Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-08-14

Their glory blazed over the lines OF re-
treat.
Where carnage ran reddest and woman was
Al, eyes were uplifted. as 'twere to q
queen;
Now open ranks, comrades. salute her once
more,
Kate BroWnlee Sherwood
Out OF tho Wilderness.
Advance sheets of new volume in
the extensive series devoted to the off,
cisl dispatches and reports are just out
relating to the army operations of
lS6l-65.
This volume is occupied with the
first month Of Grants campaign against
Richmond, beginning May 4, 1854.
Grants dispatches from the front to
Hslleck from day to day are here made
public for the first time. They are
not yolxminous, numbering in all but
tventy-seven, and covering the first
month of operations. They prove that
Grant at all times had his army we'll
in hand, and pursued his original
plans intle1ibly. Before May ended
be assured Halleck that Lee was SUBJ
stantially beaten, and could no longer
safely venture upon the offensive.
Only once did Lee have an oppor.
tunity to stay the advance. That was
May 6, when Milroy's brigade, on our
right, gave way, carrying good troops
with them. Had there been daylight"
Grant says to Halleck, "the enemy
could have injured us very much in
the confusion that prevailed; they.
lowever, instead of getting through
20 break, attacked Gen. Wright's di-
.sion of Sedgwick's corps, and were
Seaten back" Nowhere else in his
private kilograms does Grant mention
any threatening inrosds upon his line.
When the two armies emerged from
the Wilderness the old feeling of su-
periority in Lees army had left it to
return no more.
Grants first dispatch to Halleck
after crossing the Rapidan May sim
ply announced that the army was in
motion and safely beyond the river.
The next dispatch is two days later,
May 6. All that Grant says regarding
general operations is: ave have been
engaged with the enemy in full force
since early yesterday. So far there is
no decisive result, but I think all
things are progressing favorably."
May 7 Grant telegraphed: II think
the loss of the enemy must exceed
ours, but this is only guess based
upon the fact that they attacked and
were repulsed so often. At present we
can claim no victory over the enemy,
neither have they gained single ad.
vantage. The enemy pushed out Of
the notifications to prevent their posi-.
ton being turned, and have been
sooner or later driven back in every
instance"
The 9Th Grant telegraphed to Hal
leck: 1T is not yet demonstrated what
the enemy will do, but the best Of
feeling prevails in this army, and I feel
at present no apprehension for the
results. My efforts will be to form q
junction with Gen. Butler as early Of
possible, and be prepared to meet any
enemy interposing. The result of the
three days fight at Old Wilderness
was decidedly in our favor. The enc.
my having strongly intrenched posi-.
ton to fall back on when hard pressed,
and the extensive train we have tc
cover. rendered it impossible to infict
inc heavy blow on Lees army I had
hoped. NY exact route to the James
river have not yet definitely marked
out" On the 9th Grant says in 9
onef dispatch that the enemy was in
motion, but he could not determine
whether Ito interpose between us aud
fredericksburg or to get the inside
road to Richmond. My movements are
terribly embarrassed by our immense
wagon train. It could not be avoided
however,"
May 10, from near Spottsylvania
Y. t., Grant telegraphed: "The enc
my hold our front in very strong force
ana evlnce q strong determination tt
mterpose between us and Richmond te
me last. I shall take no backward
steps. We can maintain ourselves al
least, and, in the end, beat Lees
army, I believe. Send to Belle Plair
oil the infantry you can rake ano
scrape. We want no more wagons mol
artillery"
:, In his dispatch to Halleck Of May
- from the same place, Grant used
phrase that became memorable, though
y. We DO not find it in the newspapers O.
me same date. Grant telegraphed t.
ataa1lleck, and we give this dispatch il
hiull' except few minor details: ave
nave now ended the sixth day of very
tneavy fighting. The result to this
Ilme is much in our favor. But oul
uses have been heavy, as we'll as those
VI y; the enemy. We have lost to thus
''@e eleven general officers killed