The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-25

pose. The Fifth Corps and Wilson'S cavnlry
mad had the effect to nx Leo exactly on the
spot where Grant hoped to detain him. and
there he remained fixed for four days. This
gave Grant all the time he wanted.
While BeaureRard was taking these ener.
Reuc measures to save their lettering Govern
ment old Seldom. the Confederate Secretary
OF War. was haughtily demanding e~xplana-
lions OF him for what he evidently deemed
hiEh. handed and unwarranted proceedings.
Beauregard displayed in this crisis the greatest
qualities Of a military INSTRUMENTATION,
courage. decision, and energy. He was acci-
dcntnlly rewarded with success. but he did not
owe anything to Richmond. and very little to
Lee. The game was all against him. He has
since said that when Smith carried the lines
Petersburg was helpless.
Grant's movement from Cold Harbor was
made with the greatest precision and rapldity.
Nothing was lost. II was in drafting the
orders for this great march. the covering move
ment, the crossing of the river. &C.. that
Meade'a great ability and the extraordinary
talents of Gen. A. A. Humphreys, his Chief
OF staff. came into play. Every precaution
was taken TO guard against miscarriages.
Grant had sent his staff officers to arrange tho
concert with Butler. In fix the point of cross
Ing. and make Arrangements for building the
approaches to the rOntoon bridge over the
James. That of Itself was. a marvel in length
and strength, being O half mile long. Some
idea of the mlnutepcss with Will II every step
In this game for the attack on Petersburg was
sp.tch. sent by Mr.. 9. =. Dana. the Assistant
secretary OF War, who accompanied Grants
headquarters;
Hon. Ed,rfn ", Stanton, Secretary ef War:
81. It is pretty much decided. however. that
Poin, via Windsor Shades, thence proceeding down
the chicEanoniiny on steamers. Time for the or.
march to + rs,er Il a. Il p p1pa,i r@d be even Sivs s0' be-.
tore the other corps set out. C. A. DANA.
This was w enty four hours before the move
r,snt began. The next day Mr.. Dana sent an
other despatch. in which It appears that Grants
original plan. II Lee did not attack during the
James directly at Bermuda Hundred. OF
course, Lee made no attack, not comprehend
ing the chara ter Of the march: nevertheless.
the point or crossing wes fixed lower down
the James, probably TO lessen the dangers OF an
attack. Grant sent this desoatch:
bermuda HUNDRED, Va. June II. 1894.
AdJor'Gen, haneck. Washington. ?. c.;
our forces Will Ommenc crossing the James to-
Gay. The enemy show no signs OF having brought
Fetershnrs secS sTSiA il 'i pGss al S.I befoTs they W get t fRsrs
In much force. our movement from Cold Harbor to
the James River has been made with great celebrity,
and 80 far without loss or accident.
U. 8. GRANT, L.ieutenant.G General.
On the 18th Mr.. Dana again telegraphcd from
Grants headquarters:
HEADQUARTERS. June 10. 1so4-s A. NJ.
NON. E. ii. Stanton, see " or ar.
Powhatan finished at 9 A. NJ. Artillery trains in.
landed 9y ferry a! Wind, Mi iTi Point; last Of It viii %ih' 5s
over by 10 A. NJ. Hancock moves out instantly for
which was to have been made at daylight. '.'
Lee appears TO hare had no idea Of our crossing the
City Point this morning. Weather splendid.
Here we have the outline of the story Of
Grants movement over the James River al
most under the guns of Lees batteries. 1t
results show that Mt last Lee was dealing with
a master In the art of war. Gen. Lee. unaues-
ttonably, was a very great man. difhcnlt TO de-
ceive or overcome. Tho success of this one op-
GRAFTON alone demonstrates Grants military
capacity. and when the future historian comes
to write. perfectly free from contem poraneous
or partisan prejudice, he I'll l-undoubtedly set
1t down as one of the vars salient features.
In any comparison OF Grant and Lee. OF
course. the disparity in numbers and re shurces
must be credited TO Lees side of the ledger, yet
1t must not he overlooked that he had the great
under cover. He was fighting in his own coun.
try and among friends who kept him Informed
of his enemy's movements, another telling
advantage. For two J ars Lee was the bull
wark OF his cause. He won some notable vic
tories. But in the most glorious period Of the
Confederate fortunes. when it's armies were
1t their naximun. and the morale of the army
OF Northern Virginia was at its highest. Lee,
under the most favorable cir sumstances, never
totally destroyed an opposing army: never
more than repulsed. more than temporarily
crippled his opponent; Grant. IN the course
IA hIo NolOSA. DAsiAa III ulStlnCI
armies FLOYD. Pillow. and Bu,kner at Donel-
son; Pemberton at Vicksburg, and zee himself
at ittoX. At Donelson the original
forces were about equal. and the Confederate
facilities for reinfnrCipG fully rs favorable as
Grants. In the Nicksb Ira cam oaign Pember-
toms aggregate Mt the outset was greater than
Grants. In these operations Grant killed,
wounded. and captured 10000 men in round
numbers: Grants victory ut Chattanooga
was as decisive as any Of Lees victories, and
was won. TO >. In the face ~ greater difficulties
than confronted Lee in ans of his.oFenstve op-
Rrati1n. np hnWnSpr- II r1ust IN nUafn
marked. always fought with inferior Numbers.
al though by. his ability he generally managed
at the point OF contac: until after Grant came
upon the scene of action. / do not think Grant
over fought a worse battle than Lees battle of
Gettysburg.
There is n curious coincidence sort OF par.
allei -in.the.c N aigns.orGran and Lee. worth
the army OF Northern Virginia began with the
Seven Days battles against Mcclellan on the
Mcclellan OF and relieved Richmond. but at
fearful cost. Lees losses here were nearly
10000 in killed and wounded alone. At Cedar
Mountain. the second Bull Run. Chantilly.
Sou h Mountain. Antietam. and lesser affairs
in that long aud bloody campaign. Lee lost
making a grand total % about 10000 men
lost by the army Of Northern virginia in tho
almost continuous fighting from tho eth Of
June until tho 18th OF September. lS62. TRUTH
return Lee had inflicted great losses upon the
Federals. captured Harper's Ferry and many
hero and Idol OF the South: his great deeds
had penetrated to Europe and beyond.
An examination of the situation. after all
vas over. leaves the impression. however, that
very little material advantage had been
achieved BIZ these sacrlBces; Lee had been
forced to retire fr.m Maryland, and tho only
real gain appears to have been in drawing the
Union army further -feld from Richmond.
Alter all Lees brilliant operations against
was on tho verge OF collapse. II Grant had
been In command OF the Union armies l think
Lee would have met his Appomattox in tho
vicinity OF the Potomac. some time between
the morning of tle 10th of SeptAmber ard tho
evening Of the 18th. Lee had forced the
fighting for more than sixty continuous days.
His bloody assaults Mt .jeaver Dam Greek and
Malvern Hill were even more unjustifiable by
any apparent mil .tary necessity than Grants
at Cold Harbor. and they were JUST as costly
In human life. and. like Cold Harbor. were re-
pulses. Every man Lee lost Mt Antietam was
a pure waste; he was not necessitated to fight
thern. AT the end Cf 4. all. and weak rs he
was. he still found himself confronted by the
u.duanted Union army, stronger than ever,
seeking a new road To
Nobody had stigmati2cd Ice rs a butcher;
on tho contrary. | repeat. tho world lauded
him as a hero. Even the North looked upon
him ns n military prodigy. and hogan 10 doubt.
because OF Lee's great genius. e were DOS.