Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-19
From the New York World.
murderOus Tactics

From the New York World.
murderOus Tactics.
We have already shown the respective
forces and losses of Generals Grant and
Lee between the Rapidan and James, and,
as PREDATORY to some further historical
light on General Grants soldiership, re-
produce them:
Grant on assuming command May 4,
1864, had of effective men besides the re-
serve, when he crossed the Rapidan, 1885,
600.
Lee at the same date had an effective
force of $1,000.
Grants reinforcements up to the battle
of Cold Harbor, June 3, were 81, 900.
Lee's reinforcements up to the same
date were $4,000.
Grants real force, including reinforce
ments, was 222, 600.
Lees total force, including reinforce
ments, was 10000.
Returns to their respective Governments
showed that when both armies had reach
ed the James, June 10, the number of
Grants army that had been put hors du
combat was III, 900.
Up to the same date, the number of Lees
men who had been put hors du combat was
$4,000.
The two armies then met in front of Pc
tersburg.
It will be seen that Grants total force,
including reinforcements, was 1000,
and his loss SO, 900 in excess of Lees, or
that, with a force outnumbering his oppo-
nent's three to one, this bungler lost every
other man in his army, while Lee lost but
two out of every nine. or, to put it still diff
ferently, that Grant lost just six thousand
men more than one and a-half times Lees
entire army. That Grant succeeded is
4n., 1>,,k i L
ed the same result with less means and
less loss.
Now to the second matter. In December,
1868, Butler was appoited Commissioner OF
Exchange, and by March, 1864, effected a
basis of exchange with the Confederate
Commissioner, man for man. He then de-
tails the further proceedings in the matter
thus
Mr.. Ould left on the 31st of March, with the un-
derstanding that I would get authority aud infor-
nation from my Government, by which all dis
puted points possible could be adjusted, and would
then confer with him further, either meeting him
at City Point or elsewhere for that purpose. In
the meantime the exchanges Of sick and wound
ed and special exchanges should go on.
Lieutenant General Grant visited Fortress Mon
roe on the 1st of April, being the first time ever
met him.
To him the state of the negotiations as to ex-
change were verbally communicated, and most en-
phatic verbal directions were received from the
Northumberland not to take any step by which
another able bodied man should be exchanged
until further orders from him.
On the 14th of April Butler received a
telegram from General Grant at Washing
ton, stating that the whole bject of ex-
change of prisoners had been referred to
him, as follows
WAsHINGToN, II P. NJ, April IA. 1864.
MAJoR-GENERAL BUTLER Your report respect
ing negotiations with Commissioner Ould for the
exchange of prisoners of ar has been referred to
me for my orders.
are received by you, decline all further 4aegotia-
tons.
U. s. GRANT,
IieutenGnt-C General.
Six day later. after General Grant had
g xamined' he sent long telegram to
Butler stating that he had been empower
ed to give such instructions as I may
deem proper, and he gave instructions OF
which Butler says
Of course these instructions, in the then state
of negotiations. rendered any further exchange
impossible and retaliation useless
"Butler says he then made an effort tc
have the sick and wounded excepted, &c
that they might be exchanged, and he re-
ceived the following telegram in reply:
WASHINGTON, $3.50 P NJ, April 80, 1864.
MAJOR GENERAL B. F. Butler: Receive all the
sick and wounded the Confederate authoritie!
U. 8. GRANT,
Lieutenant General
| Upon this extraordinary construction
| Butler remarks as follows:
| To obtain delivery of even sick and wounded
prisoners without any return would be some
what difficult operation, save that the enemy, b.
| giving Us wounded and sick in their hands
we retaining all the rebel sick and wounded il
| ours, burdened us with the care and cost of a
| the sick and wounded of both sides-an operation
Of which it is difficult to see the strategic value
and only to be defended because of it's humaniv
| in rescuing wounded from the destituto1
| and suffering permitted 10 them by the Confeder
| ates.
| In August the Confederate Commissions
renewed his offer of March, man for man
and again Butler was, as it appears, dis
posed to accede, but again General Gran
interposed, and in telegram sent to But
ler, August Is, 1864, said:
| On the subject of exchange, l differ from Gen
eral Hitchcock; it is hard on our men held il
Southern prisons not to exchange them, but it i
humanity to those left in the ranks to fight ou
battles. Every man released on parole CT other
wise becomes an active soldier against at once
either directly or indirectly. If we commence
system of exchange which liberates all prisoner
| taken, we will have to fight on until the Who'll
South is exterminated Ii we hold those caught
they amount to no more than dead men. At thi
particular time, to release all rebel prisoner
North, would insure Sherman's defeat, aud woui
compromise our safety here. U. s. GRANT,
! Lieutenant General
It is proper to state that these extract
appear in the report Of the committee OIL
the Conduct of the War, public documen
wherein the reader may find some othe
matters explanatory of that murderous sys
tenn of warfare, whereby Grant ha
wrought himself to greatness on dead men
bones.
| Z II Important Incidental Decision by Chic
Justice Chase in the Case of Moore
| Hrother VS. Foster q Moore.
This case was before the United State
Circuit Court yesterday, Chief Justic
Chase presiding. Both the counsel for th
| nlaintiffs Mr. Gilmer and the counsel 70