The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-13

Ing strength. Making TINS utduChvh
from the total effective OF i62. 239 reported
by the Secretary Of War, and based on
the returns from those armies, we would
have a total OF Grants effective men, ac-
cOrding 10 General Humphreys method OF
computation. OF iN $50. General Hunph-
rey. taking the morning reports Of March
q. 1865. OF men present for duty, equipped.
which he states Is meant to represent the
effective force. or total OF officers and men
available for line OF battle and excluding
an uon-combatants. sick etc, gives the
effective fighting strength OF the army Of
the Potomac at 5000 infantry and 600
field artillery; that Of the army of the
James at 5000 infantry, 5000 field artn-
lery, and Sheridan's enlisted men, exclu-
sive OF officers. Of the cavalry at 1900
total In round numbers OF l24,709 men.
according TO General Humphrey
III the same method OF computing Lees
line OF battle strength is applied TO the
returns Of that army. Lees effective
strength present for duty equipped, would
ran below that stated by me. and consid-
erably below that given by General
Humphreys.
1T is an indisputable historical truth
that Grants army outnumbered Lees
ABOUT three 10 one on the morning Of
April LIST, 1850. But comparison Of numbers
merely cannot give any true conception
Of the disparity between the two armies.
what the Army Of Northern Virginia
fought in front the world knows. What
mighty obstacles fought Il In the rear the
world will never know until the Con-
federate archives are all laid bare"
Governor Jones then gave a highly in
teresting detailed description and COM
paris0n OF the condition OF the two armies
which, however, lack Of space fo-bids
Inc TO reproduce In the columns of The
Times.
After minuteiy narratlng the events
around Petersburg, and explaining why
these positions had TO be given up, the
speaker described the sentiment which
prevailed among the Confederates IN the
following manner:
"The troops who left the Petersburg
lines on the retreat with Lee. were of 10
ordinary mould Each was veteran Of
years OF terrible war and trials; the sur
yivor OF many a bloody battle. They had
experienced victories without undue Ella
ton, and bore disaster and suffering with
out being cast down. They remained with
their colors when the faint-hearted and
selfish fell by the wayside. They were fill
ed with deep conviction Of the
justice and necessity Of their cause. and
were sustained by high sense of duty
and personal pride, which scorned dis
charge unless IL came through victory or bv
death or wounds. The majority of them
had an abiding faith amounting almost
TO fanaticism, that the God of Battles
would, in the end send their cause safe
del1verance and they followed Lee with
an almost childlike faith, which set no
bounds TO his genius and power of
| achievement They did not doubt that he
| would unite with Johnston and destroy
| sherman and then turn on Grant. or
| else take up a new line and hold Grant
| al bay, until the country I'm the rear
/ rallied and gave Lee power 10 resume the
] offensive. The power Of the South 10
| indefinitely prOlong the struggle by par
usan war If its main armies were com
! peiled to disperse was a belief fostcred
| by the traditions Of the Revolution. and
/ largely pervaded the ranks.
1T was a general thought amoupg these
men that long continued resistance. and
the burden il would entail upon the in
Vader, as well as the blows Of Confederate
arms, would finally ring recognition and
peace from the United States. Such was
the frame Of mind Of most Of these men.
as they turned their backs upon the Con-
federate capital; and while they were too
Intelligent not to appreciate the extent
OF the disaster, they entered upon the re-
treat with good heart and undoubted
moral. The men had been SO long coop
ed up In the trenches, that their march
into the open fields and woods. on the
night April 2d. was as exhiiarating as
cool breezes and sunlight 20 one long CON
fined i'm the close air Of n dark dungeon.
These things explain the almost buoy
ant spirit Of Lees troops on that fatefuI
night. The belief that the retreat would
possibly end I'm surrender entered the
minds Of few. While the final result
would probably not have been altered. if
Lee had made a junction with Johnston.
70 is certain. II there had been food to
sustain the bodies Of these men, their
unquenched courage would have written
a different history for the retreat from
the Petersburg lines"
Governor Jones then described I'm
vivid cOlOrs the sufferines OF the last few
days before the Surrender at Appomattox.
He dwelt at some length on the re-
markable traits Of the immortal Lee and
told a number Of incidents from Cen
eral Lees life which We're not yet gener-
ally known In conclusion the Governot
said.
zone thought more seems appropri-
ate here: There are some who would
teach the children sprung from the l0iHs
Of these men that II was folly, unworthy |
Of statesmen 20 nurse the hope that |
the men Of 1861 could maintain their |
undertaking. Their convictions OF honor |
and of duty left them no alternative |
but We're II otherwise, can II be mat |
ter of reproach that they barred their |
breasts TO the strife, rather than be- !
Queathe the battle 10 their children?
"rhe falsity Of the sO-called maxim |
that God favors the heaviest batal- |
lions was sgnally illustrated by Napoleon |
throughout the greater part Of his mar |
Velous career. Charles XII. of Sweden !
set II at naught. Frederick the Great |
won victory in spite Of it, in the seven /
years war against nearly all Europe, !
Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar, in |
ancient days, thought that numbers did |
not necessarily win battles.
THE thought ignores providence, and
forgets the influences of moral forces In
the works Of war.
''Who that looked on the private SOL
der Of the Army Of Northern Virginia
can forget his bright face, his tattered |
jacket, and crownless hat-his jes:s |
which tckled the very ribs OF death, |
his weary marches in cold and heat and |
storm-his pangs Of hunger, HIS parching |
feyers, his wounds, his passing away |
in woods or roadside. when the |
weak body freed the dauntless soul
his bare feet tracking the rugged fields /
OF Virginia, and Maryland, and Pennsly- |
vania, some times with stains like those |
that REDEEMED the snow at Valley Forge |
his soul clinging 20 his colors while
wife and child at home clutched at his
courage with cries for bread-hs hope J
and faith and patience 10 the end his
love Of home, Difference TO woman, and
trust IN GOd-his courage which sounded
"A CHI, . I