmond for his
objective. Generals Gilmore and w. f.
Smith we're ordered to report to him, and he
was directed to occupy City Point with as
much force as possible, and fortify there to
await further Instructions. The letter con-
cludes
1.-The fact that has already been stated,
is. that Richmond is 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 She ne
cessitt of your holding close to the South
bank of the James river, as you advance.
Then. should the enemy be forced into his
intrenchmcnts in Richmond, the army of the
Potomac would follow, and, by means of trans
ports, the two armies would become Il unit"
General Meade was left, as far as possible,
in command ofthe army of the Potomac, Gen.
Grants instructions to that army being all
through him, and general in their nature
His conduc. is declared to have been always
satisfactory
The report proceeds 70 narratc Che move
ments of the armies of the Potomac and tie
jahes, giving general and brief descriptions
of the progress from the Wilderness to Cold
Harbor
"Aftcr the battle of Wilderness" says
the General, " 1t was evident that the enemy
deemed it of the first .mportauce to ruff no
risks with the army he then had. He acted
steadily Oh the defensive behind breastworks
or fully on the offensive Immediately in front
of them, and when, in case of repulse. he
would easily retire behind them. Without
a greater s.criice of life than l was willing
to make all could not be accomplished that
had designed north of Richmond. therefore,
determined to continue to hold substantially
the ground We then occupied, taking advan-
tage Of any favorable circumstances that might