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Browsing named entities in a specific section of John Esten Cooke, Wearing of the Gray: Being Personal Portraits, Scenes, and Adventures of War.. Search the whole document.

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Meade (search for this): chapter 5.48
o the last. The expected attack soon came. Grant rapidly concentrated his army (amounting, General Meade stated at Appomattox Court-House, to about 140,000 men) on Lee's right, near Burgess' Mill; rs of the opposing forces can only be stated in round numbers. I understood afterwards that General Meade stated the Federal force to amount to about one hundred and forty thousand men. That of Genet-deprived of all reinforcements — it was now weaker than it had probably ever been before. General Meade, it is said, expressed extreme astonishment to General Lee when informed of his small numberwould have long before broken through the Confederate lines. The statement was natural, and General Meade doubtless believed in the ability of the Federal army to have done so; but it is certain thable delay in crossing the Appomattox had given General Grant time to mass a heavy force — as General Meade's report shows-at Burkesville Junction; and if it was General Lee's intention to advance on
Ulysses Grant (search for this): chapter 5.48
ers; and a child might have understood that if Grant continued to receive heavy reinforcements, andmy of Northern Virginia went on dwindling, and Grant continued to increase his strength, until at tnerals shared his views. One of them said: If Grant once breaks through our lines, we might as wel to the last. The expected attack soon came. Grant rapidly concentrated his army (amounting, Gene0,000 men and Danville were the 140,000 men of Grant. Ii. I should think it impossible even fed of his small numbers, declaring that if General Grant had suspected this weakness, he would havemy to have done so; but it is certain that General Grant made persistent and desperate attempts to at Burkesville Junction; and another replied, Grant can get there first. There, in a few words, wscenes of a great tragedy. On the 7th, General Grant opened his correspondence with General Leelt keenly, stated to Confederate officers that Grant's force amounted to eighty thousand men, and t[17 more...]
Mahone (search for this): chapter 5.48
you can. The scene at Amelia Court-House on Wednesday was a curious one. The huge army trains were encamped in the suburbs of the pretty little village, and the travel-worn troops bivouacked in the fields. They were still in good spirits, and plainly had an abiding confidence in their great commander. The brigades, though thinned by their heavy losses at Petersburg, still presented a defiant front; and the long lines of veterans with bristling bayonets, led by Longstreet, Gordon, and Mahone, advanced as proudly as they had done in the hard conflicts of the past. The troops were still in excellent morale, and had never been readier for desperate fighting than at that moment. Men and officers were tired and hungry, but laughing; and nowhere could be seen a particle of gloom, or shrinking, or ill-humoursure symptoms in the human animal of a want of heart of hope. I will add that I saw little of it to the end. The unavoidable delay in crossing the Appomattox had given Genera
Custis Lee (search for this): chapter 5.48
ns. These officers and others-including General Custis Lee, son of the General — were captured, andall was the still line of battle just placed by Lee, and waiting calmly. General Lee had rushed hiGeneral Lee had rushed his infantry over just at sunset, leading it in person, his face animated, and his eye brilliant withn him to lead them against the enemy. It's General Lee! Uncle Robert! Where's the man who won't f body of the Federal army was now closing round Lee, and it was only by obstinate and persistent fince continued until the morning of the 9th, General Lee refusing to surrender the army. But his co reduced to 7,800 muskets, and Grant had in General Lee's front 80,000 men, with a reserve of 40,00outhern army was almost completely surrounded. Lee's line slowly fell back before this overwhelminied and wholly unable to realize the idea. For Lee, the invincible, to yield up his sword was an it God in whom he had ever placed his reliance. Lee, the victor upon many hard-fought fields, was a[7 more...]
Longstreet (search for this): chapter 5.48
in good spirits, and plainly had an abiding confidence in their great commander. The brigades, though thinned by their heavy losses at Petersburg, still presented a defiant front; and the long lines of veterans with bristling bayonets, led by Longstreet, Gordon, and Mahone, advanced as proudly as they had done in the hard conflicts of the past. The troops were still in excellent morale, and had never been readier for desperate fighting than at that moment. Men and officers were tired and huns in position with that column so near; no line of battle; no preparations for action! A dreamy, memorial sadness seemed to descend through the April air and change the scene. Silence so deep that the rustle of the leaves could be heard --and Longstreet's veterans, who had steadily advanced to attack, moved back like mourners. There was nothing visible in front but that distant column, stationary behind its white flag. No band played, no cheer was heard; the feelings of the Southern troops w
6th (search for this): chapter 5.48
e on to Richmond, and did so, when the bread and meat was thrown in the gutter, to make way for the rubbish of the Departments. The rubbish was preserved for subsequent capture, and the Army of Northern Virginia staggered on, and starved, and surrendered. If any one demands the proof of this assertion, I will give it. Iv. General Lee left Amelia Court-House on the evening of the 5th, and from this time the army was incessantly engaged, particularly with the Federal cavalry. On the 6th the enemy was encountered in force; and line of battle was formed to repulse them, if they advanced upon the trains then moving towards High Bridge. It was on this evening that Generals Ewell and Anderson were suddenly attacked and their commands thrown into great confusion, in the rear of the wagon-trains. These officers and others-including General Custis Lee, son of the General — were captured, and the drama seemed about to end here; but it did not. To the hostile fate which seemed
April 2nd (search for this): chapter 5.48
whole country agreed that in this man and his army lay the only hope of the Southern Confederacy. If the reader realizes what I have thus tried to express, he may form some idea of the crushing ordeal through which General Lee was, on the 2d of April, called upon to pass. The brief particulars about to be set down may furnish the candid historian of the future with material to form an unbiassed judgment of General Lee and his retreat. I am mistaken if the narrative, however brief and the great proportions and noble character of the individual-his constancy under heavy trials, and his majestic equanimity in face of a misfortune the most cruel, perhaps, which a soldier can be called on to bear. Soon after sunrise on the 2d of April the Federal columns, in heavy mass, advanced from the outer line of works, which they had carried at daybreak, to attack General Lee in his inner intrenchments near Petersburg. When the present writer reached the vicinity of army headquarters
April (search for this): chapter 5.48
s to defend, any earthworks to hold; the army was afloat, and instead of being depressed, they seemed in excellent spirits. But the drama had only commenced. The great game of chess between Grant and Lee commenced on the morning of the 3d of April; the one aiming if possible to extricate his army, the other to cut off and capture, or destroy it. The relative numbers of the opposing forces can only be stated in round numbers. I understood afterwards that General Meade stated the Feder white flag, and halting on a distant hill. But the tragic event was read in the faces of all. No guns in position with that column so near; no line of battle; no preparations for action! A dreamy, memorial sadness seemed to descend through the April air and change the scene. Silence so deep that the rustle of the leaves could be heard --and Longstreet's veterans, who had steadily advanced to attack, moved back like mourners. There was nothing visible in front but that distant column, stati
February (search for this): chapter 5.48
, and he had learned the important maxim that it is always best to give your enemy credit for intending to do what he ought to do. If Lee moved promptly toward Danville, every effort would be made to come up with and destroy him; if he did not retreat, time would be allowed the Federal army to gradually fight its way to the Southside road. Once lodged upon that great artery of the Southern army, Grant had checkmated his opponent. Upon this obvious view of the situation, General Lee, in February, issued orders for the removal of all the stores of the army to Amelia Court-House, on the road to Danville. A movement of this sort is, of course, impossible of concealment, and the whole army soon knew that something was in the wind. Government cotton and tobacco was hauled away from Petersburg; hundreds of the inhabitants left the place; all the surplus artillery was sent to Amelia Court-House, and even the reserve ordnance train of the army was ordered to the same point. Then suddenl
April 6th (search for this): chapter 5.48
oups above mentioned, and the sight of him raised a tumult. Fierce cries resounded on all sides; and with hands clenched violently and raised aloft, the men called on him to lead them against the enemy. It's General Lee! Uncle Robert! Where's the man who won't follow Uncle Robert? I heard on all sides; the swarthy faces, full of dirt and courage, lit up every instant by the glare of the burning wagons. Altogether, the scene was indescribable. This took place on the evening of the 6th of April. The main body of the Federal army was now closing round Lee, and it was only by obstinate and persistent fighting that he was able to continue his retreat. Everywhere the Federal forces were confronted by his excellently served artillery; and the thin lines of infantry, marching on the flanks of the trains, met and repulsed every attack with the old spirit of the Army of Northern Virginia. In hunger, and thirst, and weariness, and retreat, these veteran troops stood by their colours w
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