The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1885-04-15

a siege OF two months, July 4, 1868.
After the siege had lasted over 40
days, when riding around his lines
one day Grant stopped at the house
of Confederate woman, who still
clung to her shattered walls, and
asked for water. She asked him
tauntiDgly if he ever expected to
get into Vicksburg. Certainly he
answered. "But when?" Il can
not tell exactly when | shall take
the town, but mean to stay here
till | do, if it takes me thirty years.
AT last, on the Sd of July, Pember-
ton asked Grants terms for the Ca
pitulation of the city, and the white
flag foated from the headquarters
of the besieged. Grants answer
was: ''The unconditional surren-
der of the city and GARRISON. On
the 4th of July the garrison of
Vicksburg marched out of the lines
they had so long and bravely de-
Tended and stacked their arms in
front of their conquerors. This is
the event that broke the backbone OF
the rebellion. struggled on near
i ly two years longer, but it never
regained its confidence. This sur
render put into Grants hands the
largest capture of men and material
made in the war. General Grant
was rewarded for this service
by promotion to the rank of major
general in the regular army.
In October, 1868, he obtained
command of the Military Division
of the Mississippi, comprising the
department of the Ohio, of the Cum
berland, and of the Tennessee.
Among General Grants important
characteristics as a great command
er is the rare sagacity which he
uniformly displayed in the choice
of his subordinate officers. On this
occasion he selected Generals Sher-
man and Thomas, as his principal
lieutenants, and concentrated his
armies for the defence of Chatta-
nooga, which was pertly invested
by General Bragg, who sent Long
street with about 10000 men to be-
siege Konxville. The army of Gen.
Bragg. holding strong positions on
the Missionary Ridge and Lookout
Mountain, was attacked on the oath
and retreated on the 25th of No
vember. A part of this great bat
tie, it is said, was fought above the
clouds. 1t is stated that from the
beginning of the war to December
Il, 1868, the armies under Grants
command had captured 472 pieces
OF cannon and 10000 prisoners. In
the mean time, the Federal ar
mics in the East had failed disas-
trously in successive campaigns
paigns against Richmend; and the
eyes of the nation turned to
Grant as the general most compe-
tent to take command of all the ar
mics of the Union. The grade of
acknowledgement was revived for
him by Congress, and he was made
commander OF all the armies by
the President on the 18th of March,
1S64-the most important appoint
ment ever made by an American
President. He was thus summoned
to new field of action and po-
sition of immense responsibility.
The forces of the enemy were most
ly concentrated in two large armies
one in Virginia, commanded by
Robert E. Lee, and the other in
Northern Georgia, led by J. Z. john
ston. General Grant selected Cen
Sherman to oppose the latter, and
himself directed in person the army
of the Potomac, which opened the
campaign by crossing the Rapidan
on the 4th of May and moving
toward Richmond by route which
was naturally strong for purposes
of defence and was well fortified
at various points. Before he began
this movement, he appointed Gen.
eral Sheridan commander of all the
cavalry of his army. Hancock,
Warren, Sedgwick and Burnside,
subject to the orders of Gen. Meade,
commanded the several corps of the
army of the Potomac, which amount
ed to about 10000 men.
The two armies moved early in
Nav. After a series of desperately
fought battles, alternating with re-
peated hanking movements, which
the skill of General Lee frustrated.
Gen. Grant crossed the James river
between the 18th and 18th of June,
1864, ard proceeded to lay siege
to Richmond and Petersburg from
the south and southeast, vile very
considerable army was cutting OIL
their supplies and destroying their
railroads at the north and north
west.
Five Forks was the beginning of
the end. 1t was fought April !, 1860,
and was one of the most brilliant
and bloody engagements of the war.
In this fight Sheridan displayed his
characteristic qualities. He was as
mad with battle-rage as the god OF
war himself. In the midst of the
fight one of his divisions wavered
and broke momensarily. Their col
or bearer was shot and killed, and
their flag had fallen. Sheridan
snatched it up in his own hands,
and plunged into the fight at the
heal of the faltering men. After that
he flew about like incarnate thun-
der and lightning. He ragged and
shook his fist and his sword by
turns at them he drove men who
had been wounded back into the
front rank. He capped the climax
of his rage by then and there reliev-
ing Gen Warren of his command
upon the field of battle. But he
restored order and gained the day.
At length the two cities having been
reduced to great straits, while the
army of General Lee was rapidly
diminishing, the last line was orok-
en- on the I'd of April. 1865. Gen.
Lee and the remnant of his army
fed west toward Danville. They
were pursued rapidly by Gen. Grant
and his army, On the 9th of April
1865. Gen. Lee surrendered with his
entire command To Gen. Grant at