The National tribune., 1910-07-28

taken to clean up the camps, and the
ordinary police regulations were put in
force. Great quantities of fresh vege-
tables were brought up from White
House. better meat and better cooking
soon followed, SO that, happily, the raw
ages of disease were stayed, but not
until Medical Director McParlin had
sent 5000 sick back to Washington.
Grants Humane Proposition.
For reasons which seemed sufficient
to him, Gen. Grant did not ask Gen.
Lee for a flag of truce until the after
noon of June 5, when he did not meet
with a reception entirely consistent
with the frequent assertions made as
to Lees wonderful mercy and mag
nanimity. Gen. Grants note read:
Gold Harbor, Va, June 5, 1864.
Gen. r. f. Lee, Commanding Confed-
crate Army:
''It is reported to me that there are
wounded men, probably of both armies,
now lying exposed and suffering be-
tween the lines occupied respectively
by the two armies. Humanity would
dictate that some provision should be
made to provide against such hard
ships. / would propose, therefore, that
hereafter, when no battle is raging,
either party be authorized to send to
any point between the pickets or skir-
mish lines unarmed men bearing litters
out being fired upon by the other party.
Any other method, equally fair to both
parties, you may propose FOR meeting
the end desired will be accepted by me.
~. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General"
To this Gen. Lee replied that he
feared such an arrangement would lead
to misunderstanding He suggested
that when either party wished to re-
move their dead and wounded a flag
of truce be sent. To this Gen. Grant
answered:
Gold Harbor, Va, June G, 1864
sGen. r. E Lee, Commanding Army of
Northern Virginia:
your communication of yesterdays
date is received. / will send imme-
diately, as you propose, to collect the
dead and wounded between the lines Of
that you be allowed to do the same.
propose that the time for doing this be
between the hours of IL m. and p.
m. to-day. ] Will direct all parties 60
ing out to bear a white flag, and not to
attempt to go beyond where we have
dead or wounded, and not beyond OF
on ground occupied by your troops.
~. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General."
Lees reply was refusal to consent
to the burial of the dead and icmoval
of the wounded in this way, adding that
any parties so sent out by Grant would
be turned back by his direction. He
again suggested the flag of truce. To
this Gen. Grant answered.:
Gold Harbor, Va, June 6, 1864.
Gen. r. E. Lee, Commanding Army
of Northern Virginia:
''The knowledge that wounded men
are now suffering from want of atten-
tion between the two armies compHb
me to ask suspension of hos
for sufficient time to collect them in,
gay, two hours. Permit me TO say that
the hours you may fix upon for this
Will be agreeable to me, and the same
privilege will be extended to such Ear
ties as you may wish to send out on
the same duty without further appli-
cation.
''U. s. Grant. Lieutenant General"
Lee agreed to this, but by the time
he did so 4s hours had elapsed, and
when our parties were sent out they
found but two of the wounded living
1t NAV be that stern military necessity
prevented Grant from asking for ces-
sation of hostilities for two days, and
caused Lee to protract the correspond
snce for 4S hours before he would give
his sanction, and 1t is particularly
pathetic commentary that our search
ing parties found only two of the
wounded alive who had survived those
five awful DAYS of heat, lack of water
and food and the deadly gangrene
which set in upon their undressed
wounds.
Grants Problems.
Gen. Grant adhered to his original
plan of getting south of the James and
cutting off all approaches to Richmond
from the rest of the Southern Confed-
eracy. Halleck was anxious to keep
Grant on the north side of the James.
so as to cover Washington. Grant had
reason for continuing his siege opera
tions, as even if not prosecuted to the
end, they would hold Lee in place and
prevent him detaching TO crush either
Hunter in the Valley or Butler at Ber-
muda Hundred. Hunter who had sue
eeedsd SiSel. had moved up the Valley
and struck Gen. Jones's force at Pied
mont about 10 miles northeast of
Staunton. Jones was killed. his troops
badly worsted, with loss of ] 500 men
ana three guns. Hunter formed juno
ton with Crook and AverilI at Staun-
ton, and moved rapidly upon LYNCH
burg, which was one of the most impor
tant depots of supplies in the Confeder-
acy and vital TO Lees army. So i'm
portant was this that Lee detached
Breckenridge with his troops to hurry
to the rescue of Lynchburg, and Early
was ordered to move out in readiness
10 follow Breckinrfdge.
should move by the right flank, take UP
line northeast of Richmond, control
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