The splendid tactical skill displayed by Sherman in this campaign, the world now sees. How he beguiled and deceived his old antagonist Johnston, how he flanked, and how completely he was master of the situation from the first down to the last, maps and diagrams will show, but they will not show how splendidly the troops were handled in the field by Howard and Slocum, and Logan and Blair and Davis. There was no botch, no mistake. Every corps, every division every brigade was promptly on time at the appointed moment. Orders from Sherman down, were clear, decisive, and not to be mistaken or misunderstood. It has been a time too, where strategy and tactics have won the field, and not murder, and in this respect, as in all others, it has been the most wonderful scene in our history.
Sherman's army was reviewed at Goldsboro, It was a picturesque sight in personal attire. The spectacle presented as they were drawn up in line, necessarily formed an arabesque pattern of the most parti-colored crowd of people, upon which human eyes ever rested. Some were in black, full citizen's dress with beaver hats and frock coats, some in Confederate uniform, some in gray, blue and streaked, some in nothing but blue shirts, pants and no shoes,' some have banners floating from their "outer walls" in the rear;
"Some are in rags,
Some are in jags,
And some in velvet gowns."
Take them all in all, they reveal those fantastic shapes that hang upon the walls of memory. Aside from the dress, the personnel of a majority of the men was remarkable. They were rough, brown-faced fellows, who looked as if in a fight they might weigh a ton a piece, or whip their weight in wild cats. The health of the boys was good, yet none have suffered more hardships, encountered more perils, or been more deprived of the necessaries of life.
Sherman's columns moved from Goldsboro on the 10th inst. Early on Monday morning the advance was sounded, and the grand divisions moved forward simultaneously. The right wing under General Howard, taking the Fosterville road, and the left wing under General Slocum, the road leading to Smithville; the army of the Ohio, under Schofield, marched up the north bank of the Neuse river. The cavalry, General Kilpatrick, covered the advance, and fought the retreating enemy. The army was in splendid spirits, confident of being able to achieve an overwhelming victory over Johnston. Sherman pressing his front, and a formidable body of infantry and cavalry closing in upon his rear, there is no chance of escape, but by retreating rapidly toward Columbia, and thence into Georgia by the way of Augusta.
The city of Raleigh was surrendered to Kilpatrick on the 13th, by the Mayor d Council. A regiment was immediately detailed to act as guard to the frightened and bewildered citizens. Kilpatrick came near losing his life as he entered the city, a rebel straggler fired upon him sending a bullet in close proximity to his ear; the villain was caught and hung.
When Schofield's column arrived at Raleigh, Kilpatrick's guards were relieved by the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, Major-General Cox's Corps. Sherman had issued an order before entering the city that if no resistant was offered, all public and private property would be protected. The order was rigidly obeyed. The soldiers behaved finely. Governor Vance, a bitter and violent rebel, left the city. Th3 Secretary of State, Auditor, and Surgeon General, and the most of the citizens remained. General Stiles, as Post commander, and Colonel Warner as Provost Marshal, gave good satisfaction.
CHAPTER XXI.
Another Campaign —-Sherman Advances on Raleigh. How the Views of His Generals were received.— His Army enters the City without opposition— The Citizens are Loyal.— How Grant was made a General,— Laughable flight of a Rebel Senator
THE CITY OF RALEIGH.
The attractions of this handsome capital are extensively and favorably known. Situated in the midst of a rich and fertile country, now wearing the rich livery of summer, an enchanting prospect meets the eye in all directions. The wide and commodious streets are shaded by rows of elms. The magnificent dwellings in and around the city, with their ample yards and gardens, adorned with choicest flowers and shrubbery, give the city a most attractive appearance. Perhaps there is no town of the same population in the South that affords so many evidences of wealth, elegance and social refinement.
The city of Raleigh is not a very old place. The first house was built sixty years ago, by one Lane, the progenitor of General Lane, of Kansas notoriety; it is regularly and tastefully laid out in the form of a basin, surrounded by a belt of hills. The population of the city is about five thousand. There are very few foreigners. The wealth of Raleigh, as it has been observed of Nashville, is of; the genuine, slowly formed description, that does not take to itself wings and fly away, just when it is wanted most. The North Carolinians are a much hardier, sturdier, and nobler race of people than the South Carolinians. They are less polished and pompous than their neighbors of the Palmetto State; but more dignified, industrious and patriotic.
Beautiful Raleigh! It was laid out in the good old English Southern manner. The spacious Fayetteville Street is lined with stores so solid and elegant that they would not look out of place in New York, whose stores are palaces. The suburbs of the place abound in elegant mansions, gardens and ornamental trees, where wealthy enjoy a delightful retreat from the bustle and exciting scenes of politics and business. Raleigh is a railroad centre, from which there are several highly important radiations. The people are very intelligent and hospitable. The ladies are handsome and dress elegantly. Their conduct to our troops is polite, courteous and Christian. The significant and derisive contempt exhibited by the flippant ladies of Nashville and other cities does not exist here.
Among the private residences worthy of special note for splendor and architectural elegance, are the mansions of Grimes, Mordecai, Boyland, Tucker, and Kinner, a Baptist minister, now traveling in Europe. The different denominations, including the Africans, have neat and costly churches. The Baptist denomination have the finest religious edifice in the State. It is truly a splendid gem of Church architecture. It is metropolitan in its character. The pastor himself gave fifteen thousand dollars toward its construction. He was originally from New York, coming South he married a lady of great wealth and hence his munificence. The Episcopal Church is presided over by the Rev. Dr. Mason, a man of cultivated mind and Union tendencies. The Methodists at present have as their minister the Rev. Mr. Pell, a courteous and venerable clergyman. He is the editor of the Methodist paper published here, and has been regarded as a Union man.
There are many public buildings in Raleigh. Among them are the Capitol, the Asylums, and the Episcopal Seminary. The Lunatic Asylum is a glorious structure, and reflects great credit upon Miss. Dix, who recommended, and upon the enterprising "citizens who generously aided in its erection. The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum is large, tasteful and commodious. Through the courtesy of Mr. Palmer I visited this institution, and was highly gratified at the proficiency of the pupils.
What a splendid commentary such houses of charity are on the sublime principles of the Cross! The Capitol is a substantial building. From the dome of this edifice the stranger has a fine view of the city, and the smiling fields of the country. On the southern side of, the Capitol stands a bronze statue of Washington, a conspicuous testimonial of the wealth and liberality of the people and a worthy monument of the architect.
One more spot of sacred interest is the cemetery — a lovely city of the dead. Here nature has her trees, her verdant slopes. Many of the lots are enclosed with iron paling, and handsomely improved with monuments and the most choice shrubbery, making it emphatically a garden of graves. The father of Andrew Johnson sleeps here. A movement is now in progress to erect a suitable memorial over his grave. The soldiers contribute liberally.
There are a large number of Unionists in Raleigh. The most conspicuous one is the gallant Holden, the able and fearless editor of the Standard. When his history is known, he will become one of the most popular men in the nation. Grandly, patriotically, has he deported himself since our troubles commenced, throwing into the Federal scale that immense influence wh
ich social position, personal popularity, and splendid talents cave him. We hope soon to see him Governor of North Carolina. Me and Mr. Pennington, of the Progress, have in the last four years, spoke and wrote brave words for an undivided nationality in the darkest and most rampant times of rebellion. Pennington has been thoroughly Union, and out-spoken in his abhorrence of the Davis despotism. I have before me at this hour several copies of his paper, published a year ago, in which he deals terrible blows at the great rebel chief. His life, like Holden's has often been imperiled. Had he lived in any other southern State, his life would have paid the forfeit of his unswerving Union sentiments. He is a defiant and burly looking fellow, a match for half a dozen of the chivalry.
William A. Graham, of this State, will be remembered as a Whig politician of sufficient standing and influence to gain him the nomination for Vice-President, on the ticket with General Scott, in 1852. They say that when the war broke out he proclaimed himself a Union man, but he didn't stand fast in the faith very long; and in order to make a good convert of .him, the rebel Legislature elected him to represent the old North State in the confederate States Senate. So he became one of the most violent advocates of everything that he himself denounced four years ago.
Mr. Graham was a member of the delegation appointed to wait upon General Sherman, twenty miles from here, and formally surrender the city of Raleigh. Upon fulfilling this mission, he returned, arriving here a few hours ahead of the advance of our cavalry. Some of his friends advised him that he had better not remain, as the Yankees would surely arrest him as a person of much importance to the rebel government. He hastily made up his mind, having but little time for deliberation, and concluded that his personal safety demanded a vigorous retreat. He looked for his horse, but it was non est inventus, having been "gobbled" by some confederate trooper; and there was nothing left for him but to foot it, in the direction of the flying Southerners. His powers of endurance gave out before he had gone very far, and he sat down exhausted by the way-side. Pretty soon a straggler from Wheeler's cavalry came along, and asked him who he was, and what was the matter with him; for he had upon his countenance the look of one sorely troubled. Mr. Graham replied that he was "Senator Graham."
“Jerusalem I “said the cavalryman, “you’re in a bad fix for a Senator. The Yankees are within half' a mile of you, coming like hell."
Mr. Graham was horror-stricken at this intelligence, and didn't know what on earth to do. Any man with a fleet horse and saddle to sell could have made a splendid bargain with him just then. The cavalryman was about to start off, when the confederate Senator appealed to him for God's sake not to leave him there to fall into the hands of the Yankees. While the soldier and the statesman were discussing the predicament and the best way out of it, crack, went the carbine of one of Kilpatrick's horsemen, not shooting at them exactly, but giving painful evidence of close proximity. The rebel trooper said he must be going, and communicated he desire to his horse by means of his spur. But just as he was starting off, Mr. Graham, whom necessity had made inventive in a time of hope and despair, suggested that the "d-— d horse would ride double," and, at any rate, he was willing to pay liberally for the privilege of testing this question of equine capacity. By this time the approach of the Yankees was marked in the horizon by a big cloud of dust, and it was ap5arent that whatever was done must be done quickly, 'he grave and reverend Senator "lumped on behind," according to the suggestion of the cavalryman, and clasping the latter tightly round the waist, entreated him to use his spurs and slacken his rein, to the end that a short time might remove the equestrian duet beyond the reach of Yankee carbines. He succeeded, and is now within the lines of Johnston's army.
HOW GRANT WAS MADE A GENERAL.
Sitting round a blazing camp-fire, a few evenings since, several officers related their experiences of General Grant in civil life. Here is, as nearly as I can recollect it, what General John E. Smith said on the subject:
“I don't believe any man in Illinois knew Grant better than I did, and I think I had quite, as much to do as any other man with bringing him into the war. I lived in Galena, at the time. Grant's place of business was near mine. He kept a hardware and saddlery-store. I used to drop in to see him very often, on my way home, and he and I would generally smoke our pipes together, in his office adjoining his store. He was a very poor business man, and never liked to wait on customers. If a customer called in the absence of the clerks, he would tell him to wait a few minutes till one of the clerks returned, and if he couldn't wait the General would go behind the counter, very reluctantly, and drag down whatever was wanted;but hardly ever knew the. Price of it, and, in nine cases out of ten, he charged either too much or too little. He would rather talk about the Mexican war, than wait upon the best customer in the world.
“When the war broke out, I told him, one day, that I was going down to Springfield to see Governor Yates, who had sent for me. Grant merely remarked, in a quiet way, ' You can say to the Governor that if I can be of any use to him in the organization of these regiments, I will be glad to do what I can 1 went to Springfield, and made arrangements immediately for Grant to be sent for. He came right down, and went to work to organize ten regiments, called out as a sort of home guard, for thirty days at first, but afterward enlisted for three years. When he had done this, and was ready to go home, Governor Yates offered him the Colonelcy of the 21st Regiment, one of the ten. He accepted it, and immediately went to camp. I went with him, and I shall never forget the scene that occurred when his men first saw him. It was very laughable. Grant was dressed very clumsily, in citizens’ clothes — an old coat, worn out at the elbows, and badly dinged plug hat. His men, though ragged and bare footed themselves, had formed a high estimate of what a Colonel ought to be, and when Grant walked in among them they began making fun of him. They cried out in derision, "Look at our Colonel" "What a Colonel! D — n such a Colonel," and made all sorts erf fun of him. A few of them, to "show off" to the others, got behind his back and commenced sparring at him, and while one was doing this, another gave him such a push that made him hit Grant a terrible blow between the shoulders. The General soon showed them that they must not judge the officer by the uniform, and before he got through, the unruly fellows felt very much mortified. One of them generously confessed that it was all in fun, and hoped the new Colonel wouldn't get mad about it. But he did.
“Grant went to work immediately, and in a very short time had his men clothed and fixed up in good style."
. At this stage of the conversation General Logan joined in as follows:
"And I can tell you that Grant came very near going out of the service at the end of the thirty days for which his regiment was first called out. I met him on the streets of Springfield one day, looking very badly. He told me that he felt discouraged, because his regiment didn't want to re-enlist for three years. His men were getting tired of soldiering, and wanted to go home. He asked me to go to the camp and make a speech to the boys, and I did it. I told them all about the glories in store for them, and how grand it would be for them to be coming home to their wives and sweethearts at the end of three years. Whether my speech was good or bad, it had the desired effect; for the men all enlisted for three years, and a few days afterward they started for Cairo, under Colonel Grant.” General Logan then related how Grant came to be promoted to a Brigadier General :
"It was not for meritorious service, for he hadn't had a chance to show himself meritorious. I was in Congress at the time. It was just before I resigned. Lincoln sent in a request to the Illinois delegation to nominate nine men for Brigadier Generals. We met in caucus to do this, and Grant received one more vote than any other of the nine. Among the nine were McClernand, Prentiss, Hurlbut, Palmer, and others whose names I have forgotten. Dick Richardson was among them, but he declined. Grant was in Cairo at the time, and he knew nothing about his promotion until it had been decided on. We all went for him."
GENERAL GRANT REVIEWING SMITH' DIVISION.
A
bout two o'clock, the arrival of General Grant to our division was announced by strains of music and hearty cheers from the soldiers. As he rode up the lines, and the men caught sight of his well-known figure, a wild and prolonged cheer, fraught with a feeling that thrilled all hearts, rang along the lines, and rose to the heavens. Hats were thrown high, and many persons became 'frantic with emotion. General John E. Smith shared fully in the excitement, an4 waved his hat in the most enthusiastic manner. It was then a grand sight to see General Grant ride forward, and uncovering his nobly modeled head, acknowledge with consummate grace and dignity, the greeting. He looked stouter and heartier than when he left us at Vicksburg. O all sides such expressions as, "what a splendid man," "what an honest face," "our destiny is in his hands." He is the best and greatest man on the continent a brave and enthusiastic member of the 10th Iowa, threw his cap at him, exclaiming, “Savior of the country, I fought under you at Vicksburg." Grant looks more like a country fanner than a General. On this occasion he was only tolerably dressed, wearing a common soldier's hat. His organs of benevolence and veneration are large, and his eye full and penetrating. Sherman has the decided advantage over him as far as appearance goes. Of the two, at first sight, I would prefer Sherman. Grant has more cautiousness, and I think, more determination; that is, Grant would never give up; would fight it out on his line, even against life. He would fight on, and fight forever. Sherman, having less cautiousness, I think, would make up the most daring moves, and the most rash charges; would create the greatest enthusiasm, and in a desperate charge succeed best. Both are able Generals, and our cause is safe in their hands.
Personal Recollections of Sherman's Campaigns in Georgia and the Carolinas Page 38
