National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-05-16

equaied the loss OF the Federal army. The TACT,
however, that this famous Wilderness campaign,
which inflicted fatal blow on the COnfederacy,
only cost ID COL men is a remarkable statement and
puts an end to the stories which have been gen.
orally accepted for the last fifteen years that
Grants losses were 80 900 or $1,000 at least.
THE EFFECTS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Grant regarded the result of the campaign as 4
virtual success over Lees army. He had con-
quered The spirit of the adversary, and the only
question to force him TO surrender. There is a
sketch of the disastrous attack Cold Harbor one
of the causes of which is attributed to Warrens
opening with artillery instead of attacking in
force This whole movement annoyed Grant; In
fact, the only general who seems to have shown
enterprise and ability in the movement was Han
cock. General Badeau gives General Lee high
praise for his management OF the Cold Harbor
movement: Lee watched his antagonist as
closely, as warily rs one wild beast does another
before the final spring. He followed the move
ments of his adversary sllfully he put forth his
whole force; he thwarted many of Grants at
tempts, but, usual he left every great aggressive
opportunity unused" What Lee hoped for after
this campaign, according. to General Badeau, was
to hold Grant off long possible, to tire out, If
neither him nor mis- army, perhaps the country at
the North relying the probability of English or
French interference in favor of the rebellion and
the efforts of the Democratic party III his behalf.
LOSSES OF THE CAMPAIGN.
General Badcau dwcls at length upon the nu-
mercal strength of the two armies in this cam
paign, about which there has been so wide mis-
apprehension. When General Grant left Culpeper
he had 10000 effective soldiers, General Lee be-
tween 70,OcO and $4,000. Before the 4th of June
Grant received 10000 rcinforcementS, Lee not
fewer than 10000. During the whole campaign
GRANTS Of Iubo e Eiln1
and 5000 wounded. General Badeau compares
these losses to other wars and shows that the re-
suits which General Grant obtained were at a less
sacrifice of life than similar campaigns N history,
recalling the fact that at Asperu the French lost
10000 the AuStrians $1,000; at BoroGinO the French
lost $4,000, the Russians 1900; at Waterloo the
French loss 10000 men, that of the allies 1885, at
Gravelotte the French lost 11,0O0, the Germans
10000; at Sedan the French lost $4,000, the Ger
mans $500. During the seven days i'll the PENN
sula the national losses were 9,14S; at Antetam
9,491; at Charlottesville, 1898; at Vicksburg,
11,291; at Gettysburg, 1900. General Badeau
justly says that while the losses of the rebels
less in proportion to the loss at Charlottesville.
Nicksburg, Antietam, and Gettysburg, Grants
troops advanced, and continued to advance, while,
in the other cases. the result was either defeat or
a drawn battle.
GRANTS GENERALSIIIP-" PUSH on"
Although the 18th of May was day of terrible
fighting, General Grant allowed his army no rest.
Have the men, he said to General Burnside,
woke upaud under arms at helf-past three" Gen
eral Mott, who did so badly under General Han
cock, had his division reduced to 4 brigade. The
discipline of the army for the first time began to
be stern. Although it appeared that the President
had given Grant complete control of the military
forces We see in many cases that this control was
nominal Political considerations wprn still
allowed to sway the selection of generals. At a
time when the fortunes of the republic were
trembling III the balance Of military success such
man Sgel was allowed important COM
mand. When Grant was forcing Lee into the last
extremity his plans by Sigel, were entirely foiled
Butler failed to make his connection at
Petersburg, and Halleck telegraphed: "Sigel
is in full retreat on Strasburg; he will
do nothing but run; he never did any
thing else" General Grant attributed the fault of
Butler to the INSTRUMENTATION of General Badly
Smith. General Smith," he said, while very
able man, is obstinate and likely 10 condemn
what is not suggested by himself" The fault of
Butler, the defeat of Sigel still superadded to the
news of Banks defeat i'll the Department of the
Gulf made the campaign Of a new commander
chief open gloomily. Grant, however deter
mined to keep ahead, aud formed the curious
military resolution of throwing aside his artillery
cutting down his cavalry, and depending upon the
All his orders at this time were to go
ahead. I" Push push, push!" Push on with all
possible Yigor" Push the enemy
with all your might" ave must not
fail" "Act or the offensive" Keep up a threaten
ing attitude" Fight the enemy in
whatever force you can find him." Feel for the
enemy to keep him well employed" These are
extracts from the orders of General Grant, and
show the resolution which he had in beginning
his campaign, and which were to bring him VIC
tory in the end
MIDNIGHT vIGILs AT HEADQUARTERS.
"As the night wore on one and another of the
frequenters of the campfire dropped away, and
by midnight the circle was winnowed to three or
four of whom Grant was always one. The only
symptom of anxiety he displayed under the ire
mendous cares imposed upon him was wakeful-
ness. He never wanted to go to his campbell.
His immediate aides -de-camp discovered this, and
as he was willing to sit under the cold, clear sky
and stars till three and four o'clock wearing them
all out, they at last agreed among themselves to
wait up with him in turn He never knew of this
but we often bargained with each other for an
hour or two of rest. Many of these nights can 1
remember during that long winter at City Point
when every one was asleep but the commander of
the armies and his single officer. If the weather
was inclement we bore it as long we could out
side, aud then sought shelter in his cabin. How
confidential and intimate his conversation could
at such times become only those thrown closely
with him knew. His recollections of the past, the
stories of his great battles and campaigns the
personal incidents of Vicksburg, and Donaldson,
and Chattanooga, and Shiloh; the details of his
earlier career; his belief in the ultimate success
Of our cause; his prediction of events-all were
clearly told in tere and often eloquent language,
with every now and then pregnant utterance
that showed his appreciation of individual char
acter or close sympathy with men in masses the
native strength of his intellect or the keen pene-
tration of his Judgment
HEADQUARTERS LIFE At CITY POINT.
We nave picture of Grants headquarters at
City Point which is graphic and picturesque. Gen
eral Grant lived in little hut pitched on bluff
overlooking the junction of the Appomattox and
the James. Here the telegraph wires brought him
in communication with Meade, Butler, Sherman
Sheridan, Thomas, Candy, Stanton, Halleck, and
the President. Here President Lincoln spent sew
eral weeks mostly in the adjutant generals Office
reading dispatches, " with his long legs twisted
and coiled as if he hardly knew what TO do with
Them Lincoln leaned his chair backward and
talked apparently with the greatest freedom even
to the junior officers" The intellectual calibre
Of the man was most apparent and most impos-
ing" Grant with his personal staff always messed
together, O rude log cabin forming the dining
room, and long deal table received the fare,
never garnished with wine or spirits of any kind.
Coffee and tea at breakfast and supper with water
for the midday dinner. were the only drinks Of
fered at these simple soldiers meals" The even
ing was generally spent around the great camp
ire, where General Grant would join the circle
from six or seven o'clock till midnight "Politics
1t home were often discussed, and, unless strangers
Or foreigners were present, with great freedom.
Gossip about men whom most of US had known
came in, and tales of West Point life were COM
non. But, though familiar, the talk was by no
means vulgar. No coarse language was ever used |
n the presence of the General-in Chief, the most
modest man in conversation in the army pro- |