Class. Book- p / u u -"-s-'ijr H3 Ha'il,"ti'~- LTEUT. GEN.ULTS SES -S . GRALxTT, U.S. A GRANT AND SHERMAN; THEIE CAMPAIGNS AND GENERALS. HON. J. T/ HEADLEY, AUTHOR OP "TVASniNGTON AND HI3 GENKRALS," "NAPOLEON AND HIS MARSHALS," " SACRED MOUNTAINS, SCENES," &C., &C., iC. OOMPEISHfQ AN- AUTHENTIC ACCOUKT OF BATTLES AND SIEGES, ADVEN- TURES AND INCIDENTS, INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE PROMINENT GENERALS WHO BROUGHT TO A TRIUMPHANT CLOSE THE GREAT REBELLION or 1861-1865. WITH NUMEROUS im %\u\ f ortraits, iattk %zim, ^ Stap SOLD ONLY BY STJBSCEIFriON. NEW YORK: E. B. TREAT & CO., PUBLISHERS. CHICAGO, ILL. : C. W. LILLEY. ST. LOUIS, MO. : L S. BRAIN ARD. CLEVELAND, 0.: J. J. WILSON & CO. DETROIT, MICH.: B. C. BAKER CINCINNATI, 0.:GEO. B. FESSENDEN. BOSTON, MASS. : TALBOT & SHUTE. 1866. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S65, by J. T. HEADLEY, la the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United Stales for the Southern District of New York. JOHN p. TROW & CO, FSINTSaS. STEREOTYPItRS, ^ BLBCTSOTVTERS, 60 U R E E N S STRGET, If . T . PUBLISHER'S NOTICE. No Subscription Books ever published have equalled in popularity and circulation Mr. Headley's previous Books. "We are warranted, therefore, in predicting for this work an unexampled success. Among the most glorious pages of the History of the War which has so recently closed, are those which describe the stirring incidents of the famous Campaigns of our great Generals Geant and Sheemait, from the capture of Fort Donelson to Sherman's famous march through Georgia, ending finally in the capture of Eichmond, the surrender of the Rebel armies, and the final overtlirow of the most gigantic Eebellion recorded in History. Battles and sieges, adventures and incidents, in connection with the great heroes of the war, and all that is of interest in their memorable campaigns, are recorded in this volume, and the descriptions of these stirring events, by the vigorous and graphic pen of Hon. J. T. Headlet, enchain the reader with their vivid- ness, and make him, as it were, a spectator of the magnificent and imposing scenes so faithfully photographed. The four years of civil war through which the United States have passed has created a history, the record of which is brilliant with the names of Heroes and heroic deeds ; and at this time there is a great and increasing demand for a work which will give an authentic account of the daring deeds and gallant achievements of the brave and faithful men who so nobly de- fended and preserved our country. The Publisher esteems himself fortunate in having secured the talents of the distinguished author of this work, who has achieved a world-wide reputation as the most popular and graphic writer of military history of modern times, to prepare a book worthy of the theme and the occasion. Mr. Headley's reputation and his facilities for obtaining facts and in- ' formation, his personal acquaintance with many of the officers and soldiers of Grant's and Sherman's Armies, and his access to the official documents, place the authenticity of this work beyond a doubt, and we offer it to the public as a standard and reliable addition to American literature. The great and peculiar value of this work consists in the fact that, in a comparatively small compass, the author has given a complete biography of the illustrious men whose deeds he celebrates, and, at the same time, correct pictures of the grand historical events in which they performed such important parts. The popularity of the author and the subject, with the exquisite style and finish in the workmanship of the Book, will insure its success in every part of the country. The Book is embellished with portraits engraved on steel in the highest style of the art, by H. B. Hall, from photographs taken from life by Beady, Baenard, (army photographer,) and others ; and by spirited battle-scenes, engraved byEosEETS, from original designs drawn expressly for tliis work. E. B. TIIEAT & Co. PuUishcrs. LIST OF ILLOSTRATIONS 1, 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. r. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. ^3. 24. 25. 26. 2T. 28. 29, 30, PoKTEAiT OF Lieutenant-Geneeal TJ. S. Grant , . " " Majoe-Geneeal PAGB , Fronilspiece. Wm. T. Sheeman, . . 136 u a " " P. n. Sheeidan, . . .460 <' " " " Geo. H. Thomas, . . .260 " " " " J. B. MoPheeson, . . . 310 " " " " O. O. HOWAED, " " " " J. M. ScnOFIELD, " " " " J. KiLPATEICK, " " " " H. W. Slocum, " " " " W. S. ROSECEANS, " u u u j_ ^ Logan, " '< " " Geo. G. Meade, ... 29 " '^ " " "W. S. Hancock, " " " " Feanz Sigel, " " " " J. Hookee, " " " " Q. A. Gillmoee, " " " " A. E. BUE\9IDE, " " " " J. Sedgewick. She'eidan's Battle at "Wixceestee, Siege of Yicksbueg, Death of Majoe-General J, B. McPheeson. General Geangee coming to the Eescde of Geneeal Thomas at Chickamauga, . • 277 Battle of Getttsbueg, ' • • 3-52 Battle of Lookout Mountain — above the clouds, . . . 376 Sherman's Maech by Toech-light theough the Swamps of South Caeolina, ^^-' Sueeender OF Lee AND his Army to Lieutenant- General Grant. 131 Map OF the Inland Eoute to Eear of Vioksburg, ... 72 Map of the Atlanta Campaign, 167 Map of the Georgia Campaign, 1^^ Map of the Campaign of the Oaeolinas 211 477 89 253 PREFACE. The design in the present work is two-fold : fii'st, to give tlie history of the two great generals who brought the war to a successful close, including a full account of the campaigns by which the final result was reached. It is as necessary to note the early training, by battles and campaigns, by which they were finally enabled to grasp the entire situation and move together to the same tri- umphant end, as it is to know the finaJ measures and move- ments that brought success. The war produced no one great military genius who at once vaulted to supreme command, and, like the first Napoleon, revolutionized military science and astonished the world by the novelty and grandeur of his movements. Both the government and the generals geew to their great positions. Hence what is needed is not indiscriminate eulogy, but truth- fal narrative and just criticism. Geaii^t and Sheebiais" are two names that will live forever in our history, not be- cause they were the subjects of a blind adulation, but because their worth was properly estimated and their deeds tnithfully recorded. The time has gone by to apotheosize men — make gods of them. We want to see 12 PEEFAOE. them as they are — tlioiigli great, still liiiman, and sur- rounded witli human infirmities ; worthy of immortal honor, not because they are unlike us, but because they excel us — great too, not merely in their actions, but in the work they accomplished for their country. The second object is to group around these two men those generals who climbed to immortality by their side — shared their fortunes — helped to win their battles, and remained with them to the last. Many great and worthy generals might be added to the list we have selected, but in the progress of the war they have been dropped from active service from various reasons — some from inequalities of character or temper -^•improper habits, or inability to resist the temptations of pride and ambition. Some have fallen before personal or political malice of men in and out of power. These are omitted, though their deeds will find a place in his- tory, because their introduction here would mar the unity of the design in this work, which is to j)resent to the reader the two men and the chief generals with them wh9 closed up the struggle. Besides, the introduction of every meritorious officer would make the work too cumbersome for our purpose, unless the biogi'aphies were reduced to mere encyclopedia articles. The utmost ejfforts have been made to have these, sketches comj^lete without being heavy — to give the leading qualities, peculiar characteristics, and actions of the men, in such a form as to individualize each. PREFACE. 13 Blograpliies possess but half their true value unless they give living portraits, so that each man stands out clear and distinct in his true character and proportions. A careful study of the war from the outset gives us, we think, the right to attempt this, without being charg- ed with vanity. At all events, the men embraced in this volume merit all. the honor they ever will receive, while theii' names deserve the separate places which it shall be our design, and at least our effoi-t, to give them. CONTENTS. CHAPTER 1. PAOS The First Great Plan of Carrying on the War — The Failure of Ilalleck's Admi- nistration — The Great Change in Affairs when Grant Assumed Control of our Armies — Popular Errors Respecting Generals and the War — Capable Leaders not Ready-Made, but grow to their Responsibilities — Mistaken Notion of the Government — Want of Charity of the People — Our Generals not to be Blindly Eulogized, but their Mistakes, as well as Triumphs, to be Recorded — A True Narrative of their Rise to Greatness the only one Desirable, . . .31 CHAPTER II. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Hia Ancestrj' and Nativity — Brought up a Tanner — Enters West Point Military Academy — Brevetted Second Lieutenant, and sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. — Joins Taylor's Army in Mexico — After the Battle of Monterey, transferred to Scott's Army at Vera Cruz — Made Quartermaster of his Regiment — Brevetted Captain for Gallantry at Chapultepec — His Marriage — Stationed at Detroit and Sackett's Harbor — Sent to Oregon — Resigns his Commission — Settles on a Farm, near St. Louis — Acts as Collector of Debts for his Neighbors — Goes to Galena and Sets up a Leather-Store in Connection with his Father — Breaking out of the War — Offers his Services to the Government, and Raises a Com- pany — Made Adjutant-General of the State — Refuses a Brigadiership— Ap- pointed Colonel and sent into Missouri — Made Brigadier, and Assigned to the District of Cairo — Expedition to Belmont, and Capture of the Enemy's Camp — His Horse sliot under him — His Congratulatory Order — His District Enlarged — 2 16 CONTENTS. Tbe Cairo Expeditions— A Strict Order— Private Property to be Respected — Expedition against Fort Henry— Investment and Capture of Fort Donelson — Tbe Battle — Ordered under Arrest — Put over tbe West Tennessee Department — Ad- vances to Pittsburg Landing — Battle of— His Defeat First Day — Sberman's Letter — Determination to Remove bim from Command — Charges against — Fate ceases to persecute bim. — His Star in the Ascendant — Advance against Cor- inth — Loses his Temper with Halleck — His Conduct at Memphis— Battles of luka and Corinth — Turns bis Attention to Vicksburg — Sherman's Failure at Vicksburg, ....... . . CHAPTER III. VICKSBURG. ^ • Canal around it — Abandoned — Lake Providence Route — Moon-Lake Route — This also Abandoned — Tbe Steel's Bayou Route — Description of Expedition through — A Failure — Grant Resolves to Run the Batteries with Gunboats and Transports — The Night-Passage — March of Troops around Vicksburg Inland — New Car- thage — Hard Times — Grand Gulf— Its Batteries Run — Port Gibson Reached — Strips for the Race — Battle — Grand Gulf Evacuated — Bold Determination of Grant — Battle at Raymond — March on Jackson — Victory at — The Army Wheels about and Marches on Vicksburg — Battle of Champion's Hill — Battle at Big Black River — Vicksburg Invested— First Assault— Second Grand Assault — Reason of— The Long Siege— The Surrender, . . . . • 69 CHAPTER IV. Fall of Port Hudson— The President's Letter to Grant— Review of the Campaign— A Public Reception in Vicksburg — Visits New Orleans — Is Thrown from his Horse and Injured — Placed over the Miliary Division of the Mississippi — Placed in Command at Chattanoooga — Orders Sherman to March Across tbe Country to join Him— His Plan for Raising the Siege— The Battle— Grant's Appearance on the Field — The Grand Attack of the Centre under His own eye — Missionary Ridge Carried — The Pursuit— An Indian Chief's Opinion of Grant— The Presi- dent's Letter of Thanks— Grant's Order — Congress Votes Him a Medal — He Vis- its Nashville and Knoxville — Refuses to Make a Speech — Creation of tbe Rank of Lieutenant-General^Grant Nominated to It — Enters on His Duties— Im- mense Preparations for the Coming Campaign— The Country's Patience Under Delays— Two Armies to Move Simultaneously — The Bell of Destiny Begins to ToH, 87 CONTENTS. ■* 7 CHAPTER V. THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. PAQB Character and Plan of the Campaign — The Army Crosses the Rapidan — The Three Days' Battle in the Wilderness — Lee's Retreat to Spottsylvania — Battles Before it — Grant, by a Flank Movement, Marches to the North Anna River — Makes a Second Flank Movement to the Pamunkey — The Chickahominy — Battle of Cold Harbor — Strength of the Rebel Works — He Marches to the James River — Crosses it and Attacks Petersburg— Is Repulsed — Review of the Campaign — Siege of Richmond — Early Sent to the Valley of the Shenandoah— Goes into Ma- ryland and Pennsylvania — The Mine of Burnside — Grant Defeated at Hatcher's Run — Winter Quarters — Capture of Fort Fisher — Sherman Advancing— Despe- ration of the Rebels — Their Attempt to take City Point with Iron-clads — Narrow Escape of Grant's Army — Attack on Fort Steadman — Last Great Movement of the Army — Description of— Petersburg and Richmond Evacuated — The Race for Life of the Rebel Army — The Surrender — Account of it— A Momentous Sabbath — Surrender of Johnston — Collapse of the Rebellion— Joy of the People— En- thusiasm for Grant— His Character, . . . . . .100 CHAPTER VI. MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN. Sherman and Grant— Sherman's Nativity and Early Life— Adopted by Mr. Ewing — Sent to West Point — Made Second-Lieutenant in the Third Artillery and Sent to Florida — Stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina— Sent to California — Re- signs his Commission and Becomes President of a Banking House in San Fran- cisco — Made President of the Louisiana State Military Academy — Seeing War Inevitable, Resigns his Place in a Noble Letter — Visits Washington, and is As- tonished at the Apathy there — Gives the President and Secretary of War his Views, which only Create a Smile — Made Colonel and Fights at Bull Run — Made Brigadier of Volunteers and Sent to Kentucky — Interview with the Secretary of War and Adjutant-General — Anecdote of Him — Pronounced Crazy — Relieved from Command and Sent to Jefferson Barracks — Commands a Division atShiloh —Saves the Battle— The First to Enter Corinth— Takes Holly Springs— Commands at Memphis — His Attack on Vicksburg — Arkansas Post — Full Account of the Part he Took in Grant's Campaign Against Vicksburg — Ordered to Chattanooga — Death of his Boy, whom the Thirteenth Regiment had Adopted as a Pet, and Elected Sergeant — Touching Letter to the Regiment, . . . .12 18 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII CHATTANOOGA. PAga Sherman's March from the Mississippi to Chattanooga — His Arrival — Establishes Himself on Missionary Ridge — The Morning Before the Battle — Picturesque View — Opening of the Battle — The Victory — Pursuit — Ordered to March North to the Relief of Knoxville— State of His Army — Heroic Devotion — Sherman at Vicksburg — The Expedition Into Central Mississippi — Its Object and Cause of its Abandonment — Placed Over the Mississippi Department — Plans the Atlanta Campaign — Its Originality — The Number and Distribution of His Forces, . . ........ 158 CHAPTER VIII. ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. ^ Sherman's Foresight in Preparing for Contingencies — Flanks Dalton — Battle of Res- aca — Defeat of the Enemy — The Pursuit — Capture of Rome— Fight at Dallas — Flanking of AUatoona — A Second Base Established — The Kenesaw Mountains — Strength of the Position — Desperate Assault of— Defeat — Flanking Again Re- sorted to — Chattahoochee River Reached — View of the Country — Terrible As- sault on Thomas — Hood Retires to His Inner Works — Desperate Attack on McPherson — Heavy Rebel Losses — Capture of Stoneman — Cutting the Rebel Lines of Communication — Attack on Howard — The Army Swung Round the City to the Macon Road — Fight at Jonesboro' — Atlanta Evacuated — Destruction of Property — Slocum Takes Possession — Review of the Campaign — Genius of Sherman — Pursuit of Wheeler, ....... 16i CHAPTER IX. THE GEORGIA CAMPAIGN. Hood Attempts to Cut Sherman's Communications — Corse's Gallant Defence of AUa- toona — Pursuit of Hood — Sherman's Original and Daring Plan — Burning of Rome — Of Atlanta — Sherman Starts for the Atlantic Ocean— Views Respecting Uie Movement — Disposition of His Forces and Plan of Movement — The lieft CONTENTS. 19 Wing gnder Slocuin— The Right Under Howard-Kilpatrick's Cavalry— The Two Marches-Macon-MilledgeviUe-Soldiers Organize the Legislature-Novel Scene-Augusta Threatened-Millen-March to Savannah-Picturesque Scenes in the Pine Forests-Review of the March-Savannah Reached and Invested- Storming of Fort McAllister— Sherman Witnesses it from the Top of a Rice Mill-Surrender of Savannah-Magnitude of the Capture-Hardee Retreats to Charleston— Sherman's Christmas Gift to the President— Review of the Campaign, , . CHAPTER X. THE CAMPAIGN IN THE CAROLINAS. Sherman Plans His Northern Campaign-Strength and Division of His Army-The Trains-Construction Train-The Left Wing Threatens Augusta-The Right Charleston-Rain Storms-Salkahatchie as a Line of Defence-Sherman's Plan to Separate the Forces at Charleston and Augusta Completely Successful-The Railroad Between the Two Broken Up-Capture of Orangeburg-Branchvillo Left in the Rear-The Army Reaches the Saluda— Fall of Colnmbia-Is Set on Fire by the Rebels-Sherman's Account of-Anecdotes of Sherman-Charlotte Threatened and Beauregard Bewildered-Fall of Charleston-The Army Wheels About and Marches on Fayetteville-The Two Wings Meet for the First Time at • Cheraw-Capture of Fayetteville and Communication Opened with Terry and Schofield-Raleigh Threatened-Battle of BentonviUe-Goldsboro Reached- The Campaign Virtually Ended-Sherman Visits Grant and is Directed to Coop- erate with Him-His Return-News of the Fall of Petersburg-Sherman Marches on Raleigh-News of Lee's Surrender-Excitement in the Army-In- terview with Johnston-The Armistice-Conduct of the Secretary of War- Vindication of Sherman-Injustice and Cruelty of the Attacks on Him-His Character, . PACa Ul 213 CHAPTEKXI. MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. McPHERSON. His Worth at first not Appreciated-His Birth-Enters West Point-Graduates at the Head of his Class and Appointed Assistant Instructor of Practical Engineer- ing-Transferred to New York Harbor-Charged with the Construction of Fort 20 CONTENTS. PAoa Delaware — Sent to Superintend the Fortifications Being Erected in the Bay of San Francisco — Ordered Home and sent to Boston Harbor — Erroneous Views — Placed on the StafiF of Halleck — His Promotion — Sent to Aid Rose- crans — A Sflccessful Expedition from La Grange — Under Grant in North- ern Mississippi — Commands the Seventeenth Corps in the Campaign Against Vicksburg — His Gallant Conduct — Capture of Jackson — Champion Hills — Assault of Vicksburg — The Surrender — Placed Over the Army of the Ten- nessee — Defers his Marriage — His Services in the Atlanta Campaign — Ter- rible Fight Before Atlanta — His Death — Grant's Letter to his Grandmother —His Character, . . . . . . . . .237 CHAPTERXII. MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H. THOMAS. His Resemblance to "Washington— His Birth and Early Education — His Standing at West Point — Account of his Early Military Career— Wounded in a Fight with the Indians while on an Exploring Expedition — Breaking out of the War — Stands By the Old Flag— Commands in Patterson's Army— Is under Banks- Sent to Kentucky under General Anderson — Camp Dick Robinson — Wild-Cat Camp— Defeats ZoUicoffer— Battle of Mill Spring— Death of ZoUicoffer- Made Major-General of Volunteers— Marches to Pittsburg Landing— After Operations under Buell— Ordered to Supersede Buell— Declines— Serves Under Rosecrans— Confidence in Him— Feeling of the Army— Pet Names— His Bravery at Mur- freesboro — His Brilliant Heroic Conduct at Chickamauga— Supersedes Rose- crans— Commands the Centre under Grant in the Battle of Missionary Ridge- Sherman's Chief Reliance in the Atlanta Campaign— Assaulted by Hood— At Jonesboro— Sent to Nashville to Raise an Army- Correspondence with Grant- Battle of Nashville— His Character, ...... 2C1 CHAPTER XIII. MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT HANCOCK. His Birth— Enters West Point— Sent to the Indian Territory— His Services in Mex- ico—Expedition to Utah— Sent to California— Recalled at the Breaking Out of the War— Made Brigadier-General— Gallant Charge at Williamsburg— His Ser- vices on the Peninsuh under McClellan— Serves under Pope— Gallantry at An- \ CONTENTS. 21 tfetam — At Fredericksburg — At Chancellorsville — Represents Meade at Gettys- burg — The Battle — Is Wounded — Under Grant Commands the Left Wing of the Grand Army — Battle of the Wilderness— Gallant Charge at Spottsylvania — At iforth Anna — Before Petersburg — Defeated at Hatcher's Run — Resigns his Command — Appointed to Raise a Corps of Veterans — Commands in the She- nandoah Valley — His Character, ....... 294 CHAPTER XIV. MAJOR-GENERAL HUGH. JUDSON KILPATRICK. His Birth and Early Life — Enters West Point — Whips a Bully — Leaves for the Army Before he Completes his Course— His Marriage — Becomes an Officer in Duryea's Zouaves — Wounded at Big Bethel — Made Lieutenant-Colonel in the Harris Light Cavalry — Seizes Falmouth — Chase After the Rebel Commander — Gallant Operations Around Fredericksburg— His Services in Pope's Campaign — Under Hooker — Raid on Richmond — His Fights Previous to the Battle of Gettysburg, and In It — Daring Pursuit of Lee — A Fearful Night March — Scene at Smithburg — Fight at Hagerstown — March to Williamsport — Fight at — Charge at Falling Waters — Summing Up of his Achievements — Obtains a Furlough — Operations on the Rapidpn and Rappahannock, under Meade— Gallant Attempt to Release the Prisoners in Richmond — Enters the Outworks of the Rebel Capital — Sent West to Join Sherman — Is Wounded at Resaca and Returns Home — Again Joins the Army Before Atlanta — Sent to Cut the Railroads— Commands the Cavalry in the Georgia Campaign — Account of his Services — Complimented by Sherman — Campaign of the Carolinas — Threatens Augusta — His Surprise by Hampton and Narrow Escape — Retaliation on the Enemy — Averysboro — His Gallantry at Ben- tonville — His Address to his Troops — His Character, .... Slfe CHAPTER XV. MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE. His Career Furnishing but Few Striking Points to a Biographer— His Birth— Grad- uates at West Point — Serves in the Mexican War — Promoted for Gallant Con- duct in the Battle of Monterey — Made Brigadier of Volunteers soon after the Breaking Out of the War — Commands a Foraging Expedition near Dranesville — His Career on the Peninsula — Is Desperately Wounded in the Battle of Glendalo 22 CONTENTS. — Serves under Hooker at South Mountain and Antietam —His Brilliant Charge at the Latter Place— After Hooker is Wounded Assumes Command of the Corps — At Chancellorsville — Appointed to the Command of the Army of the Potomac — His Model Order — Pursuit of Lee — Battle of Gettysburg — Headquarters un- der Fire — The Victory — The Pursuit — Strange Inaction in Front of Lee — Crosses the Potomac — Outmarched by Lee — Compelled to Retreat to Bull Kun — Advances to the Rappahannock — Various Detached Conflicts — Winter Quarters ' — Grant Places Himself at the Head of the Army of the Potomac— Grant and Meade Together— Character of the Latter, ..... 547 CHAPTER XVI. MAJOR-GENERAL JOSEPH HOOKER. His Bft-th and Nativity — Enters West Point — Serves under Taylor in Mexico — Joins the Army of General Scott — Promoted for Gallant Conduct at the National Bridge and Chapultepec — Resigns his Commission and Becomes a California Farmer — Appointed Brigadier of Volunteers at the Commencement of the War — Is Stationed Below Washington — Battle of Williamsburg — His After Services in the Army of the Potomac — Under Pope— Battle of South Mountain — Of An- tietam — Is Wounded — Under Burnside — Supersedes him — His Confident Orders — Feeling of the People — Battle of Chancellorsville — Lee Marches Around him— Resigns his Position — Sent to Chattanooga to Assist Rosecrans — Occupies Look- out Valley — Battle Above the Clouds — His Gallant Record in the Atlanta Cam- paign — Terrific Fight Before the City — Offended at Howard's Promotion and Resigns — Sent to Ohio — Now Commands New England Departnient, . . SC4 CHAPTER XVII. MAJOR-GENERAL HENRY WARNER SLOCUM. The Benefit of West Point Academy — Slocum's Birth — Graduates at West Point- Sent to Florida — Stationed at Charleston — Studies Law — Resigns his Commis- sion and Opens a Law Office in Syracuse— Volunteers in the Army and is Made Colonel — Wounded at Bull Run — Made Brigadier-General — Commands a Di- vision — His Career on the Peninsula under McClellan — At South Mountaiu and Autietam — Supersedes Banks — At Chancellorsville— Commands the Left Wing CONTENTS. 23 FAQS at Gettysburg — Is sent into Tennessee — Protects the Communications Between Chattanooga and Nashville— Placed Over the Department of Vicksburg — De- stroys the Bridges Over Pearl River — Cut Off by the Enemy — Defeats Him — Ex- pedition to Port Gibson — A Night Attack — Takes Hooker's Place as Commander of the Twentieth Corps — Enters Atlanta— Placed Over the Left Wing of Sher- man's Army — March Through Georgia — Through the Carolinas— Battles of Averysboro and Bentonville — His Character, ..... 881 CHAPTER XVIII. MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. Bis Birth and Parentage — Keeps a Store — Is s.ent to West Point — Is made Assistant Professor in the Academy — His Early and Great Services as Engineer — Resigns on Account of 111 Health — Opens an Office in Cincinnati — Is Employed by a Coal Company in Virginia — Sets up a Manufactory of Coal Oil — Nearly Loses his Life — The First to make Pure Oil— Invents the Circular Wick, and makes Improvehients in Lamps — Breaking Out of the War — His First Services— Made Brigadier- General, and Ordered to Western Virginia — Rich Mountain — Carni- fex Ferry — Defeats Lee— His Plans Broken Up — Fremont Placed Over the Moun- tain Department — Is sent West — Under Halleck — Under Grant — Battle of luka — Battle of Corinth — Placed Over the Army of the Cumberland— Battle of Mur- freesboro — Captures Chattanooga — Battle of Chickamauga — Is Superseded by Thomas — Placed over the Missouri Department — His Character, . . 898 CHAPTER XIX. MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN SEDGEWICK. Bis Birth and Nativity— A Farmer's Boy — Enters West Point— Sent to Florida— Sta- tioned at Buffalo — At New York — His Gallantry and Promotion in the Mexican War — Made Brigadier-General of Volunteers— Supersedes Stone — Heroic Ac- tion at Fair Oaks — His Services on the Peninsula — Is Wounded at Antietam — Captures the Heights of Fredericksburg — March of his Corps to Gettysburg — Commands the Army of the Potomac— Letter to General French— Commands the Right Wing of Grant's Army— Battle of the Wilderness— Killed at Spott- sylvania — His Character, ........ 4U 24 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XX. MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN. PAGB Generals from Civil Life — Logan's Birth and Nativity and Early Education — Serves in the Mexican War — Studies Law — His Political Life — Views on Being a Can- didate for Congress in 1S60 — Fights in the Ranks at Bull Run — Raises a Regi- ment and is made Colonel— Gallantry at Belmont — Fort Henry — Desperately Wounded at Fort Donelson — Under Grant — His Career During the Vicksburg Campaign — Takes the Stump for the Administration — Placed Over Sherman's Corps in the Atlanta Campaign — Battle Before Atlanta — His Course in the Polit- ical Campaign of 1864 — Joins Sherman at Savannah — His Character and Per- sonal Appearance, ......... 434 • CHAPTER XXI. MAJOR-GENERAL AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. His Ancestry and Nativity — Graduates at West Point — Sent to Mexico — Fight with Indians — Quartermaster of the Boundary Commission — Resigns — Establishes a Manufactory of the Burnside Rifle— His Failure — Goes West — Obtains Employ- ment in the Illinois Central Railroad— Colonel of a Rhode Island Regiment — Battle of Bull Run — The Expedition to Roanoke — Captures Newbern — Recalled to Aid McClellan — His Failure at Antietam— Supersedes McClellan — Battle of Fredericksburg — Resigns his Command — Sent to Ohio — His Administration of Affairs — Captures Knoxville — Besieged by Longstreet — Goes East — Authorized to Raise Fifty Thousand Volunteers — The Reserve of Grant's Army— His Great Services in the Richmond Campaign — The Mine at Petersburg — Retires from the Army — His Character, ........ 447 CHAPTER XXII. MAJOR-GENERAL PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN. His Nativity and Birth — From Driving a Water-Cart Passes to West Point — His Belligerent Character — Narrowly Escapes Being Disgraced — His Early Services — Personal Heroism — Sent West — His Life in the Indian Territory — Quarter- master under Curtis — Is Arrested — Made Captain of Cavalry — Gallant Fight near Booneville — Promoted — Serves under Buell and Rosecrans — Fights Despe- CONTENTS. 25 PAOB ratelj at Murfreesboro— At Chickamauga— Assaults Missionary Ridge— Placed Over the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac— His Raids on Railroads— Put in Command of Shenandoah Valley— Battles with Early- Lays "Waste the Country —Battle of Middletown— His Gallant Conduct— Raid to Lynchburg and RicJi- mond— Joins Grant— Commences the Last Great Movement- Battle of Five Forks— Pursuit of Lee— Heavy Captures— The End— His Character, . . 460 CHAPTER XXIII. MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN McALLISTER SCHOFIELD. His Birth and Nativity— Graduates at "West Point— Instructor at the Academy- Elected President of "Washington College— Appointed Major— Commands the Militia of Missouri— Commands the Army of the F/ontier— Assesses Disloyal People— Commands the Missouri Department— Commands One of the Three Armies of Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign— Left to Take Care of Hood— Bat- tle of Franklin— Battle of Nashville— Ordered East to Newbern— Battle of Kins- ton— Enters Goldsboro— His Character, ...... 488 1 CHAPTER XXIV. MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM B. HAZEN. His Ancestry— Nativity— Early Occupation— Enters West Point— Serves Against the Indians in California— Sent to Texas— Wounded in a Fight with the Camanches — Returns Home— Is Appointed Professor at West Point — Made Colonel of an Ohio Regiment— Serves under Buell— Gallantry at Shiloh— Pursues Bragg Through the Cumberland Mountains- His Gallant Conduct- in the Battle of Mur- freesboro— Holds the Tennessee River — At Chickamauga — Seizes Brown's Ferry —A Night Scene — Gallant Charge up Missionary Ridge— Sent to Relieve Knox- ville— Atlanta and Georgia Campaigns— Storming of Fort McAllister — Takes Part in the Campaign of the Carolinas — His Character, . . . 4d6 CHAPTER XXV. MAJOR-GENERAL FRANZ SIGEL. His Nalivity— Educated in the Military School at Carlsruhe— Made Adjutant- General— Joins the Revolutionary Government— Made Minister of War — A Mas- 26 CONTENTS. Pioa terly Retreat— Compelled to Flee to Switzerland — Driven from the Country and Comes to the United States — Keeps School in New York — Removes to Mis- souri — Made Colonel of Volunteers— Serves under Lyon — Battle of Carthage — A Skillful Retreat — Defeated at Wilson's Creek — Made Brigadier-General — His Gallantry at Pea Ridge — Dissatisfied with Halleck and Resigns — Public Meet- ing in His Behalf— Made Major-General and Stationed at Harper's Ferry — Su- persedes Fremont — Serves through Pope's Campaign — Placed over the Eleventh Corps — Given Command of the Shenandoah Department by Grant — Defeated by Breckenridge — Superseded by Hunter — Stationed at Harper's Ferry — Re- signs — Becomes Editor of a German Paper in Baltimore, . . . 513 CHAPTER XXVI. MAJOR-GENERAL ALFRED HOWE TERRY. flis Birth and Education — County Clerk — Visits Europe— Commands a Regiment in the Battle of Bull Run— Occupies the Fort on Hilton Head after its Capture by Dupont— Assists Gillmore in the Capture of Fort Pulaski— Made Brigadier- General and Sent to Florida — Expedition to Pocotaligo — Joins Gillmore on Morris Island in the Siege of Wagner and Sumter — His Services under Butler at Drury's Bluff— -Engaged in Various Actions Around Petersburg and Rich- mond—Selected to Capture Fort Fisher— Capture of the Place— Occupies Wil- mington — Opens CommnnicatioB with Sherman — Marches to Goldsboro — His Present Command and Rank, ....... 520 CHAPTER XXVII. MAJOR-GENERAL JOHN ALEXANDER McCLERNAND. His Nativity and Early Life— Studies Law— Volunteers to Fight the Indians — Em- barks in Trade— Establishes a Democratic Paper, and Opens a Law OfBce — ^En^ ters on a Political Life— Resigns His Seat in Congress, and Raises a Brigade — His Gallantry at Belmont— Cairo Expedition— Battle of Fort Donelson — Bravery at Shiloh — Placed over Sherman — Captures Arkansas Post— Leads the Advance in the Campaign of Vicksburg — His Great Services — Assault of Vicksburg — His Order and Letter to Governor Yates — Is Removed by Grant — His Char- acter, . ....... 528 CONTENTS. 27 CHAPTER XXVIII. MAJOR-GENEKAL OLIVER OTIS HOWARD. r&oi Eavelock of the Army — His Birth and Early Educatiou— At West Point — Sent to Florida— His Conversion — Joins the Methodist Church — Appointed Instructor at West Point — Superintendent of Sabbath School — Establishes a Prayer Meet- ing and Bible Class — Resigns and is Appointed Colonel of a Maine Regiment — Commands a Brigade at Bull Run — Made Brigadier — Loses an Arm at Fair Oaks — Gallantry at Antietam — His Defeat at Chancellorsville — His Great Ser- vices at Gettysburg — Sent West to Reinforce Rosecrans — Lookout Valley — Mis- sion Ridge — Services under Hooker in the Atlanta Campaign — Succeeds McPherson in the Command of the Army of the Tennessee — Commands the Right Wing in the Georgia Campaign and the Campaign of the Carolinas — Placed over the Frcedmen's Bureau — His Christian Character — Abilities as a General— Anecdotes of Him, ....... 538 CHAPTER XXIX. MAJOR-GENERAL QUINCY ADAMS GILLMORE. His Early Life — West Point — Sent to Fortress Monroe — A Teacher at West Point — Stationed in New York — Chief Engineer of the Expedition to Port Royal — Her- culean Operations Around Pulaski — Capture of the Fort — Commands in West- ern Virginia — Placed over the Southern Department — Assault of Fort Wagner — Bombardment of Sumter — Capture of Fort Wagner — Charleston Shelled — Or- dered North to Co-operate with Butler Below Richmond — His Services in the Field — Asks to be Relieved from Serving under Butler — Ordered to Report to Canby — Placed again over the Southern Department — Co-operates with Sher- man, .......... 552 CHAPTER XXX. MAJOR-GENERAL GOUVERNEIJR K. WARREN. War Makes and Mars Fortunes Quickly — Warren's Nativity — Graduates at West Point— Sent to the Southwest — Succeeds Lee on the Mississippi — His Great Labors in the Pacific Railroad Office — Campaign against the Sioux Indians — 28 CONTENTS. PAQB Explores Nebraska— Appointed Professor of Mathematics at "West Point — Made Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers — Big Bethel — Builds the Works on Federal Hill, Baltimore — Made Colonel — Acts as Brigadier in the Army of the Poto- mac — His Gallantry at Malvern Hill — His Brigade Cut up at Manassas — Antie- tam — Topographical Engineer at Chancellorsville — Engineer-in-Chief at Gettys- burg — Narrow Escape — Made Major-General — Battle of Bristoe Station — Com- mands the Centre of the Army of the Potomac under Grant — Battle of the Wilderness — His Gallantry at Spottsylvania — North Anna — Destroys the "Weldon Railroad — Saves Sheridan at Five Forks — Relieved from Command — After Service, &c., . . . . . . . . .563 CHAPTER XXXI. Majoe-Geneeal Hoeatio Gates Weight, . . , . . . . 573 Majoe-Geneeal Edwaed Otho Ceesap Okd, ..... 574 Majoe-General Andrew A. Humphrets, . ... . . • 576 Majoe-Geneeal Godfrey Weitzel, ...... 577 Majoe-General F. P. Blaie, ........ 578 Majoe-Geneeal A. S. Williams, ....... 579 Majoe-Geneeal Jeff. C. Davis — Majoe-Geneeal Mowee, . . . 680 Majoe-General Dobson Cox — Majoe-Geneeal Peter J. Osterhaus, . . 581 APPENDIX. Report of the Battle of Belmont, Mo., fought November 7, 1861, , . , 583 Grant's Orders while at Memphis, .... . 588 Correspondence Between Sherman and the Authorities of Atlanta, ' . 589 Report of the Campaign of the Carolinas, ..... 692 General Sherman's Testimony before the Committee on the War, . . 604 GRANT AND SHERMAN ; THEIE CAMPAIGNS AND GENERALS. CHAPTER I. THE FIEST GEEAT PLAN OF CAEETIN'a ON THE WAR — THE FAILUEE OF HAL- LEOK's ADMINISTBATION — THE GEEAT CHANGE IN AFFAIRS WHEN QEANT ASSUMED CONTROL OF OUR AEfflES — POPULAE EER0E3 RESPECTINa»GENEEAL8 AND THE WAR — CAPABLE LEADERS NOT EEADY-MADE, BUT GEOW TO THEIB RESPONSIBILITIES — MISTAKEN NOTION OF THE GOVEENMENT WANT OF CHAEITT OF THE PEOPLE — OUR GENERALS NOT TO BE BLINDLY EULOGIZED, BUT THEIR MISTAKES, AS WELL AS TRIUMPHS, TO BE RECORDED — A TEUB NARRATIVE OF THEIR EISE TO GEEATNESS THE ONLY ONE DESIEABLE. We propose in tliis volume to take up the two mili- tary chieftains and their principal generals who brought this gigantic war to its triumphant close. At the outset a great plan was adopted by Scott, and afterward by McClellan, which, in its main features, consisted in having two great armies, one in the Mississippi valley, the other in front of Washington, move simultaneously forward east and west, driving the rebel armies before them, and subduing the country as they advanced. The navy, in tRe mean time, was to operate against the hostile sea- ports, closing up their commerce, or seizing them as new bases of supplies and movements inland of such forces 32 GRANT AND SHERMAN. as would be needed to cooperate with the main armies. This plan was so carefully elaborated, that the exact number of men and guns thought to be necessary was given. It need not be added that this number was too small ; for, at the commencement of the war, no one north or south comprehended the magnitude of the struggle on which we had entered. However, the plan was put in operation ; the two armies moved, and the western one kept on its victorious march till it was stopped at Vicks- burg. The eastern one planted itself before Richmond, while Burnside made a lodgment on the coast of North Carolina. The failure at Richmond, and the removal of McClellan, though they did not cause any new plan to be adopted, left the old one in abeyance ; and during the two years that Halleck was general-in-chief, the war seemed to resolve itself into separate engagements, which gave us no permanent advantage, and took us not one step nearer the close of the conflict. The commencement of Halleck''s reign was distin- guished, in the east, by the withdrawal of the army from the James— where every military man of sense knew it would have to be placed again — the defeat of Pope, and the invasion of Maryland ; in the west, by the retreat of Buell from before Chattanooga to Nashville, the in- vasion of Kentucky and Tennessee by Kirby Smith and Bragg till their forces threatened even Cincinnati, the evacuation of Cumberland Gap by Morgan, and the sur- render of all East Tennessee into the hands of the rebf Is. This sad beginning was made worse by the terrible defeat of Burnside at Fredericksburg, the equally dis- astrous failure of Hooker at Chancellorsville, and the invasion of Pennsylvania by Lee. West, Posecrans finally pushed on to Chattanooga, but was stopped there, THE FIRST GREAT PLAN. 33 while everything indicated that he would be compelled to retreat, and the campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky all have to be fought over again. Never did a general-in- cliief before make up in so short a time so sad a record. That the President retained him in power so long, under such an accumulation of disasters, filled the country with surprise. The removal of subordinate leaders did not reach the source of the difficulty, and the w^ar seemed farther, than ever from its end, till the European powers came to the conclusion that it never could end, except in the independence of the South. But for the triumphs of the man who was soon to displace the incapable general- in-chief, and change all this, the discouragement of the patriot would have well-nigh reached despair. When Grant assumed the chief command, a new spirit was breathed into this chaotic mass ; order be^an to spring out of confusion, as at the creation of the world ; sea and land became separated, and harmony and design appeared where before blind chance seemed to rule. But although this great change came over the aspect of military affairs the moment Grant and Sherman were placed at the head of the two grand armies of the Union, it is not to. be supposed that they were the only two great generals the war had produced, or the only ones who were able to bring it to a successful issue. It is an error to imagine, as many do, that the Government kept casting about for men fit to do the w^ork these men did, and, after long searching, at length found them. Seve- ral were displaced, who would have, doubtless, succeede . in bringing us ultimate victory, had they been allowed a fair trial. The error was in supposing that men, capa- ble of controlling such vast armies, and carrying on a 3 34 GRANT AND SHERMAN. war 01 such mao;nitude and coverino; almost a con- tinent iii its scope, were to be found ready-made. They were not to leap forth, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter, completely panoplied and ready for the ser vice to which they were destined. A war of such mag nitude, and covering the territory that ours did, would have staggered the genius of Napoleon, or the skill of Wellington, even at the close of their long experience and training. To expect, therefore, that officers, who had never led ten thousand men to battle, were sud- denly to become capable of wielding half a million, was absurd. Both the army and the leaders, as well as the nation, had to grow by experience to the vastness of the undertaking. A mighty military genius, capable at once of comprehending and controlling the condition of things, would have upset the government in six months. Trammelled, confined, and baffled by " ignorance and un- belief," it would have taken matters into its own hand. Besides, such prodigies do not a^^pear every century. We were children in such a complicated and wide-sweeping struggle ; and, like children, were compelled to learn to walk by many a stumble. Greene, next to Washington, was the greatest general our revolutionary war produced ; yet, in almost his first essay, he lost Fort Washington, with its four thousand men, and seriously crij)pled his great leader. But Washington had the sagacity to dis- cern his military ability beneath his failure, and still, gave him his confidence. To a thinking man, that was evidently "ihe only way fjr us to get a competent general — one capa- ble of planning and carrying out a great campaign. Here was our vital error. The Government kept throwing dice for able commanders. It is true that experience will not make a great man out of a naturally weak one ; but it is FALSE VIEWS OF GENERALS. 35 equally true that witliout it, a man of great natural mili- tary capacity will not be equal to vast responsibilities and combinations. Our experience proved this; for both Grant and Sherman came very near sharing the fate of many that preceded them. Nothing but the President's friendship and tenacity saved the former after the battle of Pittsburgh Landing. His overthrow was determined on ; while the latter was removed from the department of Kentucky, as a crazy man. Great by nature, they were fortunately kept wdiere they could grow to the new and strange condition of things, and the magnitude of the struggle into which we had been thrown. If the process of changing commanders the moment they did not keep pace with the extravagant expectations of the country, and equally extravagant predictions of the Government, had been continued, we should have been floundering to this day amid chaos and uncertainty. The same principle will apply to the Government. To expect that it would rise at once to the true magnitude and comprehensiveness of this unprecedented war, was un- just. Errors on its part were as inevitable, as mistakes on the part of generals. The Administration had got to grow to the new and complicated condition of things, as well as the armv and the leaders. Not recomizinsf this necessity, made the people very wanting in charity and proper consideration for the Government. Many talked and acted as if they thought that the mere fact that a man was President, rendered him equal to any emergency and to any demand. The President, like the people themselves, and the army and the generals, must gradual- ly and through many errors feel his way to the true com- prehension of such an unprecedented struggle. We demanded that neither should make any mistakes, and 36 GRANT AND SHERMAN. looking only at our vast power and resources, were im- patient that tliey were not gathered up at once, and vvielded with a skill and prescience superhuman. In short, we demanded that men, suddenly placed in the most difficult positions that ever tried the capacity of mortals, should do what "nobody but a weak and vain person pretended he himself could have done, were he to stand in their place. After events have transpired, it is a common and withal an easy and shallow criticism to say, " It could have been better done." In art, literature, and war, it is all the same. Any one can say it, and claim wisdom in the utterance. We have said this much, because in the present work we do not design to indulge in blind eulogy, but shall speak of errors, as well as successes — show how cir- cumstances developed character and wrought out great- ness. Truly great men do not like indiscriminate flattery. Aware that they have gained by experience, even by defeats themselves, they cheerfully acknowledge it, and repudiate the claim of perfect wisdom and a sagacity that never allowed them to err. They love truth as well as praise, and the more discriminating the latter is, the higher it is prized. The ability to redeem errors, and obtain final success in spite of mistakes, is the strongest evidence of true greatness. Next to being great one's self, is the sagacity to see capacity in others, and thus be able to select the instruments appropriate for the work to be done. In this respect, both Grant and Sherman were distinguished above ordinary men. CHAPTER II. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. HIS ANOESTEY AND NATIVITY — BROUGHT UP A TANNER — ENTERS WEST POINT MILITARY ACADEMY — BEEVETTED SECOND LIEUTENANT, AND SENT TO JE'F- FERSON BARRACKS, MO. — JOINS TAYLOR's ARMY IN MEXICO — AFTER THS BATTLE OF MONTEREY, TRANSFERRED TO SCOTt's AEMY AT VERA CRUZ — MADE QUARTERMASTER OF HIS REGIMENT — BRETETTED CAPTAIN FOR GAL- LANTRY AT OnAPULTEPEO — HIS MARRIAGE — STATIONED AT DETROIT AND SACKETt's HARBOR — SENT TO OREGON — RESIGNS HIS COMMISSION — SETTLES ON A FARM, NEAR ST. LOUIS — ACTS AS COLLECTOR OF DEBTS FOR HIS NEIGH- BORS — GOES TO GALENA AND SETS UP A LEATHER-STORE IN CONNECTION "WITH HIS FATHER — BREAKING OUT OF THE WAR — OFFERS HIS SERVICES TO THE GOVERNMENT, AND RAISES A COMPANY — MADE ADJUTANT-GENERAL OF THE STATE — REFUSES A BRIGADIERSHIP — APPOINTED COLONEL AND SENT INTO MISSOURI MADE BRIGADIER, AND ASSIGNED TO THE DISTRICT OF CAIRO — EXPEDITION TO BELMONT, AND CAPTURE OF THE ENEMy's CAMP — HIS HORSE SHOT UNDER HIM — HIS CONGRATULATORY ORDER — HIS DISTRICT ENLARGED — THE CAIRO EXPEDITIONS — A STRICT ORDER — PRIVATE PROPERTY TO BE RES- PECTED — EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT HENRY — INVESTMENT AND CAPTURE OF FORT DONELSON — THE BATTLE — ORDERED UNDER ARREST — PUT OVER THE WEST TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT — ADVANCES TO PITTSBURG LANDING — BAT- TLE OF — HIS DEFEAT FIRST DAY— SHEKMAn's LETTER — DETERMINATION TO REMOVE HIM FROM COMMAND — CHARGES AGAINST FATE CEASES TO PERSE- CUTE HIM — HIS STAR IN THE ASCENDANT — ADVANCE AGAINST CORINTH — LOSES HIS TEMPER WITH HALLECK — HIS CONDUCT AT MEMPHIS — BATTLES OF lUKA AND CORINTH — TURNS HIS ^TTENTION TO VICKSBURG SHEEMAN's FAILURE AT VICKSBURG. HiRAM Ulysses Grant, or, as lie is known, Ulysses S. Grant, is of Scotch descent, and in those great quali- ties which distinguish him, shows that the Scotch blood still flows strongly through his veins. His father was a 38 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. native of Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, but in 1794 removed to Ohio. Ulysses was born at Point Pleasant, Clermont Co., of the latter State, April 27th, 1822. His father was a tanner by trade, to which business he also was brought up. Peceiving only the limited education which at the time could be furnished in what was called the Far West, he grew up a sturdy youth, differing little from scores of hard-working young men around him. When eighteen years of age, he succeeded, through the influence of Mr. Hamer, member of Congress from Ohio, in obtaining an appointment in the Military Academy at West Point. He labored under great disadvantage, in comparison with many young men in his class, in his want of knowledge of the preparatory studies which they possessed. He made up, however, for all deficiencies in this respect, by his close application and perseverance. A mistake in enterins^ his name on the books at West Point, changed it from the baptismal one. His grand- mother wished him named Ulysses, after the Grecian hero, but his grandfather preferred that of Hiram ; so the matter was compromised by calling him Hiram Ulysses. Mr. Hamer, in presenting his name for a cadetship, by mistake wrote it Ulysses S. Grant. With that name, therefore, he graduated, and by it has ever since gone. He graduated in 1843, No. 21 in his class, which indicated only a good respectable standing. Appointed brevet second lieutenant in the Fourth. Pegular Infantry, he joined his regiment, stationed at Jefferson Barracks, and the next spring moved with it up the Ped Piver, to do frontier duty. In 1845, when trouble began to arise between this country and Mexico, Taylor was sent to Corpus Christi with an " Army of Occupation," of which Grant's regiment formed a part. He was soon after pro- THE YOUTH OF GRANT. 39 moted to a full second lieutenant In 1846 war was declared by Mexico, and Grant's active military life com- menced. He marched with Taylor from Point Isabel, and participated in the battles of Resaca and Palo Alto. Wlien the army moved into the interior, his regiment accompanied it, and took part in the hotly-contested battle of Monterey. Transferred to the army of General Scott, he was appoi^ited quartermaster of his regiment, and took part in every battle between Vera Cruz and the City of Mexico. Por his gallantry at Molino del Hey, he was appointed brevet first lieutenant. In the battle of Chapultepec, which occurred a few days after, he so distinguished himself, that he was brevetted captain, and honorably mentioned in the despatches. Pie with Cap- tain Brooks, and a few men, by a skilful move on the left flank of the enemy at the first barrier, compelled the Mexicans to seek safety in flight. His intrepidity on the occasion was so conspicuous, that Garland made special mention of him. At the close of the war, he married a Miss Dent, of St. Louis, Missouri, and soon after was stationed at Detroit. From thence he was transferred to Sackett's Harbor. Subsequently, a force being sent to Oregon, he accompanied it, and here, in 1852, received his full commission as captain. The next year he re- signed his commission, and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, on a small farm near his father-m-law. The rough life, however, to which he was now subjected, did not suit him, nor the duties of a collector of debts, which he at one time undertook to be, for his neighbors. The young captain was getting along indifli'erently v/ell in Missouri, and the prospect before him was not very flattering, when he received a letter from his father, invit- ing him to go into the leather-trade with him. Glad of 40 LIEUTENANT-GENERAJi GRANT. a chance to improve liis condition, he at once removed to Galena, Illinois, and in 1859 settled down to the leather business, for which his military career was not the best preparation he could have had. The sign of " Grant & Son, Leather Dealers," in the far West, stands in strong contrast to the name of Lieu- tenant-General Grant, as five years after it stood written in the front of the temple of military fame. The prospect before him at this time was, that he would obtain a fair competence in his business, and live and die a respectable citizen of Galena. But the troubles that had long been brewing between the North and South came to a head on the election of Mr. Lincoln. Grant had voted against him, for he saw, like many others, the danger to the Republic of a sectional issue. But when the news of the fall of Fort Sumter startled the nation, his old military ardor was aroused. The flag under which he had so often perilled his life had been struck doAvn by traitors, and his business was at once cast to the winds. Saying, " Uncle Sam educated me for the army ; and although I have served faithfully through one war, I feel that I am still a little in debt for my education, and I am ready to discharge it and put down this rebel- lion."" He immediately organized a company and tendered it to the Governor, and applied for a commission ; but, it is said, failed to get it. Applications of that sort were numerous enough, and, at that period of the war, reserved too much for political friends. The Governor, however, being ignorant of the details of military organization, employed him to assist in organizing the quota of the State, as Adjutant-General. Two weeks after. Governor Yates proposed to send his name to Washington for the appointment of Brigadier- HIS FIRST EXPEDITION. 41 General. Grant refused his consent, curtly replying that he did not ask promotion, he wanted to earn it. In June, 1861, he was appointed Colonel of tlio Twenty-first Regiment, that its own colonel could not manage ; and though his rather shabby appearance at first excited the soldiers' ridicule, they soon found they had a man to deal with who was accustomed to obedience. He was first sent into Missouri, but in August, being made Brigadier-General, he was assigned to the district of Cairo. He at once took possession of Paducah, an im- portant position for future operations. The enemy at this time had a large force, under Polk, at Columbus, also a camp and garrison opposite, at Bel- mont. Grant, finding his force too small to attack the former place, determined to break up the camp at the lat- ter. The object of the expedition, he said, was to prevent the enemy from sending out reinforcements to Price's army in Missouri, and also from cutting oif columns that he had despatched after Jefi*. Thompson. In order not to be a\'erwhelmed by the garrison at Columbus, he asked General Smith, commanding at Paducah, to make a de- monstration against the former place, which he did, by sending a small force, that was not to advance nearer, how- ever, than twelve or fifteen miles. He also despatched another small force on the Kentucky side, for the same purpose, with directions not to advance nearer than Elli- cott's Mills, twelve miles from Columbus. These demon- strations against a place, with small detachments halting twelve or fifteen miles away, we hardly think he would order now. The force under his o^vn command was two thousand eight hundred and fifty strong. These were embarked in transports on the evening of the 6th of No\'ember, and 42 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. moved do^vn to the foot of Island No. Ten, witMn eleven miles of Columbus, where they stopped for the night, tied up to the Kentucky shore. At daylight, next morning, the transports moved quietly down-stream till almost within range of the rebel guns, when they were quickly pushed to the Missouri shore, and the troops landed. The gunboats Tyler and Lexington accompanied them. The cannon were hauled by hand up the steep banks, amid dropping shot and shell from the rebel encampment, from which, as it occupied an elevated position, Grants movements could be distinctly seen. The troops, after landing, passed through some corn- fields and halted, preparatory to an advance. Colonel Buford was ordered to make a detour to the riiiht, and come down on the rebel camp in that direction. The main army then moved forward till it arrived within a mile and a half of the abattis that the rebels had piled in their front. This was composed of trees, that for several hundred yards had been felled with their tops pointing outward, and the limbs sharpened, so that a dense breastwork of points confronted any force advanc- ino; down the river. The orunboats in the meantime were engaging the batteries at Columbus. As the columns advanced, the dropping fire of the skirmishers showed that the enemy had been met, and was determined to dispute every inch of ground to their encampment. The Thirtieth and Thirty-first having been sent forward to relieve the skirmishers, a spirited action was commenced, which lasted for half an hour, in which our ranks v/ere thrown into disorder. Colonels Foulke and Logan, however, soon rallied them, and drove the enemy back for a quarter of a mile, where, being rein- BATTLE OF BELMONT. 43 forced, they attempted to turn McClernand^s left flank. Being defeated in this by a prompt movement of Colonel Loo'an, and suddenly swept by a fierce fire of artillery and musketry, they began to show signs of wavering. Foulke and Logan, sword in hand, shouted to their men, urging them forward by stirring appeals, which were answered with cheers, and these raw troops stood up like veterans to their work. The- officers, however, had to set the example of ex- posure, for now, added to the fire in front, the batteries at Columbus, which had ceased firing at the gunboats, sent their huge projectiles crashing through the tree-tops overhead. Grant and McClernand were both in the thick- est of the fight, exposing themselves like the commonest soldier. The latter, while leading a gallant charge, re- ceived a ball in his holster ; and the horse of Grant was killed under him. While this struggle was going on, a tremendous fire from the Twenty-seventh broke over the woods, to the right and rear of the rebel encampment The other resriments havino; now worked their wav into line through the brushwood, the whole closed sternly up on three sides of the abattis at once, and sweeping rapidly forward, drove the enemy pell-mell through it. Follow- ing close on their heels, our excited troops dashed through and over with a cheer. The sight of the Twenty-seventh in the open space beyond roused all their ardor, and they, too, soon stood in the clear ground around the camp. The artillery opened on the tents, not three hundred yards dis- tant, and the rebels broke for the river and the woods like a flock of frightened sheep. A detachment having rallied in the woods, McClernand galloped thither, and came near losing his life — one ball grazing his head, another hitting his horse in the shoulder, while others cut his trappings. 44 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. The camp being ours, McClernand called for three cheers for the Union, which were given with a will ; the flag went proudly up, while the bands struck up national airs. The torch was then applied to the tents and bag- gage, and in a moment the spot was wrapt in flames and smoke. The enraged enemy across the river at Columbus now turned their batteries on the smoking camp, and soon shot and shell were hurtling through the air on every side. Grant saw at once that he could not stay here ; and to hasten his departure, he was told that the rebels at Colum- bus had thrown a large force across the river, directly in his rear, and between him and his transports. The ar- tillery was immediately turned on them, while Logan ordered his flag to the front, and moved straight on the enemy, followed by the whole army, except Buford's Regiment, the Twenty-seventh, and two Cavalry com- panies, that returned by the same circuitous route by which they advanced. The rebels gave way as our banners advanced, and the transports were again reached, and the troops hurried on board. Col. Dougherty, while hurrying up the rear, was shot three times ; and his horse falling on him, he was taken prisoner. It was a spirited contest. The Seventh Iowa especially fought gallantly, losing their lieutenant-colonel and major, the colonel himself being wounded. Our total loss was about three hundred, while that of the rebels was nearly a thousand — a great disparity, especially when it is considered that we were the attacking party, and the former fought a part of the time behind defences. Two guns were brought off", and two more spiked, and some battle-flags captured, together with many prisoners, Grant was deliiihted with the conduct of his men and THE VICTORY. 45 officers, and, in a letter to his father, giving an account of the battle, he said, " I am truly proud to command such men." He issued a congratulatory order to his troops, the first he ever penned after a battle, which stands in such striking contrast to those of his later campaigns, that we give it entire : HEADaUAETEES DiSTItlCT, S. C, Mo., \ Cairo, A^ovcmher 8, 1861. J The General commanding this Military District returns his thanks to the troops under his command at the battle of Belmont on yesterday. It has been his fortune to have been in all the battles fought in Mexico by Generals Scott and Taylor, except Buena Vista, and he never saw ono more hotly contested, or where troops behaved with more gallantry. Such courage will insure victory wherever our flag may be borne and protected by such a class of men. To the brave men who fell the sympathy of the country is due, and will be manifested in a manner unmistakable. U. S. Geant, Brigadier-General Commanding. Though this action was gallantly fought, it injured, rather than helped, the opening prospects of Grant. It being generally thought that the object of the expedition was to take Columbus, it was regarded as a total failure, and so reported by the rebels. Even afterwards, when its true object was made kno-svn, the praise awarded him was faint. It was not clear how marching into a hostile camp, and then re- treating, could effect the object he said he wished to se- cure. A fe^v hours would suffice to reestablish the camj) and restore things to their old status, and the movements he proposed to check could go on as well as ever. As a lesson of experience to the men, it was, doubtless, valua- ble ; but, on the whole, one fails to see what good was actually accomplished that would compensate for the loss, or discern tlie wisdom of the expedition. Since the close 4:6 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. of the war, however, Grant has, for the jQrst time, pub. lished his report of the expedition, which will be found in the Appendix, No. A. His next movement, also, failed to awaken any general confidence in his ability. During the winter, Ilalleck, having been appointed over the Western Department, enlarged Grant's district, who began to assemble troops in Paducah, and at other points, to be ready for a move- ment upon the enemy. In the very heart of winter it commenced, and three grand columns, under Paine, McClernand, and C F. Smith, in all nineteen regiments of infantry, six of cavalry, and seven batteries, moved off, as it was supposed, against Columbus. "The Cairo Expedition," as it was called, ended in nothing. Mc- Clernand, with some five thousand men, made a march of seventy-five miles over ice, and through snow and mud, while the cavalry marched a hundred and forty, and came back again, reporting that some new roads had been discovered, foolish reports exploded, the inhabitants im- j^ressed with our military strength, &c., and that Avas all. Doubtless Grant had some plan for taking Columbus, but found himself unable to carry it out. This second essay certainly did not promise much for his future repu- tation. He had thus far exhibited only moderate ability. He, however, had shown, in two orders which he issued, the temper of the man. Some of his pickets being shot near Cairo, he ordered all the inhabitants within six miles to be brought into camp and proj^erly guarded, "The intention," he said, "was not to make political prisoners of these people, but to cut off a dangerous class of spies." " This order," he said, " applied to all classes, conditions, age, and sex." The other was designed to guide the conduct of the CAIRO EXPEDITION. 47 troops in the grand "Cairo Expedition." He said, " Disorace having been brought upon our brave fellows by tlie bad conduct of some of their members, showing, on all occasions, when passing through territory occupied by s}n:npathizers of the enemy, a total disregard of the rights of citizens, and being guilty of wanton destruction of private property, the General Commanding desires and intends to enforce a change in this respect." * * •"'" * ''' *. " It is ordered that the- severest punishment be inflicted upon every soldier who is guilty of taking or destroying private property, and any commissioned officer guilty of like conduct, or of countenancing it, shall be deprived of his sword, and expelled from the army, not to be per- mitted to return," etc. It will stand recorded to his enduring honor, that, amid all the exasperation, public clamor, and private temptations, that carried so many beyond the limits and laws of civilized warfare, he maintained a character above reproach. Many of our officers were guilty of atrocious violations of private property, whose conduct has thus far escaped public condemnation ; but when the present chaotic state of affairs has wholly given place to calm reflection and Christian feeling, they will stand side by side in history with those epauletted marauders that dis- graced the Eno-lish flao:, both in our first and second wars CD O O' with Eno'land. Grant's record in this respect is untarnished. What he was at first, he continued to be to the last, temperate in judgment, dispassionate in feeling, and forbearing in the hour of victory. When, for the third time, public attention was fixed on Grant, fortune seemed still unwilling to smile upon him. Foote had been engaged all winter in preparing a 48 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. fleet to descend the Mississippi, and the public supposed that Columbus was to be the first point attacked ; but in the previous autumn a different plan had been discussed at Washington, and when Buell was assigned to Ken- tucky, he took it with him. This was to ascend the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, that flow north to the Ohio, and thus flank Columbus, and pierce the heart of Tennessee. The land force was put under General Grant, and early in February the expedition set out. He divided it in such a manner as to prevent the escape of the. garrison, when it should be driven out of the fort by Footers shells. When the latter, on the morning of the 6th, was un- mooring from the bank where the fleet had lain all night, several miles below the fort, he told Grant that he must hurry forward his columns, or he would not be up in time to take part in the action, and secure the prisoners. The latter smiled incredulously. But recent rains had made the cart-path^ and roads so heavy, that his pro- gress was slow. As he toiled forward, the heavy can- nonading, as Foote advanced to the attack, broke over the woods, and rolled in deep vibrations down the shore, quickening his movements. Before, however, the fort was reached, the firing ceased. Grant was perplexed at the sudden termination of the contest ; it did not seem possible that the fort had been taken so soon ; it was far more probable that the gunboats had fallen back disabled. He sent scouts forward to ascertain the truth, which soon came galloping back with the news that our flag was flying above the fort. The unexpected tidings rolled down the line, followed by long and deafening cheers. Grant, ■Nvith his staff, spurred forward, and in half an hour rode into the fort, which was immediately turned over to him. INVESTMENT OF FORT DONELSON. 49 It was a great victory, but unfortunately he had taken no part in the contest that secured it, nor did he arrive in time to prevent the escape of a large portion of the garri- son. He determined, however, in his next movement, to make up for his disappointment in this. The reduction of Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, was only a preliminary step to the reduction of Fort Donelson, nearly opposite on the Cumberland, some twelve miles distant, and the key to Nashville. Leaving a garrison in the former, Grant struck across the country, with his army of fifteen thousand men, while six regiments were sent off by water to cooperate with the gunboats, which were to attack the fort from the river-side. Foote having arrived first before the fcrt, and landed the troops and supplies for the main army, advanced against it on the 14th, and endeavored to capture it as he did Fort Henry. But although he carried his vessels gallantly into action, and held them for a long time under the overwhelming fire of the batteries, he was finally com- pelled to give it up, and drop, crippled, out of the fight. Grant had arrived two days before, and spent the inter- mediate time in completing the investment of the place. The fort stood on a high bluff, with a wooded, broken country in front, seamed with ravines that alternated with rocky heights and stretches of timber and underbrush, which made the approach to it difficult. Floyd com- manded, with Pillow and Buckner as subordinates, and had a force of nearly twenty thousand men. Grant, in investing the place, sent McClernand's division, com- posed of three brigades, to the south, his right resting on the river above it. General Smith's was below, the army stretching back in a semicircle, till the extremes met in the centre. It was cold weather, in the middle of/ 4 50 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. February, and amid rain, sleet, and snow, the troops suffer- ed severely. The rebel officers, when they saw the place completely invested, felt that something must be done at once, or they Avould be starved into surrender. A council of war was therefore called, in which it was resolved to attempt to open a passage through our lines, on the right, to Nashville. It was Grant's purpose to intrench himself in his position, and wait till the gunboats were repaired, and then make a simultaneous attack by land and water. This plan, however, was frustrated by the determination of the enemy. On the morning of the 15th, Grant repaired on board the flag-ship of Foote, to consult upon the time and ma,n- ner of making it, when the rebels issued from their trenches, and, without a note of warning, fell like a thun- derbolt on McClernand. Buckner, in the meantime, to keep the latter from being reinforced, was ordered to move out on the Wynnes Ferry road, upon our centre. Pillow commanded the attacking force on our right, variously estimated at from ten to twelve thousand men. Heralded hy three commanding batteries, attended by a regiment of cavalry, they struck McClernand's right with a force that threatened to sweep it from the field. But the brave Illinoians stood manfully up to their work, and the battle had hardly commenced, before it was at its height. The co-untry was wooded, and covered with underbrush, and broken into hollows and ridges, rendering a survey of the field impossible. Our lines extended for two miles around the fort, and this sudden uproar early in the morn- ins, on our extreme right, along the banks of the Cum- berland, called each division into line of battle. Lew. Wallace was posted next to McClernand, on the top of a high ridge, with forests sweeping off to the front ATTACK ON McCLERNAND. 51 and rear. When the deep and mingled roar of artillery and musketry broke over the woods, he thought McCler- nand had moved on the enemy's works. But that brave chieftain was making, instead, desperate efforts to hold his own against the overv/helming numbers that, momentarily increasing, pressed his lines, with a fierceness that threat- ened his complete overthrow. Finding, at length, that his troops were giving way, he, at eight o'clock, sent off a staff-officer at full speed to Wallace, for help. The latter had received orders from Grant to hold the position he occupied, in order to keep the enemy from escaping in that direction, and dared not move ; and so hurried off the courier with his despatch to headquarters. But Grant not being there, the latter kept on to the gunboats, in search of him. McClernand, wondering that no helj) came, and seeing his lines swinging back, despite the heroic efforts of the commanders, hastened off another messen- ger to Wallace, saying that his flank was turned, and his whole division was wavering. AVallace could wait no longer to hear from Grant, and immediately despatched Colonel Croft, commanding a brigade, to his help. Losing his way, the latter marched clear round, almost to the river, when he was suddenly attacked by an overwhelm- ing force. Though he bravely met the assault, confusion followed, through ignorance of each other s whereabouts and purposes. After a short and sanguinary struggle, the enemy suddenly left him and bore heavily do-\vn on McClernand again. Wallace all this time sat on his horse, listening to the steady crash to the right that made the wintry woods resound, when there burst into view a crowd of fugitives, rushing up the hill on which he stood. The next moment an officer dashed on a headlong gallop up the road, shouting, " We are cut to pieces," Seeing 52 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. his whole line of the third brigade beginning to shake before this sudden irruption, he ordered its commander to move on by the right flank, he himself riding at its head to keep it steady. He had not gone far before he met portions of regiments in full retreat, yet without panic or confusion, calling aloud for ammunition. To his inquiry, how the battle was going. Colonel Wallace told him, coolly, as though it were the most ordinary circumstance, that the enemy was close behind, and would soon attack him. He immediately formed his line of battle, and sent off to the left for help. The retiring regiments kept on to the rear, a short distance, and refilled their cartridge-boxes. Scarcely was this new line of battle formed, when the rebels, following up their advantage on the right, swooped down, confident of victory, full upon him. The shock was firmly met, and the enemy brought to a pause. Hours had passed in the meantime, and McClernand was dis- puting every inch of ground he was compelled to yield. Desperate fighting over batteries ; repulses and advances of regiments and brigades ; shouts and yells heard amid the intervals of the uproar, sweeping like a thunder-storm through the leafless woods, out of which burst clouds of smoke, as though a conflagration was raging below ; hur- rying crowds in all the openings, — combined to make up the terrific scene that was displayed that wintry morning on the banks of the Cumberland. About three o'clock, Grant rode on the field, to find his right thown far back, ammunition exhausted, and the ranks in confusion. Most generals in this crisis would have retired their troops, formed a new line, and waited till the attack could be re- newed with the assistance of the gunboats. But tlie enemy not following up his advantage at this critical mo- ment, shoAved to his quick eye that his strength was ex- ASSAULT OF WALLACE. 53 haustecl, the force of his blow spent ; and he immediately ordered General Smith, on the extreme left, down the river — who had been comparatively idle during the day — to move at once upon the enemy's works in his front. It was a bold undertaking, but one of those sudden inspira- tions which, taken in the heat of battle, often decides its fate. Napoleon once said, " A battle often turns on a single thought." It was true in this case. In order to dis- tract the enemy, while Smith was moving to this desperate task, he directed McClernand — exhausted and shattered as he was — to recover his lost ground, jailed with his own dead, and assault the rebel works, from before which he had been driven. Wallace commanded the assaultinix columns, composed of the tAvo brigades of Colonels Smith and Croft. As the brave regiments moved past him, he coldly told them that desperate work was before them. Instead of being discouraged by this, they sent up loud cheers, and " Forward, forward," ran along the ranks. " Forward, then ! " he shouted, in turn. Through dense underbrush, over out-cropping ledges of rock, across open stony places, up the steep acclivity, swept by desolating vol- leys, they boldly charged, or climbed like mountain-goats. Now lying down to escape the murderous volleys, then rising with a cheer, they pushed on till they got within a hundred and fifty yards of the intrenchments, when the order came to fall back. It was now dark, and, disobey- ing the order, Wallace kept the hard-won position. H(i did not know at the time the brilliant success won on the left by Smith. Newspaper correspondents had denounced the latter as a Southern sympathizer, and he was about to show them an example of the workings of that sym- path}\ The intrenched hill in front of him commanded the interior works of the enemy, and on its bristling top he 54 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. was determined to plant his flag. Sending a force around to the right, to make a feint, he took three picked regi" ments — the Second and Seventh Iowa, and Fifty-seventh Indiana — to compose the storming column, and, i iding at their head, ordered the advance. As his eye glanced along that splendid body of men, he felt they were equal to the bloody task assigned them. The bayonet was to do the work this time. It was to be swift success, or utter destruction. Mounting the slope with leaning forms, those brave troops entered the desolating fire, that rolled like a lava-flood adown the height, and pressed rapidly upward and onward. Their gallant leader moved beside them, with his cap lifted on his sword, as a banner to wave them on. Grim and silent, with compressed lips and flash- ing eyes, they breasted the steep acclivity and the blind- ing,, flery sleet, without faltering for one instant. They sternly closed the rent ranks as they ascended, until at last the summit was gained. Then the long line of gleam- ing barrels came to a level together ; a simultaneous flash, a crashing volley, a cheer, ringing high and clear from the smoking top, a single bound, and they were over and in the rebel works. The flag went up, and with it a shout of victory that was the death-knell of Fort Donelson. Hurrying up his artillery and supports. Smith fixed him- self firmly in position, and awaited the morning light to complete the work already more than half done. That night the rebel Generals held a council of war, which ended in Floyd's turning over the command of the fort to Pillow, and he again transferring it to Buckner. This being done, the two former, with a portion of the Virginia brigade, stole secretly on board some steamers, and escaped to Nashville. In the morning, when the roll of the drum and the bugle- THE SURRENDER. 55 note awakened the Federal army, a white flag was seen waving from Fort Donelson. Soon an officer appeared, bearing proposals from Buckner for an armistice of twelve hours, and that commissioners might be appointed to arrange terms of capitulation. Grant replied that no terms were to be entertained ; he demanded unconditional surrender, and that immediately, or he should move at once on his works. Buckner replied, that, ungenerous and unchivalric as this was, he must submit to it ; and the Fort was surrendered, with its garrison of thirteen thou- sand men, some sixty cannon, commissary stores, &;c. The number of the captured was swelled by two regi- ments of Tennesseans who next day entered the Fort, ignorant of its fall. This was the first great victory of the war, and electri- fied the nation more than any after success. On the other hand, it was received by the South with the deepest mortification and rage. The Fort surrendered on Sab- bath morning, and the people of Nashville were crowding to church, elate with confidence, caused by a despatch received the night before, from Pillow, stating that our army was beaten. . "When the stunning news ran through the streets of the city that the Fort had fallen, the gentle clamor of bells calling to prayer was changed to the loud clang of alarm, and soon every vehicle was engaged to carry away the alarmed inhabitants that surged in sway- ing crowds through the streets. The rebel loss in the engagement was only some twelve hundred, while ours was about double — we being com- pelled to assail the enemy behind his breastworks. Grant at once became the idol of the West, and the Illinois troops won a reputation that they maintained untarnished to the close of the war. 56 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Still, adverse fortune seemed to follow Grant. With the tidings of victory, there went to "Washington an in- famous charge against him, and an order was telegraphed back, ordering him under arrest. Thus, just as the nation was ready to make him its idol, his career seemed about to close. But fortunately the charge was pronounced a slander, and Lincoln would not listen to the pressing de- mands on every side for his removal, but stood as ever his firm friend. Grant's district was now enlarged, and called that of West Tennessee, the Tennessee river forming its southern boundary. He was also made Major-General of Volun- teers. His first great campaign being ended, he, as spring opened, prepared for another, under the direction of Hal- leck. Having changed his headquarters to Fort Henry, he was directed to ascend the Tennessee to Pittsburg Landing, while Buell advanced across the country from Nashville to the same point. When the junction should be formed, the combined army was to move on Corinth, where the rebel army under Johnston and Beauregard lay strongly intrenched. Situated at the junction of the Memphis and Charleston and Mobile and Ohio railroads, it was a place of great importance. Grant's army was landed on the weat bank of the Tennessee, and thrown out several miles in the direction of Corinth, and encamped to wait for Buell, who was pushing his way across the "country. Beauregard, aware of the Federal plan, resolved to fall on Grant before Buell reached him, and drive him into the Tennessee. In accordance with this plan, Johnston set out from Corinth, twenty miles distant, on the 4th of April, intend- ing to attack Grant on Saturday, next day ; but pouring BATl'LE OF SniLOH. 57 rains had made the roads so heav}'' that he was unable to do so until Sunday morning. The three divisions of Sherman, Prentiss, and McCler- nand, were the farthest advanced on the roads toward Corinth, where they had lain in camp for nearly three weeks ; yet, strange to say, no breastworks were thrown up, or lines of abattis made, behind which the troops, many of whom were entirely raw, especially the division of Sherman, could make a stand. So when, at day-dawn on Sunday morning, the rebel batteries opened, and their heavy lines came down on our camps, they swept them like an inundation. Some of the soldiers were preparing their breakfast, when the pickets came dashing in, crying that the rebels were upon them. A scene of indescribable confusion followed. From the very outset, the battle on our part was without plan or cohesion, while the rebel General herd his army completely in hand, and hurled it with skill, boldness, and irresistible power, on any j^oint he v/ished to strike. Prentiss in the centre, after strivino- in vain to bear up against the flood, was surrounded and compelled to surrender, with some three thousand oi more of his troops. Sherman and McClernand fought with their accustomed bravery, but they could hold only a portion of their troops to tlie deadly work. Stuart was cut off from the main army, and compelled to fight his own battle. Cavalry charged hither and thither over the tumultuous field, riding down our disordered troops ; our batteries were swept by the hostile flood, and the broken, disjointed army borne steadily back toward the Tennessee. Sherman, awake to the peril of the army, clung to each position with the tenacity of death, and rode amid the hail-storm of bullets as though he had forgotten he had a life to lose. McClernand closed sternly in with him, and 58 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. a portion of their devoted troops breasted nobly tlie deso- lating fire that swept the field ; but it was all in vain to attempt to stem the refluent tide of battle. Hurlbut, too, moved bravely into the chaos, and gave Sherman breath- ing time. Grant, who w^as at Savannah, several miles do^vn the river, did not reach the battle-field till ten o'clock. When he did arrive, his presence failed to arrest the disaster. The bleeding, shattered, but still bravely fighting army, swung heavily back toward the Tennes- see river, which, when once reached, would be its tomb. As the sun of that spring Sabbath stooped to the western horizon, he looked on a field trampled, torn, and crimson- ed, and apparently lost to the Union cause. The rebel leader had fallen, and Beauregard had assumed com- mand, and promised that his steed should ere night drink of the waters of the Tennessee. But as darkness fell over the field, he ceased his persistent attacks, and lay dov*^n to wait for the morning to complete the ^YOYk apparently almost done. Of Grant's army of over forty thousand men, four thousand were prisoners in the hands of the enemy, six thousand were killed or Avounded, wdiile nearly a third of the entire host that had moved to battle in the morning, were skulking under the banks or scattered in disorder where they could not be brought into action. Half of the artillery was captured, and the scarce twenty thousand men that still kept their ranks, stood within sight of the rushing waters of the Tennessee. It was a sad, lost field ; but fortunately Buell was near. The heads of his eager columns, that had pushed on all day, urged by the heavy, incessant explosions that rolled over the forests in front, telling them that their comrades were in peril, appeared on the opposite side of the river. "Buell has come," rung in thrilling shouts over the field. Grant NIGHT AFTER THE BATTLE. 59 had already seen him, and now felt that the lost day might be retrieved ; and riding up to the bleeding, lion- hearted Sherman, told him to be ready in the morning to assume the offensive. That Avas a sad night to the army. The dead and wounded lay everywhere; the latter moaning for water, or gasping out their lives on the torn and trampled field, while ever and anon a heavy explosion from the gunboats Tyler and Lexington, that at the close of the day had helped with their ponderous shells to keep back the right wing of the rebel army, that was bearing our shattered left to swift destruction, broke through the gloom. At midnight a heavy thunder-storm burst along the river, adding deeper solemnity to the scene, and dreflching with grateful rain-drops the feverish, thirsty thousands, to whom no other help than this gift of Heaven came, that long, dreary night. Thanks to Buell, light rose above its darkness to Grant. But for him, his risins; fame would have there closed with that of other equally brave gen- erals, whom disaster had laid aside for the war. In the morning, Buell formed his line of battle near the shore, and Sherman gathered up his shattered ranks ready to strike once more the ponderous blows he knew so well how to give. McCook, and Nelson, and Crittenden were there with their brave divisions, whose serried front and long, swinging tread and steady movements, gave assurance of victory. Sherman, whose brave lieart had been sore vexed at the unwieldiness of his green troops, looked at them luth pride. The latter, lie said, "knew not the value of combination and organization. When individual fear seized them, the first impulse was to get away." In the morning, he " stood patiently awaiting the 60 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. sound of BuelFs advance upon the main Corinth road." At length his thunder spoke, and as the deej) reverbera- tions steadily approached, he gave the word " Forward.'' The drums rolled out, and soon he came, when he said, " I saw for the first time the well-ordered and compact Xentucky forces of General Buell, whose soldierly move- ment at once gave confidence to our newer and less disci- plined forces." His quick military eye saAv at a glance that difi'erent soldiers were in the field, and that not mere "pluck," but discipline, was to settle the fortunes of the day. Bueirs line of battle, with scarcely a check, steadily swept the field, bearing the enemy back over our camps, carried with such resistless fury the day before, and re- covering our lost artillery. Sherman also forced his shat- tered batallions forward, and the bloody field of Shiloh was won. But, about a third of Grant's army had disappear- ed. Many stragglers, however, afterward came in. Sher- man lost two thousand out of his single division ; McCler- nand about a third of his; Hurlbut two thousand, and McArthur half as many. Had the battle been lost, the rebels would have swept the country up to the Ohio. Even the victory could not shield Grant from general condemnation, and a great eiFort was made to induce the President to remove him from command. Several of the Governors of the Western States waited on Halleck, and urged his removal, declaring that he was not only incapa- ble, but too intemperate to be trusted with an army The more moderate satisfied themselves with the complaint that he had committed a gross blunder in placing liis army on the west bank of the river, without furnishing any means for its retreat in case of disaster. There was no reason for exposing it to an attack until Buell's army should arrive, because no battle was desired until the forces could form . Sherman's letter. 61 a junction. There has been no satisfactory explanation given for this disposition of the army, and doubtless for the simple reason that none can be given. His retention in command was doubtless owing more to the zealous advocacy of Mr. Washburne, member of Congress from Illinois, than from any other cause. The fault of the surprise rested, of course, as he insisted, on the division commanders in front, instead of him, as well as the neg- lect to throw up field-works for self-protection. Sher- man has lately endeavored, in a long letter, to defend Grant from the public charges made against him ; and although the effort does credit to his heart, it cannot stand scrutiny for a moment. He says the fault of land- ing the army, if it was one, on the west side of the river, must be laid to General Smith, who placed it there. This would do, if a battle had followed immediately on the landing of the army ; but he knows, as well as any one, that in allowing it to stay there three iveelcs, Grant assumed the whole responsibility of the act. In fact, it became his. It seems to have dawned on his mind, that others might see it in this light, and so lie endeavors to defend the act itself If he had simply asserted it, we might have deferred to his superior military judgment, and acquiesced, though we failed to see the grounds on which it was based. But when he goes on to give the reasons for his views, we have the right to test them by common sense. In the first place, he says that the battle was not lost on the first day, for he received orders to assume the oftensive the next morning, before he knew that Buell had arrived. But Grant knew he was at hand, so that the statement amounts to nothino;. The intention seems to be to imply that Grant, without refer- ence to Buelfs arrival, had determined to assume the 62 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. offensive; but this was impossible, for Buell bad seen Grant in the afternoon, and told liim of the near approach of his forces. There seems a lack here of Sherman s usual straight-forward, open way of stating things. He says, " I repeat, I received such orders before I knew Gen- eral Buell's troops were at the river." But his knowl- edge had nothing to do with the orders ; the whole ques- tion turns on whether Grant gave the order before he knew of BuelFs arrival. This he neglects to state. But even if it were so, we do not see how it helps the matter much; it shows pluck, but we cannot admit that it promised success. With half of his army gone, or broken into irrecoverable fragments — half his artillery captured — with an army more than double that of his own, flushed with victory, hanging along his front, " to drop the defensive " which all day long had not been maintained at any given point for only a short interval, and now weak- ened in men, guns, and morale^ " to assume the offensive" would doubtless have been very " plucky," but we fear that the impartial student of the battle-field will conclude that would have been the sum-total of the attempt. Again, he says, "there was no mistake" "in putting that army on the west side of the Tennessee ;" and proceeds to give the following reason for his opinion, which will strike one as more surprising, if possible, than the act itself. He savs : "It was necessary that a combat, fierce and bitter, to test the manhood of the two armies, should come off, and that was as good a place as any. It was not, then, a question of military skill and strategy, but of courage and pluck," etc. If this means anything, it asserts tha Grant's army was placed where it was overwhelmed the first day, solely to fight a square, stand-up battle, "to test the comparative pluck and endurance of the rebel and NO STRATEGY. 63 Union soldiers. There was no strategy in the case." One may well ask in amazement, then, what Buell was sent across the country from Nashville for, to form a junction with them? Besides, if there was no "strategy" in the case, both Halleck and Buell have grievously misled the public, for they assert that a plan of campaign had been laid out, the main features of which were that the two armies should form a junction before active operations commenced ; Halleck was then to assume command, and Corinth was to be the first objective point of the grand " Army of Invasion." Their statements do not tally well with the assertion that all that was wanted was a pugi- listic fight between two armies — a simple gladiatorial contest. But this is not the worst of it : the assertion proves too much, or rather, proves wliat is not true ; for it was not a fair test of the soldierly qualities of the two armies ; it was not a fair pitched battle. One army was taken unawares and thrown into confusion before the battle had fairly commenced ; and hence a struggle under such adverse circumstances, could in no way be considered a fair "test of the manhood" of at least our army. In the second place, Sherman, in his despatch, says : " My division was made up of regiments perfectly new, all having received their muskets, for the first time, at Paducah. None of them had ever been under fire, or })eheld heavy columns of the enemy bearing down on them. To expect of them the coolness and steadiness of older troops would be wrong." But why would it be wrong to expect this? Simply because it was not a ^'-fair test of the manhood" of such troops to put them against such disciplined forces as the rebels proved to be — ^least of all, when a battle was sprung upon them, and before they could avail themselves of the little knowledge 64. • LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. they had of " organization and combination." In the last place, if the battle was a "fair test of the manhood" of the opposing troops, it proved what no one believes to be true, viz., the superiority of the Southern soldier; for we were terribly beaten all day — driven from point to point, till, at nightfall, nearly half the army had dis- appeared. We therefore assert that it was never de- signed that a battle should be fought there to " test the manhood of the two armies " — that in the very nature of the circumstances it could have been no test — that the result of that first day's battle, compared with our after- experience, shoivs that it was no test. We fear that even the sanction of so great a name as Sherman's, will not save the bad logic of his argument. He says, in his letter, that, from the extraordinary accounts which his- torians have given of that battle, he begins to doubt whether he himself was there at all ; but we venture to say that, among all those accounts, not one has conveyed so erroneous an impression respecting the propriety of the plan, the purpose, and the actual result of the first day's battle, as that letter has done, wTitten ostensibly for the correction, but which actually is a perversion, of history. That it should not have been brought on in the way and time it was, will be the verdict of history, in spite of all special pleading on the part of commanders or subordinates who had anything to do with it. If there is one maxim in military science that is irrefutable, it is, that it is wrong to expose an army to be cut up in detail by the concentrated forces of an enemy. And this is just what was done by placing the army on the 'west bank of the Tennessee, within twenty miles of Corinth, while Buell was still pushing across the country from Nash- ville, subject to all the delays that might arise from the HALLECK ASSUMES COMMAND. 65 weather or the enemy. Up to this point, Grant had not made a movement, or fought a battle, that had not brought doA^'Tl on his head more or less abuse or criti- cism. But here, adverse fate seemed to give up the struggle against him, and Fortune adopted him as her favorite son. The clamors that had followed on his track, and travelled back from his camps to Washington, began to die away, until at last they were changed to peans of praise, that deepened with every revolving month, till the land was filled with the sound of his name. From that day his star has steadily climbed the heavens, until it now stands in all its bri^-ht efFulg-ence at the zenith, shedding its tranquil light on the grateful nation. He could now ask no greater favor of his friends than that they should stop trying to prove that he was just as wise at the beginning as at the end of his career. Halleck shortly after assumed command in person of the forces in the field, under the name of the Army of Tennessee, and laid regular siege to Corinth, in which Grant commanded the right wing. The slow movements of the Commander-in- Chief were not in accordance with his ideas of the manner in which a campaign should be conducted. It is said, on good authority, that Grant lost his temper, for the first time, when urging Halleck to advance against Corinth, saying that if he did not, the rebel army, with all its material, would escape. His language to the cautious Commander-in-Chief was stronger than his subordinate position would justify, and he expected to be brought to account for it. Whether such an intention was ever entertained or not, the final escape of the rebel army, with all its guns, stores, &c., efi'ectually quieted all desu'e to provoke an investigation. In July, Halleck was made GeneraL-in-Chief of all 5 6Q LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. the forces of the Union, and called to "Washington, when the Department of West Tennessee was created, and Grant placed in command of it. He had a good deal of trouble with the disloyal people of Memphis, who held constant communication Avith the rebel forces, and carried on quite a traffic with them. He therefore issued an order, expelling all disloyal families who had given aid or information to the South, or who refused to sign a parole that they would not do so in future. He also issued an order, declaring that independent guerillas would not, when captured, receive the treatment due to prisoners of war. He next suspended the " Memphis Avalanche," a rebel paper. The various orders, etc., in regard to these matters, will be found in the Appendix. During the summer, while Buell was trying to reach Chattanooga, Grant's army lay comparatively quiet, pro- tecting the railroad south from Columbus, by which supplies were forwarded. In September, hearing that Van Dorn and Price had advanced on luka, he took one portion of his forces, as- signing Rosecrans to the command of the other, and by different routes moved on the place. Rosecrans arrived at the appointed time, and fought and defeated the whole rebel force. The rebel leaders, however, instead of being disheartened by this defeat, set on foot a still more for- midable movement — one desimed to cut the communica- tions north of Corinth, and stop our supplies. Kosecrans, the moment he discovered it, hastily called in all the troops within reach, and gave battle behind his intrench- ments. The rebels assaulted the place in the most deter- mined manner, and came very near carrying it ; but were finally defeated with terrible slaughter. The Mississippi having been opened to Vicksburg, GRANT AND THE TRADERS. 67 and Buell removed, Rosecrans was now put over the army of the Cumberland, with headquarters at Nash- ville, preparatory to moving on Bragg, who had retired to Murfreesboro after his invasion of Tennessee. Grant, in the meantime, turned his attention to Vicksburg. Re- organizing his forces during the autumn, he, in the mean- time, between cotton speculators, disloyal inhabitants within his lines, pilfering, etc., was exceedingly annoyed. Wishing to be conciliatory, and soften as much as he oould the asperities of war, and relieve non-combatants of its oppressive burdens, he granted privileges, and modi- fied the strict rules that he had laid down as much as possible. His kindness, however, was not appreciated, and his leniency abused, so that he was now and then compelled to show the iron hand. The hangers-on of the army, whose sole object was to make money, reckless of the means used, awakened his indignation. The tricky, unscrupulous Jews especially aroused his anger, and he issued an order, in December, expelling every mdividual of them from his Department, in tAventy-four hours after the reception of the orders by the post-commanders. If any returned, they were to be seized as prisoners ; and to make the riddance final and complete, he closed the order with the following prohibition : ^^ No passes will he given -these people to visit head- quarters, for the ]jurpose of making personal application for trade-permits^ He thus shut the door completely in their faces. In December, everything being ready, he commenced his movement against Vicksburg. Sherman, at the head of the Fifteenth Army Corps, was to proceed doAvn the river from Memphis, and attempt to carry the place bj assault, while he should follow on by rail, and bear- 68 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. mg to tlie left, move on Jackson, east of it, holding and en";a2:ino; the rebel force there. But Sherman's Do O large flotilla had scarcely pushed from shore, when Holly Springs was disgracefully surrendered, and the supplies on which the expedition partly depended, captured. This unexpected disaster compelled Grant to halt, and Sher- man was left unsupported. The rebels, advised of his approach, and Jackson not being threatened by Grant, w(ii'e able to bring over by rail, from the latter place, all the troops necessary to defend Vicksburg. Sherman, ignorant of all this, proceeded to carry out his part of the programme, and desperately assaulted the rebel works. Hurled back, he was compelled to abandon the attempt, and reembarked his troops. Grant now adopted another plan for the capture of the place. From the knowledge gained of the strens;th of the works on the north side through Sherman's failure, he was convinced that opera- tions, to be successful, must be conducted against it from the south side. Concentrating his forces, therefore, he in February established them at Young's Point, prepara- tory to a move down the river. CHAPTER III VICKSBURG. OANAIj AEOUKD it — ABANDONED — LAKE PROVIDENCE ROUTE — MOON-LAKB ROUTE — THIS ALSO ABANDONED — THE STEEL's BAYOU ROUTE — DESCRIP- TION OP EXPEDITION THROUGn — A FAILURE — GRANT RESOLVES TO RUN THE BATTERIES WITH GUNBOATS AND TRANSPORTS — THE NIGHT-PASSAGE — MARCH OF TROOPS AROUND VICKSBURG INLAND — NEW CARTHAGE— HARD TIMES — GRAND GULF — ITS BATTERIES RUN — PORT GIBSON REACHED — STRIPS FOR THE RACE — BATTLE — GRAND GULF EVACUATED — BOLD DETERMINATION OF GRANT — BATTLE AT RAY- MOND — MARCH ON JACKSON — VICTORY AT — THE ARMY WHEELS ABOUT AND MARCHES ON VICKSBURG — BATTLE OP CHAMPION'S HILL — BATTLE AT BIO BLACK RIVER — VICKSBURG INVESTED — FIRST ASSAULT — SECOND GRAND ASSAULT — REASON OF — THE LONG SIEGE — THE SURRENDER. ViCKSBURG stands on a liigh, narrow tongue of land, made by an immense bend in the Mississippi. Hence, back of it, the upper and lower portions of the river are close together, though by the long sweep around the city they are several miles apart. Across this neck Engineer Williams some time before had cut a canal, hoping to turn enough water into it to float vessels through, and thus avoid the necessity of attacking the place at all. This had, however, been abandoned, and Grant now endeavored to re-open and enlarge it. But the giving way of one of the dams, the overflow of the land, and the obstinate adherence of the Mississippi to its old channel, caused the enterprise to be abandoned. Grant 70 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. now attempted to get in the rear of the place by inland navigation of another kind. About seventy miles above Vicksburg, and only five or six miles from the river on the west side, lies Lake Providence, a large sheet of water. Below it, and connected with it by a bayou, lies Swan Lake. This bayou runs through a forest, and is filled Avith snags. Swan Lake is some thirty miles long, and instead of finding an outlet for its waters directly across the country into the Mississippi, flows directly south in a stream called Tensas E-iver, which, running inland, passes Vicksburg, and finally joins the Black River, and through it reaches the Red River, and thus at length the Mississippi below Natchez, and hence below Vicksburg. To attempt to get boats througb this long, crooked inland route, was a stupendous undertaking; yet it was not deemed impossible that the Mississippi itself might be made to pour its mighty flood through it, and thus leave Vicksburg an inland tovm, with its formidable batteries commanding only the muddy bed of the stream. A canal, therefore, into Lake Providence was cut, and a few barges floated successfully through Lt. But the river kept on its old course, and ■with the subsidence of the spring freshets, the new channel, which had promised so much, became a shallow water-course. Time and labor had been thro"\^T:i away, and Grant was compelled to resort to some other method of getting in rear of Vicksburg. He now tried the other side of the river. Nearly two hundred miles by the river, above Vicksburg, there is a lake on the east side, and, like Lake Providence on the west side, lies near the bank. This is called Moon Lake, the waters of which, bearing different names as they flow south, at length empty into the Yazoo. If this latter stream could be once LAST INLAND ATTEMPT. 71 reached, it would be open sailing to the rear of Haines Bluff, which thus being turned, the rear of Vicksburg could be reached. A canal was, therefore, cut from the Mississippi into Moon Lake. The water at once poui'ed through it of a sufficient depth to admit the steamboats, and the perilous undertaking was successfully com- menced. Now winding slowly along the narrow and crooked channel — now backing water to keep the boats from plunging into the bank, and now creeping under- neath overhanging trees, and through dark swamps, where •solitude reigned supreme, the expedition kept on its toil- some way, until the Yazoo was at length reached. But just at the moment when success seemed sure, and only a swift sail remained down the Yazoo, they came upon a fort erected in a commanding position, and so sur- rounded by bogs that a land-force could not approach it. Against the heavy guns mounted here the frail wooden boats could present no defence, and hence, after a short, action, retired ; and so nothing was left but to creep dis- appointed and weary back, the long, tedious route to the Mississippi. What now can be done? was the next inquiry. Grant had no more idea of abandoning the expedition than when he first set out. A fourth plan was, therefore, adopted. Behind Haines' Bluff he must get, any way. The batteries here commanded the Yazoo Biver, and the fleet had tried in vain to silence them Another circuit- ous water-route remained, which led into the Yazoo, above this bluff, and yet below where Fort Pemberton, which had stopped the boats of the last expedition, stood. By a reference to the map, this will be seen to be a most extraordinary route. The expf dition was to move inland, first north, and then south, making an immense ovak 72 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, Leaving the Yazoo below Haines' Bluff, it entered Steel's bayou, designing to keep north to the Kolling Fork, and through it turn back, and striking the Sunflower River, come down into the Yazoo just above Haines' Bluff, and not many miles from where it originally set out. Such labyrinthiau navigation, we venture to say, was never before attempted by Avar-vessels. Pass- ing for thirty miles up Steel's bayou, the boats came to Black bayou, in which' trees had to be cut do^\ai and torn out, and the vessels "hove around" the bends, which were too short to be turned by the rudder. Now butting the Iron-clads against trees, and toppling them over, and now tearing them up by the roots, the fifteen vessels in all worked their difficult Avay on. Although the bayou was only four miles long, it took twenty-four hours to get through it, thus averaging about five rods an hour. They then entered Deer Creek, where Sherman arrived with a small portion of his command, to cooperate with the boats. Up this stream to Boiling Fork was thirty- two miles by water, while by the land-route, that Sher- man was to take, it was but twelve miles. Up this narrow channel, filled vntli small willows, through which the boats with difficulty forced their "way, Porter kept slowly on, filling the inhabitants with almost as much astonishment as though he were sailing; across O CD the solid land. The movement was a complete surprise, and Porter, hoping to outspeed the announcement of his coming, pushed on as rapidly as possible ; but with his utmost efforts he could make barely half a mile an hour. At length he got within seven miles of the Rolling Fork, from which point it would be plain sailing. But his pro- gress had been so slow that the rebels had penetrated his plans, and now began to line the banks with gangs of TUE LAST INLAND EOUTE OP GEN. GP.ANT TO EEACU THE EEAU OF VICKSBURO. RUNNING THE BATTERIES. 73 negroes, felling trees across the narrow stream, to obstruct bis passage. To cbop and saw these in two and haul them out, required the most unremitting labor. He, hoAvever, pushed on till he got within half a mile of the lloUing Fork, when he found the enemy closing on him Avith seven pieces of artillery. In the meantime, the rapid strokes of the axe and the sound of falling trees were heard in his rear, showing that the enemy was attempting to block him up here, and finish him at leisure. He at once became anxious for his boats, and Sherman not havmo" arrived as he expected, he determined to wheel about and make his way back while he could. In the meantime, sharp-shooters were lining the banks, and the crack of the rifle mingled in mth the roar of artillery and crash of falling trees. He, however, succeeded in forcing his way back, until at length he met Sherman's force. At first, he thought of retracing his steps ; but the men, who had now for six days and nights been kept constantly at work, were worn down, while the enemy were gathering in heavy force in front, and he concluded to abandon the expedition altogether. When the boats finally returned, and reported this last project also a failure. Grant saw that it was in vain to at- tempt longer to get to the rear of Vicksburg by an inland route. The broad Mississippi, sweeping under the enemy's batteries, was the only course now left him. Long weeks of toil had passed and nothing been accomplished, and now, by a less resolute, persevering man than Grant, the task might have been abandoned as hopeless ; but he, having made up his mind to take Vicksburg, determined to see no impossibilities in the way of doing it. The gunboats had shown that they could pass the bat- teries with comparative impunity, and he resolved to try 74 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. the experiment of getting transports past also, while he marched his army inland down the river to meet them. He had to wait, however, till the spring freshets subsided, for the country between Milliken's Bend and New Car- thage, below Vicksburg, on the west side of the river — the only route the army could take — was flooded with water. Toward the close of April it was deemed practicable fot the army to move ; but before it started, the question must be decided, whether transports could be got past the eight miles of batteries that lined the shore above and below Vicksburg. It was resolved to test this matter at night, and the plan adopted was, to have the gunboats move do^vn and engage the batteries, whilst the trans- ports, under cover of the smoke and darkness, should slip quickly by, near the western shore. It was a desperate enterprise, to which men could not legitimately be or- dered, and volunteers were called for. So many offered that the necessary number had finally to be drawn by lot. Grant resolved to try the experiment first with three transports. A little before midnight, the gunboats moved from their moorings and dropped silently do^vn the river, fol- lowed meekly by the transports. It was a. night of intense anxiety to Grant, for if this plan failed, even his fertile re- sources could see no Vv^ay of getting to the rear of Vicks- burg. An hour had not elapsed after the boats disap- peared in the darkness, before the thunder of artillery shook the shore, followed soon after by the light of a con- flagration, kindled by the rebels, to light up the bosom of the Mississippi. Under its blaze the poor transports lay revealed as distinctly as though the noon-day sun was shining, and at once became the target of rebel batteries. They, however, steamed on through the raining shells for THE ARMY BELOW VICKSBDPvG. 75 eight miles, and two of them succeeded in getting safely through. The Henry Clay was set on fire, and floated a burnino- wreck down the river. If he could save this proportion of transports, Grant was satisfied, and so sent down next night six more, towing twelve coal barges. Five of them and half the barges got through, thouoh some of them were more or less dama2:ed. It was a great success ; but now the army was to move down to meet them, through the most execrable country troops were ever called to march over. McClernand's corps, forming the advance, commenced the march ; but the country was soon found to be impassable, except by building corduroy roads. This required immense labor, while twenty miles of levee had to be guarded, lest the enemy should cut it and let the waters of the Mississippi over the country. All obstacles, however, were at length overcome, and New Carthage, the point where the trans- ports were to be met, arose in sight ; but alas, it was an island ! The rebels, divining Grant's purpose, had cut the levee above it, and the Mississippi Avas flowing around it in a broad stream that could not be crossed for want of boats. In this dilemma the only course left open was to keep on down the river, nearly fifty miles, to Hard Times, building bridges and constructing roads as they marched. This place at length was reached, where the transports were awaiting them to carry them across to Grand Gulf, the spot selected by Grant from which to commence his march on Vicksburg. But here, again, the rebels had anticipated him, and formidable batteries frowned from the place. The gunboats advanced boldly against them, and a fierce engagement followed ; but the utmost efforts of Porter could not silence them, and the fleet had to withdraw. Here was another dilemma, and 76 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. the expedition seemed brought to a halt. Grant, seeing himself effectually stopped, disembarked his troops, which had already been put on board the transports, and started them once more through the forest down the river, to a point below, called Bruinsburg ; and directed the gunboats to run the batteries of Grand Gulf as they had those of Vicksburg. This was successfully done, and next to the last day of April the army was transported across to the eastern shore. Grant being the first man to set foot on land. That very afternoon McClernand's corps was started off toward Port Gi|3son, lying to the southeast of Grand Gulf He did not even Avait for the army- wagons to be brought across the river, but with three days' rations moved off at once. Grand Gulf, which he designed to make his base of supplies, must be taken be- fore the enemy at Vicksburg, informed of his intentions, could reinforce the place. He saw that it must be swift marching, quick fighting, sudden and constant victories, or the storm would gather so heavily about him that his ad- vance would be stopped. Hence he ordered as little bag- gage to be taken as possible, and set the example of re- trenchment himself Washburne, member of Congress from Illinois, his ever fast friend, accompanied the ex- pedition, and says that Grant took with him " neither a horse, nor an orderly, nor a camp-chest, nor an over- coat, nor a blanket, nor even a clean shirt. His entire baggage for six days was a tooth-brush. He fared like the commonest soldier in his command, partaking of his rations and sleeping upon the ground, with no covering but the canopy of heaven." This shows not only how terribly in earnest Grant at this point was, but also how thoroughly he comprehended the peril of his situation. McClernand's corps had started at three o'clock in GRAND GULP EVACUATED. 77 the afternoon, and kept up its march till two o'clock in the morning, when it was suddenly brought to a halt by a battery in its path. At daybreak this was recon- noitred. No time could be wasted, and the battery, which occupied an eminence, protected by a heavy force which had been sent down from Grand Gulf, was at- tacked on both flanks at once. Severe fighting followed, which lasted most of the day, and for a time it looked as if Grant would be stopped right here. But he pressed the enemy so fiercely, that, as soon as night came on, the latter retreated, leaving five cannon and a thousand prison- ers in our hands. Our loss was nearly eight hmidred. Grant Avrote his despatch respecting the battle by moon- light. The columns now pushed on to Port Gibson, which so uncovered Grand Gulf that it w^as hastily evacuated. Grant rode across the country fifteen miles to visit it, and establish his base of supplies before advancing against Vicksburg. He designed to halt here until he could gather in all his forces and supplies, and fix every- thing on a firm footing before pushing into the interio]*. But here another disappointment met him, apparently more serious than any which had yet befallen him. He had expected Banks, with his army, to join him, when he would be strong enough to meet the combined forces of the enemy, and move cautiously to the investment of Vicksburg. But this commander refused to comply with his request, saying that he had work of his own on hand. It was a serious question now what course pru- dence would dictate. Troops, he knew, were moving from the east toward Vicksburg, under Johnston, and the rebel leader could, in a short time, concentrate an over- whelming force against him. To guard against this as much as possible, he had left Sherman's corps behind, 78 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. at Milliken's Bend, to make a demonstration against Haines' Bluff, so that the enemy would not send off troops south to oppose him. The ruse succeeded ; the enemy were deceived and kept at that ]>oint, when Sher- man sailed back to Milliken's Bend, and following in the track of the army, joined it at Grand Gulf! Grant now took a rapid, comprehensive survey of his position, and saw j^lainly that but two courses lay open to him — either to join Banks, who Avould not join him, and help to take Port Hudson, which he undoubtedly would have been ordered to do, could the War Depart- ment have communicated vvdth him, or, cutting loose from everything, take his gallant army in hand, and boldly pushing inland, like the First Napoleon in his famous Italian campaign, endeavor to strike the enemy, in detail, before he could concentrate his forces. He did not hesitate for a moment, but chose the latter course, perilous as it was. He knew he must have victories, successive, rapid, and constant, or he was lost. In this decision, and the way he carried it out, he showed that he was capable of the inspiration of true genius, which commonly belongs to those of a more imaginative, im- petuous temperament. The rebel General Bowen, when he evacuated Grand Gulf, retreated across the Big Black river, directly to Vicksburg, and joined Pemberton, Johnston, with an- other army, was at Jackson, forty-five miles east of Vicksburg, ready to move on Grant's rear the moment he advanced north on that place. The latter manoeuvred so as to favor this plan, and deceived the enemy into the belief that he designed to cross the Big Black, in the track of Bowen, and follow him to the intrenchments of Vicks- burg. Cutting loose from Grand Gulf, and depending CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 79 mainly on the country to supply his lack of forage and supplies, he moved to the Big Black. Instead of crossing, however, he marched rapidly up the southern bank, and struck off east toward Jackson. On the way Logan found two brigades at Raymond, and crushed them with one terrible blow. Through the blinding rain, and mud, and darkness, McPherson, commanding the right, pushed on, and at length, on the 14th, came within two and a half miles of Jackson, where the enemy was drawn up in line of battle on the crest of a hill. A plain stretched away from the bottom of it, swept by the rebel artillery. But over it, with shouldered arms, and drums beating, the gallant troops moved without flinch- ing, till within pistol-shot of the hostile ranks, when, giving one terrible volley, they sprang forward with the bayonet, rending the rebel host like a bolt from heaven. Jackson was won, and Grant felt a load lifted from his heart as he saw himself planted between the rebel armies. No time, however, was to be lost. Pemberton Avas already on his way from Vicksburg to assail his rear, and there could be no rest to his army till it once more touch- ed the Mississippi north of Vicksburg, where supplies and men to any needed amount could reach him. That very evening, leaving Sherman at Jackson to complete the work of destruction of railroads, bridges, &c., he wheeled about, and moved rapidly back to^vard Vicksburg. When he got within two miles of the Big Black river, he came upon the enemy strongly posted on Champion's Hill, in thick woods, with their batteries sweeping all the roads and fields over which his columns must advance. Grant, who had so boldly swung his army clear of its 6 80 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. base, and set it down in the open country beset by foes on every side, commanded this battle m person. A heavy force from the north was hurrjdng down to crush him between it and Pemberton, and he must not only win victories at every step, but win them suddenly. He could not risk even a delay, much less a repulse, and he at once opened the contest. The enemy charged boldly, and at length drove the centre slowly back. But Grant had taken the precaution, when he heard of the proximity of the rebels, to send back to Sherman to hurry forward, and one of his divisions coming up at this critical mo- ment, restored the battle. Meanwhile, Logan had been workino; to the rebel left, and no sooner did Grant receive word that he was in the desired position, than he gave orders for the whole line to advance. With a cheer, a plunging volley, and a headlong dash, the weary but excited troops went through the thickets and over the hill, taking two batteries and a thousand prisoners. But Grant had pushed them so fiercely forward in the conflict, that he lost betv^^een two and three thousand men. Keeping on the next morning, he found the enemy strongly posted on both sides of the Big Black river. On the side nearest him they were encircled by a bayou with its extremities touching the river above and below their position, while on the opposite side arose a bluff black vnth batteries. McClernand had scarcely opened with his artillery, when the gallant Osterhaus was wounded. In the meantime, General Lawler had crept unob- served around to the right till he reached the bayou, when the men, flinging their blankets and haversacks on the ground, plunged into the water, and struggling across amid the raining bullets, suddenly appeared in the enemy's rear. Fifteen hmidred prisoners and eighteen cannon fell VICKSBURG INVESTED. 81 into our hands here, while our total loss was only three hundred and seventy-three. The railroad and turnpike bridges both crossed tho river at this point, and the rebels, on the opposite bluff, no sooner saw our troops in possession of this position, than they destroyed them, thus cutting off at the same time our array and that portion of theirs which held the position within the semicircular bayou. Taking advantage of this transient delay to our forces, Pember- ton withdrew his troops into the defences of Vicksburg, Grant now had but one more step to take, when he would feel for the first time comparatively safe, viz., strike the Mississippi above Vicksburg with the right wing of his army. Confident that he would defeat the enemy on the Big Black, he had sent Sherman to cross farther up- stream, and move across to the Yazoo, where Porter lay with his gunboats. In the meantime, bridging the Big Black river, McClemand passed on in front, McPherson following the road taken by Sherman, till the latter bore to the right to strike the Yazoo. Haines' Bluff, which for so many months had been a lion in our path to Vicks- burg", was cut off from the latter place by Sherman's movement, and fell into our hands. By the 19th of May, the three army corps were in position, extending from the Mississippi below to its banks above Vicksburg, thus completely investing the place. After long months of toiling and waiting — after repeated failures, till the enemy laughed in derision at Grant's futile obstinacy, he had at last, by one of the most brilliant military movements on record, succeeded in flinging his strong arms around the Gibraltar of the Mis- sissippi. From the perseverance he had shown from the outset, from the tireless energy with which he had v/orked 82 LlIGUTKNAN'I'-tiENKTlAL (lUANT. uiideviatinoly toward tliat siiiolo ])(>iiit, Iroiu (he rapid and (ivnu'iuloiis blows ho had dealt as lie bore swiltly and fiercely down ui)on it at last, l\>nd)erton well knc^w that "no maiden's arms were round him thnnvn." Still, notwilhstandliij'^- all (hat (Jraiit, had o\(M-eoiiie, his lonjj; marches, Imjuent battles, and unbroken victories, had only brought him to the thri^shold of his great undi-rtak- in<;'. TIk' work to be accomj)lished was >etall before him. 'rhiidiino- that the heavy blows he had dealt the enemy, and his sudden appearance in his rear, had so demoralized him that he could not make a stubborn stand behind his defences, \\(\ attempted to carry the place by a sucKKui assault, llepulsed in this, he spent several days In perlbctini;- (•oninunucations with his su[)- plies, and, on the 22d, made a second grand assault along the whole line. He caused the watches of the corps connnanders to be set by his, so that tlie advance should be sinudtaueous, and at ten tu'lock the dexoted colunms moveil oil". (J rant took a conunanding position near JMclMierson's quarters, lW)m which he could see the ad\anc- ing coluv'uis in trout, and a ])art of those of Sherman aTid McClernand. Smoking his inevitable cigar, he saw tluan steadily cross the iield, enter the deadly tire, and with banners ''high advanced," move proudly on the strong defences. 'Ihe lire of the enemy was learl'ul, and the earth trembled uuiU'r the crash of artillery. At lirst, it seemed as if nothing could sti^p that grand advance ; and through the wliirling smoke Grant saw, with delight^ all along the line, here and there banners ])lanted on the outer slope of the enemy's bastions. IJut Avhen breast to breast witli those strong defences, the lire that swept them was so awfid, and the barriers that opposed tliem so in- accessible, that they coukl advance no farther. For fivtf SIEGE OF VICKSUURG. 83 hours they stood and struggled, and fell there in vain, and at length were compelled to give it up. Our loss was heavy, and no advantage gained. Gen. Grant gave several reasons for making this as- sault, the chief of which were that Johnston was being daily reinforced, and in a few days would be able to fall on his rear ; that the possession of Vicksburg would have enabled him to turn upon him and drive him from the State ; that its immediate capture would have prevented the necessity of calling for large reinforcements that were needed elsewhere ; and, finally, that the troops were im- patient to possess Vicksburg, and would not have worked in the trenches with the same zeal, not believing it neces- sary, as they did, after their failure to carry the works by storm. These were good reasons, })ut we sus]>ect that he did not give the strongest one of all. In his attack on Fort, Donelson, he had said, in reply to Buckncr's request for an armistice, " I propose to move immediately on your works." This, at that time, he could say, for the ])Osition that Smith had secured made success morally certain. The Secretary of War, however, had taken up the phrase, and in a letter, sounding more like the rhodomontade of a school-boy than the utterance of a Secretary of War of a great nation, said, in effect, that this was all the strategy needed to secure victories. It had caught the popular ear, and being uttered at a time when it Avas all the fashion to ridicule siege operations — " General Spade'' was a sobriquet applied to any one who undertook them — it was hardly safe for a commander to resort to them without the most indubitable evidence that nothing else could be done. He knew perfectly well that he was ex- pected to move immediately on the enemy\s works, and 84 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. he was far from sure, if he did not do so, that the extra* ordinary War Department would not see that some one was put in his place that would. The feelings of that Department, and the popular sentiment at the time, would not have sustained him if he had not made the attempt. It was not after all, we imagine, so much the impatience of his devoted troo2)s, as the outside, impatience, that he feared. The second assault, however, settled the question, and he sat down before the place in regular siege, and soon reinforcements began to pour in to him. These he im- peratively needed, for between casualties and sickness, his actual effective army, when he began the investment of Vicksburg, numbered less than that of the garrison. Forts were now erected over against forts ; corridors, passages, and pits were dug ; the parallels gradually worked closer and closer, notwithstanding the steady play of artillery and ceaseless volleys of musketry, and a blaz- ing southern sun. Day after day the work went steadily on, and on the 25th, the first mine was sprung under one of the principal forts of the enemy, and a fierce, bloody struggle ensued for its possession. Other mines were dug — ^the enemy ran countersaps, so that often only a thin wall of earth divided the hostile working parties. All this time, at intervals, Porter was thundering away in the Mississippi at the stronghold, and in the conflict lost the Cincinnati. Shells were flung from mortars, and two one hundred pound Parrott guns mounted on rafts, and from countless batteries, until a horrible tempest fell on the hostile works and on the city itself, compelling the inhabitants to dig caves in the earth m which to hide from the incessant rain of death. Famine at length began to stare the garrison in the face, while Grant had AN ARMISTICE PROPOSED. 85 dug his way up so close to the works, that a single bound would send his eager colunms over them. For forty-six days did he patiently dig his way to- ward the doomed city, until Pemberton, who had ex- hausted every means of defence, and held on till his scanty provisions were nearly gone, waiting and hoping for Johnston to raise the siege, at length gave up in des- pair, and sent a flag of truce to Grant with the following communication : General : I have the honor to propose to you an armistice for . hours, with a view to arranging terms for the capitulation of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will appoint three Commissioners to meet a like number to be appointed by yourself, at such a place and hour to-day aa you may find convenient. I make this proposition to save the further effu- sion of blood, which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite period. Thia communication will be handed you under a flag of truce, by Major-General James Bowen. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, J. C. Pembeeton. To this Grant replied as follows : Geneeax : Your note of this date, just received, proposes an armistice of several hours, for the purpose of arranging terms of capitulation through Commissioners to be appointed, &c. The effusion of blood you propose stop- ping by this course, can be ended at any time you may choose, by an un- conditional surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much endurance and courage as those now in Yicksburg, will always chal- lenge the respect of an adversary, and, I can assure you, will be treated with all the respect due them as prisoners of war. I do not favor the proposi- tion of Ccanmissioners to arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no other terms than those indicated above. I am, General, very respectfully. Your obedient servant, U. S. Geant, Major- General. This was followed by an interview between the two 86 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. generals, midway between the two armies, at three o'clock, in which Pemberton insisted on terms which Grant could not accept, and they parted. Grant saying that he would give in a letter his ultimatum : this was the sur- render of the place and garrison — the latter to be paroled and march away, the officers with their regimental cloth- ing, and staiF, field, and cavalry officers one horse each; the rank and file to be allowed all their clothing — nothuig more — and to take such rations as they needed, and uten- sils for cooking them. These terms, with very little mxodifications, were accepted, and the next day, the ever-memorable 4th of July, the national flag went up over the stronghold amid loud cheers. On this same anniversary of the birth- day of our Independence, there was being decided amid flame, and thunder, and carnage, the battle of Gett}'sburg. East and west, at the same time, on the same Jubilee day, the rebellion culminated, and ever after, though with unequal movements, staggered downward to its final overthrow. CHAPTER IV. FALL OP PORT HUDSON — THE PRESIDENT'S LETTER TO GRANT — REVIEW OP THE CAMPAIGN — A PUBLIC RECEPTION IN VICKSBURG — VISITS NEW ORLEANS — IS THROWN FROM HIS HORSE AND INJURED — PLACED OVER THE MILITARY DIVISION OP THE MISSISSIPPI — PLACED IN COM- MAND AT CHATTANOOGA — ORDERS SHERMAN TO MARCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO JOIN HIM — HIS PLAN FOR RAISING THE SIEGE — THE BAT- TLE — grant's appearance on the field — THE GRAND ATTACK OP THE CENTRE UNDER HIS OWN EYE — MISSIONARY RIDGE CARRIED — THE PURSUIT — AN INDIAN CHIEP's OPINION OP GRANT — THE PRESIDENT'S LET- TER OP THANKS — grant's ORDER — CONGRESS VOTES HIM A MEDAL — HE VISITS NASHVILLE AND KNOXVILLE — REFUSES TO MAKE A SPEECH — CREATION OP THE RANK OP LIEUTENANT-GENERAL — GRANT NOMINA- TED TO IT — ENTERS ON HIS DUTIES — IMMENSE PREPARATIONS FOR THE COMING CAMPAIGN — THE COUNTRY'S PATIENCE UNDER DELAYS — TWO ARMIES TO MOVE BIMULTAJNEOUSLY — THE BELL OP DESTINY BEGINS TO TOLL. A FEW days after the surrender of Vicksburg, Port Hudson, which was a mere pendant to it, capitulated, and the Mississippi was open to the Gulf. The event was hailed with enthusiastic joy through- out the land , che South was cut in twain, and one or two more bisections, it was felt, would finish the monstrous abortion called the Southern Confederacy. Grant was blamed for paroling the garrison, and the act complicated very much the after-exchange of prisoners of war, or rather ostensibly so, for the actual cause of the difficulty lay entirely outside of this arrangement. The President wrote a letter of congratulation to 88 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Grant, in which he said, " When you got below, and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join General Banks; and when you turned northward, east of the Big Black, I fear- ed it was a mistake. I now wish to make a personal acknowledgment that you were right, and I was wrong." Thi^ letter was a good deal commented on, the op- position declaring that it showed what a blunder the Government would have committed, if it had been able to have its own way. As events turned out. Grant was right : and there is never any use in reasoning against success. But in truth, looking at all the facts and un- certainties of the case, prudence would have dictated that if Banks would not join Grant, he had better join him. The former should have at once raised the siege of Port Hudson, and entered on the campaign of the latter. As he would not, however, the course that Grant took, with the comparatively small number of troops under him, was fraught with the deepest peril. When it was known that he had cut loose from his base, and, Cortez-like, struck off into the interior, the President was not the only one Avho feared that he had made a mistake ; but all students of military history trembled for him. Had this been the only course left open for him, the case would have been different ; but, by a little delay, he doubtless could have had the army of Banks, and been made sure against any overwhelming disaster. Wliere- as, by the course he took, he not only ran the risk of de- feat, but perilled the safety of his entire army. When Napoleon adopted similar tactics in his great Italian (campaign, no more soldiers were within his reach, and what he did, he knew must be done with the army under him. This was not strictly the case with Grant, and HIS NEW COMMAND. 89 hence the great risk he run was to some extent unneces- sary. But, as before remarked, it is idle to reason against success. Grant won it, and not by mere good luck, but by brilliant manoeuvring, swift marching, and splendid fiofhtino- ; and he at once rose to the first rank among the generals of the army. Victory sometimes so dazzles men, that they cannot see the blunders committed, and that ought to have brought defeat ; but in this case, from the moment that Grant took the bold resolution of cutting loose from his communications, he made no mis-» take, but moved toward his object like one of heaven's own thunderbolts, " Shattering that it might reach, and shattering -t,' What it reached." Grant now took up his headquarters in Vicksburg, and soon after went to Memphis to superintend the affairs of his department, when he was honored with a public reception. On the first of September he sailed for New Orleans. During his visit there, while reviewing the Thirteenth Corps, he was thrown from his horse, and badly bruised. Before he was entirely recovered, he went North, and at Indianapolis met General Halleck by appointment, who gave him a general order, which put him in command of the "Departments of the Ohio, of the Cumberland, and of the Tennessee, constituting the Military Division of the Mississippi." This was by far the most extensive depart- ment yet given to any one commander. In the mean time Bosecrans had been defeated at Chickamauga, and shut up in Chattanooga. Thomas for awhile superseded him, when Grant was ordered there to take command in person. Sherman, mean- while, whom Grant, after the capture of Vicksburg, 90 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. sent back to Jackson to drive out the rebels, had been previously ordered to send a division to Memphis, to march from thence across the country, to the relief of Chattanooga. Another order immediately followed, directing him to move with his whole army. When Grant reached Chattanooga, he found affairs in a desperate state. Bragg had closed round it, his lines reaching from the river north of the place, along Missionary Ridge, to Lookout Mountain on the south, and so cutting off the communications of the army, that all supplies had to be dragged for sixty miles across the country, and over abominable roads. In fact, there was momentarily danger of their being permanently severed, when the army in Chattanooga would have to retreat with the loss of its artillery, even if it saved itself. In the meantime, batteries were planted by the rebels all along the heights that overlooked the place, ready at any moment to open a bombardment upon it. Bragg, confi- dent of success, had previously sent off Longstreet, to drive Burnside from KJnoxville. Government, aware of the peril to this great strategic point, had hurried off from the east Hooker, with two corps, but even his arrival did not make Grant strong enough to assume the offensive. He, however, found a giant to lean upon in Chatta- nooga, in the noble Thomas, and with him calmly surveyed the prospect before him. His plans were soon laid, and he only waited the arrival of Sherman, toiling across the country, to put them in operation. He had previously made a lodgment on the south side of the Tennessee, at Brown's Ferry, three miles below where Lookout Moun- tain abuts on the river, by which navigation was opened to the ferry, thus shortening his land transportation, and securing certain supplies to the army. Fifty pon- CHATTANOOGA. 91 toons, carrying twelve hundred men, were floated by night down the river, unobserved by the enemy's pickets, and landed at the ferry. These were immediately ferried across to the opposite side, and about three thou- sand men, who had been secretly marched down to the point and concealed, were brought over, and the position secured, compelling the enemy to retreat to Lookout Mountain. In less than forty hours, the Eleventh Corps was also across, and encamped in Lookout Vallev Grant now had a foothold on the left flank of the rebel line, and he only waited the arrival of Sherman to take position on the right flank above Chattanooga, to carry out his projected attack. In the mean time, Bragg sent a message to Grant, to remove non-combatants from the place, as he was about to open his batteries upon it. To this Grant returned no reply, for he was about ready to answer with his batteries and charo;in£2: columns. Sherman s army, when it finally reached Chattanooga, was weary and footsore, yet no time could be given it for rest, and it marched at once to its destined position. On the 24th of November it crossed the Tennessee, on a pontoon bridge, the head of which on the south shore had been secured the night before by a surprise ; and took up its position on Missionary Ridge, thus threatening Bragg's immediate communications. The day before, Thomas had made a reconnoissance in his front to develop the enemy's line, and taken, after a short conflict, Indian Hill or Orchard Knob, that overlooked the rebel rifle- pits. Hooker, in the mean time, pressed up the rugged height of Lookout Mountain, driving the enemy before him; and on the morning of the 25th, looked down from his dizzy elevation on Chattanooga below, with which he estabhshed communications. 92 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA. Everything had thus far worked as Grant had planned ; and now the last blow was to be struck, Sherman was to press heavily Bragg's right on Mis- sionary Ridge and threaten his communications, so that he would be compelled to weaken his centre to repel the advance, and then Thomas was to move straight on the centre, and finish the battle with a clap of thunder. Sherman commenced his attack early in the morning, and moving down from the elevation he occupied, crossed a road, and attempted to ascend the opposite heights. It was a fearful work that had been assio-ned him, and his bleeding columns swayed upward and backward in the uncertain fight, yet each hour pressing the enemy's right heavier and heavier. Hooker had come down from Lookout Mountain, where he had been fighting above the clouds, and was thundering away on the rebel left. Grant, in the centre, stood on Orchard Knob, smoking his cio'ar, listenins; to the thunder-crash to the left and right of him, and waiting for the auspicious moment when Thomas could be sent in on the centre. The forenoon slowly wore away, and Sherman, seeing the rebel bat- teries and troops steadily increasing in his frontj looked anxiously away toward Orchard Knob ; but all was silent there. Noon came, and on both extremities the roar of battle still shook the heights, yet between, all was motionless and silent. The hour of destiny had not yet come. Sherman continued to press the enemy fiercely in his front, compelling him still more to weaken his cen- tre to resist the advance ; but his men were getting weary, and his thinned battalions saw no hope of reach- ing the bristling heights above them. The afternoon passed on leaden wings to them ; but at length Grant A sachem's views of grant. 93 saw that the decisive moment had amved. It was now nearly four o'clock, and the signal to advance was given. This was six cannon-shots fired at intervals of two sec- onds each. Witli regular beat, one, two, three sounded, till, as the last deep reverberation rolled away over the heights, there was a sudden resurrection, as from the bowels of the earth, of that apparently dead line. Three divi- sions of the Army of the Cumberland composed it. A mile and a half of broken country lay before them to the rifle-pits at the base of Missionary Ridge, and then there remained the rocky hill, four hundi^ed feet high, to mount, every inch of it swept by artillery and musketry. Over this intervening space the columns moved at a rapid pace, breasting the fire of the rebel batteries, and at length reached the rifle-pits. Clearing these at a bound, they be- gan to climl) the steep. Met by the awful fire that rolled in a lava-stream down its sides, the remments worked their way slowly up. Taking tke matter into their own hands, they seemed to act without orders, each deter- mined to be first at the top. It was a thrilling spectacle to see those banners advance — now one, and then another, fluttering highest up the acclivity amid flame and smoke. The ranks melted rapidly away, but the survivors kept on. Grant gazed, apparently unmoved, at the sight, yet witli his whole soul in the struggle. Even the impassa- ble Thomas, as he saw the slow and doubtftd progress, exclaimed to Grant, "I fear, General, they will never reach the top." The latter, puffing the smoke from his cigar, merely replied, " Give 'em time, General ; give 'em time." At last, just as the sun was sinking in the west, flooding the heights with his departing rays, the regimental flags swung out in the breeze on the top, and then a muffled Bhout, like the far-off mui'mur of the sea, came down to 94 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Grant. Taken up by division after division, it rolled gloriously along the whole line. The bloody field was won, and Bragg in ftill retreat. All next day he was pursued as he fled, leaving guns, prisoners, wagons, and material strung along his path. Over seven thousand prisoners and forty-seven pieces of artillery were the fi'uits of the victory. Having chased Bragg to Dalton, he then turned his attention to Longstreet, who was laying siege to Knox- ville. Sherman was despatched to its relief, and Long- street was compelled to raise the siege and retreat toward Virginia. Never was a more skilfully-planned battle, or one more gallantly fought. The victory was a clear triumph of military genius, and steady, determined fighting. Bragg was fau'ly and openly met in his chosen position, behind his defences, on heights he deemed impregnable, and utterly routed. Grant had in this Imttle an Indian chief on his staff, and the grave sachem thus describes his impressions of the General during the successive actions : " It has been a matter of universal wonder that Gen. Grant was not killed, for he was always in front, and perfectly heedless of the storm of hissing bullets and screaming shells flying around him. His aj)parent want of sensibility does not arise from heedlessness, heartlessness, or vain military affectation, but from a sense of the responsibility resting on him when in battle. When at Ringgold, we rode for a half a mile in the face of the enemy, under an incessant fire of cannon and musketry ; nor did we ride fast, but on an ordinary trot ; and not once, do I believe, did it enter the General's mind that he was in danger. I was by his side, and watched him closely. In riding that dis- BATTLE OF CHATTANOOGA. 95 tance, we were going to the front, and I could see that lie was studying the positions of the two armies, and, of course, planning how to defeat the enemy, who was here making a desperate stand, and slaughtering our men fear- fully. Roads (he says) are almost useless to him, for he takes short cuts through fields and woods, and will swim his horse through almost any stream that obstructs his way. Nor does it make any difference to him whether he has daylight for his movements, for he will ride from breakfast until two o'clock next morning, and that, too, without eating. The next day he will repeat the same, until he has finished the work." The country Avas deluious with joy at this great vic- tory, and the President issued a proclamation for a day of thanksgiving, and sent the following letter to Grant : Washington, December 8th. 3faJor- General Grant : Understanding that your lodgment at Chattanooga and Knox« ville is now secure, I wish to tender you and all imder your com- mand my more than thanks — my profoundest gratitude for the skill, courage, and perseverance Avith which you and they, over so great difficulties, have eftected that important object. God bless you all. A. Lincoln. Grant issued a congratulatory order to his army, in which, at the close, he said : " The General commanding thanks you individually and collectively. The loyal people of the United States thank and bless you. Their hopes and prayers for your success against this uidioly rebellion are with you daily. Their faith in you will not be in vain. Their hopes will not be blasted. Their prayers to Almighty God will be answered. You will }'et go to other fields of strife, and with invincible bra- very and unflinching loyalty to justice and right, which 96. LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. *liave characterized you in tlie past, you will j^rove tliat no enemy can withstand you, and that no defence, how- ever formidable, can check your onward march." Congress voted him a medal, and different Legisla- tures passed votes of thanks, and the country with one voice demanded that he should be given the chief com- mand of all the armies. A bill was therefore passed by Congress, creating the rank of lieutenant-general, which had been conferred as an honorary title on Gen. Scott ; and soon after the President sent in Grant's name for the office. In the mean time Grant went to Nashville, in order to visit Knoxville to inspect in person the situation of affairs in that portion of his department. At the latter place he was received with wild enthusiasm by the peo- ple, and, in accordance with the universal custom of the Americans, a speech was demanded of him. But he in- formed them that he never made a speech, and knew nothing about it; and no speech was got out of him. Returning, he visited St. Louis to see a sick child, and while there a public dinner was given him. His nomination for the position of lieutenant-general being confirmed, he went to Washington in February to assume the duties of his high office. All felt that a new era was now to commence. Cono-ress, in creatino; the rank, confessed that it had interfered quite long enough in the conduct of military affiiirs, and thought the Cabi net had too. The Secretary of War saw in it that the country was tired of his management, and that hereafter he must confine himself to the appropriate duties of his department, which he knew so well how to perform. The new strategy he had introduced, " to move imme- diately on the enemy's w^orks," had had its full and THE PREPARATION. 97 bloody trial; costing the country [)robably a hundred thousand men. The ruling politicians had become alarmed. Setting out with the determination to control the war, they began to se» that under their management the country would soon get sick of it altogether, and hence if they did not want to break down utterly, they must place its conduct exclusively in military hands. There was a general sentiment that they dare not lay hands on Grant, for with his removal there seemed nothing but chaos beyond. Grant entered on his high duties without any flourish of trumpets or high-sounding proclamations, or extrava- gant promises, but like one who knew thoroughly the gi'eat work before him ; and at once addressed himself to its accomplishment.- Sherman was given the vast west- ern command which he himself had held, and the two were to move together at the appointed time, to deal the rebellion its death-blow. Weary months now passed away. Spring came with its genial weather and hard roads, and yet Grant did not move. Still no murmurs were heard, such as filled the land when the Army of the Potomac first remained so long quiet on the same ground. The country had had enough of popular campaigning, and in the three terrible years it had passed through, at last learned the much-needed lesson of patience. The " On to E-ichmond" cry, which so long dazed the brains of many, was no more heard. It was plain that Grant was to be let alone, and in that lay our only hope. But though everything seemingly continued so quiet around Washington, the land was shaking to its centre under the mighty preparations going forward. The peo- ple did not know of it, because the amazing activity was made up of so many minor movements, each one of which 98 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. was not of sufficient magnitude to attract notice. But Grant had determined tliat wlien lie gave the word for the mighty host, stretching fi-om the Mississippi to the*. Atlantic to move, it should be a fair test between the power of the North and South — that the coming strug- gle should be conclusive and final. All through the early spring, the countless railroads of the North groaned under the weight of troops, either new levies, or old sol- diers returning to their respective regiments. Transports lofl,ded with ordnance and supplies darkened all our water courses. The great thoroughfares of travel and commerce were monopolized by the Government, and he who could have embraced the vast North at that time with a single glance, would have been terrified at the mighty militaiy preparations going on. He would have seen that a struggle was impending, the like of which the world had never seen. The South, through its spies, was aware of this, and Davis saw that the coming campaign would settle the fate of the Confederacy. He therefore began to gather all his resources for the decisive struggle. Neither was the navy idle, for six hundred vessels of war hung like full-charged thunder-clouds around the rebel fortifica- tions. Never, since the time of the first Napoleon, were such vast military resources placed in the hand of one man as now rested in that of Grant. Thus the month of April passed, and the waiting people wondered at his inaction. But by the first of May he was ready. While the navy was to strike along the coast at important points, the two armies, one east and the other west, were to move simultaneously forward — Shennan with Atlanta as his objective point, and Grant THE GRAND MOVEMENT. 99 with Richmond for his. The Alleghany Mountains di- vided them, and thousands of miles intervened, and yet one head was to control both. When ever)i:hing was ready, the two armies arose from their long inaction and moved forward. The great bell of destiny, hung in the blue dome of heaven, began to toll the knell of the Con- federacy, and the solemn sound never ceased, till its hide- ous form was laid in its deep, dark grave forever. CHAPTER V. THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. OHABAOTEB AND PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGN — THE ARMY CROSSES THE EAPIDAH — THE THREE DATs' BATTLE IN THE "WILDERNESS — LEe's RETREAT TO SPOTT- BTLVANIA — BATTLES BEFORE IT — GRANT, BY A FLANK MOVEMENT, MARCHES TO THE NORTH ANNA RIVER — MAKES A SECOND FLANK MOVEMENT TO THE PAMUNKET — THE CHIGKAHOMINY — BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR — STRENGTH OF THE REBEL WORKS — HE MARCHES TO THE JAMES RIVER — CROSSES IT AND ATTACKS PETERSBURG — IS REPULSED — REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN — SIEGB OF RICHMOND — EARLY SENT TO THE VALLEY OF THE SHENANDOAH — GOES INTO MARYLAND AND PENNSYLVANIA — THE MINE OF BURNSIDE — GRANT DEFEATED AT HATCHEB's RUN — WINTER QUARTERS — CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER — SHERMAN ADVANCING DESPERATION OF THE REBELS — THEIB ATTEMPT TO TAKE CITY POINT WITH IRON-CLADS — NARROW ESCAPE OF grant's army — ATTACK ON FORT 8TEADMAN — LAST GREAT MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY — DESCRIPTION OF — PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND EVACUATED THE RACE FOR LIFE OF THE REBEL ARMY — THE SURRENDER — ACCOUNT OF IT — A MOMENTOUS SABBATH— SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON — COLLAPSE OF THB REBELLION — JOY OF THE PEOPLE — ENTHUSIASM FOR GRANT — HIS CHARACTEEL Grant's campaign differed in some respects materially from that of Sherman, for while the latter had but one line of communication with his supplies, and that length- ening as he advanced, the former could change his base so as to keep it always about the same distance from his army, or, at least, never very remote. Again, the former was exposed to flank attacks on either side, while the latter could be threatened only on his right, and that by the Shenandoah valley, which a moderate force could protect* OUTLINE OF THE CAMPAIGN. 101 Grant had also a much larger army, for while that of Sherman consisted of a hundred thousand men, the former had in his army proper, or cooperating with him against Richmond, or within call, probably double that number. But he had likewise the ablest commander, and the grandest army of the Southern Confederacy to contend against. Besides, Lee was thoroughly ac- quainted with the country, and its capacities for de- fence, and, from two similar campaigns against him, had been able to fix definitely upon the best plan to defeat a third. He was, moreover, to act almost entirely on the defensive, and fight behind works ; so that, though vastly inferior in numbers, not having probably over a hundred thousand men, he was able to make it an equal contest. Grant probably did not confine himself to one single mode of operations. His great object was, whatever in- termediate events might happen, to strike Richmond on the north side, so that he could sweep around to the west, while Butler cut it off from the south. The movements of the latter, therefore, were to corres- pond wdth his. Like Burnside and Hooker, he wished, if possible, to get between Lee and his commu- nications, and force him at the outset to a decisive battle. If he succeeded, and the rebel army w^as utterly defeated, he could take his own course about investing Richmond. If Lee was forced to retreat, as he did not doubt he would be, he designed to follow him closely to the rebel capital, punishmg him severely at every step. To render Lee's rapid escape by the railroads impossible, he sent Sheridan on a raid to break them up. Sigel and Couch, in the mean time, were in the Shenandoah valley, protecting his flank, and keeping back reinforcements from that direc- tion. 102 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. With this general outline before him, Grant, on the night of the 3d. of May, broke up his encampments, and the noble Army of the Potomac moved off toward the Rapidan. The next morning it crossed at two fords, Ely's and Germania, some five or six miles apart. It was divided into three corps^the Second, commanded by Hancock, the Fifth, by Warren, and the Sixth, by Sedgewick. Hancock, in front, crossed at Ely's ford, followed by Warren, while Sedgewick crossed at Ger- mania, forming the right. Lee did not dispute the pass- age of the stream, but fell back, so as to protect the entire line of railroad from Gordonsville to Saxton's Junction. It was thouoht at the time that he had been taken by surprise, but this was, undoubtedly, a mistake. The two armies had confronted each other too long at that point, not to have it well understood by him that a crossing would be attempted in that neighborhood. He seemed to think that a more successful attack could be made by concentrating a heavy force on the separate corps after they were over, and while in process of reach- ing their appointed positions. Carrying out this plan, he first fell on Sedgewick, who had crossed alone, and was in rear of the other two corps. If, by a sudden onset, he could crush him, or drive him into the river, he could sweep down the banks in the rear of the other two corps, cutting them off from the fords, and destroy the vast trains not yet over. But Grant designed neither to build pontoon bridges or protect fords ; he had crossed without any intention of returning. The onsJ aught upon Sedgewick was terrific; but the latter, not satisfied with bracing himself up to resist it, boldly advanced to meet it. Hurled back, Lee came on BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 103 again with the same result. Repulsed here, he gathered up his bleeding columns, and, quick as lightning, poured them into the gap between Hancock and Warren. So unexpected and fierce w^as this onset, that for a time it threatened to be successful. Warren, endeavoring to ad- vance, was driven back, and lost two guns. The ti'oops, however, rallied, and the fight raged with fearful ferocity till nine o'clock, long after darkness had closed over both armies. The next morning Lee made a simultaneous attack on both wings — Longstreet advancing against Hancock, and A. P. Hill against Sedgewick. The fight- ing, if possible, was more terrific than the day previous. Before these desperate charges our whole line of battle was shaken terribly. In various parts of the field the ranks were often thrown into confusion, and once, on the left, the battle seemed lost. Grant was standing under a tree, smoking, and chipping the bark with his knife, when the tidings reached him that the left was broken. " I don't believe it ;"" was his quiet reply. Still, it was nearly true, and w^ould have been wholly so, but for the timely arrival of Burnside, with his forty or fifty thousand men, consti- tuting the reserve. This bringmg up the whole reserve into action so early in the campaign, shows that Grant narrowly escaped the disaster that overtook Burnside and Hooker in the same neighborhood. Burnside had made a forced march from Manassas, and on this eventful morning, with Sedgewick, whom Grant had with great forethought brought over from the right during the night, restored the battle. That such an enormous concentration of forces was needed here, shows how well Lee had laid his plans, and how, under other circumstances, they would have been successful. The result taught him, in turn, that he had a commander 104: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. to deal with that would give him all he Avanted to do. The next day no general engagement took place ; but the army stood in order of battle, and skirmishes and lesser conflicts were constantly occurring. This ended the three days' fight in the Wilderness — certainly one of the most remarkable on record. Grant had at least 250 pieces of artillery ; yet, in the main, they slept idly in long rows under the trees, wholly useless in this strange struggle, in which the contending hosts could see each other only as they came in contact. Although the misfhtiest armies that had ever met on this continent stood up in a great pitched battle, to one on the field it seemed only bushwhacking through a forest seven or eiirht miles in extent. Grant could not see his ami}' — he could only hear it. The incessant volleys, roar- ing away on either side, till lost m the distance, told of a great conflict ; but except so far as ordering up reinforce- ments and responding to calls for help, it was a succession of separate conflicts. Lee, who knew all the roads through this tangled wilderness, had greatly the advan- tage in moving his troops from point to point, and thus could more easily carry out his object — viz., to turn one flank or the other, and compel Grant to fall back across the Rapidan, thus repeating over again Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He fought his army well, and with great desperation ; but he failed, and was compelled finally to retreat. The endurance of the men, on both sides, was won- derful. Portions of our army fought and stood in line of battle for forty-eight hours continuously. Never before did a wilderness present such a spectacle. On both sides, probably nearly 30,000 men had fallen, and though the wounded were gathered together, the dead BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. 105 lay everywhere ; and in the hurry of Lee's retreat and Grant's pursuit, those who were buried were often but half interred, and arms and legs protruded from the loose soil in every direction. As Lee retreated towards Spottsylvania, Grant, giv- ing his troops no time to rest, pressed toward the same point also, hoping to get there first and head oif his antagonist. But the former was too quick for him, and Bartlett's brigade in the advance, which was ordered to attack at once on approaching the place — on the supposi- tion that only cavalry would be found there — ran into Longstreet's wdiole corps, and was fearfully cut up, one of his regiments losing three quarters of its number in fifteen minutes. Rawlinson's division, which was pushed forward to his rescue, also broke in disorder, when War- ren, coming up, seized the division-flag and rallied the troops in person, and held the ground from eight o'clock till noon. Other divisions arriving in the afternoon, the contest was renewed at six o'clock, and the first line of breastworks carried, though we lost 1,500 men in doing it. This was Sunday. The next day was passed in skirmishing and reconnoitring. On Tuesday, Grant made a grand attack on the enemy's position, and a most terrific conflict followed. Our wearied men fought as though fresh from their encampments. Bayonet charges occurred in various parts of the line, and the roar of artillery, and crash of musketry, and shouts of infuriated men, conspired to make that evening a scene of terror in- conceivable, indescribable. The carnage was awful ; not less than eight or ten thousand men falling on our side alone. We took some 1,200 prisoners ; but the attack failed, and the decimated columns withdrew. But neither the obstacles which Grant met, nor the 106 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. awful slaughter of his troops, created despondency in his heart. On the contrary, they aroused him to more deter- mined efforts, and he telegraphed back — "I will fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer." Keinforcements were hmTied on to him, and the garrisons around Wash- ington almost emptied to replace his fearful losses. The Secretary of War dared no longer interfere as he did with McClellan, and keep back troops to protect the capital. Grant demanded them, and they were sent for>- ward. The latter now changed his base of supplies to Fred- ericksburg, while his army lay around Spottsylvania for two weeks, striving in vain to find a weak point in the enemy"'s position, or to overlap his right wing. Every day, the roar of artillery shook the earth, and terrible assaults on both sides strewed the ground with the dead. Heavy rains and fogs set in ; but still the work of death went on. We gained some successes — Hancock, in his bril- liant charge, taking some 5,000 prisoners ; but it placed the army no nearer success, and at length Grant gave it up, and resolved on a flank movement. It was hard to come to this, for he did not want to force Lee to a retreat, but to a decisive battle while far from his base, and with his lines of communication cut by Sheridan, who was mak- ing havoc with the rebel cavalry. Besides, he did not wish to swing round in front of the Kichmond works, from which McClellan's army had been driven two years before ; but follow the rebel leader straight into the capital from the north. Kautz had cut the railroad be- low Petersburg, and Butler, who was occupying Ber- muda Hundreds, had destroyed it between that place and Riclimond, and if he himself could come down on the city from the north, its fate would be sealed. Still, no other A FLANK MOVEMENT. 107 resource was left him. So, on Friday night, Hancock moved off to the eastward, and the next night was at Bowling Green, seventeen miles from Spottsylvania. Lee, however, made aware of the movement, started off Long- street's corps the same night, and a race between the two armies commenced. The Fifth Corps, Warren's, fol- lowed on Saturday morning, and about the same time Ewell also started ; and so, corps after corps succeeded, until Spottsylvania was deserted. The North Anna river was the goal both were aiming at. If Grant could reach it i^rst, he would even yet force Lee to the de- cisive battle he was straining every nerve to bring about. Hancock, who had the left, struck the river about a mile west of where the Fredericksburg and Kichmond railroad crosses it. Warren, on the right, struck it four miles farther up at the Jericho ford. His advance divi- sion. Griffin's, reached it a little after midnight on Mon- day, May the 23d, and immediately plunged into the stream, flowing waist deep, and stumbling m the darkness over its rocky bed, crossed without opposition. Hancock, on reaching the bridge over which he was to cross, found the enemy in force, and had to carry a tete du pont and a fort at the point of the bayonet, which he did in gallant style. Once over, he met but little op- position, while Warren had to fight his way onward. It was now ascertained that the rebels, Avho had got the start, held the South Anna, which had been fortified, apparently for just such a contingency as this. Grant, seeing that the position could not be forced, at least not without a loss that would make it no victory, made another flank movement, and swung his army around to the Pamunkey, and on the last day of May, 108 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. pitched his headquarters near Hanover Court House, the spot where, two years before, rested the extreme right of McClellan's lines. The manner in which he handled his immense army in these flanking operations, showed a military ability far above that which often wins a great battle. It seemed to be a single machine in his hand, which he worked with consummate skill, and apparently without effort. Throwing his army across the Pamunkey, he ad- vanced to the Chickahominy, while he transferred his base to the White House, from which General W. F. Smith, with the Tenth and part of the Eighteenth corps, joined him. The rebels had learned wisdom from the lesson taught them by McClellan two years before, when the Chicka- hominy was crossed without opposition ; for now its banks bristled with fortifications. In attempting to force its passage, occurred the battle of Cold Harbor. After a determined but unsuccessful assault and a bloody repulse. Grant, impassible as ever, mounted his horse and rode along the lines to ascertain from the different command- ers the actual state of things in their immediate front He returned leisurely, absorbed in thought, and it was evident that the attempt would not be renewed. He was now on the line of McClellan's peninsular campaign, with a much larger army, but with difficulties tenfold greater to contend with. A deep river, strongly fortified, la)' before him, and beyond it, five miles of earthworks stretched to the rebel capital. It was plain the army never could travel that road to Kichmond. It lay here, however, for nearly ten days, and another July in the deadly Chickahominy swamps seemed inevitable. But Grant, with all his obstinacy and tenacity of purpose, MARCH TO THE JAMES RIVER. 109 never exhibits these qualities in the mode of reaching his object. The moment events show that one plan is no longer feasible, he instantly drops it and adopts another. He clings to his main object with the grip of death, but cares little for the mode of securing it. Seeing, there- fore, that Richmond could not be reached by the Chicka- hominy, he determined by a sudden movement to fling his army over the James river, and seize Petersburg, which Butler had failed to take, laying the blame of defeat on Gilmore. This, however, was a delicate operation, for the op- posing lines were so close that it was hardly to be ex- pected that he could move off, unobserved, such an im- mense army, without exposing himself to a sudden attack. But concentrating his lines till his front was not more than four miles long — making it almost as deep back — and throwing up strong works to protect his flanks, he, on Sunday night, the 12th of June, quietly and swiftly changed front and marched away from the Chickahominy. Smith's corps moved off to the White House and em- barked on transports, while the rest of the army struck across the country to the James river, fifty miles away. Passing below the White Oak Swamp, stirring recollec- tions were brought to the army of the Potomac, ^vhich two years before fought their way on almost the same line to the point toward which they were now pressing. Grant broke up his camp and sent off all his immense trains on the 12th. Two days after, on the 14th, Hancock was crossing the James by ferry at Wilcox Landing, and the Sixth corps by ferry and a pontoon bridge a little lower down. When Lee found Grant gone from his front, he evidently expected he would strike for Malvern Hill, and from that point march on Bichmond ; but the 110 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. thunder of his guns as he advanced against Petersburg dis- pelled this illusion. Grant expected to take Petersburg by this sudden movement, and thus advance his lines nearer to Richmond on the south side. The attack was at first successful and the outer works captured, and the report flew over the land that it had fallen. It ought to have been so, and would have been but for a mistake for which Grant was not responsible. At the same time that our assaulting columns moved against the place in front, Butler advanced once more to the railroad connecting it with Pichmond, and from which he liad previously been driven. He reached the track and tore it up ; but the rebels no sooner found our army repulsed before Peters- burg, than they sent a strong force against him, and driv- ing him back, repaired the road. Grant now had apparently played his last card and failed. The most terrific campaign on record had ended, and a long siege, of nearly a year's duration, was to com- mence. He had fought his way, inch by inch, from the Rapidan to the James, yet never gained a substantial victory. Every battle had been a drawn one, and he had lost probably in the neighborhood of a hundred thousand men, while he had not weakened the enemy by more than half that number. •=' The latter, after the battle of the Wilderness, fought always behind breastworks, where * No reports of tlie losses in these various battles were published, and, so far as we know, complete ones at the time were not sent in to the Govern- ment. The above estimate is based on the report of one corps made to the Government at Spottsylvania. If the reports were not made till after time was given for stragglers and the sick and the slightly wounded to return, of course the sum-total will not be much more than half the above estimate. But we are convinced that if the missing from the muster-rolls after each battle were added up, the aggregate would reach very nearly, if not quite, this frightful number. The "War Department makes the total loss to th« close 90,000. REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. Ill their losses should not have been, by ordinary rules, more than one to three. The friends of McClellan pomted to this result, and exclaimed exultingly, "^o« see that McClellan was right, and the Administration j wrong, when he remonstrated against removing the Army of the Potomac from the James, and it would not listen to him." No man of sense doubts this now. Events have proved that General Scott was right when he said, " The great, the vital mistake which the Government has made dur- ing this war was to recall the Army of the Potomac from the Peninsula." The removal of its commander was one thing, and that of the army was quite another. One did not necessitate the other. They said also, and the Rich- mond papers reiterated it, that Grant could have placed his army on the spot it now occupied without the loss of a man, while, by the w^ay he came, a vast army had dis- appeared. That w^as equally true, but the inference they drew from these indisputable facts ivas not true, viz., that Grant should have taken his army by water, as McClellan did, to the Peninsula. The first movement was a bril- liant one, and should have been sustained, but results ^ have shown that had Grant imitated it, he would have- committed a fatal blunder. When, two years before, the- Army of the Potomac lay there, Pichmond was so poorly fortified in that direction, that Lee dared not spare a mau; from his army to operate elsewhere, so that, as McClellan. said, Washington was best defended at Pichmond. But that was not so now. The rebel government had profited by experience, and thrown up such impregnable works around its capital in this direction, that a few men com- paratively could hold them against a large army. Grant was constantly reinforced, so that when he sat down in siege,- 112 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. before Petersburg, lie, doubtless, had as large an army as the one Avith which he set out. Yet Lee felt so strong that he immediately despatched an ai'my, twenty thousand strong, into the valley of the Shenandoah, which gathered its harvests, and then crossing into Maryland and Penn- sylvania, burned Chambersburg, cut the railroad north of Baltimore, and advanced to the very gates of the na- tional capital. It spread consternation on every side, and although the Nineteenth Corps opportunely nrrived from New Orleans, it was not considered stronfr enouii:h, with all the forces that could be raised in the vicinity, to cope with the rebels, and the veteran Sixth Corps had to be detached from the Army of the- Potomac, and sent to protect Washington and the neighboring loyal country. Now suppose that Lee lost only forty or fifty thou- sand men to our one hundred thousand in the march from the Papidan to the James, and suppose further, that Grant had carried his army intact by transports to the James, just as strong and no stronger than it actually was AV'hen it reached there, and Lee had these forty or fifty thousand men that lay in hospitals, or strewing the battle-fields on the line of his retreat, to add to the twenty thousand he actually sent to the valley of the .Shenandoah, swelling the force to sixty or seventy thou- sand men, who does not see that the siege of Richmond must have been raised, and the whole campaign gone over again ? It requires but the simplest arithmetical calculation to determine, if twenty thousand men de- manded the presence of two additional corps in front of Washington, how many corps would sixty or seventy thousand men have required. Those dead and wounded of Lee's army, that cost us so heavily, were, in the crisis of affaii^a, absolutely indispensable to the maintenance of REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN. 113 the siege of Richmond. Lee could not replace them — we could and did replace our losses. This statement is not a theory, but a conclusion proved by after events. Grant was not responsible for the extraordinary state in which he found things when he took chief command. After three years of war, he found the rebels menacing our capital, instead of we theirs. This, it was plain, had got to be reversed, or the war would never end, except in our defeat. The blunders of the Secretary of War and of the former General-in-chief had brought about this dis- graceful condition of affairs, at the cost of two armies. Grant saw at once it could not be reversed, without a terrible sacrifice of life, and he boldly resolved to make it. The clear, correct, straightforward view he took of the whole matter, shows his great qualities, more than any battle he ever won. The English press, in view of the terrible loss of life that marked this apparently fruit- less campaign, stigmatized him as the great butcher, but subsequent events have shown that his course saved human life in the end — in fact was the only wise one to pursue. Indeed, we believe our own countrymen make a mistake here; they seem to think that Grant, having started for Richmond on the route he did, pursued it from mere obstinacy of purpose ; that it was the tenacity of the sleuthhound once settled on the track, rather than the stern conviction that he had chosen the only wise course, which impelled him on. Hence they take his despatch, " I will fight it out on this line, if it take all summer," as simply an evidence of pluck, which is a quality greatly admired by Americans. It showed his pluck unquestionably, but it is unjust to suppose that this Avas the utterance of mere pluck ; it was also a declaration that he believed he had chosen the right 114 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. course — notwithstanding he had not succeeded in anni. hilating Lee's army — and meant to pursue it, cost what it would. It was, in short, a simple reaffirmation of judg- ment — a judgment at first made after mature deliberation, and now on a careful review, in the light of events, be- lieved to be correct. He knew he was right, and that being settled, he would fight it out on that line as long as he had men to fight with. He is, doubtless, an obsti- nate man, but never will stick to a thino;, rig-ht or wrong, simply because he has begun it. His mind is too well balanced, and his character built on too lofty a model, to allow him to do that. In the light of after events, his prescience in the matter appears to us wonder- fiil. His forecast seemed to embrace all contingencies, and select the right thing under any circumstances. Grant had now a difficult problem to solve. If he should take Petersburg, or rather the line of works that commanded it by regular approaches, similar works around Richmond, twenty miles off, confronted him ; if he operated against Richmond directly from the north side of the James, he would have ten or fifteen miles of in- trenchments to traverse, and then, if he compelled the evacuation of the rebel capital, it would be comparatively a barren conquest, if all the lines of communication South were open. The great thing, therefore, was first to cut these lines ; but the invasion of Maryland by Early, and the necessary withdrawal of one of his corps, and the diver- sion of reinforcements to Washington, so weakened him, that he could not spare the force necessary for such an enterprise. Still, he did what he could. The Second Corps made an advance on the 2 2d, but was repulsed, losing 1,600 men and four guns ; but a brilliant movement subsequently, north of the James, gave him possession • SPRINGING OF A MINE. 115 of an advantageous position. He was never at rest ; and Lee must have been amazed at the mental activity and re- sources of his adversary. He would not give him a mo- ment's repose. The rebel chieftain could never discover in the atmosphere around him any signs of the coming storm. From that part of the heavens where not a cloud could be seen, and all was serene and clear, the thunder- bolt was more likely to burst than from any other quarter. The stiller the day, the more sure the hurricane. Instead of forcing Grant to take his army back to Washington, Lee found himself so fiercely pushed at all points, that he could not spare the reinforcements that Early so greatly needed. During the summer, a mine was run under one of the advanced forts of the enemy, which, if once destroyed, it wijs thought that we could get possession of a command- inor ridge. The workmen were en2:ao;ed for more than a month in digging this mine, and so noiselessly and se- cretly was it done, that the enemy never discovered it An enormous quantity of powder was lodged in it, and on the day it was to be exploded, Grant sent a force across the James, with an immense army train, to deceive Lee into the belief that an attack was meditated on that ex- tremity of his lines. The ruse succeeded, and a large rebel force was despatched to resist the anticipated attack. In the meantime, the assaulting columns were mar- shalled, and the mine exploded. The fort rose in the air; a huge crater opened in the earth, into which the ap- palled garrison sunk ; the storming columns rushed into the gorge, and for a moment success seemed certain. But delays in the supports gave the rebels time to rally ; the colored troops, that were foolishly sent in, broke in con- fusion ; everything was thrown into disorder, and the 116 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. whole affair proved worse than a miserable failure, for we lost nearly 5,000 men, and gained nothing. The rebels lost but little over a thousand. Burnside, who had charge of the mine and the arrangements for the assault, was so severely censured, that he asked to be relieved from his command. Some blamed Meade, and some Grant, for not taking the entire control of so important a matter into their own hands. One thing is certain, neither should ever have allowed the colored troops, nor any other equally raw ones, to be selected for such an enterprise. None but the most veteran, tried, intelligent regiments, should have been permitted to undertake so hazardous a task. The Committee on the Conduct of the War investigated * the matter ; but the result, like all its investigations, only beclouded the truth. Its sessions had come to be re- garded as a great farce by the whole country. The total defeat of Early by Sheridan in the Shenan- doah Valley, in the autumn, released the pressure on Grant from Washington, and he once more turned his attention to the destruction of the enemy's communica- tions. Hence, on the 27th of October, the camp of the Army of the Potomac was broken up, four days' rations issued, the sick and camp equipage sent to City Point, and the army marched to the westward and southwestward for Hatcher s Run, which was known to be strongly fortified, and which constituted the extreme right of the rebel lines. The object was to turn the enemy's right flank, seize the forts, and thus having gained the rear, move rapidly across to the Southside Railroad. The Second Corps crossed the run and moved upon the opposing works ; but the Fifth, not being able to come up and form a junction at the right time, owing to the nature of the ground, the rebel General CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER. 117 sent a division into the gap, struck right and left, capturing o-uns and provisions, and driving back both corps with great loss, and the whole army was withdrawn. The matter was made light of at the time ; but it was a sad failure. The army now went into winter quarters, and with the exception of some cavalry raids on the Weldon and other railroads, little of interest transpired. Sherman was moving across Georgia, and his advent on the sea-coast was waited with intense anxiety. The sreat event of the whiter, in connection with Grant, was the capture of Fort Fisher, which protected the entrance to Wilmington — the chief resort of blockade- runners. Butler had been sent to take it in December; but came back and reported that it could not be done, and the attempt would be a useless sacrifice of life. Grant did not send him on a reconnoissance to report, but to take the place ; and incensed at the miserable abortion which he had made of the whole aifair, removed him and sent him to Lowell, to finish with his own suicidal hand a re- putation, bad enough at best, and good only in the eyes of those whose love of revenge and cruelty, for the time being, overrode their judgment. General Terry Avas ap- pointed m his place, and with the same troops, only slightly increased in number, in conjunction -with Admi- ral Porter, gallantly stormed and took it. The heavens were growing black around Lee and Davis ; for by the middle of this month, Sherman had commenced his northward march from Savannah, and soon they might expect the heads of his columns in North Carolina. Something must be done, and that quickly ; for though Grant had thus far been foiled in every at- tempt to seize Kichmond, a new foe was fast coming on 118 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. the field. From Fort Harrison, north of the James, to Hatcher's Run, on the south, our lines stretched for nearly thirty miles, from every portion of which Grant had made demonstrations against the rebel works in vain ; and though another year might be wasted in the same fruitless siege, the gathering of armies on the south would, in time, make his success certain. The first desperate attempt to relieve himself was made by Lee on the 24th of January, when three iron-clads and three wooden vessels, with a flotilla of torpedo-boats, came down the James river, intending to run the bat- teries, take City Point, and thus cut oif the base of sup« plies for the whole army, and divide the forces north and south of the James. A large rebel force was massed north of the river to make an overwhelming assault on the army there, as soon as City Point was reached. A high tower, erected at the latter place for observation by Grant, was to be set on fire as a signal of success, and at the same time, of attack. The vessels came boldly down in the darkness, and it was soon evident that we had nothino; on shore or in the river that could stop their progress, and consterna- tion seized our army along the banks. Most of our gun- boats v/ere away with Porter, and the Onondaga, on guard, retreated down the river without attempting a de- fence. By good fortune, or rather through an over-rul- ing Providence, the iron-clads ran aground, and were stopped midway in their triumphant career. The country did not know what a narrow escape Grant and his army ran, but the Government did. On the committee of in- vestigation which was appointed, the universal testimony was, that if these vessels had not ffot a^-round, the sieo;e of Richmond would have been raised, to say nothing of the disasters that might have befallen the army. City ALMOST A DISASTER. 119 Point once occupied by the rebels, not a pound of food could have reached our troops. Grant alone testified that he did not think the disaster would have been irre- parable, and he, only on the single ground that lie had provisions enough on hand to last, with great economy, two weeks, and by the end of that time he thought the Government would have been able to re-open his com- munications. On the ]3robable success of outside eiforts alone, he testified that he relied for salvation. What fearful issues hung on the simple question, whether those three iron-clads should clear the shoals. A few more feet of water, a few more moments of safety, and Grant's disaster before Kichmond would have eclipsed all that had gone before, in the way of misfortune. Heaven be praised for its interference in our behalf on that dark night ! But, as the winter drew to a close, events thickened rapidly. Wilmington fell ; Schofield had pushed up the Neuse to Kinston ; Charleston was evacuated, and Sherman's columns were well up toward the North Car- olina border ; Sheridan with his 15,000 men was on his triumphant march down to the James, burning and des- troying, and sending terror into the heart of Richmond. Unable to cross the river and cut the railroad south of it, and so keep on in that direction to Grant's left wing, he destroyed the James River canal, and sweeping down, crossed the country north of the rebel capital, and reached the White House in safety. Before he joined Grant's army in the latter part of the month (March), Lee, now thoroughly alarmed, made another desperate efi:brt to rend asunder the coils that were ti2;htenin2: around him. Just before daylight, on the 25th, he made a sud- den and successful assault on Fort Steadman, intending 120 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. to cut through Grant's lines, roll up the army, and per- haps keep on to City Point, and so raise the siege of Richmond. Our lines at this point were so near to the rebels, that the two hostile columns organized for the attack, were upon us before we were aware of their inten- tions. The first column cut a gap in the abattis, stormed through, and with a single bound leaped into the fort. Three of the five batteries that surrounded it were at or\ce turned upon our flying troops. The second column in the mean time prepared to charge through to the rear. But this fort was flanked by Fort McGivry on the one side and Forts Hascall and Morton on the other, which at once poured a storm of shot into the captured works. Shattered and torn, the victors could not all get back through the gaps they had made; and in the mean time Hartranft was upon them, and the whole remainder, 2,000 strong, captured. Humphreys of the Second corps, still farther to the left, hearing the uproar through the morn- ino; air, and thinkins: the line in his front must have been weakened in order to strengthen the attack on Steadman, suddenly advanced, breaking the rebel lines and taking many prisoners. The sudden success turns into a disas- ter, and Lee has evidently played his last card. Grant thinks so too, and at once prepares to move. Two days after, Sheridan joined him, and was immediately sent to the left. To a general understanding of the grand movements that follow, it is necessary to remember that the rebel right rested on the Weldon Railroad, near Hatcher's and Gravelly Run. At the point where the works touched it, two roads stretched off", the Boynton plank road, run- ning southwesterly to Dinwiddle Court House, a dis- tance of about eighteen miles from Petersburg. The THE FINAL MOVEMENT. 121 other road, Wliite Oak, ran back directly west, to the Five Forks, where five roads meet, three of them running straight to the Southside Raih^oad, the only one by which Lee could escape to Danville, and so south. The Boynton plank road to Dinwiddle Court House was held by the rebels — in fact might be called the outer Ime guarding the Southside Railroad. But Grant's plans being all matured, and Sheridan having arrived, he pro- ceeded at once to put them into execution. The Nmth corps confronted Petersburg; the Sixth and Tiventy- fourth came next on the left, then the Second corps, and last the Fifth, while still beyond it stood massed Sheri- dan's cavalry, whose duty it was to find the rebel right, sweep round it, and come back on the enemy's works in flank and rear. The great eventful moment which was to decide the fate of Lee's army and of the rebellion had come. On the 29th, Sheridan's bugles rang out, and his columns mov- ing south of the rebel right wing, pushed toward Din- widdle Court House, while the Second and Fifth corps crossed Gravelly Bun with but slight resistance. On the 31st our lines were united, and advanced toward the Boynton plank road. The great battle now commenced, and the fighting all this day was most terrific. Crossing the Boynton road, Warren moved north to the White Oak road ; but when about a mile from it, the rebel col- umns came down upon him in one overpowering charge. Ayres catches it first, and is driven back ; Crawford, who advances to the rescue, shares the same fate, and last the impetuous Griflftn, sweeping forward to stem the tide, is unable to stand its fury, and the whole line is driven back to the Boynton plank road. This success left the enemy at leisure to turn upon Sheridan, coming in on 122 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, the left, forcing him back also. For a short time the prospect looked gloomy ; but Sheridan, bringing up Custer and Merritt, drove back the rebels ; the Fifth corps reformed, and advancing, regained its lost ground. Grant, informed of every movement, now put the Fifth corps under Sheridan. The latter at once set to work vig- orously to carry out Grant's great plan, thus temporarily checked. On the 1st of April he moved upon the Five Forks, and a desperate battle followed. He outdid him- self on this day, pouring infantry and cavalry forward with an impetuosity that nothing could resist. The ground was strewn with the dead, but the place was carried, and the portion of the rebel army holding it cut off from Petersburg, and sent, broken and shattered, west- ward, out of harm''s way. The capture of this point was the signal for a general advance along the lines. Before daylight on Sunday morning, the Sixth, Second, and Twenty-fourth corps started for the Southside Railroad, now directly in their front. It was reached through a storm of fire, and torn up ; then, in a grand wheel to the right, the army, moving back around Petersburg, came down on the rebel works in rear. The right stormed Fort Mahon and captured it. This will not do — the mighty line of defence, costing so much time and labor, is crumbling to atoms. The impetuous Hill re- storms the fort — a bloody hand-to-hand fight follows — he succeeds — our brave troops are about to yield, when the Sixth corps, on its grand wheel, is seen approaching oi: the flank. A loud shout goes up ; Hill falls, struggling desperately to retain the victory just within his grasp ; the rebels flee, and the fort is ours. Grant's splendid army now lay in the rear of the rebel works, and the game was up. That Sunday's fighting solved the prob- CAPTURE OF mCIIMOND. 123 lem. Davis, at church in Richmond, heard the news, and, Nebuchadnezzar-like, saw the handwriting on the wall. Hastily packing up his trunk, he left the capital. That night Petersburg and Richmond were both evacu- ated. Lee started his army on a rapid march for Dan- ville, hoping to get south and join Johnston, now con- fronting Sherman, near Raleigh. Weitzel, with the col- ctred troops stationed on the north side of the James, marched into the rebel capital, ran up the old flag, and saluted it with cannon and music. The news spread like wildfire over the land, till the electric wires quivered with joy, and one loud shout rocked the north. The doors of Libby prison were thrown open, only to close again on rebel captives. Now commenced a race between Lee's and Grant's armies — the former marching swiftly along the north bank of the Appomattox, and the latter the south side, both heading for Burke's Station, fifty-three miles from Petersburg, where the Southside and Danville Railroads intersect. If we reached it first, Lee's chances of escape were well nigh hopeless, and he knew it. But Grant had the inside track. From the Rapidan to Richmond, a year before, Lee had it. Matters were reversed now, and Grant was not the <]i;eneral to let this advantag;e be lost ; so the two armies strained forward, Sheridan all the while harassing the rebel flank. Lee's army marched for life, ours for victory. Our army, by putting forth herculean eflbrts, marching as wearied men never marched before, reached it first, and Lee was cut ofl" from Danville by that route. . On Thursday afternoon, with the assist- ance of the Fifth and Sixth corps, Sheridan completely cut ofi" and captured Ewell's entire column of nine thou- sand men, seven general officers, fifteen field-pieces of ar 124 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. tiller}-, twenty-nine battle-flags, and six miles of wagon- trains. After reaching Burkesville, Gen. Meade, witli the greater portion of the Army of the Potomac, took up the pursuit on the north side of the railroad, while Sheridan s cavalry and Ord's Twenty-fourth corps moved rapidly along the south side of the road, Sheridan being con- stantly on Lee's flanks, frequently compelling him to halt and form line of battle, and as often engaging him, cut- ting oft' detachments, picking up stragglers, capturing cannon without number, and demoralizing the enemy at every stand. On Friday, at Farmville, sixteen miles west of Burkesville, a considerable engagement occurred, in which the Second corps participated largely and suft*ered some loss. Lee, however, was compelled to con- tinue his retreat. At High Bridge, over the Appo- mattox, Lee again crossed to the north side of the river, and two of our regiments, the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania and One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio, which were sent there to hold the bridge, Avere captured by a strong rebel cavalry force. The railroad bridge at this point, a very high and long structure, was burned by the enemy. " Lee now headed directly for Lynchburg, in the hope of reaching a point where he could move around the front of our left wing, and escape toward Danville by a . road which runs directly south from a point about twenty miles east of Lynchburg. But Grant was too vigorous — the pui'suit was too hot. Lee's rear and flanks were so sorely pressed that he was compelled to skirmish nearly every step, and to destroy or abandon an immense amount of proi)erty, while Sheridan was rapidly shooting ahead of him. The position, therefore, on Sunday morning, was one from which Lee could not possibly extricate CORRESPONDENCE. 125 himself." " His army lay massed a short distance west of Appomattox Court House ; his last avenue of escape to- ward Danville on the southwest w^as gone ; he was com- pletely hemmed in ; Meade was in his rear on the east and on his right flank north of Appomattox Court House ; Sheridan had headed him off completely, by getting be- tween him and Lynchburg ; Gen. Ord was on the south of the Court House, near the railroad ; the troops were in the most enthusiastic spirits, and the rebel army w^as doomed. Lee's last effort to escape was made on Sunday morning, by attempting to cut his way through Sheri- dan's lines, but it totally failed." Grant, now seeing that Lee's escape was hopeless, sent him the following note, under a flag of truce, which re- sulted in the correspondence given below : ArniL 7, 1865. General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. 8. A. General: The result of the last week must convince you of the hope- lessness of further resistance ou the pai-t of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the rosponsibility of any further effusion of blood, by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States Army, known as the Army of Northern Virginia. Yei-y respectfully, Your obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies of the United States. April 7, 1S65. General: I have received your note of this date. Though not entirely of the opinion you express, of the hopelessness of fur- ther resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I reciprocate your desire to avoid useless efi'usion of blood, and therefore, before con- sidering your proposition, aslc the terms you toill offer, on condition of iti surrender. K. E. Lee, General. To Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, Commanding Armies of the United States. 126 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Apkil 8, 1865. To General E. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. Geneeal: Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the conditions on wliicli I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would say that peace leing my first desire, there is but one condition that I insist xqjon^ viz. : That the men surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or designate officers to meet any officers you may name, for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely tlie terms upon which the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia will be received. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General, Commanding Armies of the United States. April 8, 1865. General : I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day, in answer to mine of yesterday. I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to asTc the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender. But as the restoration of j)eace should ie the sole ohject of all, I desire to know whether your proposals would tend to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to surrender the army of Northern Virginia; but as/a?- as your proposition may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at 10 a. m. to-morrow, on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of tlie two armies. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, E. E. Lee, General 0. S. A. April 9, 1865. General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. General : Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for 10 a. m. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that / am equally anxious for peace with yourself; and the whole North entertain the same feeling. Tlie terms upon xoMch peace can le had are tcell understood. By tJu LEE SURRENDERS. 127 South laying down tJieir arms, they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands of human lites, and hundreds of millions of property not yef destroyed. Sincerely lioping that all our difficulties may be settled without the lost of another life, I subscribe myself, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General United States Army. SuNDAT, April 9, 18(J5. General: I received your note of this morning, on tbe picket-line, wbitber I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms •were embraced in your proposition of yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, E. E. Lee, General. To Lieutenant-General Geant, Commanding United States Armies. BtJNDAT, April 9, 1865. General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. Your note of this date is but this moment, 11:50 A. m. received. In consequence of my having parsed from the Eichmond and Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road, I am at this writing about four miles west of "Walter's church, and will push forward to the front for tbe purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me, on this road, where you wish the interview to take place, will meet me. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. Appomattox Court Hocse, April 9, 1865. General R. E. Lee, Commanding C. S. A. In accordance with the substance of my letters to you of the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: EoUs of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to b© 9 128 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. given to an oflBcer designated by me, the other to be retained by such oflficers as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not to take arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be packed and stacked and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This wiU not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, EACH OFFICER AND MAN WILL BE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their parole and the laws in force where they reside. Very respectfully, U. S. Geant, Lieutenant-GeneraL IlEADaUARTEnS, AuMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ) AprU 9, 1865. j Lieutenant- General IT. S. Grant, Commanding U. 8. A. General: I have received your letter of this date, CONTAINING THE TERMS OF SURRENDER OF TEIE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, .as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., THEY ARE ACCEPTED. I wiU proceed to 'designate the proper officers to carry the stipulations into effect. Very respectfully. Your obedient servant, R. E. Lee, GeneraL Upon the reception of this letter, Grant hastened to the front, where Lee was awaiting him. The two met in the parlor of a neighboring brick house, and saluted each other with dignified courtesy. Lee presented his sword, which Grant received, and after contemplating it a mo- ment, handed back, saying, " it could not be worn by a braver man." The scene was one of intense interest. The younger, the victor, stood there backed by a million of soldiers ; the elder, vanquished, had but the fragment of a disheartened army left him. Long years before, "^ i LENIENT TERMS. 131 they had fought side by side under the same dear old flan- ; lor the last year they had confronted each other as foes, and struggled to overthrow each other on many a desperately contested battle-field. At their behest, men by tens of thousands had crowded the portals of deatli, and the track behind each was a long pathway of blood. The earth had groaned under the weight of their artillery, and the battle-shouts of their brave armies had shaken the heavens. Well-matched, neither for a long year had been able to wrinor decided success from the other. And now they stood face to face. What memories must have crowded upon them — what different prospects opened before them ! Lee at once acknowledged the lenient temis of the surrender, and proposed to leave all the details to General Grant. In speaking of the phrase, "personal effects,'' Lee asked an explanation of it, sajing that many of his cavalrymen owned their own horses. Grant replied that they must be turned over to the government. Lee ad- mitted the correctness of the interpretation, when Grant said that he would instruct his officers to let those men who owned their horses retain them, as they would need them to till their farms. The rebel army had scattered very much within the last few days, to say nothing of the killed and captured ; so that not more than 20,000 or 25,000 men were pres- ent to lay down their aiTQs. A more eventful Sunday than this to the nation never passed, and could it have everywhere been known what was transpiring that afternoon, the gentle cliime of bells, calling the congregations to the house of prayer, would have been changed to a wild and deafening clamor. The next day the two generals met on an eminence 132 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. in full view of the rebel army, and conversed for nearly an hour on the future prospects of the country, and the best mode of restoring unity, harmony, and prosperity. When the news reached Johnston and Sherman, an armistice was agreed on between them, the terms of which not being approved by the Government, Grant was sent down to arrange matters. The same terms which had been granted Lee were offered and accepted by the former commander, and the rebellion was ended. The mighty structure, Avhich for four years had with- stood the colossal power of the North, and attracted to it the eyes of the civilized world, suddenly dissolved, like a fabric of mist, and was straightway seen no more. Grant now became the great man of the nation, and the chief soldier of the ao;e. The nation delio^hted to do him honor, and shouts and acclamations attended his footsteps wherever he moved. Smoking his cigar with the nonchalance that he was wont to do in the wild- est shock of battle, he received the adulation of the people with the same apparent indifference he had the volleys of his foes, and, without being made dizzy by the pinnacle Dn which he suddenly found himself standing, seemed pleased only that his country was once more at ]3eace. HIS charactIr. It is more difficult to analyze the mental than the moral character of Grant. Indeed, he seems to have no peculiarly striking qualities, so evenly balanced is his whole character. He is not a man of genius, like Sher- man, who dared to strike out a new military system, demolished old established theories, and, like the First Napoleon, introduced new military maxims. He is rather HIS CHARACTER, 133 a man of great military talent, doing things not so much in a different way from other generals, as with different 2D0wer. Amid all his splendid achievements, we cannot recall one which indicates any particular genius, except his march fr-om Grand Gulf to Vicksburg. This swift, marvellous campaign was equal to the young Napoleon's first campaign in Italy, Avhich gave him his fame. Mil- itary annals can furnish nothing superior to it in bold- ness of design, skillfulness of combination, and amazing rapidity and success of execution. Grant's whole mental nature is sluo;o-ish. It is said DO that when he kept store, it was hard to make him leave his seat to wait on a customer. But this sluo^a'ishness is not indolence, as his career abundantly testifies. There are some men in this world possessing immense mental power, who yet, from mere inertness, pass through life with poor success. Lighter natures outstrip them in the race for wealth or position, and the strength they really possess is never kno^vn, because it has never been called out. It never is called out by ordinary events. They were made for great emergencies, and if these do not arise, -they seem almost made in vain ; at least these extraordi- nary powers appear to be given them in vain. Grant is one of these. He is like a great wheel, on which mere rills of water may drop for ever without moving it, or if they succeed in disturbing its equilibrium, only make it ac- complish "a partial revolution. It needs an immense body of water to make it roll, and then it revolves with a power and majesty that awes the beholder. No slight ob- structions then can arrest its mighty sweep. Acquiring momentum with each revolution, it crushes to atoms everything thrust before it to check its motion. This is the kind of slucrerishness which characterizes 134 LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT. Grant — the sluggishness of great weight which always takes a great forcfc to move, but whose activity, when once set in motion, is something fearful to contemplate. As a military man, he has shown a remarkable power in one respect that has hardly been commented upon — the power of handling large armies. Napoleon denied that more than one or two generals beside himself in all Europe, could manoeuvre a hundred thousand men on the field of battle. Grant did more than this, and the man- ner in which he handled the Army of the Potomac on the route from the Rapidan to Richmond, was more as- tonishing than the winning of a gTeat battle. The way he swung it from Spottsylvania to the North Anna, with- out having his flank crushed in, and from thence to the Pamunkey, and, last of all, from the Chickahominy, for fifty miles, across the James, right from under the nose of the enemy, and yet never be attacked, shows a capacity in wielding enormous forces possessed by few men in the world. His moral qualities lie more on the surface, and can be appreciated by all. He is grand here, as in his men- tal organization. Noble in his generosity, he is often kinder to his subordinates than they arc to themselves. Gentle to his foes when conquered, he subdues them by his kindness after they have yielded to his arms. Envious of none, and apparently devoid of ambition, he has la- bored with the single desire to serve his country and vin- dicate her flao;. No man of modern times has arisen from so insignifi- cant a position to so lofty a one in so short a period, and yet there has not been a word or an act that shows it has disturbed the equipoise of his character. We regard this as more remarkable than his military success. We are HIS CHARACTER. 135 told that " he that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." General Grant has shown that he can do this. Taking cities is not an uncommon exploit ; but this thorough control of one's self, under the most unfavorable circumstances, is little short of a miracle. He has not been betrayed into a foolish v/ord or act, or indulged in an angry expression, or exhibited a revenge- ful spirit to^vards his enemies. He has never sought promotion, indulged in no recriminations under slan- derous charges, nor used his power to humble an enemy. Disliking public ovations, he submits to them with a simpleness of manner that adds an inexpressible charm to his character. Though so far above the people, he feels as one of them, and wears his honors as but few ef our poor fallen race can wear them. It is these qualities, that, though so undemonstrative himself, make him universally beloved. CHAPTER VL MAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN EHEBMAN AKB GBANT — BHERMAn's NATrVTTY AND EARLY LIFE — ADOPTED BY MR. EWING — SENT TO WEST POINT — MADE SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE THIRD ARTILLERY AND SENT TO FLORIDA — STATIONED AT FORT MOULTRIE, SOUTH CAROLINA — SENT TO CALIFORNIA — RESIGNS HIS COM- MISSION AND BECOMES PRESIDENT OP A BANKING-HOUSE IN SAN FRAN- CISCO — MADE PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA STATE MILITARY ACADEMY — SEEING "WAR INEVITABLE, RESIGNS HIS PLACE IN A NOBLE LETTER — VISITS "WASHINGTON, AND IS ASTOUNDED AT THE APATHY TECERE — GIVES THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OP "WAR HIS VIE"WS, "WHICH ONLY CREATE A 8MILE — MADE COLONEL AND FIGHTS AT BULL RUN — MADE BRIGADIER OP VOLUNTEERS AND SENT TO KENTUCKY — INTERVIE"W "WITH THE SECRETARY OP "WAR AND ADJUTANT -GENERAL — ANECDOTE OP HIM — PRONOUNCED CRAZY — RELIEVED FROM COMMAND AND SENT TO JEF- FERSON BARRACKS — COMMANDS A DIVISION AT 8HILOH — SAVES THE BATTLE — THE FIRST TO ENTER CORINTH — TAKES HOLLY SPRINGS — COM- MANDS AT MEMPHIS — HIS ATTACK ON VICKSBURG — ARKANSAS POST — FULL ACCOUNT OP THE PART HE TOOK IN GRANT'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG — ORDERED TO CHATTANOOGA — DEATH OP HIS BOY, "WHOM THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT HAD ADOPTED AS A PET, AND ELECTED SERGEANT — TOUCHING LETTER TO THE REGIMENT. Sherman and Grant will always occupy a prominent place in our history, not merely because they were great generals, but because their last campaigns, though sepa- rated by a vast interval, yet, working to one common end, closed the struggle. For a year, their movements en- grossed the thoughts and anxiety of the nation, and in the end they stood together, the two grand central figures ';''-'iy H.E.HaU.'W' ^. ADOPTED BY THOMAS EWING. 137 on' the stage of action. Linked together, as the com- manders of our two great armies, they move together to- ward a central point, and reaching it, stand up on their field oF final triumph, the centre of attraction to the civilized world. So, linked together, they will go down, side by side, to immortality. William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 8 th day of February, 1820, and hence was only forty-four years of age at the commencement of the war. His father being an ad- mirer of the great Indian Chief, Tecumseh, gave him that name. Three years after Tecum seh's birth, the father was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Ohio, and held this position till his death, in 1829. He was suddenly taken ill while on the Bench, and died away from home, a vic- tim to the cholera. William, at this time, was only nine years of age, and one of eleven children left to the care of the widow. The Hon. Thomas Ewing, a friend of the father, proposed to adopt William as his son, and provide for his education and entrance into active life. His proposal was accepted, and placing him in the acad- emy of the place, he kept him at school until sixteen ; when he sent him to West Point Military Academy. He graduated four years after, in 1840, the sixth of his class, and entered the service as second lieutenant of the Third Artillery. Being ordered to Florida, he served there till next year. In November, he was made first lieutenant, and afterward stationed at Fort Moultrie, South Caro- lina. In 1846, he was sent to California, where he re- mained on duty during the Mexican War, and rose to the rank of captain. In 1850, he was married in Wash- ton to the eldest daughter of his benefactor, to whom he had been attached from his schoolboy days. Three years 138 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. after, in 1853, becoming tired of a profession that coo sisted in a mere monotonous round of unvarying duties, he resio-ned his commission, and was made President of the Banking House of Lucas, Turner & Co., San Fran- cisco, He remained here for several years ; but in 1860, beino: offered the Presidency of the Louisiana State Military Academy at Alexandria, with a salary of five thousand dollars a year, he accepted it, and remained in that position till the breaking out of the war, or, rather, till he saw that war was inevitable. In January, previous to the attack on Sumter, he sent in his resignation, with the following noble letter, which shows the wonderful forecast which afterward caused him to be denounced as crazy, but which made him the great general he was. Gov. Thomas 0''Moore. Baton Kouge, L/u Sir: As I occupy a quasi-military position under tins State, I deem it proper to acquaint you that I accepted such a position when Louisiana was a State in the Union, and when the motto of the Seminary was inserted in marble over the main door: — " By the liberality of the Government of the United States — The Union, Esto Perpetual Recent events foreshadow a great change, and it becomes all men to choose. If Louisiana withdraws from the Federal Union, I prefer to main- tain my allegiance to the old Constitution as long as a fragment of it sur- vives, and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense of the word. In that event, I beg you will send or appoint some authorized agent to take charge of the arras and munitions of war here belonging to the State, or direct me what disposition shall be made of them. And, furthermore, as President of the Board of Supervisors, I beg you to take immediate steps to relieve me, as Superintendent, the moment the State determines to secede ; for on no earthly account will I do any act, or think any thought, hostile to, or in defiance of, the old Government of the United States. With great respect, &c., W. T. Sheemast. The closing sentence of this letter is worthy of being written in gold on the front of the national capitoL INTERVIEW WITH THE PRESIDENT. 139 His resignation being accepted, lie went to St. Louis, and, just before the attack on Fort Sumter, repaired to Washington, and had an interview with the President and Secretary of War. He kiid before them, plainly, his views, at which they smiled, evidently regarding him as a very patriotic, but excitable, imaginative, man — one who had lived so Ions:: at the south that he had imbibed its extravagant notions. The President still clung to the in- fatuated idea to which he gave utterance while on the way to Washington to be inaugurated, that it was an " artificial excitement," and said jocularly, in reply to Sherman's earnest representations, " We shan't need many men like you, the whole affair will soon blow over." Sherman was completely astounded at the apparent ignorance and incredulity of the Government as to the real state of affairs, and declared openly that those in authority were sleeping on a volcano that Avould soon open unex- pectedly beneath them. With his great forecast, he per- ceived a struggle impending, the like of which the world had never seen — nay, he already saw the ragged edges of the thunder-cloud above the horizon, which soon was to darken all the land, and deluge it with fire and storm. Pilled with such views, and alarmed at the apathy around him, he addressed a letter to Secretary Cameron, in .which he said that, as he was educated at the expense of the United States, and owed everything to his country, he had come on to tender his military services, and declared, in solenm language, that war was inevitable, and that he (the Secretary) was unprepared for it. The fall of Sumter finally convinced the Government that " the storm " threatened to be a little too boisterous while '^ blowing over," and it called for 75,000 three montlis' 140 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIHAN. men. Sherman's friends now urged him to go home to Ohio and superintend the organization of the troops. He rejected the proposition with scorn, replying that he did not believe in such trifling expedients. "Why," said he, in his abrupt, proud way, " you might as Avell undertake to extinguish the flames of a burning building with a squirtrgun, as to put down this rebellion with three months' troops." When asked what course ought to be adopted — " Organize," said he, " for a gigantic war at once ; call out the whole military power of the country, and with an overwhelming, irresistible force, strangle the rebellion in its very birth." In the army that soon began to gather at Washing- ton, Sherman's friends, knowing his ability, wished him to have an important command ; but he replied, " I do not Vl^ish a prominent place — this is to be a long and bloody war." As mountain summits catch the sunlight long before it reaches the valleys below, so great men are illuminated by a wisdom that comes to ordinary mortals only with time. Had Sherman been invested with su- preme power at this time, the monster that attained such a gigantic growth would have been strangled in its in- fancy. McDowell, in organizing his army for the advance on Manassas, was anxious to secure his services, and he re- ceived the appointment of colonel in the regular army, and was assigned to the command of the Thirteenth In- fantr}^ In the battle of Bull Run, that followed, he commanded a brigade (the Third) in Tyler s division, which held the position in front of the Stone Bridge, while Hunter and Heintzleman were making their wide flank movement to the right When they, pressing up their success, came down the further bank of the stream, BULL RUN. 141 opposite to him, he crossed over, and effected a junction with Hunter s division. He arrived just in time, for, as his four regiments rose over a hill, he saw that Burnside was nearly overpowered by the enemy. Moving swiftly forward, he poured in a close and murderous volley, and held his brave regulars firmly to their work. Says Burn- side, " It was Sherman s brigade that arrived at about half-past twelve, and, by a most deadly fire, assisted in breaking the enemy''s lines." How Sherman fought in this first great battle of the rebellion may be inferred from the fact, that two-thirds of the loss in the division fell on his single brigade, while it was over a fifth of that in the whole army. The member of Congress from Ohio now urged his promotion, and on the 3d of August he was made Brig- adier-General of Volunteers. When Anderson was sent to Kentucky to take charge of the department south of the Ohio, Sherman was made his second in command, and despatched by him with seven thousand men — volunteers and home guards — to occupy Muldraugh's Hill, an im- portant point south of the Rolling Fork (Salt Biver). While on the way, he made the home guards a speech, telling them of the necessity for their services, and pro- posed to muster them into the United States' service for thirty days. To this they demurred, as they were with- out tents and haversacks, and mostly without blankets. At this Sherman grew angry, and abruptly told them they were a "paltry set of fellows.'" Chagrined at this accusation they, on the spot, voted him a "gruff old cock." But finding that, for a time at least, they had got to be under his command, they declared that he was a "bitter pill" to swallow, and at once changed his title into " old pills." Tliey finally consented to be mustered 142 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. in for fifteen days, which so mollified Sherman that he immediately promised them tents, blankets, and every- thing necessary for their comfort. This at once changed the feelings of the guard, and one of them, in high glee, exclaiming that "old pills" was sugar-coated, his title was immediately changed to "old sugar-coated," and by that name he continued to be called till he left the depart- ment. At the expiration of their term, the home guards left him, and he found himself with only five thousand men in a disloyal section, opposed to Buckner with twenty-five thousand. Anderson now resigning on account of ill health, Sherman assumed supreme command. He at once asked for reinforcements, and at the same time employed every artifice to conceal his real weakness from the enemy. But the correspondents of the press, in various ways, without intending to do so, counteracted his efforts, and often exposed the very things he wished to be kept secret. This so exasperated him, that he issued a stringent order, excluding all reporters and Avriters for the press from his lines. This was considered a high-handed proceeding, and brought do^vn on him a storm of abuse from every side. At this time, the New York Associated Press through- out the country was employed by the Government in trans- mitting its cipher messages. Hence, Sherman visited frequently the office of its agent, in Louisville, where he would often remain till three o'clock in the morning, so absorbed in thought that he would not reply to even a direct question. Only some ten thousand men had been sent into Ken- tucky, and he urged the Government so persistently for PRONOUNCED CRAZY. 143 more troops, saying that his position was a perilous one, that the Secretary of War and Adjutant-General Thomas were sent to Louisville to investigate the condition of af- fairs. In an interview at the Gait House, Sherman made a clear statement of the condition of affairs, declaring that reinforcements must at once be sent him. Said he, " My forces are too small for an advance, too small to hold the important positions in the State against an advance of the enemy, and altogether too large to be sacrificed in detail.'*' "Well," they inquired, "how many men do you need to drive the enemy out of the State?" "Sixty thousand," promptly replied Sherman. " And how many for final success in the valley ? " " Two hundred thousand." The Secretary and Adjutant-General laughed outright at the declaration, saying that it was absurd, for no such force could be given him. "Then," replied Sherman, "you had better abandon Kentucky altogether, and not endan ger the army by scattering it, and so leaving it to be over whelmed in detail." They opposed this suggestion, and proposed to divide the department, placing one column under Mitchell to operate against Knoxville, and the other under himself a2:ainst Nashville. To this he would not give his consent. On that same evening, still smart- ing from the remembrance of this unpleasant interview, he visited the room of the agent of the associated press. Wliile there, a stranger approached him, and introducing himself as a correspondent of a New York paper, asked for a pass to proceed through his lines south. Sherman bluntly replied that he could not give him one. The man insolently retorted, " Well, Secretary Cameron is in the city, and I will get one from him." This Avas too mucli for Sherman in his then irritable mood, and he at once ordered him out of his department, saying that he would 144 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. give him two hours to get away, and if he found him within his lines after that time he would hang him as a spy. The man concluded not to seek the protection of the Secretary of War under the circumstances, and left the city by the first train. On reaching Cincinnati, he reported, with apparent sincerity, that Sherman was crazy, stark, staring mad. An editor, hearing of the in- terview between Sherman and the Secretary of War, got this man to write up a report of it, who did so, and en- deavored to prove that Sherman was unquestionably in- sane. In this manner, the story of his lunacy got afloat^ which chagrined him deeply, and he gave utterances to his indignation in bitter terms. A few such madmen at the head of the government at that time would have saved the nation hundreds of thousands of lives, and a national debt that lies like an incubus upon it. Soon after the Adjutant-Generars official report of this interview, giving more information to the enemy than all the correspondents of the land could do, of his weak- ness and position, got into print, which so disgusted him, that he asked to be relieved. His request was granted, and Buell put in, his place. That he was "crazy," was now an accepted fact, and he was sent to Jefferson bar- racks, where it was not expected that his moon-struck theories could do any harm. There is an old proverb, that there is a " special providence for children and fools." In looking over the management of the government at the outset of the rebellion, it seems that the same special providence alone saved us from ruin. To all appearance, Sherman was now laid aside for the war. ' But a different sort of man from the Secretary of War was now to be throA\Ti in contact with him. Grant could appreciate such an officer as Sherman, and the AT PITTSBURG LANDING. 145 manner in which the latter forwarded him supplies when he moved on Fort Donelson, revealed his capacity, so that afterward, when he took position at Pittsburg Landing, the latter was placed in command of the Fifth Division. In the bloody battle that followed, he showed what the peculiar t}^De of his lunacy was. He rose at once to the peril of that occasion, and all day long moved like a fabled god over the disastrous field. Clin<2;in£>: to his position till the last moment, fighting as he retired, his orders flying like lightning in every direction, and he himself galloping incessantly through the hottest fire ; now rallying his men, now planting a battery, he seemed omnipresent, and to bear a charmed life. Horse after horse sunk under him ; he himself was struck again and again ; and yet he not only kept the field, but blazed like a meteor over it. At noon of that Sabbath dav, he was dismounted, his hand in a sling, and bleeding, giving directions to his chief of artillery, while it was one inces- sant crash and roar all around him. Suddenly he saw to the right, his men giving way before a cloud of rebels. " I was looking for that," he exclaimed. The next moment the battery he had been placing in position opened, send- ing death and destruction into the close-packed ranks. The rebel commander, glancing at the battery, ordered the cavalry to charge it. Seeing them coming down, Sherman quickly ordered up two companies of infantry, which, pourmg in a deadly volley, sent them to the right about with empty saddles. The onset was arrested, and our troops rallied with renewed courage. Thus he acted all that fearful Sabbath day. As Sheridan was the rock that saved Rosecrans at Stone river, and Thomas the one that saved him at Chickamauga, so Sherman was the rock that saved Grant at Shiloh. At its close, his old legion met 10 146 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. him, and sent up three cheers at the sight of his well remembered form. Rousseau, in s^^eaking of his conduct in this battle, said, " No man living could surpass him." General Nelson, a few days before his death, remarked, " During eight hours, the fate of the army on the field of Shiloh depended on the life of one man; if General Sherman had fallen, the army would have been captured or destroyed." Grant said, "To his individual efforts, I am indebted for the success of that battle ;" and Halleck, in his despatch, bore this unqualified testimony: "It is the unanimous opinion here, that Brigadier-General W. T. Sherman saved the fortunes of the day on the 6th of April." " He was a strong man in the high places of the field, and hope shone in him like a pillar of fire when it had gone out in all other men." The next day, when Buelfs fresh battalions took the field, Sherman again led his battered regiments into the fight, and enacted over again the heroic deeds of the day before ; for as Rousseau said, he " fights by the week." Untiring to the last, he pushed out the third day, after the victory, and whipped the enemy's cavalry, taking a large supply of ammunition. In the subsequent advance to Corinth, his division bore the most conspicuous part, and was the first to enter the deserted works of the enemy. In the mean time he had been promoted to Major-General of Volunteers. He could now laugh at the slander that had so an- noyed him, and joke of it publicly. There were two General Shermans in the army before Corinth, the only difference in their names being a transposition of the initials W. T. and T. W. T. W. was known as the Port Royal Sherman, on account of his operations there after the capture of the place by Dupont He was a very unpopular man with his troops, on account of a fretful ASSAULTS VICKSBURG. 147 peevish disposition, exhibiting itself not only in words, but in a disagreeable, nervous manner. He was equally unpopular with the officers, who discussed his peculiari- ties freely. One day, General W. T. Sherman was call ing on Steadman, when some one gave a ludicrous account of the behavior of T. W. Sherman on a certain occasion, which created a great deal of merriment. Sherman join- ed in it, and jokingly remarked, " Oh, that is the crazy Sherman, is it?" On the 20th of June, he advanced and took Holly Springs, and broke up the Mississippi Central railroad Memphis falling into our possession, Grant placed him in command of it, and he, by his energetic manner, put a stoj) to the contraband trade with the rebels South, and almost wholly cleared, for the time being, his district of guerillas. Early in the winter. Grant organized his first expedi- tion against Vicksburg. His plan was for Sherman to go down the Mississippi, plant himself suddenly before the fortifications, and carry them by assault; while he himself, proceeding inland by railroad, should move with equal suddenness on Jackson, some forty miles or more back of Vicksburg, and prevent the rebel army there from reinforcing the latter place. On the 20th of December, with four picked divisions, Sherman, in a vast fleet of steamers, set sail for his place of destination. Determined that it should be no Red Kiver cotton expedition, he issued an order at the start, declaring it was purely of a military character, and he would allow no private interests to be mixed up with it. "No citizen, male or female," he said, "would be allowed to accompany it, unless employed as part of a crew or servants to the transports. No person whatever, citizen, f 148 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERJIAN. officer, or sutler, will on any consideration buy or deal in cotton, or other produce of the country." At the same time, he declared that any one making reports for publi- cation would be treated as a spy. He, however, had hardly got afloat down the river, ^v^hen the shameful surrender of Holly Springs brought Grant to a halt, and thus allowed the enemy to increase the garrison of Vicksburg to any strength desired. Sherman, ignorant of this, kept on, and disembark- injr on the 26th and 27th of December, near the mouth of the Yazoo, at once ordered a general advance on the city, and drove the enemy to his inner lines. For two days he now pressed the place at different points, and on the 29th made a grand assault upon it. The troops be- haved with great gallantry, charging desperately over bayous, through fallen timber, across ditches filled with water, and through abattis, and driving the enemy from his rifle pits at the bottom of the hill on which the city lay. Blair s brigade, especially, covered itself with glory, losing nearly a third of its entire number. But it was of no use ; it was a slaughter of brave men Avithout re- sults, and Sherman, sending in a flag of truce asking per- mission to bury his dead, abandoned the undertaking, and finally re-embarked his troops. McClernand now ar- rived, and took chief command ; and dividing the army into two corps, with Sherman commanding one, proceeded up the Arkansas River to take Arkansas Post. What the condition of things and prospects of success were at the time this expedition against Vicksburg was undertaken it is impossible to say, but looking at it in the light of after events, it seems to have been an ill-judged affair. Whether Sherman really believed when he made the assault there was any reasonable chance of success, or COMMANDS A CORPS. - 149 wliellier it was risked because he felt that tl ,e eiFect of re- tiring without making the attempt would be worse than failure, we have no means of knowing. But we strongly suspect the latter was the ruling motive. In announcing the fact of his being superseded, Sher- man exhorted his troops to give the same cheerful obe- dience to their new commander that they had to him ; and, alluding to their failure to take Vicksburg, said, " Ours was but a part of a combined movement, in which others were to assist. We were in time ; unforeseen con- tingencies must have delayed the others.*" Seven days after, the army and navy combined captured Arkansas Post, with seven thousand prisoners and all its guns. Grant now commenced his great and eventually suc- cessful expedition against Vicksburg, in which Sherman commanded the Fifteenth Army Corps. The main army lay comparatively idle during the long weeks that the gunboats were attempting, by inland navi- gation, through canals, bayous and narrow streams, to get in rear of the stronghold. But in the last attempt through Yazoo Pass, Sherman, with a land force, acted in concert with Porter s fleet. It was well he did, for the Admiral, after days of unprece- dented toil, carrying his boats along narrow water courses, where no craft larger than a roAv boat was ever before seen, at length got within a few miles of the Yazoo and open sailing, when the enemy, by felling trees across the stream before and behind him, threatened to shut him up entirely in the wilderness, and thus secure the destruc- tion of the fleet. In this dilemma he attempted to force his way back ; but sharpshooters lined the banks, and the number of the enemy constantly increased, while he could hear nothing of Sherman's brigade, that was toil- 150 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. ing forward, swallowed up somewhere in llie woods and swamps. The latter, however, heard the heavy firing north of him, and guided by the sound, pushed on till at length the head of his weary column stood on the tangled banks of the sluggish stream. A shout went up at the glad sight, and Porter said : " I do not know when I felt more pleased to see that gallant officer, for without great loss Ave could not have performed the arduous work of clearino; out the obstructions." If Sherman could have arrived two days sooner, the fleet would doubtless have reached the Yazoo, and Vicksburg been taken in a very different way than it eventually was. When Grant finally took the bold resolution of run- ning the rebel batteries with his gunboats and transports to meet his army below, marching inland, Sherman's corps was left behind, at first to wait for the completion of the roads, and then to make a feint on Haynes' Bluff, while Grant, with McClernand's corps, attacked Grand Gulf. This was for the purpose of preventing Pemberton at Vicksburg from sending reinforcements to the latter place. Sherman, embarking his troops on transports, and ac- companied by the gunboats, proceeded at once to the scene of his former discomfiture, and on the 29th of April, stood in battle array before the place, while the gunboats kept up a fierce bombardment upon it. He continued to manoeuvre before it day after day, until a messenger ar- rived from Grant, announcing the fall of Grand Gulf, and directing him to hurry forward with his corps and join him at that place. E,e-embarking his troops, he set sail for Young's Point, and next morning started across the country. In three days, over horrible roads, he roached Hard Times, opposite Grand Gulf, a distance of sixty-three miles. That night and next day he crossed SWIFT MAKCHING. 151 the Mississippi, and the day after, May 8th, marched eighteen miles to Hankinson's Ferry, on the Big Black. Grant was ah-eady on the move for Jackson. Pushing on, he approached the latter place in a torrent of rain, just in time to hear the thunder of McPherson's guns in the advance, as he was charging the enemy. After the capture of the capital he was left there to de- stroy the public property, while the rest of the army wheeled back tow^ards Vicksburg. On the morning of the 16th, he received a message from Grant, stating that the enemy was advancing on him from Edward's Depot, and directing him to put in motion one of his divisions at once, and follow with the others as soon as the work of destruction in Jackson was complete. Steele's division was hurried off in two hours, and two hours later Tuttle's followed on, and before night Sherman with his whole corps Was twenty miles from the place, pushing on in a forced march to the help of his chief This was unparalleled marching, and filled even Grant with admiration. Doino- but little of the fiirhtino^ along the Big Black, he pressed forward, and on the 18th the head of the column reached the Benton road, and he commanded the Yazoo ; interposing a superior force be- tween the enemy at Vicksburg and his forts on that river. Resting here till the column could close up, and Grant arrive, he then extended his lines, till, on the 19 th, they rested on the Mississippi, with Vicksburg in plain sight. He participated in the grand assault on the 2 2d, losing Bome six hundred men. He continued to hold the I'ight during the long siege that followed, carrying his lines steadily nearer the doomed place. Johnston, in the meantime, havins; concentrated a large force at Jackson, at length seriously threatened 152 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN, Grant's rear, and he, having determined to assault Vicks- burg on the Gth of July, previously notified Sherman of tlie fact, and directed him, if it was successful, to be in readiness to march at once and attack the former. The place surrendered two days earlier than the date men- tioned, but Sherman was all ready to march even then, and leaving to others the glory and excitement of march- ing into Vicksburg, wheeled about, and passing quickly over the intervening space of forty-five miles, suddenly confronted the rebel leader in Jackson. The latter, under the cover of a dense fog, made a sudden assault on his lines, but he could not take this sleepless leader by surprise, and being driven back, hastily evacuated the city. Sherman now spread devastation on every side, destroying bridges, railroads, and other valuable property for miles around. In speaking of his conduct. Grant says: "The siege of Vicksburg, and last capture of Jackson, and dispersion of Johnston s array, entitle General Sherman to more credit than usually falls to the lot of one man to earn." Thus Providence was brins-ino; these two men closer and closer together, and training them for the great work be- fore them. Sherman's army now rested for awhile, but Rose- crans defeat at Chickamauga, in September, by which Chattanooga was placed in great peril, caused Grant to telegraph the former to despatch a division at once to his help. He received it on the 2 2d of September, and bj four o'clock the division was off. The next day he re- ceived another, directing him to follow with his whole army. In three days more the army was working its slow, tedious way up the Mississippi in transports. The water was low, and fuel scarce, and the troops had often to land and gather fence rails and haul wood from the in- A TOUCHING LETTER. /53 terior to keep up steam, so that he did not reach Memphis till the beiiinnino; of October. But while he was fulfilling his orders with such alac- rit}^, and pushing on his troops with such energy, his heart, was heavy with grief. The tread of his victorious col- umns, and the flaunting of his proud banners, no longer brought light to his eyes, nor awakened the pride of the warrior ; for the indomitable spirit of the chieftain had sunk before the feelings of a father. His beautiful boy, that bore his name, was being wafted mournfully up the Mississippi a corpse, in charge of his weeping mother. While lying along the pestiferous banks of the Big Black River, his wife and family visited him, and one child, in the malarious atmosphere, sickened and died. On his first arrival in camp, he became a great pet in the Thir- teenth Regular Infantry — Sherman's old regiment, that he commanded in the battle of Bull Run — which made him a sergeant, and heaped on him all those little testi- monials of affection, which soldiers know so well how to bestow. This kindness had touched Sherman's heart, and now at midnight, as he sat in his room at Memphis, and thought of his little boy pale and lifeless, far away, floating sadly up the Mississippi, this kindness all came back on him, and, bowed with grief, he sat down and wrote the followmsi; touching; letter to the re2;iment : Memphis, Tens., Oct. 4tb, Midnight. Chpt. C. C. Smith, Commanding Battalion Thirteenth Infaiitry : My Dear Friend : I cannot sleep to-night till I record an erpressiou of the deep feelings of my heart, to you, and to the officers and soldiers of the battalion for tlieir kind behaviour to my poor child. I realize that you all feel for my family the attachment of kindred, and I assure you of full reciprocity. Consistent with a sense of duty to my profession and office, I could not leave my post, and sent for my family to come to me in that fatal climate, and behold the result ! The child that bore my name, and in whose 154 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. future I reposed with more confidence than I did in my own plars of life, now floats a mere corpse, seeking a grave in a distant land, with a weeping mother, brother, and sisters clustered around him. But for myself I can ask no sympathy. On I must go to meet a soldier's fate, or see my country rise eiiperior to all faction, till its flag is adored and respected by ourselves, and all the powers of the earth. But my poor Willy was, or thought he was, a sergeant of the Thirteenth. I have seen his eyes brighten, and his heart beat, as he beheld the battalion under arras, and asked me if they were not real soldiers. Child as he was, he had the enthusiasm, the pure love of truth, honor, and love of country which should animate all soldiers. God only knows why he should die thus young. He is dead, but will not be forgotten till those who knew him in life have followed him to the same mysterious end. Please convey to the battalion my heartfelt thanks, and assure each and all, that if in after years they call on me or mine, and mention that they were of the Thirteenth regulars, when poor Willy was a sergeant, they will have a key to the affections of my family, that will open all that it has — that we will share with them our last blanket, our last crust. Your friend, W. T. Shekman, Maj.-Gen. Nothing can be more toucliing than this letter. How it lays open his inmost heart to his soldiers ! Ordinary expressions of courtesy or acknowledgments of gratitude would not answer. Their sympathy had made them for a time his equals, and he writes to them as friends — the dearest of friends, because friends of his boy. Their love for him had bound them to him by a tenderer chord than long and faithful service in the field. Ah, what a heart this man, tliis rough man, as many termed him, had ! No man could write that letter, in vv^hose heart did not clwell the gentlest, noblest impulses of our nature. The brave Thirteenth will cherish that letter ^vhile life lasts, and transmit it as an heir-loom to their children. These sudden gleams of tenderness and sympathy, shooting athwart the stern and turbulent scenes of war, like bursts of sunshine along a stormy sea, reveal and assert our common brotherhood and destiny. SERGEANT WILLIE. 155 The resfiment ordered a marble monument for their o little sero;eant, and had inscribed on it, " Our little ser- geant, Willie, from the First Battalion Thirteenth United States Infantry." " In his spirit there was no guilo." CHAPTER VII. CHATTANOOGA. BHERMAN's MAKCn FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO CHA1TAN00GA — HIS ARRIVAL — ESTABLISHES HIMSELF ON MISSIONARY RIDGE — THE MORKIKG BEFORE THE BATTLE— PICTURESQUE VIEW — OPENING OP THE BATTLE — THE VIC- TORT — PURSUIT— ORDERED TO MARCH NORTH TO THE RELIEF OP KNOX- VILLE — STATE OP HIS ARMY — HEROIC DEVOTION — SHERMAN AT VICKS- BURG — THE EXPEDITION INTO CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI — ITS OBJECT AND CAUSE OP ITS ABANDONMENT — PLACED OVER THE MISSISSIPPI DEPART- MENT — PLAN^ THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN — ITS ORIGINALITY — THE NUMBER AND DISTRIBUTION OP HIS FORCES. We cannot follow Sherman in his lonsr march of three o hundred miles or more across the country to Chattanooga. At first he was ordered to repair the railroad as he adT vanced, so as to bring up his suj^plies, but Grant, who had taken command in person at Chattanooga, saw that this was slow work, and time pressing, sent word to cut loose from the railroads, and living on the country, push on as fast as his troops could march. He did so, and on the 15th of November, rode into Chattanooga, and was welcomed with delight by Grant. His army was not yet across the Tennessee, and the latter directed him to get them over at once, and march them up beyond the place, and secure a lodgment on the extremity of Missionary Hidge, where it abutted on the river. The troops, foot- sore, and many of them shoeless, needed rest after this long and terrible march, and Sherman knew it. To ask ON THE ENEMY S FLANK. 157 tliem at once to go into battle was making a heavy de- mand, but the enemy's batteries had been planted in chelling distance of the town, and provisions were scarce, so that time for rest could not be given. As he rode through Grant's encampments, the need of haste was ap- parent, and he says: "I saw enough of the condition of men and animals in Chattanooga to inspire me with re- newed energy." In the meantime, directing Emng's division to make a demonstration on Lookout Mountain, as ordered by Grant, he jumped into a rowboat, and pulling down to his army, put it in motion. But the roads had become almost impassable with the heavy rains, and told heavily on the over-exhausted troops. Still, by laboring night and day, Sherman succeeded in getting, by the 23d, three divisions up the river, concealed behind the hills opposite Chickamauga Creek. At the same time, he had concealed one hundred and sixteen pontoons, in a stream near by, which, after dark, were floated down into the Tennessee, full of soldiers ; and by dawn the next day eight thousand men were on the other shore, and had thrown up a rifle trench as a tete du pont. A bridge thirteen hundred feet long was immediately be- gun, and by one o'clock Avas shaking to the tread of the hurrying columns. A drizzling rain was falling at the time, which, with the low clouds hanging along the heights, concealed the movement. By three o'clock the astonished enemy found an army hanging along the sides of Missionary Bidge,' on his ex- treme left. A feeble attempt was made to repel the ad- vance, but the artillery, dragged up the steep ascent, scat- tered the enemy, and night found Sherman securely planted. A second ridge, farther in, was the great point 158 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. aimed at, and the assault on this was deferred till morn- ing light would reveal the rebel position. While this was going on, Hooker had made his gal- lant assault on Lookout Mountain, and carrying it, open- ed his communications direct with Chattanooga. Grant now had his army where he wanted it, and de-' termined the next day to settle the question Mdiether Chattanooga Vas to be held or abandoned. Durin(r the night it cleared off, and a sharp autumnal frost rendered the air of that high region still clearer, and gave a darker blue to the deep vault of heaven. The soldiers crowned the hills with camp fires, revealing to the enemy their po- sition, as well as showing to their friends in Chattanooga the important point that had been gained. At midnight a staff officer of Grant reached Sherman with directions to attack at daybreak, saying that Thomas would also at- tack "early in the day." Sherman turned in for a short nap, but before daylight he was in the saddle, and riding the whole length of his lines, examined well his position and that of the enemy. By the dim light he saw that a valley or gorge lay between him ajid the next hill, which was very steep, and that the farther point was held by the enemy Avith a breastwork of logs and earth in front. A still higher hill commanded this with a plunging fire, which was also crowded with the foe. He could not see the bottom of the gorge below, and was not able to com- plete his preparations so as to attack by daylight, as he had been ordered. General Corse was to lead the ad- vance, and before he had fully marshalled his forces, the sun arose in dazzling brightness over the eastern heights, and flooded the scene with beauty. His beams were sent back from tens of thousands of bayonet points, and flash- ed athwart long rows of cannon, while the increasing ASSAULTS THE ENEMY. 159 light brought out in a grand panoramic picture, Chat-" tanooga resting quietly below in its amphitheatre of hills. Banners waved along the heights, and rose over Grant's encampment in the distance, and all was bright and beautiful. Here and there a bugle-call and drum-beat gave increased interest to the scene. But its beauty was soon to change — those summits now baptized in golden light were to be ^vrapped in smoke and heave to volcanic fires, and strong columns stagger bleeding along their sides. Sherman at length being ready, Corse's bugles sounded the " forward" and the assaultino; regiments moved stead- ily down the hill, across the intervening valley, and up the opposing slope. Morgan L. Smith on the left of the ridge, and Colonel Loomis abreast of the Tunnel, drew a portion of the enemy's fire away from the assaulting column, which having closed in a death-grapple with the foe, now advanced its banners, and now receded, but never yielding the position it had at first gained. Grant could see the struggle from his position at Chattanooga, and at one time observing two brigades give way in disorder, thought Sherman was repulsed ; but it was not so. Corse, Loomis and Smith, stuck to the enemy with a tenacity that gave him not a moment's rest. Sherman's position not only threatened the rebel right flank, but his rear and stores at Chickamauga station ; hence the persistency of his attack alarmed Bragg, and he steadily accumulated forces against him, that rendered an advance on Sher- man's part impossible. Hour after hour the contest raged with terrible ferocity, and the flaming cloud-^vrap- ped heights appeared to the lookers-on at Chattanooga, like a volcano in full fierce action. Grant had told Sher- man, that Thomas would attack early in the day, but 160 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. the latter v/atched in vain for the movement. The gal lant Corse had been borne wounded from the field, and Grant, fearful that Sherman was being too heavily press- ed, sent over to his help Baird's division ; but Sherman sent it back, saying he had all the troops that he wanted. Thus, he fought the battle alone all the forenoon, and still the banners drooped lazily along their staffs in front of Chattanooga. He began to grow impatient. In the bright clear air he could look down from his position on the " amphitheatre of Chattanooga," but could discern no signs of the promised movement. Now and then a soli- tary cannon shot alone told that the army there was alive; but bej^ond, toward Lookout, where Hooker was trying to advance, the heav}^ reverberations of artillery and dull sound of musketry showed that he was pushing the enemy. Thus matters stood at three o'clock, when, said Sherman, "I saw column after column of the enemy streaming toward me, gun after gun poured its concentric shot on us from every hill and spur that gave a view of any part of the ground held by us." The attack of Thomas which was to be " early in the day," was unac- 3ountably delayed, and what could it all mean, was the anxious enquiry he put to himself One thing was plain — his exhausted columns could not long stand this accumulation of numbers and concentration of artillery. Grant, too, was anxious. The appearance of Hooker s column, moving north along the ridge on the other flank of the enemy, was to be the signal of assault on the centre ; but hour after hour passed by and no advancing banners were seen. The latter had been detained in building a bridge across Chattanooga creek. At length, he could Avait no longer, and hearing that Hooker was well advanced, and seeing the centre weak- ROUT OF THE ENEMY. 161 enecl, to overthrow Sherman, he ordered the assault to be made. Sherman, whose glass was scarcely for a moment turned from the centre, now saw with relief a "white line of musketry fire in front of Orchard Knob, extending further right and left and on." "We could hear," he says, "only a faint echo of sound; but enough was seen to satisfy me that General Thomas was moving on the centre." That white line of smoke kept advancing, till it streaked the mountain side. "At length it disappeared behind a spur of the hill, and could be no longer seen, and it was not until night closed, that I knew the troops in Chattanooga had swept across Missionary Kidge and broken the enemy's centre." As soon as he had ascer- tained it, his columns were started in pursuit. General Mor2:an L. Smith beino; ordered to feel the Tunnel, and see what force was there ; found it "vacant save by the dead and wounded of our own and the enemy's commingled." The next morning at eleven o'clock, Sherman ap- proached the depot to find it a scene of desolation. " Corn- meal and corn in huge burning piles, broken wagons, aban- doned caissons and guns, burned carriages, pieces of pon- toons, and all manner of thinsfs burnino- and broken," at- tested the ravaiies of war. Alono- the road strewed with the wrecks of the fight, he pressed on till night, when just as he emerged fronj a miry swamp, he came upon the en- emy's rear guard. A sharp contest followed, but the night closed in so dark that he could not move forward. Here in the gloom Grant joined him. The next morning ho continued the pursuit ; but finding the roads filled with all the troops "they could accommodate," he halted and turned to the east to break up the communications be- tween Bragg, and Longstreet now before Knoxville, 11 162 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. Having finished the work assigned him, he was expecting rest, when on the 30th, just as he had entered Charleston, a letter was handed him from Grant, informing him that Burnside was completely invested at Knoxville, and had provisions only to last three days longer, and direct- ins: him to move at once to his relief. What! after a march of four hundred miles, and a fierce battle, and days of pursuit, now to make a forced march of eighty-four miles in winter over a broken country. It was a terrible order, and Sherman felt it to be so. " Seven days before,'* says he, "we had left our camp on the other side of the Tennessee with two days' rations, without a change of clothing, stripped for the fight, with but a single blanket or coat per man — from myself to the private. Of course we then had no provisions save what we gathered by the road, and were ill supplied for such a march. But we learned that twelve thousand of our fellow soldiers were beleaguered in the mountains of Knoxville, eighty-four miles distant, that they needed relief, and must have it in three days. This was enough, and it had to be done." Yes, it had to be done; but it was hard that it must be done by that weary army. Bapidly gathering his forces together, he the next day but one, moved rapidly off toward Loudon, twenty- six miles distant. By dark, Howard had reached it; but the bridge was gone, and he was compelled to turn east to find a place for crossing. Delay was now inevi- table ; but Burnside must have notice, and that in twenty- four hours, that he was approaching; so, that night ho sent forward his aid to Colonel Long, commanding the cavalry, to explain the state of aiFairs to him, and direct him to pick out at once his best men and horses, and ride for life till he reached Knoxville. " The roads were RELIEF OF BURNSIDE. 163 villainous ;" but before daybreak the gallant Colonel was off, and pressing on through mire and wet, across streams and over mountains, he the next night reached Knox- ville and the clatter of his horses' hoofs through the streets, bore the welcome tidings to Burnside, that Sher- man was marching to his relief ' llie latter diverged to Morgantown, where his maps represented the river as shallow enough to be forded, but he found the stream chin-deep and the water freezing. A bridge, therefore, had to be built, over 1,200 feet long, but they had no tools except axes, spades and picks. Gen. Wilson, however, went to work, and using the houses of the place to make trestles and crib-work, he, by the night of the 4th, had a bridge completed. But the next night a courier arrived from Burnside, stating that Long- street had raised the siege, and was moving off towards Virginia. Hearing that Sherman was advancing, he abandoned the place just as he thought it was about to fall into his hands. Sherman now ordered his tired army to halt and rest, and sending on Granger with his two di- visions, he himself rode on to Knoxville and inspected the fortifications. He then moved his army back to Chattanooga by easy marches. Sherman might well be proud of the Fifteenth corps, and he says, "I must do justice to my com- mand for the patience, cheerfulness, and courage which ofhcers and men have displayed throughout, in battles, on the march, and in camp. For long periods with- out regular rations or supplies of any kind they have marched through mud and over rocks, sometimes bare- footed, without a murmur, without a moment's rest. After a march of over four hundred miles without stop for three successive nights, we crossed the Tennessee, 164 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. fought our part of the battle of Chattanooga, pursued the enemy out of Tennessee, and then turned more than one hundred miles north and compelled Longstreet to raise the siege of Knoxville." He saj^s further, " I caimot speak of the Fifteenth Army Corps without a seeming vanity, but as I am no longer its commander I assert there is no better body of soldiers in America than it, or Avho have done more or better service." This was true, and Sherman s whole course from the time he had left Mem- phis, had been a miracle of marching and fighting and endurance. ^ In January Sherman was again at Vicksburg. Wliile here he wrote a long and able letter on the proper treat- ment of disloyal people and a conquered territory, which shows that he knew how to handle the pen as well as the sword. ' At the close of the month he organized the expedition into Central Mississippi, which caused so much excite- ment at the time, North and South. It was reported that he had destroyed his communications behind him, and struck off into the heart of the country, while no one knew his destination. With about 20,000 infantry and 1,200 cavalry he set out from Vicksburg on the 3rd of February, and pushing east, crossed the entire State of Mississippi to Meridian. Smith, with 8,000 cavalry, was to leave Memphis on the 1st, and join him at this place, but he did not start till the 11th, and was then defeated and driven back. Sherman's desim was to cut Mobile off from Johnston, Avho lay in front of Grant, break up Polk's army in his own front, and then, if possible, turn down on Mobile, at the gates of which Farragut was at that time thundering. The defeat of Smith, however, THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. 165 broke up this part of the plan ; and he was compelled to take his backward march to Vicksburg, which he reach- ed in safety. His sphere of action was now to be enlarged. Grant being appointed Lieutenant-General in March, the de- partment of the Mississippi, composed of the departments of the Ohio, Cumberland, Tennessee and Arkansas, was given to him. Under him were McPherson, Hooker, Thomas, Howard, Hurlbut and Logan, strong men all, and forming a group of subordinates, the superior of whicli never gathered under one commander. Now the preparations for the two grand movements commenced, which were to end in the overthrow of the rebellion. Grant, with the Army of the Potomac, was to move on Lee and Richmond, and Sherman on John- ston and Atlanta. The two campaigns, however, as before mentioned, were not alike. Grant had not half the distance to jro of Sherman, and could shift his base at any moment, which he did, first to Fredericksburg, then to the Pamunkey and finally to the James ■ river. The latter, on the con- trary, had a single base, with which he must kee^) con- nected by a solitary line of railroad, with cavalry swarm- ing on both flanks, watching to destroy it, and thus secure his overthrow. No such deep operations with a large army had ever before been attempted, and it was very problematical if this one could be successful. At all events, it was' generally thought that a second army would be needed to hold this long line of railway. He asked for a hundred thousand men, and two hun- dred and titty pieces of artillery. He started with this number, minus twelve hundred, and with two hundred and tilly-four pieces of artillery. The army was divided 166 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. as follows : The Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas^ was composed of sixty thousand seven hundred and seventy-three men, and one hundred and thirty guns ; Army of the Tennessee, McPherson commanding, twenty- four thousand four hundred and sixty-five men, and ninety-six guns ; Army of the Ohio, Schofield, thirteen thousand five hundred and fifty-nine men, and twenty* eight guns. MAP OF THE ATALANTA CAMPAIGN CHAPTER VIII. ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. SHERMAJl's FORESIGHT IN PEEPAEING FOR CONTINGENCIES — FLANKS DALTON — BATTLE OF EESACA — DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY — THE PURSUIT CAPTURE OP ROME — FIGHT AT DALLAS — FLANKING OF ALLATOONA — A SECOND BASE ESTAB- LISHED — THE KENESAW MOUNTAINS — STRENGTH OF THE POSITION DESPERATE ASSAULT OF — DEFEAT — FLANKING AGAIN EESOETED TO — CHATTAHOOCHEE EIVER REACHED — VIEW OF THE COUNTEY — TEEEIBLE ASSAULT ON THOMAS — HOOD EETIEES TO HIS INNER "WORKS — DESPEEATE ATTACK ON MCPHERSON — HEAVY REBEL LOSSES — CAPTURE OF STONEMAN — CUTTING THE REBEL LINES OF COMMUNICATION ATTACK ON HOWARD — THE ARMY SWUNG ROUND THE CITY TO THE MACON ROAD — FIGHT AT JONESBORO' ATLANTA EVACUATED DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY — SLOCUM TAKES POSSESSION — REVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN GENIUS OF SHERMAN — PURSUIT OF WHEELER. By the 1st of May he was ready, waiting the signal from over the AUeghanies, nearly a thousand miles away, to start. He planned carefully beforehand his move- ments, and resorted to ingenious devices to defend his communications and flank from Forrest's cavalry. One of his methods to protect the railroad in his rear was very simple and effective. The track running south, crosses many streams, the bridges over which must be preserved at all hazards. Between them the preservation of the road was of minor consequence, for a few hours* labor could repair all the damage that could be inflicted upon it. To secure the bridges without detailing for their defence large forces, which would materially weaken his 170 MAJOR-GENERAL SIIERJfAN. army, lie constructed at the head of each one a bombproof fortress, or blockhouse, provisioned for a long time, and garrisoned with from two to four hundred men, or there- abouts, Avith a few pieces of artillery. Being Ijombproof, they could not be battered down with cannon, or carried by assault, and being provisioned for a long period, they could not be reduced by siege, while their guns, sweeping the approaches to the bridge, could effectually keep off any Avorking parties sent to destroy them. On the 6th of May, Johnston lay at or near Dalton, with an army 60,000 strong, divided into three corps, commanded by Hood, Hardee, and Polk, and 10,000 cavalry, under Wheeler. When the time came to move, Sherman confront- ed him ; but seeing the strength of the position and the impossibility of carrjdng it by assault, he resolved to turn it, and be2;an that series of brilliant movements which jiave him the name of the " Great Flanker." Hence, while Thomas, with his large army, moved directly from Kinggold and drew up in front of the rebel position at Dalton, McPherson was sent in a circuitous route of thirty or forty miles through Snake Creek Gap to E-esaca, eio-liteen miles back of Johnston on the railroad. Thomas, in the meantime, pressed the latter so vigorously in front, that he could spare no troops to resist McPherson's ad- vance, until he was within a mile of Pesaca. Finding his rear so seriously threatened, he abandoned his strong position, and, falling back, gave battle at Resaca. After several days of more or less severe fighting, one of the enemy's strongest positions was carried by assault, and he compelled to fall back again, leaving nearly a thousand prisoners in our hands and eight guns. Our loss wa3 about 5,000 in the engagements that took place here. ALLATOONA FLANKED. 171 After the victory, Sherman pushed his army forward in rapid pursuit — a part hugging closely the reai* of the enemy — a part moving, by circuitous routes, upon his flank — pontooning rivers, crossing ridges and struggling along bye-ways and wood roads, threatening or striking the astonished Johnston at every available point. In the m(?antiine Sherman sent out J. C. Davis' division to seize Koine, Ij'ing off several miles to the west, avIio captured its forts, guns, mills and foundries. On the 18th, after sharp skirmishing and heavy artil- lery fighting, he entered Kingston. Here he gave his overtasked troops a few days' rest, and spent the time in hurrying forward supplies ; as it was of vital importance he should accumulate them in advance, in view of the possible severance of his communications ; and in re-estab- lishing telegraphic connection with Chattanooga. In five days the army rose refreshed like a giant from new wine, and the infantry, cavalry and artillery swept grand- ly on towards Atlanta. Leaving garrisons in Rome and Kingston, he took twenty clays'' provisions in his wagons, and started for Dallas. Aijain he was strikino; for John- O CD ston's rear; fortius cautious, wily commander had taken up an impregnable position in the AUatoona Mountains, hop- ing that Sherman would dash his army to pieces in trjing to force it. He had seen enough, however, of the " Great Flankers " tactics not to rely entirely on this, and caused strong works to be thrown up in front of the Dallas and Marietta railroads. More or less liohtino: occuri-ed all the way, for Johnston hung threateningly on Sherman's front, read}- to strike whenever an opportunity should offei-, and dis[)uted with his skirmishers every inch of ground. Hooker, to whom was assio;ned the task of seizin n the junction of the railroads at this important point, di'o\e 172 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. the enemy before him till he nearly reached the intrenched works, when sudden night and a terrible storm arrested his progress. The next three days there was constant skirmishing and fighting, while Sherman was hurrying up his troops and developing the enemy's lines. Johnston, hoping to cripple him before his forces were all in position, made a furious assault on McPherson on the 28th ; but, after a bloody and desperate struggle, was repulsed with the loss of some three thousand. Sherman now paused for a few days, and by a series of skilful manoeuvres com- pletely befogged Johnston as to his real intentions, and then suddenly swung McPherson around on the left. John- ston, seeing his rear again threatened, was compelled, in rage, to abandon his strong position and fall back. All his positions, which had been selected with so much care and fortified with great skill, proyed utterly worthless in the presence of such an antagonist. He might as well have retreated at the fii'st, clear to Atlanta, for he neither could seriously cripple Shermans army, cut off his sup- plies, nor permanently arrest his progress. He now fell back to Kenesaw Mountain, a stronger position, if pos- sible, than any he had yet occupied. Sherman, in the meantime, examined Allatoona Pass, and finding it was just the spot for a secondary base, where he could accumulate supplies, and with a small garrison protect them ; at once established it, and soon the railroad was emptying abun- dant provisions into the camp there. Everything being ready — infantry and cavalry Avell up— "forward" was once more sounded from the bugles, and on the 9th of June his banners Avere seen advancing along every highway and bye- way, until he was at length brought to a halt in front of Kenesaw Mountain. This elevation stretched off to the northeast in a range covered KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 173 with chestnut forests, while to the west stood Pine Moun- tain, and back of it Lost Mountain. These frowning natural battlements covered Marietta and the railroad back to the Chattahoochee river. Their conical peaks were all surmounted with signal stations, from which the signal corps could see and telegraph every movement of our army. Batteries also lined the summits and sides, while every spur was black with men felling trees and digging rifle-pits to arrest our progress. Banners waving along the summer-crowned heights, long lines of bayonets glisten- ing amid the green foliage, bugle calls and the stirring notes of the drum coming down on all sides into the valley below, made it an inspiring scene. On the 11th Sher- man was close up, and as soon as the different corps were in their assigned positions he determined to break through between Kenesaw and Pine Mountains. The artillery was placed in position and a heavy fire was kept up for three days. On the 14th, General Bishop Polk was in- stantly killed by a cannon shot. The next day Pine Moun- tain was found to be abandoned. Thomas and Schofield at once advanced, but discovered that the enemy had only fallen back to Lost Mountain, between which and Kene- saw stretched a long line of strong, skilfully constructed breastworks. Still slowly gaining ground at all points — now struggling across ravines — now working through dense forests of timber, out of which incessantly arose the rattle of musketry and smoke of the conflict, Shermj:in pushed his foe so vigorously, that Johnston was compelled to change his position and contract his lines. In so do- ing, however, he increased his power of defence immenscjly. From his high perch on Kenesaw, he could look do^vn into Sherman's camps, on which he directed his elevated batteries to play, but the shot and shell mostly went over 174 MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN. the beads of the soldiers, as they lay close up against the base of the mountain. For three weeks Sherman tried in every way to find a vulnerable point in this stronghold. All this time it rained in torrents, until the roads were either water- beds or gullies ; and where the rocks did not prevent the passage of artillery, the fields were so soft that it could not be got across them. When Sherman entered on this campaign, he pub- lished an order forbidding all superfluous baggage, in- forming the army that he himself intended moving with- out a tent ; and thus far, in dry weather, he had usually slept under a tree, and in wet, in any house along thu route. Here, however, he felt the need of a tent, and though it raised the laugh against him, he was glad to ac- cept of one from General Logan. Early one pleasant morning, a regiment happened to be marching on the road near a tree under which Sher- man was lying, where he had thrown himself after a hard night's toil, for a short nap. One of the men, not re- cognizing who it was, and supposing him to be drunk, remarked aloud, " That is the way we are commanded — officered by drunken Major-Generals. " "Not drunk, my boy," he good-humoredly remarked, raising his head, " but I was up all night, and am very tired and sleepy." Had a thunderbolt di'opped into that regiment, it would not have been more astonished. It passed quietly on, and the General lay down again to sleep. Not long after, he rode forward, and chanced to pass this regiment on the march. It in- stantly recognized him, and sent up loud and hcaj'ty cheers. While he was working his way slowly up to the en- emy's works, " JMcPherson shoving his left forward, and General Thomas swinging, as it were, on a grand left GRAND ASSAULT. 175 wlieel, Ill's left, on the mountain, connecting with McPher- Bon," and "Schofield to the south and east," Hood sud- denly came out of his works, in one of his usual hea