The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-05-31

probably one-half of all who died
from wounds on the field Of battle
in all the armies of the United
States" This is statement of the
losses suffered in that one Northern
army alone; in round numbers a
quarter of million men. These
figures show that it did heavy work,
and no greater Testimonial could be
offered of the yalor and fOrtitude of
its adversary. It has struck us,
however, as somewhat singular that
this reunion should be held in May.
OF all the months in the year,
May should be the last chosen by
the Army of the Potomac for it's
festivities. The memories of May
must be tinged with sadness. 1t
was such a fatal month for our
friends of that army. It was in May,
1868, that Hooker moved across the
Rapidan into the Wilderness and
suffered the severe defeat at Chan
cellorsville. And it was just one
year afterwards that Grant crossed
near the same point and began the
movement which covered the entire
month, fighting that series of dis.
astrous cOmbats which the military
historian will hereafter regard as
one protracted battle. It was
bloody month for the Army of the
Potomac.
Grant crossed the Rapidan sixty
miles to the north and west of Rich.
mond on the 4th of May, with 14O,-
600 men. The next day Lee struck
him at the Wilderness and the bat
tie ragged there for two days, Grant
losing $4,000 men according to his
own account. Grant on the night
of the 7th silently moved on the
roads ia his rear towards the south.
east ID miles to Spotsylyania, where
he found Lee waiting to receive him
on the morning of the 9Th. Here
Grant suffered a loss of fifteen or
twenty thousand men, and here it
was on the 18th of May that he sent
the celebrated dispatch that The
would fight it ont on that line if it
took all summer" But the carnage
was more than even he could stand.
A Northern historian speaks of "as
sanlts until the ground was literally
covered with piles Of dead. The
phrase is here, says he, no figure of
speech, as can be attested by thou
sands who witnessed the CHASTITY
scene." After twelve days spent III
efforts to dislodge its adversary, the
Army of the Potomac, although
heavily reinforced, and now mum
bering fully four to Lees one, aban-
doned the direct attack and again
sheered off to.the southeast on the
night of the Goth.
When IL miles on this route to
his rear, Grant again found Lee in
bis path, and after some heavy
fightingagain acknowledged himself
He withdrew across
the North Anna river and on the
night of the 26th once more retired
to the southeast to find Lee still
ready to receive him. Before renew.
ing the encounter, however, Grant
was once more heavily reinforced,
while Lee also received few thon.
sand additions to his neagre forces.
The encounter that ensned was
decisive. Swinton says: "The
troops went forward as far as the
example of their officers could carry
them, nor was it possible to urge
them beyond, for there they knew
lay only death without even the
chance Of victory. The complete
ness with which this judgment had
been reached by the whole army |
was strikingly illustrated in the
forenoon. Some hours after the
failure Of the first assault General
Meade sent instructions to each
corps commander to renew the at.
tack. Tie order was issued through
these officers to their subordinate
commanders and from them de-
sceuded through the vented chan,
nels, but no man stirred and the
immobile lines pronounced a yer.
Dict silent yet emphatic against