Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-15
Lee and Grant.

1t must be admitted, saws a writer in
Inc southern Bivouac, that when the two
great Captains met face to face upon the
Rapldan, in May, 1864, Lees reputation
rested upon more battles fOught-bloody,
terrible battles,-and victories won
AGAINST greater odds than could be claim
ed for Grant.
For three long years the whole power
OF the Federal Government, with its I'M
limited resources, had not been able to
reach the capital of the Confederacy, and
when Grant took command of all the
Northern armies, Richmond seemed to be
really less ia danger than Washington.
The maxim, "better is the place Of the
defendant" is as true in war as in law,
and Is especially applicable in country
IKE that between the Rapidan and the
James. Moreover, modern earthworks,
defended by modern artillery and repeat
ing rifles, are much more difficult of sue
cessful assault than were Rodrigo, Bad
aJoz or Albuera, where Wellington won
so much renoWn in his Peninsular oaIn-
paign.
When Grant crossed the Rapidan he
found he had different army, under a
much ADLER leader, to contend with than
any he had met before. In the battle of the
Wilderness. after repeated attacks, in
which the Union troops, led by the ablest
corps and division commanders, dis
played prodigies of heroic, stubborn valor
and covered the ground for miles with the
dead OF both armies, Grant was repulsed.
defeated and compelled to retreat and
leave the field in possession of the enemy:
ana the killed, wounded and missing of the
Union army largely outnumbered the
Confederate loss. But Grant was deter
mined; he was unused to defeat; he pro-
posed TO night it out on that line, il il
took all summer" regardless, seemingly,
OF the fearful cost. For the first time in
his life, however. he tried to avoid the
enemy and by flank movement to reach
SpottsylYania Court House. But when
he arrived there and was prepared to as
sault, Lee was ready, entrenched and
waiting the assault, which was
as heroic, as persistent, as deadly
as that in the Wilderness and
as unsuccessful. AT the expense of over
$4,000 men Grant learned that in that
kind of warfare Lee was invlncible. The
battle at Cold Harbor, fought within
month, ended the bloOdiest campaign in
history, and the Federal General, aban-
doning the attempt to take Richmond by
assault, withdrew TO the south of the
James and began the long campaign of
siege and starvation.
He could have placed his army south of
the James three months sooner than he
did, and without the loss of the sixty
thousand men who fought their last bat
tie between the Rapidan and the James,
and that, too, without danger TO Wash
ingtOn.
After the siege of Richmond began the
repeated and unaVailing assault OF the
Union army upon the Confederate lines,
extending as they did for a distance of
over thirty miles, and defended by less
than $4,000 men, are the best evidence of
the skill OF their commander as well as
the valor of the b3sieged. Not until the
following year, and until his base of
supplies was threatened by other con-
vergfng Union armies, was Lee compelled
to evacuate the city.
Had it not been for the approach of
Sherman from the south and the brilliant
and effective campaign of Sheridan, in
which be easily routed the force sent by
Lee to protect mis- communication with
Lynchburg, there IS no telling how long
the Confederate capital might have held
out.
The defense of Richmond will always
stand out in history as one OF the most
remarkable military achievements OF any
age.
1t is true that Grants men had con-
fdence in their commander and IN his
ultimate success. Its not true that they
had equal confidence in his strategy, His
pounding methods, 50 prodigal OF life, in
spired no personal enthusiasm or attach
ment. Lee, on the contrary, had the pro-
toundest sympathy, even the heartfelt
affections of his men. They would die for
him even sooner than for the cause on
which they had staked their all. He en-
bodied their ideal, both OF manhood and
military skill.
The Confederate camp was full of
stories, true as well as false, proving his
personal sympathy with them in their
sufferlngs, and his mastery superiority
as a general. This enthusiastic con-
idence, in measure, supplied the place
of numbers and achieved victories where
only defeat seemed inevitable. In this
highest military quality that inspires the
unquestioning devotion of his soldiers,
Lee was indeed one OF the most remark
able generals of any age.
In comparing the military career OF
those two men, the historian of another
generation will say that they were strIk-
ingly alike III those characteristics that |
lie at the foundation Of military success,
IN quiet confidence. in that combination |
et moral ami physical courage, thai |
teroc persistence which no calamity can !
defeat, which feels the assurance OF vic |
toy in the very hour Of disaster. He Will |
also say that i'll mental power, in the |
caIacity for rapid combination, in |
strategic invention, which is seen in the |
skilkul disposition ofhis troops before and |
in battle. IN the genius that enables a |
genelal with inferior numbers 70 gam the |
stronger position, and to have more |
men At the critical point and moment, |
and especially in the power OF personally |
inspiring his men TO endure and achieve, |
Zee WIS beyond question this greater |
commander.
Bern1aFdt as "A swordswoman.
gryo.. NJ ,,o,, natal H..