The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-01-05
THE CAMPAIGN OF
THE WILDERNESS
Discussed Before American Historica,
Association.

tBy the Associated Press
Richmond, Va, Dec. 31.-Discus-
sion of the Campaign of the Wilder
ness in the Wal Between the states
by able officers OF both armies to.
night. marked the close of the meet
ing of the American Historical Assoc
citation, the members of which Will
visit the University of Virginia tomor-
row and there disperse.
General Edward P. Alexander of
the Confederate States army, discussed
Grants conduct. of the Wilderness
Campaign
General Alexander Speaks.
General Alexander referred To
Grants aggressive campaign against
Lee. Commenting upon the division
of Grants army, a part of which, the
army of the Potomac. was under
| Meade and a part. the 9th Corps. was
| under Burnside, he declared that there
are few axioms of war better es+ab-
| lisbed than those which condemn di-
| vided commands and in this case, he
added, Grants experience gave addi-
| tional evidence of the lack of wisdom
of such an arrangement. Had it not
been for delay caused by the awkward
ness OF having to look after such q
divided command. General Alexander
believed that Grant would have gone
| beyond the fields, both both of the
Wilderness n SpOttSylVania into the
open country. Had Grant done this
he declared, there would have peen
no battle of the Wilderness and Spott-
~sylvan.a. but probably a battle on a
line behind the North Anna.
1T was Lees policy" he said. 80
fight his battle under cover OF the
wilderness and he practically won a
victory by bringing Longstreet into the
action Just in the nick of time. and
perhaps we must say that Grant lost if
by his faulty organization of having
two separate armies under independ-
ent commanders operating iii the same
field.
1T is a little surprising to find that
Grant, having the initiative, and the
greater force of artillery. did not
make q 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 on any
ground. and, finding him in the vii
derness, he at once took the agrees
fsive with such vigor that had he had
sufficient daylight he would have made
Lee regret his mistake in locating his
supporting infantry under Longstreet
behind his left flank instead of behind
his right, for he fully expected Grants
attack. upon his right. as it actualIy
occurred. The Wilderness country
was very fertile, lin, tricks and sur
prises, as it had already shown itself.
1t was now about to repeat upon each
of the c~ombatants some of it's famous
tricks of the year b~efore.''
Speaking of the events of Navel
1864, General Alexander said that
General Miles movement across the
Potomac for the Durpos Of
ering was entirely misunderstood bv
Lee, who seemed to anticipate an
attack upon his right flank. as that
night all of the guns of the Federal
forces We're ordered to be ~withdraWn
at SHUTDOWN for a movement to the
1ank which could be quietly made
during the night.
Continuing, he said: ORDERS were
sent to each chief of artillery to this
erect, but on the line of Longstreet's
corps ventured to accomplish the
same result. but still retain all nv
guns IN position. [ had visited every
battery II had it's chests mounted.
anu foaus so improved in the rear.
tilat the guns could be handled SILENT
y. Hllis chief of artillery, Walker.
ana EWelFs chief. General Long, with
uleW uur-ng the night % guns of
rage and k~ershaw's %battalions from
the very lines which Grant was pre-
y III TIE ilo ming. 4 ne
WlthdraWal of these guns was the one
fatal tactical mistake of this whole
campaign.'
Speaking of the engagement on the
morning of the 18th. which Cutler said
ide.eu Il hours and III which Grfffen
,opotred he was engaged for three
LUZ, General Alexander said there
Mdsf 2 great lack of detail concerning
.ii9 event. in Federal report. He
a-s~@rei however. an OF ciaL15fe-
poE from tlte Confederate side which
referring TO this tremendously active
ehgagennelft, SAID: Unfortunately
the commander of the battery inform
ed me that his orders We're to save
ammunition, and to fire only when he
was certain of doing execution. I
could not be certain of this, and fear
that Ammunition might be scarce
ordered Tim to cease firing, and this
saved tie lives of many Yankees.
They kept up an active fusilade, in
deed, a terrific roar of musketry. all
the while our men were quietly
their appearance over the
crest. This continued so long (for
some hours) that we began to sus-
pect that by some happy mistake they
were n-Ating themselves. 1t seemed
a hea battle and we had nothing to
do wi IT.
Co. William X. EIVcrmOre. OF the
Fedef.l army. spoke on Lees cOndsIct
of RI anne campaign, giving figures
to 81 ,v The disparity in numbers.
tn lscussion was closed by Major
Ehe, swift. of the general staff,
United ~ates army.
Mai. swift on WILDERNESS Campaign"
M fo~ Ebcn Swift, of the General
Staf Ta5ted States Army, in discuss t
inc line Wilderness Campaign" de-
H. that the battles of the present
a. ..gght by soldiers who shoot
10y ...e #agter. five times farther and +
e. ..,r.- 0ftener than the soldiers
:, ...-r in the Wilderness cam 7
- ,. dealing with this subject,
Me- Il took occasion to corr
HdJ' tiles of the Civil Wal with
pare IF the present, his con
the .,g that the tendency OF Il
ciusi ..sare is to lengthen the Il
moo battles. a
dur; t''- ...rarv of 1864 was 50 IN :
"Ihe .tf Major Swift. that 1 =
cert #II, .-..r 10 describe its effect
will uoi +ea present day q battery "
iVen - aring shrapnel can accu- y
of f"uf "a 600 bullets OF d ten =
rate ..:las away, in two min W
acr. Tot. .,.tnod Of indirect ire a =
uts + | @ IAN direct the fire OF !"
sine le =. .q..r is sheltered behlhu @ISf