GENERAL GRANT AND HIS CAMPAIGN.
A. D. 1864.
1864.
The fourth year of the great war opened on North Carolina with
grief in almost every family; still, with diminished hopes and
increased exertions for the general defence, they looked forward
to a campaign which they well understood was to be decisive of
their fortunes. Perhaps not even General Washington was so
trusted and beloved by the American people in the Revolution as
was General Robert E. Lee by those of the South in the closing
years of the struggle.
2. In his genius and capacity they felt sure they had the very
highest human leadership, and in his splendid career and
spotless renown they all took pride, as conferring reflected
credit upon themselves. So noble, unselfish and wise, he had
become the idol of his own people and the admiration of his
foes. At the outbreak of the war he had declined the command of
the Federal armies, because he believed it was his duty to take
part with his own people.
3. Ex-Governor Thomas Bragg had been for some time in the
Cabinet of President Davis, as Attorney-General. He resigned
the position and was no more in public life. Since 1854, when
he had left the Bar to become the Governor of North Carolina, he
had been continually growing in public favor, and now returned
to the leadership of his profession. No lawyer in our annals
has been more respected or successful. In the Confederate
States Senate the polished and eloquent George Davis, of
Wilmington, and W. W. Avery, of Burke, had served until the
latter was succeeded, in 1862, by W. T. Dortch, of Wayne; and, a
year later, Mr. Davis was succeeded by ex-Governor Graham; and
later still, Mr. Dortch was succeeded by Thomas S. Ashe, of
Anson, who did not take his seat by reason of the dissolution of
the Confederate government.
4. In the midst of the great struggle there was, of course, a
great diminution of attention to matters of education. Governor
Swain, with a remnant of the faculty, remained at Chapel Hill,
and, with a few boys too young for service, yet retained the
name and semblance of the University. Professors Hubbard, James
and Charles Phillips, Hepburn, Smith, Fetter and Judge Battle
were still on duty at their old posts, but Professor Martin was
Colonel of the Eleventh Regiment, and almost all the students
were enrolled as soldiers of the Confederate army. The
sectarian colleges, male and female, were nearly all closed, and
even in the common schools there was small interest manifested
amid the blood and excitement of the time.
5. Many of the ablest ministers of the gospel left their
churches and were faithful chaplains in the army. Great
religious interest was awakened by them among the men who were
so bravely battling in Virginia, and many thousands were
converted and added to the churches during the revivals in the
camps.
6. The recapture of Plymouth, in Washington county, on April
20th, 1864, was one of the most brilliant and successful affairs
of the war. The youthful and gallant Brigadier General R. F.
Hoke was sent by General Lee, in command of a division, with
which he surrounded the strong fortifications and took them by
assault, capturing more than three thousand prisoners. The help
of the iron-clad Albemarle was very efficacious on this
occasion, and her combat at the mouth of Roanoke River, a few
days later, was one of the most stubborn naval engagements on
record. Single-handed, Captain Cook fought and defeated a
strong fleet of double-enders, and drove them, routed, from the
scene. This expedition of General Hoke secured his promotion,
and was in marked contrast with that of General Pickett against
New Bern a few weeks before; the only incident of which,
creditable to the Confederates, was General Martin's well-fought
battle at Shepardsville.
7. When the spring opened, tidings came from the Wilderness of
fresh battles in that region, which had been made famous the
year before. General U. S. Grant had been made Commander-in-
Chief of all the Federal armies, to assume the direction of
affairs in Virginia. With the vast numbers at his command, he
resolved upon such strategy as fell with fearful results upon
his army, but it weakened the reduced ranks of the Confederates
at the same time. General Grant lost more men in his march from
the Rapidan to the James River than General Lee had confronting
him, but it mattered not, for still fresh Federal thousands
poured in to fill the places of those who fell at the
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and the minor combats.
On our side, however, there were none to take the places of
those who were killed.
8. In this terrible campaign, which was not ended even when
General Grant began the siege of Petersburg, the North Carolina
regiments were fearfully reduced. Generals Ramseur, Daniel and
Godwin, together with Colonels Andrews, Garrett, Brabble, Wood,
Spear, Blacknall, C. M. Avery, Jones, Barbour and
Moore were among those who sealed their faith with their blood.
9. No battle of the war was more brilliant in its particulars
and results than that of Reams' Station, fought on August 24th,
1864. General W. S. Hancock, of the Federal army, had seized
and fortified a position, from which General Lee ordered
Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill to dislodge him. So stern was
Hancock's resistance that two bloody assaults had been repelled,
when the privates of Cooke's, MacRae's and Lane's North Carolina
brigades demanded to be led to the attack in which their
comrades had failed. Their officers complied; and, with
seventeen hundred and fifty muskets in the charge, they took the
works and captured twenty-one hundred prisoners and thirteen
pieces of artillery. *
*The North Carolina cavalry regiments were also greatly
applauded by General Hampton for service on the same occasion.
10. In the steady depreciation of Confederate and State money
was the greatest calamity of all. The cry of distress from
famishing women and children was increasing in volume, and the
State and county authorities were finding it more and more
impossible to meet, by public charity, the pressing wants of
their people.
11. The pay of Confederate soldiers in the ranks was $15 and $17
per month, in "Confederate money." During the latter days of the
war flour sold for $800 per barrel; meat $3 per pound; chickens
$15 each; shoes (brogans) $300 per pair; coffee $50 per pound;
tallow candles $15 per pound. It may be easily imagined how
great was the suffering in the South when it is remembered that
numbers of soldiers' wives were almost entirely dependent upon
the pay of their husbands for support. There were relief
committees throughout the State, but the great scarcity of
provisions made them almost helpless.
12. Almost all the white men in North Carolina were in the ranks
of the different regiments and battalions mustered into the
Confederate service. Their families were largely dependent upon
the pay they received as soldiers. When the Confederate money
became worthless, want and suffering appeared in every section,
and unhappy wives were clamorous for their husbands' return to
avert starvation at home.
13. The suffering families were ever in the minds of the
dauntless men who were away facing the enemy, for a direr foe
was thinning the blood and blanching the cheeks of wife and
child. Therefore, many a hero turned his back on the scenes of
his glory and incurred personal ignominy, and sometimes the
punishment of death, for desertion.
14. The case of Edward Cooper was in point. He was tried by
court-martial for desertion. He declined the aid of a lawyer to
defend him, and, as his only defence, handed the presiding judge
of the court the following letter, which he had received from
his wife:
"My Dear Edward: I have always been proud of you, and since your
connection with the Confederate army I have been prouder of you
than ever before. I would not have you do anything wrong for
the world, but before God, Edward, unless you come home, we must
die. Last night I was aroused by little Eddie's crying. I
called and said, "What is the matter, Eddie? " And he said, "O
mamma, I am so hungry." And Lucy, Edward, your darling Lucy,
she never complains, but she is growing thinner and thinner
every day. And before God, Edward, unless you come home, we
must die. YOUR MARY."
15. General Cullen Battle and his associate members of the court
were melted to tears. Although the prisoner had voluntarily
returned to his command, they found him guilty, and sentenced
him to death, but recommended mercy. General Lee, in reviewing
the case, approved the finding but pardoned the unhappy
artilleryman, who was afterwards seen by General Battle,
standing, pale and bloody, as he fired his last round into the
retreating Federals. He then fell dead at his post in battle.
QUESTIONS.
1. What year of the war have we now reached? What is said of
North Carolina's hopes?
2. What tribute is paid to General Robert E. Lee?
3. What is said of ex-Governor Bragg? What changes were made in
the Confederate States Senate?
4. What is said of educational matters at this period?
5. How were the ministers of the gospel faithfully performing their duties?
6. Can you describe the capture of Plymouth by General R. F. Hoke's
command?
7. Where was the principal fighting in the spring of 1864?
What is said of Grant's campaign?
8. What losses had North Carolina sustained in this campaign.
9. Describe the battle of Reams' Station. What North Carolina
troops captured General Hancock's position?
10. What is said of the depreciation of the Confederate currency?
How was it affecting the people?
11. What was the pay of Confederate soldiers? Mention the prices
of some of the necessaries of life.
12. How were the soldiers' families suffering?
13. What is said of the terrible struggle of the women and children?
14. Can you mention the case of Edward Cooper?
15. What was the verdict of the court-martial? What was the
ending of this sad case?