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Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 30: the Confederacy afloat. (search)
he sea; and the United States ports would have been more effectually blockaded, from a thousand miles at sea, than were those of the southern fleet-bound coast. It may not be irrelevant here to allude to the finale of the Confederate cruisers; and to recall the most inane farce of all those enacted by the madmen who held power in 1866. In the January of that year, Raphael Semmes was seized and thrown into prison. He was now charged — not with having violated his parole given to General Grant, who was personally and morally responsible for his persecution — not with doing aught but obeying the laws themselves ; but he was charged with having escaped, the year before, from the custody of a man whose prisoner he was not and had never been — with having broken from a durance that ought to have existed! From incontrovertible testimony, we know that Captain Semmes only raised the white flag, after his vessel began to sink; that he stayed on her deck until she went down beneath hi<
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 31: the Chinese-Wall blockade, abroad and at home. (search)
and shell into the coveted town for six terrible weeks. Failing reduction, they withdrew on June 24th; leaving her banners inscribed-Vicksburg vicrix! In May of the next year, another concentration was made on the key of the Mississippi; General Grant marching his army one hundred and fifty miles from its base, to get in rear of Vicksburg and cut off its relief. The very audacity of this plan may blind the careless thinker to its bad generalship; especially in view of the success that ats upon the strong works at Vicksburg-so freely criticised on his own side, by army and by press — were but preface of a volume, so bloodily written to the end before Petersburg. Under ordinary combinations, Johnston had found it easy to crush Grant and prevent even his escape to the distant base behind him. But, unhappily, Government would not re-enforce Johnstoneven to the very limited extent it might; and Mr. Davis promoted Pemberton to a lieutenant-generalcy and sent him to Vicksburg. B
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 33: wit and humor of the war. (search)
very superior, $3; limestone water, late importation, very fine, $3.75; spring water, Vicksburg bottled up, $4. Meals at few hours. Gentlemen to wait upon themselves. Any inattention in service should be promptly reported at the office. Jeff Davis & Co., Proprietors. Card: The proprietors of the justly-celebrated Hotel de Vicksburg, having enlarged and refitted the same, are now prepared to accommodate all who may favor them with a call. Parties arriving by the river, or by Grant's inland route, will find Grape, Cannister & Co.'s carriages at the landing, or any depot on the line of entrenchments. Buck, Ball & Co. take charge of all baggage. No effort will be spared to make the visit of all as interesting as possible. This capture was printed in the Chicago Tribune, with the comment that it was a ghastly and melancholy burlesque. There is really a train of melancholy in the reflection that it was so little of a burlesque; that they who could endure such a sieg
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 34: the beginning of the end. (search)
hickamauga the might have been once more popular discontent General Grant judged by his compeers Longstreet at Knoxville Missionary Ridr loss of the battle; and, in mid-October, he was superseded by General Grant. Like all popular heroes of the war, Grant had become notedGrant had become noted, rather through hard-hitting than strategic combination. His zenith was mounted on the capture of Vicksburg; a project which northern gener be expected to furnish brains for the whole army! The estimate of Grant's compeers is not refuted by any evidence in the War Department tha costly taunt as mere epigram-this was the accepted estimate of General Grant's tactical power. But he inaugurated his command at Chattano keep his rear open through Virginia, to Lee's army. Meantime, Grant massed troops in Chattanooga, sufficient in his judgment to crush B that Bragg and he had affected combinations now, which would leave Grant only the choice between retreat and destruction. If these tacti
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 35: the upper and nether millstones. (search)
tones. crushing the spine of rebellion Grant's quadruple plan the western giant why its b Iarbor again the open door closed glance at Grant's campaign cost of reaching McClellan's base y issue. During the winter of 1863-64, General Grant incubated his grand scheme, and with the mes at Chickamaugaand the great campaign of General Grant had resulted in as insignificant a fizz asnd on the 14th March for 200,000 more! General Grant, himself, testified to the absolute controseries of battles that should have written General Grant the poorest strategist who had yet inscribity foresaw the enemy's course, and on the 23d Grant met him face to face, in a strong position neaMcClellan had reached this base with no loss. Grant, with all McClellan's experience to teach him, troops in transports and sailed up the river, Grant might have landed his army at the White House esult for the causes that produced it. But Grant was now in a position when he could not afford[22 more...]
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., chapter 37 (search)
litary chess different methods of Sherman and Grant southern view public confidence in Johnston y swelled his total additions over 20,000. Grant's army, too, was composed of the picked veteran, opposed to a total of less than 63,000, General Grant failed signally in the plan, or plans of hthinker analyze these results and then believe Grant a strategist — a great soldier-anything but a bility, in those ceaseless killings into which Grant's strategy sent them. Nor was the immense For this main advance-like every other of General Grant's-had cooperating columns all around it. Am to retreat and entirely abandon his part of Grant's new programme; and a little later he came upundred fights. Women sat quiet, the shells of Grant's civilized warfare tearing through their housn the West. Not discouraged by the failure of Grant's quadruple advance, two months before, Shermathe sledge-hammer style of attack developed by Grant. And there was more to be dreaded from his qu[17 more...]
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 37: dies irae-dies illa. (search)
e men, the southern troops were worn with watching and steadily melting away. Close, ceaseless fighting thinned their ranks; there were no more men-even the youngest of the land, or its first borns --to take the places of the lost veterans. General Grant's words were strictly true-the South had robbed the cradle and the grave The boasted army of the North, led by her latest-chcsen champion and strategist, was kept at bay by a skeleton of veterans, barely held together by the worn-out sinews c shock they felt the truth, even before Dr. Hoge stopped the services and informed them that Richmond would be evacuated that night; and counseled they had best go home and prepare to meet the dreadful to-morrow. The news spread like wildfire. Grant had struck that Sunday morning-had forced the lines, and General Lee was evacuating Petersburg! The day of wrath had come. Hastily the few remaining necessaries of the several departments were packed, and sent toward Danville, either by r
Thomas C. DeLeon, Four years in Rebel capitals: an inside view of life in the southern confederacy, from birth to death., Chapter 38: after the death blow was dealt. (search)
ain showing like silhouettes, against the vivid glare behind them. Once at their points for work, the men went at it with a will; and-so strong was force of discipline — with no single attempt at plunder reported! Military training never had better vindication than on that fearful day; for its bonds must have been strong indeed, to hold that army, suddenly in possession of city so coveted-so defiant-so deadly, for four long years. Whatever the citizens may vaguely have expected from Grant's army, what they received from it that day was aidprotection-safety! Demoralized and distracted by sorrow and imminent danger; with almost every male absent — with no organization and no means to fight the new and terrible enemy — the great bulk of Richmond's population might have been houseless that night, but for the disciplined promptitude of the Union troops. The men worked with good will; their officers, with ubiquitous energy. If the fire could not be stayed, at any particular poin<
Lt.-Colonel Arthur J. Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States, May, 1863. (search)
short space of thirty-six hours, in which General Grant occupied the city, his troops had wantonlymust have been done under the very eyes of General Grant, whose name was in the book of the Bowmontticularly zealous in the war. Heaven knows General Grant had now converted them into good and earnete to defend Jackson. The enemy, under General Grant, in vastly superior force, was pressing Vical situation, and was now closely invested by Grant. He said that he (Johnston) had 11,000 men wigeon came to camp. He had been left behind by Grant to look after the Yankees wounded at Jackson, as to when he might be strong enough to attack Grant. I therefore made up my mind to be off in a ds victories. General Johnston told me that Grant had displayed more vigor than he had expected,ation of the Southerners. He told me that General Grant had been very nearly killed at the taking isit to Hardee. He told the generals, that if Grant was severely beaten in Mississippi by Johnston
Lt.-Colonel Arthur J. Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States, June, 1863. (search)
push forward from Wartrace. The object of this movement is to ascertain the enemy's strength at Murfreesborough, as rumor asserts that Rosecrans is strengthening Grant in Mississippi, which General Bragg is not disposed to allow with impunity. The weather is now almost chilly. 3d June, 1863 (Wednesday). Bishop Elliott leftest generals of the North. The Southerners generally appear to estimate highest the northwestern Federal troops, which com pose in a great degree the armies of Grant and Rosecrans; they come from the States of Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, &c. The Irish Federals are also respected for their fighting qualities; whilst the genuine Yankeetheir principal cities, would give the Yankees so much employment that they would be unable to spare many men for Canada. He acknowledged that in Mississippi, General Grant had displayed uncommon vigor, and met with considerable success, considering that he was a man of no great military capacity. He said that Johnston was certai
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