Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-10-07

GENERAL r. a. MILRoY, e. s. A, LEADER
OF THE ATTACK AT GREESBRIER RIVER.
ted by Lee to capture western Virginia
aroused the varmeS< praise at Rich
mOnd. Yet it ended in little better
than a fasco. The inevitable conclu-
sion is that either Lee was outgener
aled by ROsecrans or he was constitu-
tiOnally unable TO make winning
fight in Union territory. Perhaps the
last is the true explanation, as he lost
every time he ventured outside of
Virginia. First he failed in western Vir-
ginia, next in Maryland at the battle
of Antietam and finally in Pennsyl-
vania at Gettysburg. AS great a gen
eral as even his enemies concede Lee
10 have been, he was not great enough
10 win a campaign in territory where
public sentiment was against him. On
the other hand, Grant gained practi-
cally all his victories in the enemy's
country. 1t is a truism in war that
men fight better on their own soil.
when defending their homes. On the
defensive Lees generalShip was mas
terly. When he invaded Union terri
tory he was undOne. 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
its weakness. Magnificently planned.
its breakdown was almost pitiful.
Fight on Katteras Island.
In the meantime things were hap
pening in the vicinity of Hatteras in
let After the capture of the forts
there on Aug. % Colonel Hawkins
was left with a part of the Ninth New
York and several gunboats to hold
them. Later be was REINFORCED by
Colonel Brown with the Twentieth
Indiana. He first dispatched an expe-
dition to disable the abandoned forts
at Ocracoke inlet. a few miles down
the shore. and later sent Colonel
Brown and the Twentieth Indiana up
Hatteras island 10 ChicOmicOmico for
the double purpose of protecting the in
habitants of the island and OF obServ-
ing the Confederates. who were gath
ering in some force on Roanoke island
TO the north. Colonel Brown landed
on Sept. 80 with scant supplies. On
Oct I the Fanny. United States pro
peiler. was 10 land stores and intrench-
ing tools. No sooner had the Fanny
anchored. however. than three Con
federate vessels appeared. surrounded
and captured her. It was estimated
that she had $4,000 worth Of supplies
on board. all OF which fell into the
enemys hands. This of itself defeat
ed the purpose OF Colonel Browns ex-
petition. but was not the worst OF the
fare in store for him. The Confeder-
ates on Roanoke island now attempted
10 surround and capture his entire
command and for this purpose landed
two large forces. one above and one
below him on the narrow island. The
only thing that saved him was that
the boats below were delayed in land
ing, and as night vas coming on Colo
mel Brown managed 10 retreat past
them in the darkness Now began
weary march Of twenty-eight miles 10
Hatteras light. To add 10 the miseries
OF the retreat. the inhabitants aban-
dOued their homes and fed with the
troops, who lad been their protectors.
among them being old men. women
and children When the sun arose and
beat down on the hot sands both sol
diers and natives began falling out. |
overcome by the heat and by hunger
and thirst The supply OF food and