The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-04-09

two days; vet such was the mettle OF each COM
batant that it decided nothing. 1t was in every re-
spect drawn battle; and its only result appeared
in the tens of thousands of dead and wounded in
blue and gray that lay in the thick woods.
Grant was
BADLY DISAPPOINTED
at this result, for he had imagined that the
Army of the Potomac had never been fought to
its uttermost, and that by one well directed blow
he would be able to finish Lees army, or SO
seriously cripple it that its complete destruc-
tion could be attended to at his leisure. He
was grievously mistaken; and his continuous
hammering, while not producing the highest
results had yet gained some advantages. His
losses were about three to every two of the
enemy. Grant, therefore, determined to move
southwark and get between Lees army and
Richmond by movement upon Spottsylyania
Courthouse. Lee, however, detected his move
ment, and his forces reached Spottsylvania
Courthouse before those of Grant. Another
terrible battle ensued, both armies fighting
with great valor, and Hancock's Corps gaining
possession of a salient in the center of the rebel
line which it held, notwithstanding the re-
peated efforts of Lee to recapture it. Just here
was perhaps one of the fercest and most deadly
struggles during the war, but every sally of the
Confederates was repulSed, and Hancock held
the salient. 1t was in announcing this success
that Gen. Grant concluded with the now his
toric expression, g propose to fight it out on
this line if it takes all Summer"
FIGHTING AT sP0TTsYLvANIA.
Grants success however, was only partial.
The enemy retired within his lines and after
12 days of effort the carrying of his position
was seen to be hopeless by Grant, who resolved
upon another turning operation. He found
Lee strongly intrenched between the North and
South Anna Rivers where another obstinate,
but indecisiye battle was fought. A fourth
advance by the left brought Grant before
the impregnable ife-pits at Cold Harbor.
an assault On which cost Gen. Grant the loss of
over 5000. Siege operations were begun here
with view to carry the defenses of the Chick
ahominy by regular approaches, but after few
days Gen. Grant determined to change his line
of operations to the south side of the James
River.
BUTLER's MOVEMENT.
In the meantime, while Grant with tho Army
of the Potomac had been "hammering con-
tinuousy" at Lee, Gen. Butler with his force
Bermuda Hundreds, a neck ofland formed by tho
winding and tOrtuous course Of the James and
AppomattoX Rivers. Buffers instructions from
Grant prescribed Richmond as his objective
point; but his operations were to be contin-
gent upon the results achieved by the Army of
the Potomac. He made an attack on Peters
burg, but the feeble garrison holding that key
CARDS troops, which had come up from Charles
ton, and Buffers force was repuised and driven
back, so that they were hemmed in at Bermuda
Hundreds, where, as he himself expressed it,
he was bottled up and hermetically sealed
Sigefs trip in the Shenandoah Valley had
proved unfortunate, he having been defeated
by the rebels in an engagement at New Market
and harassed by guerrilas, and having ac-
complished nothing save the destruction of
some factories foundrieS and mills,
Gen. Grant in changing his base of operations
did so in the face Of the protest of the Govern
ment authorities that Washington should not
be uncovered, but he knew that this change
was absolutely necessary. He had fought Lee
from the 9th of May to the 18th June, and in
that time had lost 81 ,557 in killed and wounded
and missing, while the losses of the enemy were
about $4,000. With every change, however,
Grant had gone one stride nearer Richmond,
and he still had nearly 100, 900 men. In regard
to this change of his line one able military
writer says:
Gen. Grant manifested as much moral firrnness In
adopting line of action which. adverse though il
was to the wishes Of his Government he felt to he
prescribed by the highest military considerations,
as he showed ability in executing this difficult
operation. The measure itself not only entirely
confo-mable to the true principles of war; but its
execution reflects high credit on the commander
and merits the closest study.
CHANGE OF BASE.
WIN the Change OF DaSe came DrSS the as.
saults on Petersburg, which resulted only in
loss to the Union soldiers then the miserable
mine fasco. and the long and tedious siege,
varied by the movements to Deep Bottom, the
Weldon Railroad. the action at Ream's Station
and turning movements against the beleaguered
city. none of which realized any pronounced
success.
EARLY's RAID.
Lee, in the meantime, sent q force under
Early north into Maryland, and which came
down before Washington, causing great fear for
the safety Of that city, for at tho time of the
appearance of the enemy on the Seventh Street
Road the defenses were but poorly manned.
Organizations of the clerks in the various Gov
ernment Departments were hastily made and
sent out to check the Confederates During
the day. however, the Sixth Corps, which Grant
had detached and sent north when he learned
Of Lees movement arrived, aud as the long
line Of men marched up Pennsylvania Avenue