Named Entity Results, 1864 AD

An official paper which was never sent. The following letter explains itself. We should be glad to learn something more concerning the lieutenants who wrote the document quoted: Council bluffs, Iowa, February 11, 1881. Dr. J. W. Jones, Secretary Southern Historical Society: Dear Sir,--In the winter of 1864 and the spring of 1865 I served in the Army of the Potomac, in front of Petersburg, and was present during the last gallant efforts of the Army of Northern Virginia. Upon reaching the inside of the Confederate works in the vicinity of the point where the Weldon railroad crossed the trenches I saw a bunch of papers, the one corner of which lay in a pool of blood. Near by was also the shattered carriage of a gun, indicating that one of our shells had dismounted it. Everywhere were the signs of a desperate struggle, though the dead and wounded had been removed. I picked up the package of papers, supposing that some poor fellow had dropped them as he fell, and they might lea

General Lee's offensive policy in the campaign of 1864. It is a very popular error to speak of General Lee as acting on the defensive in the campaign of 1864, and of his retreating before General Grant. The truth is that from the day Grant crossed the Rapidan until (after losing nearly twice as many men as Lee had) he sat down to the siege of Petersburg — a position which he could have occupied at first without firing a gun or losing a man — Lee never made a move except to meet and fight 1864, and of his retreating before General Grant. The truth is that from the day Grant crossed the Rapidan until (after losing nearly twice as many men as Lee had) he sat down to the siege of Petersburg — a position which he could have occupied at first without firing a gun or losing a man — Lee never made a move except to meet and fight the enemy, and that on the whole campaign he craved nothing so much as an open field and a fair fight. He again and again expressed himself to that effect, and always said that if the enemy were allowed to besiege Richmond the result would be a mere question of time. The following letter to one of his corps commanders brings out clearly his views and purposes. If General Grant had not crossed the James and advanced on Petersburg, Lee would have attacked him in his works, and have tried on

bout to lay down that very evening his noble life, this dispatch, which has never before been in print, will have a sad interest and will be recognized by those who knew him, as having the clarion ring which always characterized the dispatches of this glorious cavalryman; of whom it has been truly said that he never believed he could be whipped, and could never bring himself to acknowledge that he had been defeated: No. 4. Headquarters near half sink bridge, May 11th, 3 o'clock P. M., 1864. To General Bragg: General,--The enemy now has the Yellow Tavern and hold the Old Mountain road for some distance above, having formed his column between Fredericksburg railroad and that road. General Gordon is one-and-a-half miles south of Chiles's Tavern, on that road, and informs me that all the enemy's cavalry are massed here, none having gone towards James river. Now, General, if we can make a combined attack on them with Hunton's brigade I cannot see how they can escape. I have at

ld never be repaid. He also told me, at the same time, that he had written to Governor Vance, expressing his high appreciation of their services. I suppose the following is an extract from the letter referred to: [from the Wilmington journal, 1864.] Tribute to North Carolina.--letter from General Lee. We have been permitted to make the following extract of a letter from General Lee to Governor Vance, complimenting the North Carolina troops for their glorious victory achieved at Reames's elicited the warm commendation of their corps and division commanders and the admiration of the army. * * * * * I am with great respect your obedient servant, R. E. Lee, General. What President Davis said. At Charlotte, during the year 1864, in a brief address to the people, President Davis said, among other complimentary things of North Carolina, that her sons were foremost in the first battle of the war, Great Bethel, and they were foremost in the last fight near Petersburg, Reames

[from the Wilmington journal, 1864.] Tribute to North Carolina.--letter from General Lee. We have been permitted to make the following extract of a letter from General Lee to Governor Vance, complimenting the North Carolina troops for their glorious victory achieved at Reames's Station. This tribute from the great hero of this revolution is the highest honor that could be paid to North Carolina. Let every soldier treasure it up as a memento of inestimable value: Headquarters army of Northern Virginia, August 29th, 1864. His Excellency Z. B. Vance, Governor of North Carolina: * * * * * * * * * I have been frequently called upon to mention the services of North Carolina soldiers in this army, but their gallantry and conduct were never more deserving the admiration than in the engagement at Reames's Station on the 25th instant. The brigades of Generals Cook, McRae and Lane, the last under the temporary command of General Conner, advanced through a thick abattis of fel

The advance on Washington in 1864. Letter from General J. A. Early.To the Editor of the Republican: That writers on the Federal or Union side in the late war between the States, should continue to magnify the numbers in the Confederate arly did have the iron works of Mr. Thaddeus Stevens burned in 1863, and the town of Chambersburg was burned by my orders in 1864 as an act of retaliation, after a refusal to comply with a demand upon the town for compensation for some burning that Genwithin the limits of my command. I also levied contributions on the towns of York, Pa., in 1863, and Frederick, Md., in 1864. All these acts were in accordance with the laws of war, and if I had ordered the burning of Blair's house I would not nomed. It is as follows: Return of Middle Military Department, General P. H. Sheridan commanding: The latest August return, 1864, shows in the field-- General Crook's command, present for duty21,006 General Wright's command, present for duty11,956

Sherman's campaign in Mississippi in winter of 1864. Report of General Ross. Headquarters Texas brigade, I. C. D., Benton, Miss., March 13th, 1864. Captain,--In compliance with your call for a report of the operations of this brigade, on the Yazoo river, during the recent advance of the enemy, under General Sherman, I have the honor to submit the following — to wit: Immediately upon the return of my command from the Mississippi river, about the 20th January, I received an order from the Division Commander to take position near Benton, Miss., and was charged with guarding the country west of Big Black river. A few days subsequently, Colonel Mabry, of the Third Regiment Texas Cavalry, commanding the brigade in my absence, received orders to move to the vicinity of Mechanicsburg, at which place the command arrived on the evening of the 26th. Being informed by the scouts in front that a large foraging party was moving upon the Ridge road from Vicksburg, Col. Mabry attem