Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-30

- uEtly Hfuts va thcA ftAI hottk0
iail to destroy an adversary Of the same
prsiid race, Of equal, II OF different valor.
Inc events we now approach present Lee
IN every phase of tho consuInmnte com.
mander. Can you imagine an attitude OF
gfander firmness than that IN which we
see him on Rockers crossing the Kappa
hannock2 There was q letter from him to
tse Confederate Secretary OF War. written
az that moment, which showed him IN TINS
mood Of heroic calm. waiting for the de-
veiopmcnt OF the cnemy's purpose, deter
mined 10 fight. but giving no hint of that
tremendous lion-spring ut Charlottesville
which was 10 pluck out the very heart OF
TIE Federal invasion.
The plan OF this great battle, az happens
Win many nlaster-works, was struck out
~ q single blow III a brief conference with
JACKSON on tho evening OF the 1st or May.
-, An eyewitness has depicted the scene
the solemn forest, the rude blvouac. the
grave aud courteous commander, heir OF
all the kn!ghtly graccs OF the cavaliers, the
silent. stern lieutenant, with the faith and
the ire OF Cromwell. the brief interchange
OF question and answer, the swiftly follow
Ing order for the movement of tho morrow.
The facts of tho enemy's position and
the surrounding topography had Just been
asceTtaiDei. Tho genius Of the COM
mander Justly weighing the character OF
his adversary. the nature Of the country
and tho priceless gift in ais own. hands OF
such a thuudsrbeit of war. such Titanic
force a Jackson, instantly devised that
immortal flank march which will embla-
zon Charlottesville. on the sane roll Of
deathless fame with Blenhoim, with Leu
then, with Austerlitz, and Jena.
The battle of ChancellorsviEeiwiu rank
with the model battles Of history. IL dis
played Lee in every character of military
greatness. Nothing could exceed the sub
lime intrep:dity with which. leaving Fairy
20 dispute the heights OF Fredericksburg
against Sedgwick's imposing force, he hin-
self led Ave weak divisions TO confront
Hookcr's mighty host. Lee meant to fight
but not in the dark. He meant first to look
his adversary in the eye. He meant to see
himself how to aim bis blow. Where shall
we ind amatch for the vigor the swlftness,
TO Jsckson-for the fierce and determined
front attack led by Lee himself2 There IS
nothing equal TO it save only Frodericks
immortal stroke of daring on the Austrian
flank at Leuthen. But the second DAY
brings ont the strongest and grandest lines
OF the Confederate commanders heroic
character. Jackson has been stricken down.
Lees right arm has been torn tron him,
but the uRconquerable firmness of his ma
ture, resisting every suggestion of weak
ness, and that Unborn love of fight without
which no general can be great, blazing out
and kindling oil It touched, he forces on
the fierce attack along the whole line till
IN wild tumult of battle the Federal
army waTer5. gives ground, melts away.
The advance if pushed will drive the enc
my in confusion TO the river. And Leo ls
preparing for a combined assault. But
aew element now bursts into tho action.
News is brought from ten miles away
that the Confederates have bean driven
from the heights of fredericksburg to-
wards Richmond and Sedgwick is march
ing in Lees rear. Lees celebrity aud firm
mass are equal TO TIE crisis. He promptly
hurls four brigades from under his own
hand at the head OF Sedgwick's column,
and with bold couutenanco hens in Hook
er's army Of nearly thrice his own num-
bers. II ii were not tho sternest tragedy
it IniRht be comedy-this feat of 5000
nen shutting up 81, 900. But Hooker has
been beaten; the decisive point IL not
there, as the eye Of genius can intuitiyely
see. It is with Sedgwick six miles away
and realizing in his practice the golden
maxim of the schools, Lee is quickly at
that point in sufficient If not superior
ferce. Sedgwick is crushed on the third
day and driven across the river. Lee now
cOUtbuATtlt3 uiA MS ADAio " ~
Hooker with final and overwhelming
blow. Tbs ffth day breaks, and 10! the
Federal army has vanished, not a man OF
them save tho dead, the wounded, and the
prisoners remaining on the Richmond side
Of the Rappahannock.
What was lett undone by Lee that genius.
constancy, and daring could efoct? VIII
any man say that the Confederate army
should have followed its defeated but CO.
lossal adversary across the riyerr This
would have been to invite disaster.
The substantial and astounding fruits OF
victory we're won in tho collapse for that
season Of the Federal invasion IN the mas
teriy initiative which Lee was now able TO
seize. in The submissive aud tell-tale docil-
ity with which Hooker thenceforth follow
ed every motion OF th9 magic wand OF the
Confederate commander.
The march to tho Potomac and the cap
lures b. tho way renewed the glorles or
1873.
For few short weeks Virginia was freed
from tho tramp of armies. But as before,
the invasion. begun with an Intoxicating
outburst of martial hope, was doomed TO
ond in a drawn and doubtful battle. After
a bloody struggle on the heights Of Gettys-
burg tho two armies stood the greater part
of two long summer days aelantly looking
into each others eyes. Mother was willing
10 attack is adversary. However deeply
Lee NAV have folt the failure of his daring
stroke, he took upon himself all the ro-
! prosch and all the responsibility OF the re-
| suit. No word OF criticism or censure
passed his lips. But confident OF the
devotion md the steadiness OF his army
| be promptly turned 20 the duty or the
| kour. What an example OF serenity, OF
| importurbasle firmnessl We owe to Get
| tvsburg not only the most thrilling speeta-
! Gle of tao unsurpassed yalor of the Con
/ tolerate soldier, but Inatohless eXhlbi-
| ton OF composurs aad magnanimity in the
| Confederate commander. The aggressive
campaign failed, but neither the army mol
| ia general was shaken. We find them
! during the remainder Of 1888 facing Their
old foe with undiminished spirit. And
| soon Lee gives proof of equal hrnness. en-
terpriss. and generosity IN detsching Long
streets corps to strike a decisive blow
eight hundred nilos away by the side o.
BRAGG at Chickamausa. Tho annals oil
war do not exhibit more unSelhsh act.
How shall | briefly describe tho added
| titles TO enduring fame with which the
| campaign of tse next year. 1864, investe /,
orr great leader? Who that lived through
that time can forget the awful hush OF
thoss calm spring DAYS which ushered ~
! tho tremendous outburst Of the Federal
attack along a thousand miles OF frontI
! In every quarter. 1T one and the same
| moment, the COnfederacy felt the furious
! impact Of q whole nations force driven on
| bv tho resistless will Of single com
| Diander. Grants aggressiyeness, Grants
stubbornnoss, Grants unyieldlng resolve
| to destroy the Confederate armies seemed
! suddenly 10 animate every corps, every
! division. almost every man OF the Federal
| host. Even now we stand aghast ut the
awful disparity IN tho numbers and re-
sources OF tho two armies. Swlnton puts
| the forcs under Grants immediate eye on
the first day of the campaign at 10000
men. Grant himself puts 1t at $4,000. II
IS certain that Lee had less than $4,000 sol
diers Of all arms. But IN addition Grant
was directing against Richmond or It's
communications 10000 men under Butler
II. Oea under Sigel and Crook. and numer.
Gus and powerful fleet.
Let mo give two examples OF the extra
ordinary means at his disposal. He never
vent into camp but that within an hour OF
TWO every division was placed In tele-
graphic communication with his head.
quarters. Lee could only reach the several
parts of his army by the aid of mounted
couriers. But this is tho most striking. On
four several occasions Grant shifted his base
by simple mandate to Washington to lodge
supplies at fredericksburg. at Port Royal
al the White House, &C City Point. Thus
his communication were absolutely in