The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-05-05
ON TO RICHMOND.
The Campaign from Rapidan to the
James-.rhe Siege of Petersburg.


General Grant arrived in Washington
on March 8. 1851, received his commits.
sinn at the hands Of the President, AMI
on the 17,h issned his first general Or
der. dated at Nashville, assnming com
mand of the armies of the Uaited States,
and announcing that headquarters would
he in the field, and until further orders
With the Army OF the Potomac. Not
before during the civil war had any one
general in the field commanded ell the
national armies. Grant, with nearly
700 600 men in the field. at once planned
two campaigns to be directed simultan-
eously agsinst vital points OF the Co :
tederacy by the two chief armies under
his command; the one under General
Meade, to operate against Richmond.
defended by Lee; the other under Gen.
Sherman, against Atlanta, defended by
Johnston.
At midnight on May 8. Grant began
the movement against X chmond, cros-
sing the Rapidan with the Army OF the
Potomac, which was joined two days
later by the N nth corps under Burn.
eide, aud, with an aggregate force oil
140,0 600 men, pushing through the Will
derness by the right of Lees posi-: ion.
in the endeavor to place himself between
the Confederate army and Confederate
Capital Lee was appraised of the
movement on the morning of the 4th,
and boldly took the offensive, pushing
eastward to strike the Federal columns
on the march. The immediate result
was the bloody battle OF the Wilder
ness, which foiled Grants first attempt
to interpose his army between Lee aud
Richmond. Making another advance by
The left flank he was again confronted by
Lee at Spottsylvania, and, af'er partial
success and q bloody repulse, be repeat
ed the movement again, only to find
Lee in a strong position on the North
Anna river, and sill a fourth advance
brought the Army of the Potomac be-
fore The absolutely impregnahe rifle
pits of Cold Harhor. After a costly
assault on these, Grant once more moved
his army by the left flank and crossed
the James.
The day after the success Of Spott-
sylvan ia be had sent dispatch to che
government which closed with these
words: II propose t. fight it out on
this line il it takes ell summec" His
losses in the campaign from the Rapidap
to the James MAY 8 to June l5) were
55,551 killed, wounded and missing
Lees losses were about 80 600.
Sherman opened the campsign as soon
as Grant telegraphed to him that the
Army Of the Potomac bad crossed the
RapiGan At the same time Grant had
directed Sigel to advance from Win.
chester up the Shenandoah toward
S aunton, and Crook to advance from
Charleston up the Kanawhs toward
Lynchburg. But Sigel was defested at
Newmarket by Breckenridge, and Crook.
after considerable fighting, was compel
led to retreat. Meanwhile General But
Ter, with the Army of the James. had
heen direc'ed to capture and hold Pc
sersbnrg, and if possible to invest Rich
mond closely from the south side, but
had totally laiedt do so. All these
f4nking movement, being foiled, and
Lee being neither defeated in the open
ded nor cut of from r chmond, the
great problem Of the war instantly mar.
rowed itself down to a siege of Peters.
burg, which Grant now began. Lees
attempt to create a diversion by an in
vasion OF MARYLAND and an attack on
Washington failed Sheridan ultimately
driving hack the invaders up the valley
'of the Shenandoah; while in Georgia
Johnston was unable to check the ad-
vance OF Sherman. and his successor in
command, Hood, was forced to e. acuale
Atlanta. and lost his army before Nash.
Vile. The siege of Petersburg ended
after the victory of FIVE Forks, in the
beginning Of April. 1865. when Rich.
mond was evscuated AMI Lee retreated
~est ward Danville, followed closely
by Grant, who finally forced the surren-
der of his remaining force, which took
place at Appomattox Courthouse,
April 9