Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-05-14
saturday evening, May. IA. 1851.
Grant in the War.

baQea 8 Military History OF Uen.
Grant has at last been completed,
and makes in all three large volumes.
1t has been thirteen years since the
first volume was published. This
book, more than anything else, has
given Badeau his standing with Grant,
and to complete the work Badeau has
been kept in a remunerative consul
ate, and accessible to q literary So
ciety. The two volumes which have
just appeared begin with Grants APP
pointment to be general of all the
armies in the spring Of 1864. There
is little to notice in the new books.
He tries to prove that the rebels had
half a million soldiers in the field in
May, 1864, Notwithstanding their as
sumption of such great inferiority Of
plumbers, and that there really was a
difference of only $4,000 men in favor
of the north at the opening of the
Wilderness campaign.
Grant wanted to turn out to grass
one hundred brigadiers at once, but
Lincoln kept them in from political
influence. Grant offered the discour-
aged Buell. a corps, which he declined,
and then Grant recommended his dis
missal from the army. He refused %
make application for the services OF
either Mcclellan or Fremont, and
asked for Banks removal. The battle
of the Wilderness is described as
splendid fighting, but the battle was a
wrestle as blind as midnight in a will
derness that made maneuvers imprac-
trcable as 10 a jungle. Regiments
stumbled upon each other and into
the enemy by turns, firing sometimes
into their own ranks.
Hancock is much praised for his
behavior in the field. Grant said of
Sigel, the German general: He will
do nothing but run. He never did
anything else" OF Badly Smith he
said: He is obstinate, and likely to
condemn whatever is not suggested by
himself"
Grants losses in the Wilderness.
Badeau says, were 1900 killed and
wounded. if which less than 2300 were
killed. Lee was very skillful on the
tactical defensive, but let every az
gressive opportunity 90 unused. Lees
notion Of the war was to tire out he
political nature of the north, or get
English or French interference.
Grants losses in the entire campaign
from Culpepper to and about Peters
burg were $500 killed and $4,000
wounded.
The germ Of Sherman's march to
the sea was undoubtedly Grant, says
Badeau. though Sherman's march was
a far different one from that which
Grant contemplated. Grant thought
to open a line from Chattanooga to
Mobile, but not to abandon the rail
roads; and he never meant to leave an
enemy in his rear. He says, however.
that there could be no depreciating
the daring or originality Of Sherman
idea.
The only indication of anxiety in
Graut was Wakefulness at night. He
never wanted to go to his camp
bed, and would often keep his staff up
till three or four o'clock in the morn
ing, wearing them all out. Grant
issued an order relieving Thomas from
the command Of the army of the
Cumberland. having repeatedly urged
him to attack Hood. Grant started
himself to go to Tennessee and take
command Of that army, but when he got
to Washington City heard of Thomas
victory. He then telegraphed: Push
the enemy, and give him no rest till
he is entirely destroyed" Grant had
written a report rather critical of
Thomas slOwness, but on considera-
ton he destroyed it, considering the
victory had obliterated the processes
to it.
As to Gen. Warren at Five Forks.
Grant considered his temperament
most unfortunate, his delays intoler.
able, his maneuvers Complicated
When he heard that Sheridan had
beaten the enemy badly, Grant went
into his tent alone and read an order
which he gave to an orderly, and said
to a staff officer: 1T is a windy plight.
L have ordered an immediate assault
along u lines"
Badeau says Gen. Lee was disingen-
uous IN his correspondence about the
surrender with Grant. One of the
Confederate generals, in presence Of
his comrades at Appomatox said to
Grant: General, we have come to
congratulate you on having wound MS
up" Il hope" replied Grant. at
will be for the good of US all" Twen.
ty-seyen thousand five hundred men
were captured at Appomatox, in addi-
tion to nearly 1900 captured in the
previous pursuit-a total of $4,000
prisoners.