The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-01
GRANTS PLANS
ARE CONDEMNED
Historian says:He Made a Mis-.
take in Dividing His
Army

Richmond, Va, Jan. 1.-One of the
most interesting papers before the
National Historical society in session
n this city, was by General Alexander
on the conduct Of the Virginia CAM
paign by General Grant.
He referred to Grants aggres-
s1ve campaign against Lee. Comment
ing upon the division of Grants army,
part Of which, the army of the Poto-
mac, was under Meade and part, the
Ninth corps, was under Burnside, he
declared that there are few axioms
OF war better established than those
which condemn divided commands
and In this case, he added, Grants
experience gave additional evidence
of the lack of wisdom of such an ar
rangement. Had 1t not been for delay
caused by the awkwardness of hav-
ing to look after such a divided COM
mand General Alexander believed
that Grant would have gone beyond
the fields both of the Wilderness and
Spottsylvania into the open country.
Had Grant done this. he declared.
there would have been no battles of
the Wilderness and Spootsylvania
but probably battle on a line behind
the North Anna.
1T was Lees policy" he said, ito
fight his battles under cover of the
wilderness and he practically won q
victory hy kriEg!Ys Longstreet INTO
action just in the nick of time. and
perhaps we must say that Grant lost
1t by his faulty organization of hav-
ing two separate armies under ind
pendent commanders operating in the
same field. ~.
"It is little surprising to find that
Grant. having the initiative, and the
greater force of artillery, did not
make greater effort to get himself
clear Of the wilderness before he en-
countered Lees army. Evidently,
however, he considered himself
abundantly able to meet Lee in any
ground. and. finding him In the Wild
erness, ne at once took the aggressive
with such vigor that had he had suf-
ficient daylight he would have made
Lee regret his mistake in locating his
supporting infantry under Longstreet
behind his left flank, instead of be-
hind his right, for he fully expected
Grants attack upon his right, as it
actually occurred. The Wilderness
country was very fertile in tricks and
surprises, as it had already shown
itself. 1t was now about to repeat
upon each of the combatants some
of it's famous tricks of the year be-
FORE"
Speaking of the events of May IL,
1864, General Alexander said that
General Miles movement across the
Po for the purpose of accommodating
was entirely misunderstood by Lee
who seemed to anticipate an attack
upon his right flank, as that night all
of the guns of the federal forces were
ordered to be withdrawn at sundown
for movement to the flank which
could be quietly made during the
night.
Continuing he said: Orders were
sent to each chief of artillery to this
effect, but on the line of Longstreet's
corps l ventured to accomplish the
same result, but still retain all my
guns in position. l had visited every
battery and had it's chests mounted,
and roads so improved in the rear,
that the guns could be handled silent
ly. Hills chief of artillery. Walker,
and Ewell's chief. General Long,
withdrew during the night twenty
two guns Of Pages and Kershaw's bat
talions from the very lines which
Grant was preparing to assault in the
morning. The withdrawal of these
guns was the one fatal tactical mis-
take of this whole campaign"
Speaking of the engagement on the
morning Of the 18th which Cutler said
lasted four hours and in which Griffen
reported he was engaged for three
hours, General Alexander said there
was great lack of detail concerning
the event in federal reports. He had
secured, however. an official report
from the confederate side. which, re-
ferring to this tremendously active
engagement. said: unfortunately
the commander of the battery inform
ed me that his orders were to save
ammunition, and to fire only when he
was certain of doing, execution.
could not be certain of this, and fear
ing that ammunition might be scarce
ordered him to cease firing, and this
saved the lives of many Yankees.
They kept up an active fusillade, IN
deed, terrific roar of musketry. all
the while our men were quietly await
ing their appearance over the crest.
This continued SO long (for some
hours) that we began to suspect that
by some happy mistake they were
fighting themselves. 1t seemed
heavy battle and we had nothing to do
with H."