St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-06-20


font base. large detachment had at ali
times to he sent from the front to guaro
the base of supplies leading to 1t. we
wore also operating in country un'
known to us and without competent
guide or maps showing the roads accur~
ately. Estimating Lees strength IN Cne
same manner as ours, the enemy nau hoS
less than so, 900 men at the start. HIS re-
Inducements during the campaign vera
about equal to ours, deductlng our ols~
charged men and those sent back. Les
was on the defensive and in country
in which every stream, every road every
obstacle to the movement OF troops, auu
every natural defense was familiar. Inc
citizens were all friendly. and turnlsheu
him accurate reports of our every moVE-
ment. Rear guards were not necessary
for him, and having always railroad 40
his back, large wagon trains were NOT
required All circumstances considered
we did not have any advantage OF num-
bers. y More severe fighting
has not been witnessed on this continent
than that of the 9TH and 9th of May, 1864.
Our victory consisted in having success
fully crossed formidable stream almost
in the face of the enemy, and getting the
army together afterWard as unit we
gained an advantage on the morning OF
the 9Th, which, if it had been followed
up, must have proven very decisive. In
the evening the enemy gained an advant-
age, but was speedily repulsed. AS we
stood at the close, the two armies
were relatively in about the"
same condition to meet each other
as when the river had divided them. But
the fact of safely crossing was victory.
On the morning of the 7th
we sent out pickets and skirmishers TO
discover the position of the enemy, but
Lee showed no disposition to come out.
About midday Warren was directed to
make ia reconnaissance in force. This
drew some sharp firing, but there was NO
attempt on the part of the rebels to drive
him back. This ended the battle of the
Wilderness. Our losses in the Wilder
ness were 2,216 killed, S,785 wounded
and 2,902 missing-probably nearly alb
the latter captured by the enemy.
In giving "reminiscences of Lees sur"
render, General Grant says: 81 found
General Lee had been brought into our
lines and conducted to a house be-
longing to Mr.. Mclean, and was there
with one of his staff awaiting my ar
rival The head of his column was oc-
cupying hill, portion which was an
apple orchard.
Wars produce many stories of fiction.
The story of the apple tree is one OF
those fctions with slight foundation OF
fact Running
diagonally up the hill was a wagon
road, which at one point ran very near
one of the trees of the orchard, so that
/ the wheels had cut off the roots of the
trees which made a little en-
bankment. General Babcock reported
to me that when he first met General Lee
he was sitting upon this embankment
with his feet in the road and leaning
against the tree. 1t was then that Lee
was conducted into the house where
first met him. L had known General Lee
in the old army and had served with him
in the Mexican war, but did not suppose
owing to the differences in our ages and
rank, that he would probably remember
me, willie would remember him more
distinctly because he was the Chief En-
gineer on the staff of General Scott i'll
the Mexican war. When | had left camp
that morning, had not expected the re-
suit so soon that was then taking
place, and consequently was in
rough garb, and, l believe, without
a sword, as usually was when on horse
back ON the field, wearing q soldiers
blouse for coat with shoulder straps OF
my rank to represent who / was. When
/ went into the house | found Genefal
Lee; we greeted each other, and after
shaking hands took our seats. What his
feelings were do not know, being man
of much dignity and with an impenetra-
BILE face; but my own feelings, which had
been quite apparent on the receipt OF his
letter, were sad and depressed. | felt
like ANYTHING rather than enjoyment at
the downfall of foe that had fought so
long and so CALAMITY, and had suffered
so much for a cause which believed
to be one of the worst for which people
ever fought, and for which there was not
the least pretext. [ do not question,
however, the sincerity OF the great mass
of those who were opposed to us. Gem
eral Lee was dressed in full uniform en-"
tirely, wearing a sword of considerable
value, very likely the sword that had been
presented 70 him by the State OF Viz
gihta; at all events, it was an entirely
different sword from the one that would
ordinarily DC worn in the field. In my
| rough travelling suit, which was the uni
form of q private, with the straps
of a General, l must have con-
trasted very strangely with man
so handsomely dressed, six feet high ana
of faultless form, but this was not mat
| ter that I thought of until atterWard.
| General Lee aud soon fell into con-
yersation about old army times. He re"
marked that he remembered me very
we'll in the old army. Our conversations
grew SO pleasant that / almost forgot the
| object of our meeting. General Lee was
accompanied by one of his staff, Colonel
Marshall had all of my staff with me,
good portion of whom were in the
room during the whole of the intervieW.S
Wants the Verdict Reconsidered.