The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-08-08

Ph1H, uo TcSuulcu Inc hank Harcn,
crossed the Pamunkey, and faced Lee at
Cold Harbor.
During this time Butler, with an army
of 40, 900 men, had been operating against
Richmond on the James, and suffering a
check from Beauregard, who lost 1900
to Buffers $500, had withdrawn to Ber-
muda Hundreds. He now, by Grants
directions, sent 49, 900 of his troops to
Meade. On June 2 an assault at Cold
Harbor was repulsed, with an aggregate
loss at this point of 13,000 the Confed-
crates probably losing not more than
third as many. Then Grant once more
moved out to turn Lees right, and this
true crossed to the south side of the
James. The movement for this purpose
was conducted with address. Meade
first intrenched line in the rear of the
position at Cold Harbor, to be held
while the army was withdrawing. The
place selected for crossing the James was
the vicinity of Wilcox's Landing, this
being beyond Lees observation, while
its distance from Richmond would ex-
pose Lee to serious attack should he
come forward in force to resist the cross.
ing. In the early morning hours of June
ID, Meade withdrew his army, corps by
corps, passed over the Chickahominy at
| different points, and directed his columns
upon Wilcox's Landing. The long and
exhausting marches were made with pre-
cision, and the troops crossed the James
which had been bridged for the purpose,
between the 18th and 10th. Thus the
army had changed Its base easily and
without molestation.
Vigorous operations were thus at once
renewed. Butler on the 9th had sent
Gilmore with 5000 men and Kautz with
1900 cavalry, to capture Petersburg but
| its works seemed to the former too
strong to be carried by his force. On the
| 14th, Smith, who had withdrawn two
days earlier from Cold Harbor, reported
to Butler and was directed to renew the
attempt against Petersburg, while Han
cocks corps was sent from the James in
support. Delays ensued from one cause
or another; re-enforcements were sent
for both sides, and when the attacks
were made, the Petersburg intrench
ments held out against all assaults. The
Union losses in the hard fighting were
about 10, 600; those of Lee were also very
|
Meade's and Buffers commands from
May to July were about 70, 900. The
| Confederate ranks were also greatly
thinned, and showed signs of exhaustion.
During the last half of the year Wig
orous efforts were made to carry Peters
burg, now under siege, operations being
conducted upon both sides of the James
mine was sprung under the works in
Burnside's front, but without ultimate
success. The proposition to mine a
redan of the enemy's works came from
Lieutenant-Co Colonel Peasants, a skillful
engineer commanding regiment chiefly
of Pennsylvania miners. Though care
was taken in preparing it, the purpose
was detected by the enemy, and pro-
tecting intrenchments were thrown up
where the attack was threatened. The
division of the Ninth Corps selected to
lead the assault was commanded by an
incompetent officer, and the parapets
and abattis were not removed for the
passage of the assaulting column. There
was neglect also to provide proper sup
port. The mine was duly exploded, and
the leading assaulting division entered
the crater but there mostly remained,
and only feeble efforts were made to
carry the crest beyond. The Confeder-
ates at length recovered from their sur
prise, and the Union forces were with
drawn. This fruitless attempt cost 400
men. Next, a movement was made to
the north bank of the James by the
Second Corps and some other forces, to
threaten Richmond on that side. A
series of sharp encounters resulted, in
which the Union loss was probably from
1000 to $500 men. While this demon
stration was going on upon the north
side, Warren's Fifth Corps was directed
against the Weldon Railroad at the other
flank. A sharp battle occurred on the
10Th of August, in which the Union
casualties were about 1900. Two days
later the Confederates made a vigorous
assault on Warren, but were repulsed
with great loss. The position on the
Weldon road was held. Grant, however,
determined to destroy the road as far as
possible, and sent the Second Corps for
this purpose.
At Ream's Station the Union forces
were attacked and severely handled, with
loss of 1912 men and nine guns. The
Union lines were, however, extended by
severe battles on the Weldon Railroad
and at Hatcher's Run. These various
operations cost an aggregate Union loss
of perhaps $4,000 men, while Lee also
endured heavy losses. The Shenandoah
Valley had meanwhile become the scene
of conflict. Sigel, who opened the cam
thclC3 idu OCCh uCiCdICu, anu SuC-
ceeded by Hunter, who penetrated to
Lynchburg. Repealed, however, from
the latter point by Early, who had been
detached by Lee, Hunter retreated to the
Kanawha, and Early therefore marched
down the Shenandoah Valley and across
the Potomac to the outworks of Wash
ington. Thence he was driven in turn
by the Sixth Corps, under Wright, and
other forces. In order to permanently
relieve the Shenandoah Valley, Grant
sent thither a large force under Sheri-
dan, the renowned leader of his cavalry
corps, who gained brilliant victories over
Early at Winchester, Fishers Hill,
Toms Brook and Cedar Greek, and so
triumphautly closed the war in the val
ley.
The opening of 1865 found the Confed-
crate cause desperate under Grants COM
prehensive and relentless campaigning.
Sherman had, in series of battles and
marches, forced his way to Atlanta,
thence to Savannah, thence to the Caro-
linas, his latest march causing the fall of
Charleston. Thomas had overthrown by
great battles at Franklin and Nashville
the attempt of Hood, Johnston's sue
cessor, to once more invade the North.