The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-07

BLOCKING THE ROADS To RICHMOND.
self classed as little better than a failure.
His second offensive ut Manassas Hguiusta
novice in command was q brilliant success
His third in Maryland against a former
opponent was 50 di a-trous 10 the .puth
that one Of his general, declared tho at
Antietam was sprung the keystone oi the
arch upon which the Confederate ,luse
rested. ~
Lees next battle was the defensive one at
Frederickshurg, and again he was opposed
10y novice and came of victor His
fourth offensive at Chuccllursvillc was
success, but It also was won against
novice His fifth offensive IN Pennsylvania
resulted in breaking the backbone of
the Coufodcracy, and his opponent there
was novice who had been but three
weeks at the head of the victorious army.
The boldnosS displayed 10y Lee when he
| divided his army mt ChauCcllorsyille % at
tack vastly superior enemies and again
in assaulting the Union IositiouGt Ge,tys-
burg reached the height Of military audac-
ity. Napoleon never stakcd more on Il sin
gle hazard in battle than did Lee on those
occasions. Ia the campaign Of strategy
along the Rgppahannock Nhich followed
after Gettysburg, Lee once outgcnerl.led
Meade and was once uutgoneraicd by him.
When Lee encountered Grant in the
spring Of 1864, hc had met failure oftener
than he had scored success in battle All
the more remarkable then was the conf
dence he displayed in coolly lying IN his
camps on the Rapidan while his opponent
across the river was massiug in one col
umn the greatest army ever seen on this
continent. Several moves were POSSIBLE
for Grant-one across the upper Rapidan
to GordOusVille; another down the Rap
pahnunock, thence overland TO Richmond
or by water to the James river peninsula,
and still another across the lower Rapidan
ON the direct road TO Richmond. Although
the question with Lee and his captains had
changed from the fayurite one "Huw can
we best get at these people," to GLOW can
we best foil these peoplcs' he did not
move single spade Of earth nor drive one
stake to ohstruct the Richmond routes in
any direction He simply waited like "A
knight with lance in rest ready for open
battle, and his lance was the ragged, for
lorn looking veterans Of the Army Of
Northern Virginia living ON hope and
quarter rations of bacon and corumcal.
Grant crossed the Rapidan and Lee launch
ed his bolt, and the meeting In the Wilder
ness was like that Of two locomotives ON
separate tracks plungiug into the midst
of drove Of cattle. The machines were
blbthtl bl weight OF obstacles thrown
down in the collision. and the cattle
plunged and reared and gorcd back until
exhausted, then sullenly retired, leaving
the engines master vi the situation.
From the Wilderness Grant moved
around Lees right flank toward Spottsyl-
vania and there, posted across both roads
to Richmond, was the army of Lee.
Twelve days Of assault failed 20 shake it,
power of resistance and Grant again back
ed of and marched to the North Anna
Again Lee was there first and Grant
marched down the pumuukey, crossing op-
positc Richmond without contest The
Pamunkey line would have been more de
fensible for Lee than any position he had
held during the campaign, but was equal
ly detensible for Grant and zee 50 ma
neuvered as to draw him away from IL.
That Is to say, Grant halting ON the north
bank secure from Lees attack could ue-
tach hnlf his large army and send It to
aid Butler in assaultiug Richmond from
the south side Of the james Hence | ec
formed his troops along the Totopotomoy
creek, compelling Grant To cross the Pa.
munkey In fun strength. lee eventually
stretched his line To the ChiCkahomiuy
and held Grant mt arm s length once more.
At Petersburg, To which Grant hustenod
after the battle Of Cold Harbor, Lees vet
erans were encountered standing guard
along parapets three lines deep From that
time To the end Lee was 10y all odds the
biggest man in the Couftdoracy.
Grover J kuMEIl