The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-10
RICHMOND HOWITZERS.
FACTSxBoUT.THE BA T1ERY DURING
THE~-APPoMA TTog CAMPAIGM.
Prom Onicsal Records Which
Throw Light ON N ANY 0usstions Whose
solution Has Been Wanting.


have an intense interest for all engaged
In that memorable can.paign CT March ard
April is6s. throwirg light. as they do, on
many questions whose solution has await
cd the detailed Information embodied IN
these official reports.
lt has long been - problem to many Oh
US. not only now Lees army was ever "O'o
10 reach AppomattoX Courthouse, near
ly one hundrcd miles from Fctcrsouis'
but even how IL could set away from tne
Pete rsDurg Guu KNfmoCd Fiilcs' co'NfV"'7
al and tnrcatoncd, as that army m"s,
by such Gods, and hampcrcd by abunuait
lack OF even food to sustain phSsicdi
life. What these numerical ODDS WERE ~
shown by the figures Of official returns
as Published in this volume put heither
figures nor description can represent
other differences arising ffom our depioT-
able inforiOrity IN supplies ana equipment
What this meant and cntailed can never
be adequately known but by those who
endured the tolls OF that retreat Gen.
Dwell says IN his report, when account
ing for the absence Of over 300 of his
men AT the time OF his surrender, that
''it was caused mainly by the fatigue OF
four DAYS and nights almost constant
marching the last TWO days with moth
iug TO eat. Before our capture saw men
eating raw fresh meat as they marched
can verify or hken this experience. On
the other hand. by way of contrast here
IS a report %. ESD Of "A division commits
sary Of the 18th corps of Grants army In
which he SAYS: During the entire march
from James river to AppomattoX Court
house. the troops have had ISSUED to them
fun marching Tdtions, and have not been
a day without food" 1t - small wonder
that men thus supplied and not bothered
Il.
ahead. as this corps did, and succeed
in absolutely blocking Lees further pro-
eross from AppomattoX.
The contract suggested by this state
mcut of the relative means of mere sub
sistcnce but deepeus the problem present
Cd by the great numerical superiority Of
the Federal army. which outnumbered its
adversary by at least seventy thousand
men, This superiority enabled Gen. Grant
10 concentrate AMI throw around Gen.
Lees right more men than the latter had
in his whole army. while yet confronting
and threatening every part OF Lees lines
with superior forces.
Hence the problem that has long puz-
zled some OF us. How could forty-six
thousand half-starved. half-clad men,
wanting almost everything but guns and
ammunition, defending a line of some
forty miles against forces three times
their number. maintain their position as
long as they did. and when this position
was no longer tenable, how was II that
thew could break away and eXtr!cate
themselves from tho tolls spread by
swarrnlng foe? How could and how did
they ever get away from Petersburg?
Gen. Lee, i'm his despatch Of April :, ar
nounc,ng the necessity OF the evacua-
ton. says: at will be a difficult opera
ticn but ! hoTc, not imprGcticable."
However, he did extrcate hirsself and
marched his diminishing army TO Apo
mattOx; hungry and worn, badgered and
fighting at every step. like a wounded
lion brushing away obstacles IN front
and turning on enemies on Hanks and in
rear. For ten days was kept up the UNI
equal contest Of fighting and marching
till at last brought to bay the army
found itself absolutely surrounded and
every egress stopped by superior forces;
but not until they had inflicted on their
foes a loss of ten thousand seven hundred
men %. 597) How could and now ala
they even sustain themselves 50 long
The answer 20 these questions VIII be
Variously given according to dinerence OF
information or prejudice. one solution
probahlv is given in the reports OF the
Federal Calvary operations when O'lhs
as information, long sought FOR as 10 the
force that was fought and beaten OH oy
the First company of Richmord Howlt-
ZCrS ana Otnei dithl'iS vi ~
before the surrender.
II the few artillerymen armed with
,,uskets who helped to defend That col
umn. could be magnihed by aplrehohsio"
pr lack of Judgment into TWO DIVISIONS
~ infantry IL may explain the charihess
of the enemy generally in closing III on
The worn and diminishing FORCES 'ld'
punifhod and repulsed 50 many asSaui'S
ON their nanks and rear. And II may also
hain m explain the constantly recurring
aesertfon of these reports That the j ed
erat assaults were rcpulsed by superior
force " IL these assertions be uue
and aa far as they are true-t - me
highest testimony 10 generalshlp WaI
with inferior numbers, could yet muster
suncrior force at points of contact ahl
reninds MS of the Tarhecls explanation
of the conhdeI &c Of Jackson s. soldleIs
that they were never scared on solHs
tnto a deht under him because they al
x,avs knew that though the enemy hau
n bigger army, Jackson would have more
mon char" at place where the real
lighting was 10 be.
Though not entirely germane 20 oEl
preseut subject, but as a sldc Hght -
Illustrating the situation ana hclplnt
form opinion on the questions stdleo
above the following extract may he takei
from the report of Cen Wright com
nauding the 9Th Federal Corps. De
scribipg the battle of Sailors creek Ia
GAYS ,p gO0: '"rhc first and third divisions
charged the enemies position, carrying j
Handsomely. except at point on our llSh
~ the road crossing the creek where
column said TO be composed OF the Marine
Rrigade and other troops which had helc
the lines OF Richmond previous 10 the
ovacuation made a couater-charEe upon
mt mart Of our lines in their mont l
Nc u,1cr moro astonishCd. These trools
were surrounded, the first ana ihlu IL
visions of this corps were on ellhti Hdhh
my artillery and fresh DIVISION u
,heir front. and some three DIVISIONS oi
cen SEcrldan's calvary IN Il cir rear.
IooRitg upon them rs ALREADY our prlS'
cners. lad ordered tho artillery 10 cease
airing As a dictate OF humanity my sur
,,ris,--t hsrcfore was extreme Wien inns
{orce charged upon our fTcnt. But inc
ere Of our infantry. which had aTcaey
Gained their fanks. the capture OF then
snperior officers already In our hands the
cCncnntratcd and murderCus hre OF SIX
Ns,terics of our artillery within effective
NC brought them promptly 10 sur
We'll might he be aston!shed, and ms
,urp,iss bc extreme. Eut the spirit thdt
animated mat desperate counter-chaise
ts largely the explanation OF the facI ana
solution of the problem. OF Lee 5 army
ever reaching AppomattoX We are not
however writing the history OF the cam
naipn nor describing the strategy ana
,oovemcnts OF the armies, our present
concern ia with the experience ana iaie
lore