Military History of Ulysses S. Grant, from April 1861 to April 1865 [2]

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MILITARY HISTORY

ULYSSES S. GRANT, FKOM APRIL, 1801, TO APRIL, 1805.

BY

ADAM BADEAU, ft •

BREVET LATE

«

BRIGADIER-GENERAL MILITARY TO

SECRETARY

THE

UNITED AND

STATES

ARilV,

AIDE-DE-CAMP

GENERAL-IN-CHIEF.

Pulclirum est benefacere reipublicae.—Sallust.

VOLUME II.

NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET.

1881.

a a

COPYRIGHT

By ADAM BADEAIT, 1881.

-

%

’^TZ.13

■d V. Z

PREFACE TO VOLUMES II. AND III.

The first volume of this work relates to the ear¬ lier period of General Grant’s military career, when I w^as not personally associated \vith him, and was intended as a prelude to the more important por¬ tion.

The present volumes constitute the history of

the last year of the war, when he commanded all the armies of the Republic.

During this period

I was his military secretary and aide-de-camp, and therefore an eye-witness of the important circum¬ stances in which

he personally participated.

I

knew his plans and wishes, as well as his judg¬ ments of

men and events.

His correspondence

with the government, and with army and corps commanders, was familiar to me at the time.

I

have since examined the entire ofilcial record of the year, including the returns of troops and all the reports in existence by either national or rebel officers above the rank of brigadier-general. For what in these volumes is quoted from offi¬ cial sources, I can therefore refer to the original documents, in every instance on file in the national archives; for what relates to personal incident or

92237

PEEFACE.

IV

character, I must be my own principal authority. I have, however, whenever it has been possible, submitted my narrative to my brother officers for their ratification; and for the facts themselves, apart from criticism, I might call my subject himself as a wdtness. I have endeavored to make no declaration of rebel strength, or plans, or intentions, except upon rebel authority. I do not expect nor desire my statements to be accepted without examination, but, when they are opposed by those of writers hostile to the nation or its principal defenders, I trust that the authoiity for the opposition may in all cases be consulted, and I shall be satisfied if nothing is rejected but that which is disproved. To President Hayes and the Departments of State and War under his administration, as Avell as that of his predecessor, to Generals Sherman and Sheridan, to the Adjutant-General’s and the Engi¬ neer Departments, and to many officers of distinc¬ tion in the army and navy, I am indebted for assist¬ ance and facilities wliich have contributed gi’eatly to the con'ectness and completeness of my work. New Yoek, 1881.

\

CONTENTS OF VOLUME II.

CHAPTER

XV.

Military situation wlieu Grant took command of all the armies—Geography of Virginia—Disposition of national troops—Policy of Grant’s predecessors —Cardinal principles of Grant’s strategy—Reasons for taking the field in person in Virginia—Interview with Meade—Departure for Nashville—Con¬ trast between Grant and Sherman—Return to Washington—Preparations for spring campaign—Re-arrangement of departments and commanders— Plan for combined campaign of all the armies—Grant takes the field at Culpepex*—Description of country—Organization of army of Potomac— Sheridan to command cavalry—Concentration—Instructions to various commanders—Plan of campaign in Virginia—Buell refuses a command— Forrest’s raid—Capture of Plymouth—Red river campaign—Halleck the real

author—Banks’s

Grant—Persistency

of

preference for

other

Halleck—Unfairness

movements—Objections of of

Halleck—Sherman

or¬

dered to support Bauks in spite of Grant’s objections—Red river cam¬ paign

begun

before

Grant

became

general-iu-chief—First

orders

to

Banks—Anxiety of Grant—Hunter sent to Bauks —Delay of Banks— Defeat of Banks—Subsequent defeat of rebels—Failure of Red river campaign—Grant

applies

for

removal

of Banks—Disappointment

of

Grant—Final orders for combined campaigns—Correspondence between Lincoln and Grant,

.

.

CHAPTER

.

.

.

.

.

1

XVI.

Sti’ength of armies of Potomac and Northern Virginia, May 4th, 1864-—Posi¬ tion of Lee—Problem of Grant—Movement of army of Potomac—Crossing of Rapidan—Movement of Lee—Position of army of Potomac on night of May 4th—Grant’s orders for May 5th—Warren encounters enemy—Disposi¬ tions of Grant—Description of Wilderness—Grant’s head-quarters—-War¬ ren’s advance—Warren’s repulse—Grant rides to front—Gap between Warren and Hancock—Getty ordered to Warren’s left—Hancock ordered to connect with Getty—Approach of rebels—Getty’s attack—Hancock supports Getty—Indecisive result—Wadsworth’s advance through Wilder-

CONTENTS.

VI

ness—So far, Lee out-generalled—Difficulties of the Wilderness—Con¬ fidence of Grant—Orders for 6th of May—Attack on Grant’s right — Hancock’s

assault

on

6th—Great success

on left—Hancock’s

halt—

Anxiety in regard to Longstreet—Delay of Burnside—Reinforcement of Hancock—Attack of Longstreet—Hancock’s repulse—Enemy checked— Further delay of Burnside—Grant determines to move to Spottsylvania— Second attack on Hancock—Fire in the Wilderness—Success of Lee’s right—Repulse of Lee’s right—Burnside finally attacks—Movements of Warren and Sedgwick—Late attack on Sedgwick—Sedgwick driven back —Enemy retires—Grant’s calmness—Results of battle of the Wilderness— Lee’s feebleness in offensive movements—Losses of national army—Rebel losses never known—Disappearance of rebels from Grant's front on 7th of May—Movement ordered by left flank—Night march towards Spottsylvania —Enthusiasm of troops for Grant,

.

CHAP T E R

‘

.

.

.

.93

XVI I.

Grant’s object in movement on Spottsylvania—Description of country between Wilderness and Spottsylvania—Mistake of Meade—Greater mistake of Lee —Advance of national cavalry—Arrival of Anderson—Warren’s advance— Warren’s

attack—Warren’s

repulse—Country

around

Spottsylvania—

Position of both armies—Lee again on the defensive—Sheridan sent to James river—Death of Sedgwick—Wright placed in command of Sixth corps—News from

Sherman and

against Lee’s left—Crossing

Butler—Movement of

Second

corps

of Po—Withdrawal of Hancock—Gallant

fight of Barlow—Able manoeuvring on both sides—Rej>eated assaults of Warren on Lee’s centre—Assault of Upton—Repulse of Warren—Success of Upton—Delay of Mott—Renewed but unsuccessful assault of Fifth corps —Withdrawal

of

Upton—Further

news from Butler—Assault of the

12th of May—Preliminary arrangements—Hancock’s advance—Hancock’s success—Rebel centre pierced—Large captures of prisoners and guns— Scene at Grant’s head-quarters—Advance of Wright—Hancock pushed back —Warren’s delay—Opposition to Burnside—Fierce fighting of Wright and Hancock—Rebels unable to re-carry position—Traits of

Hancock and

Warren—Promotions after the battle—Meade’s relations with Grant— Manoeuvres around Spottsylvania—Good news from Sherman—Confusion in Richmond—Attack of the 17th of May—Defeat of Sigel and Butler— Movement ordered towards Richmond—Sigel replaced by Hunter— Troops drawn from both Butler and Sigel—Cauby ordered to South-West—Ewell’s advance on Grant’s right—Ewell’s repulse—Persistency of Grant,

' Advance of army on

CHAPTER 20th of

.

136

XVIII.

May—Exposure

of

Grant’s

head-quarters

—Supineness of Lee—Character of country between Spottsylvania and North Anna—Lee’s ignorance of Grant’s movements—Breckeuridge and Pickett reinforce Lee—Grant’s arrival at North Auna—Warren crosses river—Repulses Hill—Hancock’s successful advance—Burnside’s failure to

t

I

CONTENTS.

Vii

cross—Repulse of Crawford and Crittenden—Strength of rebel position— Critical situation of Grant—Failure of Lee to avail himself of opportunity —Grant re-crosses the river and extricates his army— Sheridan starts for the James—Battle at Yellow Taverij—Defeat of rebels—Death of Stuart —Sheridan enters outworks of Richmond—Crosses Chickahominy—Arrives at James river—Returns to army of Potomac—Object of Butler’s

Cam¬

paign-Strategical advantages of Richmond—Grant’s orders to Butler— Seizure of City Point—Subsequent movements of Butler—Petersburg in danger—Alarm in Richmond—Concentration of rebels—Delay of Butler— Beauregard’s strategy—Battle of Drury’s Bluff—Defeat and retreat of Butler—Grant’s chagrin—Withdrawal by Grant of portion of Butler’s force^ «

•

•

•

•

•

CHAPTER

•

•

.217

XIX.

Consolidation of Ninth corps with army of Potomac—Magnanimity of Burn¬ side—Grant’s orders to Hunter—Movement to Pamunkey river—Passage of the Pamunkey—Country between the

Pamunkey and Richmond—

Advance towards the Chickahominy—Battle at Hawe’s

shop—Warren

attacked by Ewell—Ewell repulsed—Skilful manoeuvring of both Grant and Lee—W. F. Smith arrives at White House with part of Butler’s army —Sheridan captures Old Cold Harbor—Rebels attempt to retake it—Grant and Lee each send reinforcements—Failure of Warren to carry out Grant’s orders—Arrival of Smith—Battle of the 1st of June—Success of Smith and Wright—Grant secures

possession

of

Old Cold Harbor—Grant’s

anxiety in regard to Hunter—Movement of each army towards national left —Country around Cold Harbor—Strong position of Lee—Grant’s plan of battle—Advance from national left—Repeated and gallant assaults—Early success of Hancock—Hard fighting of Smith and Wright—Burnside gains ground—No permanent impression made on enemy’s works—Discontinu¬ ance of assaults—General advance of national lines—Rebels remain within their fortifications—Despatches to Hunter, Banks, and other distant com¬ manders—Losses at Old and New Cold Harbor—Result of battles of 1st and 3rd of June—Reasons for the assault—Reflections on the campaign— Selection of route—Peculiarities of Grant and Lee—Strategy of each— Mode of entrenching—Numbers, losses, and ivinforcemeuts in Wilderness campaign,

........ .

CHAPTER

260

XX.

Grant’s plan for crossing the James—Co-operation of Hunter and Sheridan— Sherman’s advance into Georgia—Situation of army at Cold Harbor— Favorable news from Hunter—Course of the James and Appomattox rivers —Topography of country—PreiDarations for crossing the James—Exposure of Butler—Smith to return to army of the James—Kautz and Gillmore move against Petersburg—Failure of

expedition—Alarm of Beauregard

Excitement in Richmond—Difficulties of Grant’s new movement against Petersburg—Grandeur of general plan—Readiness of Lee—Passage of the Chickahominy—Arrival at the James—Plan for the capture of Petersburg —Grant visits Bermuda Hundred—Instructions to Butler and Meade—

CONTENTS.

Vlll

Apprehensions of national government—Hancock crosses the James on ferry-hoats—Smith arrives at Bermuda Hundred—Hancock ordered to advance on Petersburg—Bridging of

James river—Army

crosses

the

the

Baylor’s Assault

farm—Arrives on

failure to Arrival

James—Smith in

works—Success push

his

crosses front of

of

Potomac

Appomattox—Skirmishes at

Petersburg—Delay

Smith—Arrival

victory—Dispositions

of

of

seizes the railroad—Wright

sent

of

Smith-

Hancock—Smith’s

Smith

of rebel reinforcements—Withdrawal of

front—Butler

of

and

Hancock—

rebels from to reinforce

Butler's Butler—

Disappointment of Grant at inaction of Smith—Arrival of N’inth corps— Meade ordered

to assume

command—Arrival of Warren—Assaults

of

16th and 17th of June—Butler loses the railroad—Assault of the 18th— Characteristics of Meade—Results and character of movement—Skill and energy of subordinates—Grant’s determination to envelop Petersburg— Fighting it out on tlie same line,

.....

CHAPTER

333

X X I.

Depression of spirit at the North—Lincoln’s visit to the front—Enthusiasm of

black

troops—Dispositions

to envelop

Petersburg—Movement

of

22nd of June—Advance towards Weldon road—Gap between Sixth and Second corps—Advantage taken by rebels—Loss of prisoners and guns by Birney—Lee returns to his lines—Further movements of Wright— Dissatisfaction of Meade—Wright’s working parties roach the road—Connection between Richmond and

Weldon

Weldon interrupted—Anxiety

of Lee—Consternation of rebel government—Threatening movements of Grant—Operations of Hunter—Vigor of rebels—Sheridan’s raid —Battle at Trevillian station—Defeat of rebels—Hunter moves westward instead of east—Sheridan resolves to return—Fighting of 12th of Jnne—Destruction of railroad—Circuitous route of cavalry—Sheridan reaches White House —Ahercromloie in danger—Sheridan relieves him—Battle at St. Miry’s church—Gregg saves the trains—Sheridan arrives at the James—Move¬ ment of Wilson against Southside and Danville abandonment

of

all

aggressive

operations

roads—Grant directs

outside

of

Georgia

and

Virginia—Sherman’s anxiety about communications—Defeat of Sturgis in Mississippi—Grant

working

pursues Wilson—Anxiety

out

his

original

plan—Rebel

cavalry

of Grant and Meade—Dispositions to succor

Wilson—Wilson’s raid—Ilestruction of

Southside

and

Danville

roads

—Fighting near Nottoway court-house—Affair at Staunton river bridge —Wilson’s return—Battle at Ream’s station—Wilson opposed by infantry as well as cavali-y—Rout of national cavalry—Flight of Wilson—Loss of guns and men—Arrival in

national lines—Cause of disaster—Damage

inflicted on enemy—Uses and character of raids,

CHAPTER

.

.

.

380

X X 11.

Geography of Valley of Virginia—Movements of Sigel and Crook in May— Hunter relieves Sigel—Junction of Hunter with Crook—Battle at Pied¬ mont—Victoi’y of Hunter—Advance upon Lexington—Concentration of

CONTENTS.

IX

rebels at Lynchburg—Engagements of 17th and 18tb of June—Arrival of Early—Withdrawal of Hunter—Retreat to the mountains—Pursuit by Early—Escape

of

Hunter—Early returns

to Lynchburg—Hunter

ar¬

rives in the Kanawha—Results of campaign—Complaints of inhabitants— Strategical

mistakes

of

Hunter—Early

advances

down

the Valley—

Arrives at Winchester—Sigel evacuates Martiusburg—Early follows to Harper’s Ferry—Hunter delayed on the Ohio river—Early advances to Monocacy—Alarm

at

Washington—Composure of

ordered to Washington—President suggests

Grant—Sixth

corps

removal of Grant’s entire

army to Washington—Grant resists the suggestion—Further reinforce¬ ments ordered North—Early defeats Wallace upon Washington—Retreats without —Criticism of

of

Early’s

Early—Grant

places

a

at Monocacy—Advances

battle—Arrival

movement—-Confusion Wright

in

at

command

in

of Sixth corps

the North—Pursuit Potomac

Valley—

Strategy of Grant—His anxiety for a single commander at the North—His views not carried sequence,

out—General confusion and mismanagement in con¬

........ CHAPTER

414

X XT 11.

Grant’s anxiety in regard to Sherman—Operations to prevent reinforcement of Johnston—Orders to Sherman—Prevision of Sherman—Relations of Grant and Sherman—Johnston relieved by Hood—Attacks of Hood— Defeat of Hood—Death of McPherson—Unselfishness of Logan and Blair —Grant’s opinion of Butler—Disagreement of W. F. Smith with Butler and Meade—W. F. Smith allowed leave of absence—Operations in front of Petersburg—Origin of Burnside’s mine—Description of mine—Effort to distract attention of Lee—Hancock and Sheridan moved to north bank of the James—Operations at Deep Bottom—Half of Lee’s army attracted to north side—Precautions to deceive the enemy—Rapid return of Han¬ cock and Sheridan—Massing of Grant’s forces—Orders for assault of July 30th—Well-grounded hopes of advance of

assaulting

success—Explosion of

column—Consternation of

mine—Delay in

enemy—Advance of

Burnside unopposed—Unnecessary halt of column—Confusion among the supports—Burnside ordered to push his troops—Ord directed to support Burnside—Black Rebels recover crater — Assault

troops

advance

from shock of of

into

crater,

increasing

confusion—

explosion—Plant artillery to command

rebels — Burnside

ordered

to

withdraw — Second

assault of rebels—Capture and loss of national troops—Complete defeat of Burnside—Criticism of operations—Ledlie

and

Burnside ' especially

blamed—Burnside granted leave of absence—Delicate position of Grant — Relations

with subordinates—Grant’s

persistency—Advance

ordered

against Weldon road, ....... CHAPTER Burning of

Chambersburg by

Grant sends

Sheridan to

XXIV.

Early’s orders—Flight of the Valley—Lincoln urges

authorities at Washington—Grant

455

visits

rebel

raiders—

Grant to watch

Hunter—Hunter

relieved by

X

CONTENTS. Sheridan—Sheridan’s career in army of Potomac—Sheridan’s character¬ istics—Creation of Middle Military Division—Condition of affairs

when

Sheridan assumed command—Grant returns to City Point—Hancock’s movement to north side of the James—Grant’s relations with Sherman— Recommends

Halleck

should

be

sent

to

California—Movements

of

Sheridan—Relations of various commands to each other—All the armies definitely controlled by Grant—Movement against Weldon road—Posi¬ tion

of

Fifth

corps—Warren’s

success—Weldon

railroad

secured—

Hancock withdrawn from north side of James—Concentration of rebels against

Warren—Warren

repels

all

attacks—Disastrous

condition

of

rebels—Disingenuousness of Lee—Alarm of rebel government—Hancock sent to destroy railroad at Ream’s Rattle at Ream’s station—Retreat

station—Rebels attack Hancock— of

Hancock—Rebels

also

retire—:

Weldon road remains in possession of Grant—Forces at Chattanooga in May, at

1864—Manoeuvres of

Resaca—Further

retreat

Shermau—Retreat of

of Johnston—Fighting

Johnston—Sherman

seizes

Cassville,

Kingston, and Rome—Flanking movement against Dallas—Drawn battle at New Hope

church—Sherman returns to railroad south of Allatoona

—Unsuccessful

attack on Kenesaw Mountain—Farther flanking move¬

ments—Retreat of Johnston—Crossing of Chattahoochee river—Johnston relieved by Hood—Three Atlanta—Last

separate attacks by Hood repulsed—Siege of

flanking movement of campaign—Success of

Sherman’s

strategy—Evacuation of Atlanta—Results of campaign—Personal relations of Grant and Sherman—Comprehensive character of Grant’s strategy

Appendix,

492 555

LIST OF MAPS TO ACCOMPANY VOLUME 11. Theatee of Wae. ViEGINIA.

Operations north of James River. Operations in the Wilderness, and around Spottsylvania Court-house. Operations on North Anna River. Operations around Cold Harbor. Operations around Richmond and Petersburg. Early’s Campaign against Washington. Sherman’s Campaign against Atlanta.

The campaigns of the last year of the war were so various, and the opera¬ tions so complicated, that reference to the same maps is required for dilferent periods.

The illustrations have therefore been placed at the end of the vol¬

umes, with the exception of the maps of the Theatre of War, of Virginia, and of the Operations around Richmond and Petersburg, which will be found in pockets attached to the covers.

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