Crawford avalanche., 1885-07-30

nominal COHinA0Q Oh Lne Dlhbl Ci ncsb Acn-
nessee. In June he transferred his headquar-
ters TO Memphis. July IL Halleck was sum
moned to Washington TO supersede Mcclellan:
transferred his headquarters to Corinth. Sep. IL
he ordered an advance against the Confederate
Gen. Irlce then stationed with large force
at Iuka. There a battle was fought Sept 10, and
a complete victory gained by Gen. Rosecrans.
As BragRs force was pushing toward the ohio
River, Grant now removed his headquarters to
jackson. The Confederates, under Gems.
Price and Van Dorm, then attacked the camp at
Corinth, where Rosecrans was In command,
and after desperate fight, Oct 81, W re re,
pulsed %th heavy loss and beyond
ent in person at either OF these
battles Grant directed the movements in both
by telegraph. Buell. had moved eastward to in
tercept Bragg aud met and defeated him at Per-
ryville, Oct. :, driving him back into East Ten
nessee. Oct. 1G Grants department was eX-
tended by the addition OF part OF mississippi,
as far south as Vicksburg, and he now began To
lay plans for movement against that city.
Nov. he began movement toward the river,
seized LAGRANGE and Grand Junction Nov. AZ ON
the enemy south of the Tallahatchie River. and
Grant followed, taking possession OF that point
Nov. 20. and Dec he entered oxford. While
dash at the camp OF stores In his rear at Holly
Springs, took 1900 prisoners, and destroyed ord
nance and supplies amounting In value to
nearly $l,OOO,OUO. The army was now moved
back to LaGrange, but headquarters were trans
ftrred no further than Holly Springs. Jan 10
headquarters were moved u Memphis, Grant
having resolved to reorganize his entire force
for q campaign against Vicksburg, to cooper tie
in which forces under Sherman and McCler-
nand were now coming down the Missis-
sippi Jan. 20 Grant assumed immediate
command of the expedition against Vicks-
burg. Much time was lost at first in the
attempt to cut canal through the peninsula
before Vicksburg rlan which had been
suggested by President Lincoln, but which,
after an immense expenditure OF labor, was
found to be bejmpracttcable. An effort was also
ID a. nWrfNN NhEdN NNaWh hA M IN
hem in the enemy. But these attempts were
found to result only in failure, and finally
Grant undertook to carry out his own plan,
which was to move the army down the west
bank Of the river, and cross to the east side be-
low the city. April so, 1863, he crossed the
river, took Port Gibson and Grand Gulf, and
began his march into the interior, defeating the
enemy in the factions OF Raymond, jackson,
Champions Hill. and Big Black, kept j. f.
Johnston from joining his forces with those of
to fRaf etg NAY IS After great deal Of hard
fighting, Vicksburg was forced to surrender,
with 27,000 prisoners, July 4, 1861. Grant was
Immediately made Major General of the regu-
lar army. He remained at Vicksburg till Aug
80, when he made visit to New Orleans. While
there he was thrown from his horse at a review
and 30 much injured that he was not able to re-
turn to his post until Sept. 10. Oct. 10, under
instruct!ons from Washington, he came north
ward, meeting Mr.. Stanton, the Secretary OF
War. at Indianapolis. That official notified him
that all the military departments OF the West
were now TO be under his supervision, with the
Louisville, word was received by Mr.. Stanton that
Ros ecrans. whose campaign in East Tennessee
had been so disastrous, was now about TO aban-
don Chattanooga. Grant. thereto e, with the
full sanction OF his superior, Immediately re-
lieved Rosecrans OF his command, assigning
Gen. Thomas to his position, and Oct. ~ started
by rail for Chattanooga, TO take personal direc-
tion of the operations there. The army here was
nearly surrounded by Confederates, and greatly
weakened by sickness and losses, but Grants
presence put new hoTe into their dropping
haartg He there concentrated trOOnS from other
points, attacked Bragg's army, strongly in
trenched on Missionary Ridge and Lookout
Mountain, and carried both points by assault
Nov. % and 2' Bragg's forces were now driven
a. % En~iiic dove hack the Confederates
from that point, and by these successes the Con-
federate communication Letween the Atlantic
and the Mississippi vas broken: Dec: Pre,i-
dent Lincoln ordered thanksgiving in all the
churches for the victories OF the Union cause
Dec. II Congress passed a resolution ordering
that gold medal shogla au Re str9Nifn Mn fSf and his
army. About Christmas Grant went In person
to Knoxville to inspect the command there, and
Jan Is went by way of Cumberland Gap to
Nashville, where he now placed his headquar-
ters. Jan. "a, 1864 he went to st. Louis to visit
his eldest son. who was very IL. FEB; he was was
signed bill passed bv Congress reviving the
grade of Lieutenant General OF the Army, ana
Immediately nominated Gen Grant Tor the po-
sitiOn, and March the General received the or
der summoning HIN to Washington. lie
reached that city March q, received his commits
sion at the hands of the President, and March
IT issued his first general order, dated at Nash
Vile assuming command OF the armies OF the
United States, and announcing that his head
quarters would be in the field, and until further
orders with the Army of the Potomac. March
% lie arrived at Washington again, and imme-
diately began his preparations for the grand
campaigns which were TO terminate the war AT
midnight, May 5, Grant began the movement
against Richmond, crossing the Rapidan with
the Army of the Potomac His force now mum, 4;
| the Wilderness, fought May s, 4, Z. The losses
were terrible on both sides, but the results were
| indecisive. Lee retired within his intrench-
| ments, and Grant made a flank movement on
the left in the direction Of Spottsylvania Court
| House. Here followed from the morning
bloodiest struggles Of the war. in which
the Union forces gained some ground
and captured one division, but made no
| impression on the defenses of the enemy. Grant
| now made another movement to the left crossed
| the Pamunkey and brought his army before the
almost impregnable rite-pits Of Cold Harbor.
| These he attacked on June l, but was repulsed
with terrible loss The assault was renewed
June 3, with even more fTiRhtfu loss OF life, and
| the gaining of no advantage. Grants losses in
the campaign from the Rapldan to the James
those of Gen. Lee were about $4,000. June
| 10, Gen. Grant joined Gen Buffers army al
| BeI muda Hundred ana the combined force
moved again on Petersburg. On June II and IL
assaults were made on the Confederate in
| trenchments without effect Lees army retired
behind the defenses, and by the latter part OF
L
| GUS to this Grant had ordered thanking move
| ments by Gems. Sigel and McCOok, both OF
| which had failed. In the hope OF drawing Grant
away from his position before Petersburg, Lee
/ sent an army under Gen. Early to raid Mary
land and Pennsylvania, That invasion caused
| so much alarm that in August Gen. Sheridan
| was sent against Early, and in series OF fights
| closing with tn of Oct. 10 at Middletown, COM
| pletely defeated him and laid waste the entire
| valley of the Shenandoah. During the sum
mer, fall, and following winter, Grant
pressed the siege of Petersburg with vary
| Ing success. July 80 a mine was exploded under
| one OF the forts, and an assault was made only
to be repulsed with great loss. Aug. Is a divis-
| ion of Grants army seized the Weldon Railroad
and held 1t against several fierce assaults by the
Confederates, in which both armies lost thou
sands of men. After hard-fought battle on
the road south of Petersburg the army went into
| winter quarters there postponing active opera
| tons until spring. Feb. 27, 1865, Gen. Sheridan
| again assaulted and defeated Gen. Early 'sforces
| at Waynesboro, and then joined his com
Hatcher's Run and Five Forks was fought from
| March 20 to April !, resulting in the defeat oi
the COnfederates and the capture OF 6,OOO pr1s-
| oners. On the following day Grant ordered 8
| general assault on the lines of Petersburg and
the works were carried. On that night the army
| of Lee evacuated Petersburg, and the members
OF the Confederate Government also fed from
| Richmond, and April that city, as well a'
, Petersburg, was taken possession OF by tho
Union army The war lasted but a few days
longer Lee retreated as rapidly as he could Il
| the Southwest, hoping to Join the army o.
| Johnston. Grant and Sheridan pursued and
intercepted him, and, after making one or two
Intellectual efforts TO rally his broken and de-
moraliyed army against the victorious forces o.
the Federals, on April he surrendered to Gran
at Appomattox Court House. Va
.,p ,yr,o por xrrCaU CApEEu