The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-10
90

marched out OF taellN Works Va line in
front, stacked arms and rnaf III in good
order. Our whole army present WIknessed this
scene without cheering, and without single of
fensive remark that | ever heard OF. Logar's
division, which had approached nearest the rebel
works, was the first to march in, and the flag OF
one of the regiments of that division was soon
floating over the court house,"
Of the Wilderness campaign the General says:
Operating as we were in an enemy's country.
and supplied always from a distant base, large
attachments had at all times TO be sent from the
front, not only to guard the base of supplies ard
the roads leading to it, but all the roads leading
to our TANKS and rear. We were also operating in
a country unknown to us and without competent
guides or maps showing the roads accurately. Es-
timating Lees strength in the same manner as
ours the enemy had not less than 30, GOO men at
the start. His renforeements during the cam
paign were about equal to ours, deducting our
discharged men and those sent back. Lev was
onthe defensive, and in country in which every
stream every road, every obstacle to the move
ment of troops and every natural defense was
familiar to him and his army. The citizens
were all friendly to him and his cause, and could
ard did furnish him with accurate reports Of our
every movement. Rear guards were not nee
essary for him. and having always railroad at
his back, large wagon trains were not required.
All circumstances considered, we did not have
any advantage of numbers.
con the morning OF the 7th we sent out
pickets and skirmshers along entire front
went as far as a mile and half be-
fore finding him. But Lee showed
no disposition to come ont There
was no battle during the day. and but little firing,
exceptin Warrens front About midday Warren
was directed to make 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.
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 sue
cessfully crossed formidable stream almost in
the face of the enemy, and in getting the army
together afterward as a unit. We gained an
advantage on the morning of the 9th, which, IL
it had been followed up, must have proved very
decisive. In the evening the enemy gained an
advantage, but was 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 thefactof
safely crossing was victory Our losses in the
battle Of the Wilderness were 2.26l killed. 1886
wounded, and 902 missing probably nearly all
the latter captured by the enemy"
SCOTT TAYLOR AND BRAGG.
General Scott and General Taylor are thus
contrasted:
General Taylor never wore uniform, but
dressed himself entirely for comfort He moved
about the field in which he was operating TO SEQ
through his own eyes the situation. Often he
would be without staff officers, and when he was
accompanied by them there was no prescribed
order in which they followed. He was very
much given to sit his horse sideways-wish both
feet on one SYSTEMATICALLY on the battlefield.
General Scott was the reverse in all these par
riculars. He always wore all the uniform pre-
scribed, or allowed. by law when he inspected
bis lines word would be sent to all division and
brigade commanders in advance, notifying them
Of the hour when the commanding General
might BIO expected. This was done so that all
the army might be under arms to salute their
chief as he passed On these occasions he wore
his dress uniform, cooked hat agulleites. saber
and spurs. His staff proper, besides al officers
constructively on his staf-engineers, inspectors
nuartermasters etc..-followed, also la uniform
with great care, and evidently with a view that
they should be history Of what followed.
Hero is funny story about General Bragg
which GcneralGran tells in his Enthusiastically
simple. way:
II have heard story in the old army very
characteristic OF Bragg. On one occasion, when
himself commanding one OF the companies, and
at the samc time acting post qnartermaster and
commssary. lie was first lieutenant at the
time, but his captain was detached on other
duty. AS commander of the company he made
q renuisition upon the quartermaster (himsefl
declined to fill the requisition. and Endorsed on
the back of it his reason for so doing. As com-
pany commander he responded to this, urging
that his requistion called for nothing but what
he was entitled to, and that it was the duty OF
the quartermaster to fiji it. The 1uartermaster
still persisted that he was right in this con-
diton of affairs Bragg referred the whole matter
to the commanding officer. The latter, when no
saw the nature of the matter referred, excalmed'
My God, Mr.. Bragg, you have quarroled VITA
every officer in the army. and now you sre
quarreling with yourself. Longstrect Was M
an iTatV dffarant