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struggle。 General Grant； an officer who had shown in the
campaign in the West that he possessed considerable military
ability； united with immense firmness and determination of
purpose； was chosen as the new commander…in…chief of the whole
military force of the North。 It was a mighty army； vast in numbers；
lavishly provided with all materials of war。 The official
documents show that on the 1st of May the total military forces of
the North amounted to 662；000 men。 Of these the force available
for the advance against Richmond numbered 284；630 men。 This
included the army of the Potomac； that of the James River； and the
army in the Shenandoah Valley…the whole of whom were in
readiness to move forward against Richmond at the orders of
Grant。
To oppose these General Lee had less than 53；000 men； including
the garrison of Richmond and the troops in North Carolina。 Those
stationed in the seaport towns numbered in all another 20；000； so
that if every available soldier had been brought up Lee could have
opposed a total of but 83；000 men against the 284；000 invaders。
In the West the numbers were more equally balanced。 General
Sherman； who commanded the army of invasion there； had under
his orders 230；000 men； but as more than half this force was
required to protect the long lines of communication and to keep
down the conquered States； he was able to bring into the field for
offensive operations 99；000 men； who were faced by the
Confederate army under Johnston of 58；000 men。 Grant's scheme
was； that while the armies of the North were； under his own
command； to march against Richmond； the army of the West was
to invade Georgia and march upon Atlanta。
His plan of action was simple； and was afterward stated by himself
to be as follows： 〃I determined first to use the greatest number of
troops practicable against the main force of the enemy； preventing
him from using the same force at different seasons against first one
and then another of our armies； and the possibility of repose for
refitting and producing necessary supplies for carrying on
resistance。 Second； to hammer continuously against the armed
force of the enemy and his resources until； by mere attrition if in
no other way； there should be nothing left to him but submission。〃
This was a terrible programme； and involved an expenditure of life
far beyond anything that had taken place。 Grant's plan； in fact； was
to fight and to keep on fighting； regardless of his own losses； until
at last the Confederate army； whose losses could not be replaced；
melted away。 It was a strategy that few generals have dared to
practice； fewer still to acknowledge。
On the 4th of May the great army of the Potomac crossed the
Rapidan and advanced toward Chancellorsville。 Lee moved two
divisions of his army to oppose them。 Next morning the battle
began at daybreak on the old ground where Lee had defeated
Hooker the year before。 All day long tho division of Ewell
supported the attack of the army corps of Sedgwick and Hancock。
Along a front of six miles； in the midst of the thick forest； the
battle raged the whole of the day。 The Confederates； in spite of
the utmost efforts of the Northerners； although reinforced in the
afternoon by the army corps of General Burnside； held their
position； and when night put an end to the conflict the invaders
had not gained a foot of ground。
As soon as the first gleam of light appeared in the morning the
battle recommenced。 The Federal generals； Sedgwick； Warren；
and Hancock； with Burnside in reserve； fell upon Hill and Ewell。
Both sides had thrown up earthworks and felled trees as a
protection during the night。 At first the Confederates gained the
advantage； but a portion of Burnside's corps was brought up and
restored the battle； while on the left flank of the Federals Hancock
had attacked with such vigor that the Confederates opposed to him
were driven back。
At the crisis of the battle； Longstreet； who had marched all night；
appeared upon the ground； drove back Hancock's men； and was on
the point of aiding the Confederates in a decisive attack upon the
enemy； when； riding rapidly forward into the wood to reconnoiter；
he was； like Jackson； struck down by the fire of his own men。 He
was carried to the rear desperately； and it was feared for a time
morally wounded； and his loss paralyzed the movement which lie
had prepared。 Nevertheless during the whole day the fight went on
with varying success； sometimes one side obtaining a slight
advantage； the other then regaining the ground they had lost。
Just as evening was closing in a Georgia brigade； with two other
regiments； made a detour； and fell furiously upon two brigades of
the enemy； and drove them back in headlong rout for a mile and a
half； capturing their two generals and many prisoners。 The
artillery； as on the previous day； had been little used on either side；
the work being done at short range with the rifle； the loss being
much heavier among the thick masses of the Northerners than in
the thinner lines of the Confederates。 Grant had failed in his
efforts to turn Lee's right and to accomplish his direct advance； he
therefore changed his base and moved his army round toward
Spotsylvania。
Lee soon perceived his object； and succeeded in carrying his army
to Spotsylvania before the Federals reached it。
On the afternoon of Monday； the 9th； there was heavy fighting and
on the 10th another pitched battle took place。 This time the ground
was more open； and the artillery was employed with terrible effect
on both sides。 It ended； however； as the previous battles had done；
by the Confederates holding their ground。
Upon the next day there was but little fighting。 In the night the
Federals moved quietly though the wood； and at daybreak four
divisions fell upon Johnston's division of Ewell's corps； took them
completely by surprise； and captured the greater part of them。
But Lee's veterans soon recovered from their surprise and
maintained their position until noon。 Then the whole Federal army
advanced； and the battle raged till nightfall terminated the
struggle； leaving Lee in possession of the whole line lie had held；
with the exception of the ground lost in the morning。
For the next six days the armies faced each other； worn out by
incessant fighting； and prevented from moving by the heavy rain
which fell incessantly。 They were now able to reckon up the
losses。 The Federals found that they had lost； in killed； wounded；
or missing； nearly 30；000 men； while Lee's army was diminished
by about 12；000。
While these mighty battles had been raging the Federal cavalry
under Sheridan had advanced rapidly forward； and； after several
skirmishes with Stuart's cavalry； penetrated within the outer
intrenchments round Richmond。 Here Stuart with two regiments
of cavalry charged them and drove them back； but the gallant
Confederate officer received a