The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-05

rectlon Of Richmond, which was about
due south.
more desperate fighting has not been
Witnessed upon this continent than that
Of the 9Th and 9Th Of May" Grant
said Of this struggle OF armies in the
Wilderness.
Then began the contest for spott-
sylVanla, and "Bloody Angle was
made immortal. In the ten days cover
ing the wilderness passage, and the
battle for possession Of Snottsylvania,
Grant lost 2S,207 In killed and wounded,
4,7O6 missing and sent back 4,225 sick.
His army was reduced 1885. Lee lost
ia killed nearly as many, not so many
wounded, but had twice rs many men
taken prisoners. It was on the 18th OF
May between the Wilderness and
Spottsyivania, in this network Of lanes
and woods and farms, with the losses
ON both sides running thousands a day
that Grant, on the 18th OF May, wrote
to Washington his famous declaration,
aYowlng his purpose to fight 1t out on
this line II It takes all summer"
Turning to the northeaRtward from
Spottsylvanla the pilgrim finds that
Fredericksburg by the wide pike is only
twelve miles away. The pilgrimage has
been q drive Of fifty miles. 1t has en-
comprised chain Of battle-helds em-
braclng more of the civil war than can
be found In any other locality OF like
metes and bounds. Here, on 10000
acres Of fighting ground, nearly 100000
men faced death, and nearly one
fourth Of them were killed, wounded
or taken prisoners.
The time has come when the govern
ment proposes tOsacquire these battle
fields and the connecting roads. Engl-
neers OF the army have within the past
few days gone over this intensely in
teresting pilgrimage. They have noted
the lines which will embrace within
reservations the heaviest fighting.
They have examined the earthworks
running for many miles, and in almost
perfect state Of preservation. Their
report on the expediencY OF Immediate
action and upon the cost OF the work OF
preservation will be made to Congress:
The expediency Of the legislation Will
be strongly urged at the coming sess-
ion. Virginia has paved the way so far
as state action can go. The plan Is
comprehensive, but not costly. These
battle-1elds can be transferred to the
government at an average price OF be-
tween IS and 81 an acre. The roads
were once well built pixies, and In parts
were even planked. Stone is obtainable
near by. The matchmaking can be
done cheaply. From every point OF
view the movement to save these his
torical evidences seems highly COM
mendable.
The pilgrimage from Fredericksburg
nm Marye's Heights, out past ChanceI-
louisville, through the Wilderness, with
halt ut Bloody Angle, the key Of the
SpOttsylvRnia field shows impressively
how Americans learned war. In the
beginning, ninety days was thought to
be sufficient TO fight out the question
OF secession. And when Burnside sent
his army across the Rappahannock to
storm the heights, It was with the Idea
seemingly that vRlor and numbers
could overcome all natural obstacle.
Longstreet. looking down from the
heights, after the repeated charges had
been made and had failed, said he saw
the Union dead lying three deep In
places. A field OF ten or twelve acres
was carpeted with the killed and
wounded. In q road which ran below
grade, "lhe sunken road" approaching
the foot OF the heights, the bodies lay
one upon another. The failure was not
altogether in the mistake OF Judgment
which sent lines OF battle against such
a position. Franklin had crossed with
his corps lower down the river. He
was TO attack on the flank and rear,
while this effort upon the front OF the
heights was made, But he encountered
more opposition than was expected on
the way from his crossing place TO the
heights and the cooperation did not
take place, -.
come again and again to their death,
said Longstreet, that they deserved
success II courage and daring could EN-
title soldiers TO victory" f
StonewalI Jackson's was the strong
arm which reached out and held Frank
lin In check at II point on the railroad
four miles below Fredericksburg q
place called Hamllton'S crossing, until
the storming lines had been beaten
back.
That advance through the city had
been preceded By n bombardment from
the federal batteries on the north side
of the river. Just at the foot OF the
heights is a slab which mnrks the spot
where Cobb fell, killed by n Federal
shell. On .!.e choicest part OF the
heights still stands the brick mansion
OF Governor Mnrye, but with different
door from the one which was there In
December, 1862. Federal gunners from
more than mile away put seven Solo
shot through that door a part OF
Maryes Heights is where 10000 Union
soldiers lie in long ranks on flames
eternal camping ground"
At fredericksburg 1t was all courage
even to recixlessness. At Chancellors-
VILE. the next year, II was strategy, all
strategy. While Lee with a compare
lively small force, made great show OF
fighting along Hooker's front In the
thick woods. both shooting and shout
ing, Jackson was marching away as II
In full retreat, with 1900 men. only to
wheel and come charging against Aanlt
and rear where whole corps, with
guns stacked. was cooking and eating
supper.
The next year came Grant. with his
policy OF winning by 1.-THE force OF at
triton" ready to sacrifice man for man
or II needs be two for one, knowing
that In the end the ConfedGrncy must
| be worn out. And so 1t was. What
Grant began ut the Wilderness went on
until the following April at AppOmat-
tox. and secession ended.
Through the Wilderness to Spottsyl-
vanla the line OF fortiRcntions are the
marvel Of the visitor, They are ev-
erywherc, miles and miles OF them,
"Iu every change Of position or halt
I for the night" said General Grant,
whether confronting the enemy or
not, the moment arms were stacked,
the men intrenched themselves. II was
wonderful how quickly they could cong
Btruct defenscs OF considerable
strength"