The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-01-26
IN THE WILDERNESS.
COnfederate Forces in Lee.s ARMY.


our enemies when captured or deserving into
our lines. At that time our adversaries had no
interest to belittle the numbers of their armies.
/ distinctly remember conversation / had
with Confederate North Carolina Sergeant
who deserted and came in on my beat where l
was on duty as videt in front of Petersburg in
the Spring Of 1865. Every statement that he
made with reference to the Confederate armys
condition and numbers was afterward proved
to be true. The army in our front he repre-
sented to be very small, only $4,000 or 10000;
which proved true. They were sadly de-
moralized and dispirited; which was also true.
!, as every Union soldier did at that time, felt
particularly interested TO know about our future
campaign just about opening in the Spring, and
put some very pointed questions, as held this
intelligent and candid deserter until | was re-
heyed. l made him sit down on a log, as day
light was coming on, and our boys III the
pIckets might fire az him. These questions
were cheerfuily answered, for my prisoner was
truly grateful at not being shot down by me as
he came in. lie felt that my Judgment was
exceedingly good for at that time it was hard
to tell whether Johnny was actually coming
into the Union -" or sneaking up to capture us
yidets and make a raid on our picket-line.
This man had laid only a couple Of rods from
me, covered up with leaves to keep warm,
and was eagerly awaiting any enemy with
my hand on the trigger, with my muske leveled
on him as he arose out of his nest of leaves.
Besides, he had been shot at by the whole line
OF Confederate pickets few hours before, in
darkness and brush, but had happily escaped
without injury as he deserted his comrades
Certainly, he was in great apprehension of
danger from that quarter all the time. held
him at my post, and he begged very hard for
me to take him back to our line. / told him
could not leave my post an instant; and, be-
sides, he ran the risk of volley from our boys.
This satisfied him. and for three-quarters of an
hour piled him with questions, to which he
gladly replied. After he had answered me that
the rebellion was about played out, and that
the bubble need only be pricked and it would
explode, / said:
When did you fellows in the ranks first
make up your minds that the rebellion would
fail?"
After Spottsylvania. We got cut up terri
bly, there. Then we dug 50 miles of breast
works and got to Richmond. Before the Will
derness we were confident of success and had
a large army; twice as large as it is now re-
piled the Sergeant.
lie then went on to state that Grant had
pounded that large army very badly, and they
could not recruit it up for the coming cam
paign. As the morning reveile rolled along
away back to our camps, it presented marked
contrast to the puny drums occasionally and
at long intervals heard along the Confeder
dAb lines. u confederate Ifl6uu lacS-
ti0usly remarked: / guess every man in
the Army of the Potomac has got a drum"
he evidently enjoyed the long, tremendous
sounds Of our very numerous and large sheep
skin bands" now that he was so near into
the Union.D He had comrade that was going
TO come in if Grant paid for guns, as had been
reported in the rebel army. We afterwards
raised a small white flag, at his suggestion,
near the edge Of the forest, as the agreed signal
hot
the report was correct, that Grant did give each
deserter who brought in a gun pay for the
same, and transportation anywhere in the
Union, and employment IN the civil depart
ments of our Government.
But / am getting away from the object of my
screed," as some OF the boys in THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE have characterized my scrib-
blings. In Col. Longs Memoirs of Robert
Lee, it is stated that Gen. Grant had 10000
when he opened the campaign at the Wilder
ness in May, 1864, while Lee had only 64,000I
This is more than two to one, at the commence
ment. What are the exact facts, or reports Of
the numbers from headquarters at the time
Grants report shows that he crossed the Rapi-
dan with about $1,000 men with arms in their
hands Burnside's NINTH Corps was left at
Brandy Station for tine and then came up.
This corps was about 10000 strong, the larger
part being negro troops who guarded the trains,
and took no part in the battles. Grant GER
tainiy had II000G available men for the field.
But the old Army Of the Potomac, of $4,000
men, did the main fighting, and did up Gen.
Lees army, as the Confederate Sergeant as
serted. OF course | make no reflection of
Burnside's Corps They always came in at
the right time and fell heavily on the enemy.
Thus much as TO Grants army
What does Col. Long do in arranging Lees
reports. in the Memoirs of Robert Lee, in the
Appendix? The casual reader would be mis-
led; for he makes two reports, in each Of
which he leaves out whole corps.
On April %, 1864, and about two weeks be-
fore the Wilderness campaign, during which
time it is reasonable to suppose large numbers
Of convalescents and recruits joined the army
10000 some authors conclude Lee reports the
Second aud Third Corps as having 81, 222 men
for duty; leaving out the First Corps, which
was engaged in the Wilderness, and its brave
commander, Gen. Longstreet, severely wound
ed.
Lee reports, however. the First Corps on the
10th Of July as having 1887 men present for
duty, and 1924 present and absent. Now il
4 is evident, taking the Confederate figures, that
Lee Lad S0,559 men as against Gen. Grant
/ My genial Confederate asserted that he had
twice as many az that time as in the following
Spring, viz, $4,000 in 1865, which makes il
about asall Union soldiers confidently believe
\ Lee 100000 aud Grant 10000, when they
went to banging away" at each other in tbC
/ beginning Of the month Of May, 1864, and
/ there was fought the heaviest battles Of tho
led n. y, l64 La Sale street, Chicago, III.