Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-08-01
Continued from First Page.
SKETCH OF GENERAL GRANT
BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA.


Hooker. Chattanooga was threat
ened by Bragg at this time, and
Grant proceed at once to concentrate
his forces for its defense. Gen
Bragg's positions on Missionary
Ridge and Ridge and Lookout noun
tain were carried by ASSAULT Novem
Der "a and %. These engagements
known as the battle Of Chattanooga
resulted in the dispersion of the last
important Confederate force west oil
the Allegheny mountains, and open
ed the way for Sherman's advance
into Georgia. Grants services in
this campaign were rewarded by a
vote of thanks from Congress, which
also passed a resolution directing
that gold medal be struck in his
honor.
COMMANDER-IN-CH CHIEF.
A bill reviving the grade of lieu
tenant-general of the army was pass
ed by Congress in February, 1864
and on the LIST of March received the
signature of the President. Gen
Grant was Immediately nominated
to the position and confirmed by the
Senate. Grant at once repaired to
Washington, and received his com
mission, and, OH the 18th of March,
issued his first general order, dated
at Nashville, assuming command of
the armies of the United States. He
announced in this order that his
headquarters would be in the field
with the army of the Potomac. For
the first time during the war all the
armies of the Federal government
were under the command of a single
controlling mind. With nearly 700,-
900 men in the field Grant planned
two great campaigns, the objective
points being Richmond, the capital
of the Contederacy, and Atlanta,
Ga, the base of supplies for the
army commanded by Gen. Johnston.
His idea was to attack the army of
Northern Virginia, commanded by
Gen. Lee, while Sherman with a
powerful force marched southwark
to crush Gen. JOhnston's army, and
other commanders engaged the re-
Confederate forces and pre-
vented them from coming to Lees
relief.
GRANT VS.. LEE.
Thus far Gen. Grant had never
been pitted against the great Con-
federate leader Lee, and the strug-
gle between the two generals proved
to be one of the most gigantic and
desperate episodes of modern war
fare. At midnight ON the Sd of
May, 1864, Grant began his advance
against Richmond. With an army
Of 100000 men he pushed through
,he Wilderness to the right of Lees
position in the endeavor to place
himself between the Confederate
lrmy and the capital. Lee at once
assumed the offensive, and pressing
% the eastward attempted to strike
he Federal columns ON the march.
The bloody battle of the Wilderness
followed and Grant was foiled in his
TO cut. Lee or nom Rich
nond. On making another advance
BY the left flank, he was again met
)y Lee at Spottsylvania and repuls-
I'd with heavy loss. A third attempt
resulted IN the hard-fought engage
ment Of the North Anna river, in
which no substantial advantage was
gained by the Union forces, and a
fourth brought Grant before the i'm
pregnable position at Cold Harbor.
of this campaign Gen.
Grants military biographer, Gen.
Badeau, says: "The battles of the
Wilderness, Spottsylvaaia, North
Anna and Cold Harbor were the
hardest Grantever fought. n n
They cost the national commander
dear, but they inflicted losses on
Lee from which he never recovered"
After bloody repulse at Cold Har.
Dor Grant once more moved his army
by the left flank and crossed the
James. The day after the battle OF
Spottsylvanla he sent a dispatch to
the government, closing with the
memorable words, 81 propose to
fight it out on this line if it takes all
summer" His losses during the cam
palgn MAY 3 TO June 15) were "a,
SOL killed, wounded and missing
Lees about $4,000. In the mean
time the Union forces in the valleys
ofthe Shenandoah and Kanawha and
the army of the James, under Gen
Butler, having failed to accomplish
the purpose aimed at by Grant, the
only practical result achieved was
the depletion of Gen. Lees army
which could not be effectively re
crulted. All the thanking movements
attempted by Grant were foiled, and
Lee was neither cut off from Rich
mond nor defeated in the open field
Under these circumstances Grant
determined to lay siege to Peters
burg, which Butler had failed to cap
ture. Lee attempted a diversion by
invading Maryland, which failed
Early in April, 1865, Grant won the
battle of Five Forks, which terminal
ed the siege of Petersburg and caus
ed the evacuation of Richmond, Lee
retreated westward toward Danville
and was followed closely by Grant
who finally compelled the surrender
of his remaining forces, which took
place at Appomatox Court House
April 8.
ELECTED PRESIDENT.
After the close of the war Gen
Grant fixed his headquarters al
Washington city, and on the 25th OF
July was commissioned general OF
the army, rank created for him by
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