The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-11-20
LEES LAST CAMPAIGN.
A Touching Recollection Of Southern Valor
and Devotion.

tu6suTVIVOTS VI tHt ARMY VI IHoithCiu 80 SiHA",
COL Venable made substantially the following
address, the report of which we take from the
Richmond Dispatch:
When, in the early days of May, 1864, Grant
crossed the river with 100000 men, General
Lee could command less than $4,000 of all
arms, and yet he boldly marched to attack
him, having in hand when he first struck
Grants column ouly $4,000 men.
He gave vivid picture of the battle on the
plank road, fought on the evening, of the 9th
of May, between Wilcox's and Heth's divisions
of A. P. Hil's corps, when (under the i'm
mediate eye of Gen. Lee) this heroic band of
only 10000 beat back 10000 with which Han
cock made repeated assaults upon them.
He also spoke of Ewell's splendid success on
the old turnpike, where, with $4,000 men, he
had driven back Warren's corps, and illustrated
The unexpected boldness of Gen. Lees strate-
gy by quoting the remark of Gen. Meade when
The columns came in collision: "They have
left division to fool us here while they con-
centrate and prepare position on the North
Anna and what [ want is to prevent these
fellows from getting back to Mine Run"
he wildly pictured the battle of the next
morning, when Hills two divisions which had
become aware that they were to be relieved by
Longstreet, and were not in the best Fl ght-
ing Irim, were violently assaulted before Long
street had come up, and portion of them had
been forced back several hundred yards, when
Longstreet's men double-quicked a mile and
half, and went into the fight with the widest
cheering and enthusiasm. He gave the correct
version of that splendid historic incident of
Gregg's Texas brigade pausing in their advance
as they saw their loved leader going into the
fight, and vociferating eco back, General Lee
&c back, General Lee; and told how confidence
was restored at once to Hills brave men, the
whole line swept forward, the flank attack was
made, and Hancock was driven back in q con-
fusion that would probably have resulted in
utter rout but for the unfortunate wounding of
Ilongstreet just at this juncture.
He told the story of Grants flank movement
to Spotsylvania Court House, and how splen-
didly Stuart with his cavalry assisted by part
of Anderson's infan5ry) held in check over,
whelming numbers until General Lee could
get into position.
Hancock by Heth's division, under Early, in
its attempt to turn Lees flank, and the terrible
repulse which Kershaw's and Fields divisions
gave the enemy in their repeated attacks on
their lines, even though the odds against them
were fully five to one. He gave striking in
cidents illustrating the heroism of our men in
these fights.
He gave the account of the breaking of
Rhcdes' lines on the 10th, and tells of the gal
liant style in which they retook them, under
the eye and in the immediate presence Of Gen.
Lee, whom the troops again begged to 60 to
the rear
He gave the details of the disaster to John
stons division on the memorable 18th of May
(exonerating that noble old Roman from all
blame), by which we lost three thousand
prisoners and eighteen pieces of artillery; and
told of the splendid courage by which new
line just in the rear was formed, against which
the blue waves dashed in vain.
He gave an incident of the refusal of Harris
Mississippi brigade to go into the fight with
General Lee, and brought out the point that
this incident occurred several times in this
campaign, and that General Lee, when written
to after the war about it, only mentions one
Tin reply to direct question: so modest and
unpretending was he, that such incidents were
regarded by him as of minor Importance.
He claimed that while others did most noble
service. Rhodes and Ramseur were the real
heroes of that memorable 18th Of May.
He said that in reply to the question
frequently asked why General Lee sent the
Government no telegram about the battle of
the 18th, that he did send telegram that
evening.
He then sketched the further progress of the
campaign by which Lee foiled Grant at the
North Anna, gave him a crushing defeat at
Geld Harbor and finally forced him to lay
siege to Petersburg, which he might have done
at the beginning of the campaign without the
loss of single man.
This narrative is interspersed with touching
and valuable historic incidents, which we re-
gret our want of space will not allow us
to give; but this will all doubtless be published
in full, and will give the future historian in
valuable material.
His summing up was as follows:
He had not designed to give review, but
only few incidents of the campaign. But
few more general statements of this greatest
campaign of that army would not be out of
place, On the 4th of May four radiating in
vading columns set out simultaneously for the
conquest of Virginia. The old State, which
had for three years known little else save the
tramp of armed legions, was now to be closed
in by circle of fire from the mountains to
the seaboard.
Through the southwestern mountain passes
through the gates of the lower valley from
the battle-scarred wales Of the Rappahannock
from the Atlantic seaboard to the waters of
the James came the serred hosts on field and
flood. numbering more than 275000 men (in-
cluded in this number also reinforcements
sent during the campaign.) No troops were
ever more thoroughly equipped, or supplied
with a more abundant commissariat. For the
heaviest column transports were ready to bring
supplies and reinforcements to any one of three
convenient deep-water passes-Acquia creek,
Port Roval and the White House.
The column next in Importance had its
deep-water base within nine miles of vital
point in our defenses In the cavalry arm (so
important in a campaign in country like
ours they boasted overwhelming strength. The
Confederate forces in Virginia, or which could
be drawn to its defense from other points, num-
bered not more than $4,000 men. Yet our
great commander with steadfast heart, COM
hitting our cause to the Lord of battles, calmly
made his disposition to meet the shock of the
invading hosts. In sixty days the great inva-
sion had dwindled to siege of Petersburg
(miles from deep water) by the main column