Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/332

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thousand seven hundred men (p. 597). How could and how did they even sustain themselves so long ? The answer to these ques- tions will be variously given according to difference of information or prejudice. One solution probably is given in the reports of the Federal cavalry operations, which bring us information, long sought for, as to the force that was fought and beaten off by the First com- pany of Richmond Howitzers and other artillery on the evening before the surrender.

If the few artillerymen armed with muskets, who helped to defend that column, could be magnified by apprehension or lack of judg- ment into two divisions of infantry, it may explain the chariness of the enemy generally in closing in on the worn and diminishing forces that punished and repulsed so many assaults on their flanks and rear. And it may also help to explain the constantly recurring assertion of these reports that the Federal assaults were repulsed ' ' by superior force." If these assertions be true, and as far as they are true, it is the highest testimony to generalship that, with inferior numbers, could yet muster superior force at points of contact, and reminds us of the Tarheel's explanation of the confidence of Jackson* s soldiers, that they were never scared on going into a fight under him, because they always knew that, though the enemy had a bigger army, Jack- son would have more men " thar " at the place where the real fight- ing was to be.

Though not entirely germane to our present subject, but as a side light illustrating the situation and helping to form opinion on the questions stated above, the following extract may be taken from the report of General Wright, commanding the Sixth Federal corps. Describing the battle of Sailor's Creek, he says (p. 906): "The first and third divisions charged the enemy's position, carrying it hand- somely, except at a point on our right of the road crossing the creek, where a column, said to be composed of the Marine brigade and other troops which had held the lines of Richmond previous to the evacuation, made a countercharge upon that part of our lines in their front. I was never more astonished. These troops were sur- rounded; the first and third divisions of this corps were on either flank; my artillery and a fresh division in their front, and some three divisions of General Sheridan's cavalry in their rear. Looking upon them as already our prisoners, I had ordered the artillery to cease firing, as a dictate of humanity; my surprise, therefore, was extreme when this force charged upon our front. But the fire of our infan- try, which had already gained their flanks; the capture of their