The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-10-21


GENERAL Il. II. MILRoY, U. S. A., LEADER
OF THE ATTACK AT GluENBRIER RIVER.
ted by Lee TO capture western Virginia
aroused the warme,> praise at Rich
mond. Yet il ended In little better
than n fiasco. The inevitable conclu-
sion Is that either Lee was outgener-
aled by Itosecruns or he was consttu-
tiOnally unable to make a winning
fight in Union territory. Perhaps the
last is the true explanation, as he lost
every time he vcnturcd outside OF
Virginia. First he failed in western Vir.
Einia, next In Maryland at the battle
of Antictam and finally in pennsyl-
vania ut gettysburg. As great Il gen
eral as even his enemies conccdc Lee
TO have been, he was not great enough
TO win n campaign In territory where
public sentiment was against him. On
the other hand. Grant gained practi.
cally all his victories in the cnemy8
country. IL is truism In war that
men fight better on their own soil.
when defending their homes. On the
defensive Lees generalshlp was mas
terly. When he invaded Union terri
tory he was undonc. While his West
Virginia campaign Is the least known
of his entire military career. there Is
none that more clearly brings out this
point. Even his own partlsans admit
It's weakness. NIagnihcently planned,
its breakdown was almost pitiful.
Fight on Hatteras Island.
In the meantime things were hap.
pening in the vicinity of llatteras in
let. After the capture of the forts
there ON Avg. - Colonel Hawkins
was left with part OF the Nlnth New
York and several gunboats to hold
them Later he was rc.enfOrccd by
Colonel Brown with the Twentieth
Indiana. He first dispatched an cxpc-
dltion TO disable the abandoned forts
ut Ocracokc inlet. u few miles down
the shore. and later sent Colonel
Brown and the Twentieth Indiana up
Tattcras island 10 ChIcomlcomicO for
the double purpose OF protecting the in
habitants of the island and Of observ.
ing the Confcderates. who were gath
cring in some force on Roanoke island
TO the north Colonel Brown landed
on Sept. 30 with scant supplies. On
oct. the Fanny, Il United States pro
peller. was 20 land stores and intrench
| ing tools. No sooner had the Fanny
| anchored. however, than three Con
federate vessels appeared. surrounded
| and captured her. 1t was estimated
that she had S150,O00 worth of supple,
on board. all Of which fell into tho
enemy's hands. This of itself defeat
cd the purpose OF Colonel Browns eX
| pedtion. but WAS not the worst Of the
fate In store for him. The Confcder
atcs on Roanoke island now attempted
TO surround and capture his entire
carmand ana iar this purpose landed
two large 'orcc one above and on'
| bo'rY hir "" ae narrow island. Th'
cat, thii l. saved him was tha
the boats u,low '2re delayed in land
ing, and II. night was coming on Colo
mel Brown managed TO retreat pas
them in the darkness. Now began {
weary march Of twenty-eight miles Il
| Hatteras light. TO add TO the mlscric
of the retreat. the inhabitants abau
doned their homes md fed with IN,
troops. who had been their protectors
among them being old men. womel
rnd children. When the sun arose au'
beat down on the hot sands both sol
Tiers and natives began falling out
overcome by the heat and by hungc
md thirst. Tho supply of food an'
water was almost exhausted In thl
way almost fifty of Colonel Brown
men dropped in their tracks in TN
blistering sands and We're captured b!
the enemy.