The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-06-01

I
of transportation of men, munitions and
provisions constitute another and inn
! portant element of military force. Napo-
| leon never saw a railroad or steamboat.
His marches had to be made on foot and
| his transportation was by wagons.
When these things are taken into consid-
Grafton, do not believe that the COM
bined military forces of Hannibal, Caesar
and Napoleon, at their maximum,
equalled the awful enginery of war under
control of Grant, when he was made
| Lieutenant General and took command
of the million of men who were enlisted
in the Union armies.
UNWORTHY CRITICS.
ST have heard men who never set
squadron in the field, who never smelt
gunpowder, except from a fowling-piece
who did not know the difference between
an order to present arms and right
shoulder shift, criticise Grant and aScribe
! his success to luck. What would such
men lave done if the tremendous re-
sponsibilities that devolved upon him,
and which might have staggered an At
| las, had been placed upon their Lillipu-
| tian shoulders. Grant received his COM
mission of Lieutenant-G General in March,
'64. The war had been waged for three
years, with awful loss of life but without
decisive results. Gettysburg, Vicksburg
and Chattanooga had been fought, the
Mississippi opened, but the National
| Capital was still menaced, and the ulti-
mate result hung in perilous balance. On
the 2d of May Grant crossed the Rapidan,
and the tremendous duel between the
armies Of the Potomac and Northern
! Virginia began. 1t opened with the aw-
full battle Of the Wilderness. 1t was
| fought in heavily-timbered country,
with thick underground. During the
| engagement the woods took fire from ex
ploding shells, and hundreds OF wounded
| from both armies, no one knows how
| many, persisted in the flames.
The contest between these two armies
! lasted for nearly a year. 1t was duel
| to death, and never was contest more
! bravely fought. We devoutly believe
! that the Confederates fought for cause
that was essentially wrong. That its sue
cess would have moved back the hand of
civilization on the dial OF time for centu-
ries. To disparage their courage, their
devotion, and the skill of their leaders is
! to deprecate the heroism and leadership
OF our own armies. Soldiers of the
| Grand Army. AS foemen they were
worthy of your steel. As your brothers
in blood who fell on the wrong side Of
| a family quarrel, they are entitled to
your sympathy. Their valor and self
sacrifice is part ofthe heritage ofour COM
mon country. Brave men respect brave
men the world over. They can rejoice in
| their own triumph without exulting
over the defeat of the fallen. 1t was a
part of the grand strategy of war, that
| Sherman should move against Johnston,
with Atlanta as his objective point, sim
| UNANIMOUSLY with Grants movement
against Lee. Early in September, Sher-
man occupied Atlanta and cutting off
| from his base began his memorable march
to the sea. The moral effect of this sue
! cessful march is incalculable. 1t will
| long be celebrated in song and story. 1t
is the romantic incident of the war.
A CHRISTMAS PRESENT.
sherman himself said that as a mill
tary achievement it did not compare with
! his campaign northward through the
| Carolinas. On the 18th of December he sent
| a telegram to the President making him q
present of Savannah as a Christmas gift.
Soon after he began his northward march,
| and in January was at Goldsboro, n. g.,
where he could prevent Johnston re-
inforcing Lee. In November previous,
the great Virginian, the grander Ameri-
can, General George II. Thomas, had de-
feated and practically annihilated Hood s
army at Nashville. Foot by foot, con-
testing every inch of ground, the army of
Northern Virginia under the matchless
leadership of Lee, fell back towards
Richmond. In March rs the tolls were
! closing around it. A part of the Union
forces had gotten to the southwest and
were cutting off its supplies. AS John
ston> could not join Lee and fall upon
| Grant, the one chance of the Confederacy
now was that Lee could join Johnston
and defeat Sherman. The victory of
Sheridan at Five Forks closed one line
of retreat. The capture of Petersburg
followed Immediately, and Lee advised
Davis he could no longer protect
| Richmond. 1t was evacuated, and on
the Cd of April the Union troops took
possession. We in Sacramento had cele-
brated the fall of Richmond previous to
that, but we were trifie premature. The
occupation of the Danville road closed
another line of retreat and cut off Lee
from the principal source Of his supplies.
From the lst to the 9TH OF April battles
and skirmishes We're of daily occurrence.
terrible attrition. AT the battle of Sailor
Creek the Union army took 1000 prison
ers. But one hope was left TO Lee. If he
could get to Lychburg he would be in
reach of supplies and might reach john
ston. That gap was closed by Ord and
Sheridan on the eth of April. On that
day Grant sent note TO Lee to the effect
that as further struggle by the army OF
Northern Virginia was hopeless, he asked
his surrender TO stay the effusion Of
blood. Lee answered that he did not con-
slider its condition desperate, but asked
what terms would be granted. Grant re-
piled that the soldiers should surrender
their arms and agree not to fight until
exchanged.
"On the Sth the Union army was in a
position TOT annihilate Lees forces or
compel their unconditional surrender.
Grant, suffering intensely with a sick
headache, spent the night of the Sth at a
farmhouse bathing his feet in hot water
and applying mustard plasters to his
wrists and the back of his neck. He
found no relief. In the morning, half
blinded with pain, he mounted his horse
and set--out for Sheridan's headquarters.
He had to make a detour to avoid the
Confederate lines, and did not see the
white flag that had been hoisted. On the
way he was intercepted by messenger
with note from Lee asking him to meet
him at McLaine's house and arrange the
terms of capitulation. Instantly his head
ache was gone.
THE WELCOME DAWN.
mo wonder! The dark night was
passing! Day was dawning! The cruel
war was ending. Peace was spreading
her white wings in the sky. Grant had
probably not taken off his clothes for
many days and nights. He had on q
slouched hat, much worn blue blouse.
He had no sword, and there was nothing
in his dress to distinguish him from a
teamster, except his dingy shoulder
straps with their faded stars. ALFRED as
he was, with few of his general officers
and staff, he FASTENED to the house desig-
mated by Lee, and there the two great
leaders met. The contrast was striking,
Lee had commanding presence and was
every inch a king. lie wore, as befitted
the occasion, new uniform resplendent
with gold lace and all the decorations OF
his rank.
1.-THE men were typical, even in the ac-
cident OF dress. Lee had the bluest OF
the blue blood of Virginia in his veins.
He was descended, | believe from Light
Horse Harry, of the revolution, or from