Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-06-13

one left the department commanders as they
were, while the other relieved Rosecrans and
assigned Thomas to his place accepted
the latter, says Grant After Rosecrans' de-
feat at Chickamauga and retreat upon Chat
tanooga, Grant says Stanton sent for him
and told him that further retreat must be
prevented Immediately wrote an order
assuming command Of the division Of tho
Mississippi and photographed to Gen. Rose
GRAMS then telegraphed him the order
from Washington, assigning to Thomas the
command Of the army Of the Cumberland,
and to Thomas that he must hold Chatta-
nooga at all hazards.
The following may be regarded IS Gen.
Grants reply to assertions that superior
numbers gave him the final victory In the
battles Of the Wilderness: Operating In an
enemy's country, and supplied always from
distant base, large detachments had at all
times to be sent from the front, not only to
guard the base Of supplies and the roads
leading to 1t, but all the lines leading to our
TANKS and rear. We were also operating in
: country unknown to N, and without com.
petent guides or maps showing the roads 40
,urately. Estimating Lees strength In the
same manner as ours, Lee had not less than
$4,000 men at the start. His reinforccments
during the campaign were about equal to
ours, deducting our discharged men and
those sent back. Lee was on the defensive
and in country in which every stream, ev
cry road, every obstacle to the movement of
troops and every natural defense was familiar
to him and his army The citiz ems were all
friendly and furnished him accurate reports
Of our every movement Rear guards were
aot necessary for him, and having always
railroad at his back, large wagon trains were
not required. All circumstances considered,
we did not have any adv antage Of num-
bers.
More severe fighting has not been Witnessed
on this continent than than that Of the 9th
and 9th Of May, 1864. Our victory consisted
In having successfully crossed formidable
stream almost in the face Of the enemy and
In getting the army together afterward IS
unit. We gained an advantage on the morn
ing of the 9th, which II it had been followed
up must have proven very decisive In the
evening the enemy gained an advantage but
was speedily repulsed. As we stood at the
close tho two armies were relatively In
about the same condition to meet each other
IS when the river had divided them; but
the fact OF safely crossing was - VIC
tory.
On the morning Of the 7th we sent out
pickets and skirmishers to discover the posi-
don of the enemy, but Lee showed no dispo-
sition to come out. About midday Warren
was directed to make q Reconnaissance IN
force. This drew some sharp firing, brt
there was no attempt on the part Of the rebels
TO drive him back. This ended the battle Of
the WildernernesS Our losses in the Will
ierness were 2,261 killed, 6,7S5 wounded, and
3,902 missing. All the latter captured by
the enemy.
In giving "reminiscences Of Lees surrender
dor, Gen. Grant says: found Gen. Lee had
been brought into our lines and
conducted to house belonging to
Mr.. Mclean, and was there with
one Of his stat officers waiting
my arrival The head OF his column was
occupying hill, portion Of which was an
apple orchard Wars produce many stories
Of fiction. The story Of the apple tree Il ons
Of those fctions, with slight foundation Of
TACT. Running diagonally up the hill was
wagon road, which at one point ran very
near one OF the trees of the orchard, 90 that
the wheels had cut of the roots Of the tree,
which made little embankment. Gen
Babcock reported to me that when he first
met Gen. Lee he was sitting upon this en-
bankment with his feet In the road and
leaning against tree.
1t was then that Leo was conducted intO
the house where first met him. I had
known Gen. 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 re-
member me; while I would remember him
more distinctly, because he was the chief en-
yineer on the staff of Gen. Scott in the Mexi-
can war. When had left camp that morn
ing had not expected the result SO soon that
was then taking place, and consequently was
In rough garb, and l believed without o
sword, as usually was when on horseback
On the field, wearing a soldiers blouse for
coat, with shoulder straps OF my rank to In
iicate who / was to the army.
When went into the house found Gen.
Lee. We greeted each other, and after shak-
ing hands took our seats What his feelings
were / do not know, being a man Of much
dignity and with an impenetrable face; but
my own feelings, which had been quite APP
parent on the receipt of his letter, were sad
and depressed. l felt like anything rather
than rejoicing at the downfall Of foe that
had fought SO long and 30 gallantly,
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 tn least pretext. l do not question,
however, the sincerity OF the great mass OF
those who were opposed to US
Gen. Lee was dressed in full uniform en-
tirely, wearing sword of considerable
value, very likely the sword that had been
presented to him by the state Of Virginia; at
all events it was an entirely different sword
from the one that would ordinarily be worn
in the field In my rough travelling suit,
which was the uniform of q private, with
the straps Of general, I must have con-
trasted very strangely with man SO hand
somely dressed, six feet high and Of faultless
form But this was not matter that !
thought Of until afterwards. Gen. Lee and
I soon fell into a conversation about old
army times He remarked that he remem-
bered me very well In the old army Our
conversation grew SO pleasant that almost
forgot the object Of our meeting Gen- Lee
was accompanied by ono Of his STAFF, Col
H. al - - n