Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22
GEN. A. A. HUMPHRKYs.

| GEN. A. A. HuMPHRKYs.
Richmond. After the eye-opening demonstrs-
ton Of Kautz on the 9Th Beauregard foreshad-
owed that it would lead 10 other and more de-
termined assaults and warned his Supporters
that the city was practically defenseiess
Gen ID. II. Hill. then shslved and acting 90
mere aid-de-camp 10 Beauregard. sent the fol-
lowing singular note TO his chief on the llth.
| penned at the very moment when Grant was
taking steps to elude and deceive Lee with the
purpose OF projecting his entire army on Pc
tersburg:
Jux. II, 1854
Gen. Beauregsrd Commanding:
General: am so much disturbed about our
condition, but especially about our relations TO
Petersburg, that you must excuse me for q
suggestion. It seems TO me that there 10 but
one way to save the country and bring the su-
thorities to their senses, and that 10 TO says II
cannot guard Bermuda Hundred and Peters,
burg both with my present forces. have de-
cided that Petersburg is the important point
and will withdraw my whole command 10 that
place tonight" II is arrant nonsense for Lee
to say that Grant can't make Q night march
without his knowing it. Has not Grant slipped
| around him four times already Did not Burn
side retire from Fredericksburg and Hooker
from the Wilderness without his knowing it7
Grant can get 10000 or 20 900 men to westover
and Lee know nothing of IL What, then, is to
become Of Petersburg? It's loss surely involves
that Of Richmond-perhaps Of the confederacy.
An earnest appeal is called for now. else . ter
rible disaster may, and think will, befsIl IA
Very respectfully, d. H. HnI.
Major General and Aid-de-Camp.
Beauregard's available force for the defense
of the city was 10, 069 men-Johnson's division,
Wises brigade and bearings cavalry. He had
been stripped to reinforce Lee. On the even
ing Of the l4th he was aware that additional
troops were joining Butler and suspected for
what purpose The Richmond authorities can
n al hat he IN mt 100 hon H,1l
posted He urged the necessity of reinforcing
Petersburg instantly. But while he OWNED tho
purposes OF Grant somewhat. even Besuregard
was far from realizing the magnitude OF the
movement He would have been aghast had he
known the entire Army of the Potomac was
marching on Petersburg.
Other leading confeierates we're In total
ignorance OF what was transpiring. No nttcn-
ton was paid at Richmond to Beaure;ard's
representations; they doubted tie imminence
Of the danger. Still Lee, who knew Beaure-
CARDS ability, on the 18th reluctantly started
the single division OF Hoke toward Petersburg.
with string tied TO it, as it were, for he to
halt IN the vicinity Of Drewry's Bluff unless
the city should be threatened" But Beaurs-
gard, under high pressure, ordered Hoke for
ward at once.
Koke. however, did not take the road from
Drewry's until noon OF the 18th and did not ar
rive until after Smith had captured the do
lenses. Meanwhile. accepting the dernicr re-
sort suggested by HILL Beauregard had also
ordered Bushrod Johnson's division down from
Bermuda Hundred The trooIs Of these two
divisions were the renforcemepts from '.Leo's
army" noted by Smith. Though they did nos
arrive in time 70 repel him from the defenses
their movement, which he observed, stopped
his further advance that night, as we have
seen, and saved the town. Beauregard has
since stated in an historical review of this a,
fair that when Smith penetrated the line '.Pc
tersburg at the mercy Of the fedcraIs" He
thought it very strange that Smith did nos
push right on into the city,
While Beauregard was taking these epere-@-
measures to save their lettering government
old Seldom. the secretary of war. was demand
ing explanations OF what he evidently deemed
the unwarranted and high-handed proceedings
of that officer. Beauregard at Petersburg dis
played the greatest qualities OF a military
leader in an eminent degree--penetration.
courage, decision and energy. He was aoci.
dentally rewarded with sucoess, but he did
not owe anything to either Davis or seldom.
and very little TO Gen. Lee.
now LEE WAS xrxLka
Let ~ now turn to Gen. Lee for . brief
space. He was well aware Of the fact thss
Grant had left the Cold Harbor front, but once
again, as at the Wilderness, wAs mistaken e -
the federal generals destination and purposes.
Some noisy reconnoissances mp the james
toward Richmond had had the intended s0bes,
Lees army was brought over the Chickahon-
my on the l4th and srrAysd across the nssk in
anticipation Of an advance on the capital frsn
the south.
In answer 10 Beauregard's request PiskssS1
division was sent ON the 18th 70 rsoocupy John-
sons abandoned lines in front Of Butler. Lee
moved his headquarters 10 Drevry's Tie
same day. At 1910 q n snd slss q
and again q p n Lees tsls-
grams show that hs did not yea uov
Grant had crossed the Janss, and DssuroUrd
b informed thas hs hssisssss - sssic q