Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/550

 518 Sheridan in command of the cavalry. [i864 all summer." He immediately ordered another assault, and throughout the long, rainy, lowering, dismal May 12, from dawn till dark, there raged at short intervals a terrible and bloody, often hand to hand, struggle for the possession of the salient, known thereafter to fame as the "Bloody Angle." At night the Federals had captured 3000 prisoners and 20 guns and held the salient ; only however to find at its base new and more formidable entrenchments that still barred their way to the rear of Lee's lines. Unable to drive the Confederates from their stronghold, Grant gave orders to continue his southward movement by the left ; but a week of rain followed, with a further detention to await reinforcements, while reconnoitring and skirmishing varied the slow and laborious movements of both armies. Though Grant continued to advance, Lee, having the shorter lines, was always a little before him in seizing advantageous positions for defence, and blocking his pathway. The vigilance of Lee never failed, the confidence and aggressiveness of Grant never wavered or halted, while the pluck and endurance of both armies in marching, entrenching and fighting, responded to every thought and command of the leaders. It was war in its sternest form. The estimated Union losses in the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania were over 37,000, and those of the Confederates are supposed to have been nearly as great. In saying that cavalry could not be used in the Wilderness, it must not be inferred that that arm of the service was superfluous. The phrase was only intended to mean that cavalry could not be employed in the manner usual in European battles. The campaign of Grant against Lee, as has been seen, was from first to last in the nature of a moving siege, assault upon and defence behind extemporised breastworks. The use of cavalry in these operations, in addition to mere reconnoitring, was twofold ; first, in short and sudden advance expeditions to clear the way and hold approaches for a march, to discharge which duty, in a country of thickets and woods, the troopers often temporarily dismounted, entrenched, and fought as infantry ; secondly, to make long incursions and raids into the enemy's country to destroy military stores and property, break up railroads, burn bridges, and obstruct lines of com- munication. Grant had a cavalry force of 10,000 under the command of Sheridan. It had preceded the march of the army, and fought three engagements in the Wilderness and one at Spotsylvania. From that point the whole corps was despatched on May 8 on a raid toward Richmond, working great havoc on Confederate railroads, trains and depots, fighting three other engagements, penetrating the outer line of the defences of Richmond, recapturing 400 Union prisoners, and joining Butler's army on the James river on May 14, whence, after a three days' rest, it again started and successfully rejoined Grant's army on May 25. The Confederate cavalry was almost equal to the Federal in numbers, and fully its match in efficiency and daring. It followed