The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-15

he visited their lines were as ready as OF
old but their hungry eyes gazed more
wistfully and sadly on his retreating form
each time that he passed from them. And
the supplicating look of the citizens VIXEN
he entered Richmond, fixed with inqniring
entreaty on man in whom they still BE-
lieved there lay the power to save them,
must have added pang hardly less sharp
to that felt each time that he saw the in-
creasing gauntness of his nnconquerabie
troops. No wonder that his hair grew
grey in these days of darkness. No one
so well as he knew the hopelessness of the
situation Of all. He was fully aware that
Johnston, too late restored to the com
mand of which Davis's perverse Judgment
had deprived him in the crisis at Atlanta,
Sherman's march through the Carolinas
and that that general, moving steadily
northward, was bringing up lOO,ooO VIC.
torious troops to complete the conquest OF
Richmond and it's defenders
But while he yet approached, the ruin
fell, under the vehement impulse commune
Gated to Granite own troops by the ardour
of Sheridan. The line of defence, 'stretch-
ed SO long as to break, !" in Lees own phrase,
and even moro weakly guarded, at last gave
way. Sheridan's attack on Picketts troops,
which formed the extreme right or west OF
Lees positions, proved completely success-
ful in the decisive action of Five Forks,
fought on April End and Grant followed
up the victory by assaults made all along
the Confederate lines. The position, 80
long and SO painfully held, was untenable
when turned and was yielded reluctantly
bnt without hesitation. Those around Lee
could Judge of the serious nature of his feel
ings only by the care with which that day
he carried with him the sword he usually
dispensed with in action. As darkness clos
ed on that eventful night, he was seen amid
the glare of explosions from the abandoned
works, standing Mt the angle OF the road
chosen for retreat up the north bank of
the Appomattox, guiding and cheering his
troops in person as they reached the point,
and following them only when the last man
of his ragged and weary columns had passed
by.
Space would fail us did we attempt to
follow out that retreat in its memorable
trains of provisions, and its advanced guard
led by one who never faltered nor admit
ed hesitation in others, the Federal army
started in pursuit next morning, following
parallel roads. Great praise has been
justly bestowed ON Sheridan for his ner-
vous and energetic conduct OF the pursuit
by which Lee was finally completely cut
off. Nor less does Grant deserves 1t, for
the free and uugrudging manner in which
he supported his ardent lieutenant. But
be who, above all, should have earned
honor for the conduct of that march now
sleeps in the grave; and it is due here to
the reputation of Gen. Halleck to say, that
the errors which had marked his earlier
conduct of the war are amply redeemed IN
the eyes of those who recognize that to his
stern and unflinching INSTANCE on the
necessity of bringing proper discipline to
bear on the Federal volunteers, was due
much of the success with which the arnas
of the Union were crowned at the close OF
the war. The disorders which had hindered
| the efficiency Of the Federal levies in earlier
f years were purged sharply from their ranks
by the stern application of the military
code to the embodied volunteers and con-
, scripts on whom the Union relied to save it.
Whilst Meade and Grant pressed the enemy
home in Virginia, courts martial at Wash.
. ipgton cleared from the service the scum
f which accident, OF bribes, or the favor o.
r State governors, had mixed with the sole
Y materials of the Northern troops. Weel
d after week appeared lists of cashiered off
a GERS, to look back on which is to peruse thu
d straDgest records of Incompetence ant
J, worthlessness that the annals of war eve
4 disclosed. None proved guilty met witt
: mercy. The general that sold his safe
Il conduct to the trembling people of the dis
n trict plundered by his troops; the field
e. officer who disappeared from his battalion
u before the action the captain who stole ant
' drank his mems rations of whisky )" these
9 and others such as these, found themselve
n treated with no more leniency than tn
" private sentinel who slept before the enemy
70 And as gazette upon gazette published list
o of culprits stripped of the epaulettes the
n had dishonored, insensibly but steadily
y higher tone of bearing was instilled int
If the officers of the army thus watched ovel
q Soldiers are ever dependent largely for thei
d feeling of subordination on the conduct 9
70 those above them and the improvement
II effected by Halleck's stern measures ez
IN tended constantly downwards, until tn
TO Army of the Potomac, which was at ono
,e the nearest and most important Of thos
10 which, as Chief of the Staff, he supervised
Of rose in its standard of discipline, if not t
d the level to which Europe, with the aid
l. caste traditions and reverence for ranl
l. brings her standing forces, at least to
ID measure of efficiency which troops raise
Is as were these volunteers of an America
70 Republic can seldom attain. Aud if Grar
r. and Sheridan were able to press the success
10 of Five Forks on to q complete trump
ID over the retreatiDg Confederates; if th
l. conduct of their troops after the victory
10 the I'd of April was in marked contrast
le the lassitude and indifference which ha
F. hitherto followed advantages won on eithe
l. side, the difference is to be found not 6