Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-16

an army as ] know how TO command
under the actual surroundings OF this
situation. My command" he con-
tinuci, 'is one OF the finest armies and
most magnidcently-e equipped bodies Of
men that has ever been gathered for
reld-work." If il numbered only 1900
men, IL would If formed for battle two
ranks deep, have extended n distance or
over thirty miles. and Grant says In ms
memoirs that his supply-train, II
stretched on a single road. would have
extended from the Rapidan 10 Rich
mond,' a distance OF sixty-fve miles.
Lee had barely 62.000 men, even after
Longstrect joined him during the second
days battle. and 224 field-guns. Indeed:
according to the statement Of Colonel
Venable. Of General Lees staff a care
full and conscientious authority, when
Lee marched from Orange Courthouse
and attacked Grant lie had less than
1000 infantry, together with only part
Of his artillery and some cavalry Long
street being at Gordonsville with two
divisions, and Pickett being south OF the
James river. Both General Badeau anu
General Humphreys object 10 this es-
innate of Lees total force. one claiming
that Longstreet had 1900 from Tennes-
see. and the other that he brought H.
900 with him from Tennessee, when
would have increased Lees force several
thousand beyond the estimate above. But
Longstreet. the latter part Of whose NE
has been devoted to the detraction OF Lee.
and the qualification Of bitter envy or
his memory. explains this discrepancy
by showing that Pcketts Division OF his
corps was south Of the James river, ana
"did not return TO the Army Of Northern
1nt1 In n.
while the total forces he brought from
Tennessee consisted of only 5000 men, as
he had left Buckners Division, the cayal-
~ and several attachments. behind.
IN THE WILDERNESS.
The two armies thus constituted-the
Federals outnumbering the Confederates
nearly three 10 one-met IN the WIDER
moss on May 9Th, when Lee at once at
tackled his enemy. While 10 decisive re-
suits were gained on either side On the
9TH. the advantage at dark was with the
Confederates when both armies Jay
down 10 rest previous to the dreadful
conflict Of the 9Th. Early on that day
Hancock assumed the aggressive, at
tackled two divisions under Heth and
Wilcox, which. under n misrepresentation.
exrected TO be relieved and were entirely
for the assault of an over
whelming force OF nearly 5000 men.
They were driven back in disorder, but
luckily Longstreet arrived in the mex
OF time. opened his lines for their re-
treating comrades, then closed and ad-
vanced driving Hancock back with great
loss: and. as he expressed himself 10
Longstreet after the war: DOUBLED
him I'D like a wet blanket" Unluckily.
Longstreet was badly wounded at this
tuucture. General Fields assumed COM
rnand and General Anderson, who sue
ceeded him until the arrival of General
Lee. not being advised fully OF the
character and purpose OF the movement
was unable to complete IT and turn Han
cocks flank before the latter reformed
his men behind his works and was ready
for the attack
But this was the only advantage gained
bv the Federals during the day and that
was Of short duration. Burr, one OF
Grants biographers. describes the In
tense anxiety which prevailed In The
Federal army because OF the delay in
Furnishes arrival. "Aads," says this
authority. "galloped back with orders
TO hasten the movement. The
greatest apprehension was felt at the re-
suit Of the delay. Meanwhile,
Hancock had been re-enforced from an
other portion Of the army and the battle
was renewed. Longstreet struck his lett
with the fury Of assault. The
impetus Of Longstreets charge was too
great for resistance. The Federal ad-
vance was swept away and Hancock fell
back" etc.
The second days battle, though not de-
cisive. was also Enthusiastically in favor
OF the Confederates; and, during Doth
days they were the aggressors. attack
Ing the Federal breast-works instead OF
'hugging their covers" and even
charging through the flames Of forest
fire 10 reach the enemy. The loss Of the
Federals was much heavier in killed.
wounded, and prisoners and 1t was re-
ported by all Of Lees scouts on the night
OF the 9th that Grant was retreating
across the Rapidan. The sagacious Lee.
however, knowing Grants character, ais
credited these reports and, anticipating
q different movement, had a short road
cut 10 Spotsylvania Courthouse, where
GOrdon's Division arrived just In time
TO battle Grants effort to throw his army
between Lee and Richmond In the
Wilderness the Federals lost 1885 men,
according 10 the weight Of authority,
though General Humphreys. Grants
chief OF staff. puts the number at lo'5oi.
The ConfeGerates lost little over halI
Of that number; but Grant concluded
that to attack would be folly, and de-
termined on that series Of movements
which brought the two armies 10 posi-
ton below Richmond and which he could
have reached by the wafer route with
a loss of only a few hundred.
AT sPOTsYLNANIA.
Both armies met again at Spotsylvania
Courthouse, where Grant was the as
sailant, Lee prudentiy abstaining from
attacking with his depleted force. Two
attacks were made on the Confederate
position Oil the Sth. five on the 10th ana
i9ih and others on the 18th and 18th,
viii a loss OF 1880 men. and without
Gaining any advantage except the cap
ture of a salient and quite a number OF
prisoners, the position having been lett
sxposel through a misapprehenslon OF
,rdcrs. In two weeks time Grant had
lost 10000 Of his best troops. equal IN
number 10 nearly two-thirds OF Lees
entire army, and was practically no
nearer the objective point OF his CAM
oairn than when he started. Careful
studcnts Of such matters" says Mr.
Perry. place Lees losses from the 5th
IF MAY TO the close of the Spotsylvania
,perations at not less than 1900 men,
which IS Just 1890 men less than what
soneral Grants chief Of staff places his.
son any one see from Mr.. Perry's own
igurcs where Grants great victory IN
he Wilderness" comes in? Can any one
zee where he performed that series OF
-anid and able manoeuyres" which sur
PASSED anything that had preceded them
turing the war? Can any one see where
he Confedera.cs were cowed and dis
MAYED" by any new warfare" or how
Grant proved himself ''the ahlest ana
most comprehensive general Of the war?
II MIR. Perry can see anything OF the
alnd. he can see more than any one
Use. and furnishes a parallel 10 the
biblical ass that discerned an angel In
he path which was Invisible 10 the
,eer his master. Suppose the numbers