CHAPTER XVIII

AGAIN DEFENDING RICHMOND

THE terrible battle of Gettysburg was over. The losses of the Confederate army and the Federal army had been about the same; opinions are not harmonious on this point; but the Confederate army, after remaining a few days in position, half expecting attack and not averse to it, withdrew in good order, and General Meade did not attempt pursuit.

Slowly the Army of Northern Virginia moved southward, without panic, while Lee realized that he must now abandon an offensive campaign and be content with protecting Richmond, the seat of the Confederate government. President Lincoln had called upon the Union states for more men, and the Army of the Potomac was filling up. But the Army of Northern Virginia could not hope for such accessions, as the South had already put all its fighting force into the field. President Davis said, as he sought new men for the Southern army, older and younger men who had not before been

called to the colors "It is like robbing the cradle and the grave.'

Lee's task now was to inspire his troops with courage, even as he had before checked them from tyranny and brutality. In both these efforts he was successful. And we may learn how tenderly he dealt with his fellow-soldiers by this story, authentic and admirable. Colonel Venable, a member of Lee's staff, one day made a report to his commanding officer about certain difficulties concerning the fording of the Potomac River, just ahead of them. And he made his depressing report in too loud a tone of voice. Lee, it is said, reproved him sharply, for he did not wish the other officers and men to hear it and be discouraged; but, the story continues, he afterward felt regret that he had hurt Colonel Venable's feelings. So, a short time after, he invited the colonel to drink a friendly glass of buttermilk with him. (This beverage appears to have been a favorite one with General Lee.) The colonel accepted, but his feelings were ruffled, as Lee could perceive. The next day, after they had crossed the Potomac in a drizzling rain, Venable, an excellent officer, being fatigued and being off duty, lay down near a pontoon bridge and slept. When he awoke he found himself protected from the wet by an oil-cloth poncho,— his general's own coat, taken

from his own shoulders. Thus General Lee apologized; and his aide, who was really devoted to him, could no longer cherish injured feelings.

The retreat of the Confederate forces, if we may call it that, went slowly on, the Union forces not pressing them. Several weeks passed, with Lee on the Rapidan and Meade at Culpeper Court House. The two armies came into contact, from time to time, but there was no general engagement. The summer of 1863 wore away, and both armies went again into winter quarters, only a few miles apart. Meanwhile, the war was going on more actively in other parts of the country. On July 4th, Vicksburg had surrendered to the Federals; on the 8th, Port Hudson also had surrendered; on September 19th was fought the bloody battle of Chickamauga; and on November 24th and 25th occurred the famous battles at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.

No vital change took place, however, in the relative positions of the two contending armies in Virginia; but there were several encounters, as at Mine Run. Among the anecdotes recounted of General Lee, during this period of "watchful waiting," is one told by the Confederate General Hunt. It reveals Lee's breadth of vision and sympathy. "While at Culpeper, the Confederates were among

friends; General Sedgwick (Federal) was encamped not far away, and some of the families of the neighborhood visited both camps, impartially. One Southern matron, who felt annoyance at this conduct on the part of her young relatives, reproved them, in Lee's presence, appealing to him to support her. The great man's response was wise and kindly. 'Young ladies,' he said, 'I know General Sedgwick well; it is just like him to have his band entertain you; so, if the music is good, go and listen to it, and enjoy yourselves! You will find that General Sedgwick will have none but agreeable gentlemen about him.'"

Throughout the winter Lee realized that, with the opening of spring, when the weather would be milder and the roads passable, vigorous hostilities would be renewed, and he must defend Richmond from the invading Federal Army. This he could foresee; but he could not foresee something which occurred on March 3d, 1864,—the appointment of General Ulysses S. Grant as Lieutenant General of the Union Armies, leaving General Sherman in command of the forces in the West. After a few weeks Lee stationed his depleted, half-starved and half-clothed army in the country just outside of the Confederate capital, and there he awaited the advance of Grant.

In the earlier and more prosperous days of 18621863, the Southern soldiers had been furnished with an equipment like this: "Each soldier carried one blanket, one small haversack, one change of underclothing, a canteen, a cup and plate of tin, a knife and fork, and the clothes in which he stood. When marching, the blanket, rolled lengthwise, the ends brought together and strapped, hung from the left shoulder across under the right arm. The haversack furnished with towel, soap, comb, and knife and fork, in pockets, and underclothing in the main division, with rations in the other division-hung on the left hip. With this 'rig' the Confederate soldier considered himself in 'full dress,' he could get into this in two minutes. it he marched and fought; like the terrapin, as he facetiously said, 'All he had he carried on his back.""

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But that equipment had been only during the early stages of the war. Gradually the brave fellows discarded portions of their luggage, even as they wore off their flesh tissues. Indeed, when Lee led them in the battles before Richmond, in 1864, they were trained down to bone and sinew; and their physical endurance, like their courage, was well-nigh limitless.

Grant's army before Richmond, reënforced by drafts from the Northern states, was of a much

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