Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/73

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 47 Meade, was to cover Washington, and assume the offensive against the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee. Orders were issued for a general movement of all the armies in the field on May 4. During the night of the 4th and 5th Grant crossed the Rapidan and encoun tered Lee in the Wilderness, where a desperate battle was fought on the 5th, 6th, and 7th. Grant s loss was 2,261 killed, 8,785 wounded, and 2,902 missing. Lee s losses have never been reported; but, as he was generally the attacking party, he probably lost more. He fell back on the 7th, and on that day and the next took up a strong de fensive position at Spottsylvania. Grant moved forward on the night of the 7th. As he rode through the troops, the men greeted him as their new commander with an extraordinary demonstration in recognition of the victory, shout ing, cheering, and kindling bonfires by the road side as he passed. The 8th and 9th were spent by both armies in skirmishing and manoeuvring for position. Sheridan s cavalry was despatched on the 9th to make a raid in rear of the enemy and threaten Richmond. On the 10th there was heavy fighting, with no decisive results, and on the llth skirmish ing and reconnoitering. On the morning of this day Grant sent a letter to Washington containing the famous sentence, &quot;I propose to fight it out on this line, if it takes all summer.&quot; On the 12th a heavy