Part 47

Immediately upon assuming command of the division, General Grimes actively set about removing all effects of the recent defeats it had sustained. He was busily engaged in reorganizing and inspecting the regiments, and enforcing the most rigid discipline. The result was that in a month's time, on the 22d of November, his division by itself routed four thousand of Sheridan's formidable cavalry. The week before Christmas Grimes' Division went into winter quarters on Swift Creek, about three miles from Petersburg, and for a few weeks enjoyed a comparative rest, which was greatly needed. On the 15th of February, General Grimes, with his division, left winter quarters and encamped near Southerland's Station, about twelve miles from Petersburg, protecting Lee's right wing, where they remained until the middle of March, when they occupied the trenches in front of Petersburg, relieving Bushrod Johnson's Division. The line of fortifications occupied by Grimes' Division extended from near the famous "Crater" on the left to a dam beyond Battery No. 45 on the right, a distance of at least three and a half miles. To defend this extended line General Grimes had only about two thousand two hundred men, and one-third of them constantly on picket duty. Men may well wonder then why Grant's greatly superior numbers did not sooner break through this attenuated line. No one who himself did not experience a soldier's life in the trenches around Petersburg can appreciate the dangers and hardships then endured by the men of Grimes' Division. The trenches were usually knee-deep in mud, the men always on the alert and ready for action, one-third always on picket duty in the rifle-pits, one-third kept awake at the breastworks every night, and one-third only off duty at a time, and they sleeping on their arms and with accoutrements on, as best they could, amid the continuous firing along the picket line. All night long the pickets kept up an incessant firing, the sound resembling at a distance the popping of fire-crackers, and the flash of the rifles illumining the darkness like fire-flies on a summer's night, while now and then a mortar shell would gracefully glide through the air and explode with a deafening roar. And yet those brave men endured all this, day after day and night after night, without a murmur, and on the 25th of March made one of the most desperate attacks of the war. On that day General Lee made his last and final effort to break through the coils of Grant's encircling army. It was a desperate undertaking, and came well-nigh being successful. At one point in front of Petersburg, near Hare's Hill, the breastworks of the two armies were only about one hundred yards apart, and General Lee determined to make a sudden sortie at this place and capture the enemy's line. A day or two before the attack was to be made Generals Gordon and Grimes visited this point, and carefully inspected the fortifications and acquainted themselves with the nature of the ground. Just before day-dawn the sharpshooters of Grimes' Division--about three hundred men--with unloaded muskets and in profound silence, leaped over our breastworks, dashed across the open space in front, surprising and capturing the enemy's pickets before they could give the alarm, and had mounted their breastworks and were upon the enemy before they could realize their situation. A brigadier-general and five hundred men were sent back as prisoners, and the remainder of the division followed the sharpshooters and occupied the enemy's works. Other troops, among whom were Ransom's and Lewis' North Carolina Brigades, had at the same time captured other portions of the enemy's works, and a brilliant victory seemed within our grasp, but it was only the meteor's flash that illumines for a moment and leaves the night darker than before. The expected reenforcements, Pickett's Division, did not come to their support, and the enemy soon collected a force ten times as large as ours and poured so destructive a fire upon our men that they were withdrawn after a most stubborn fight of two hours. General Lee himself overlooked the scene of conflict from a hill near the old Blandford Cemetery, and well do I remember the sad expression of his face as we passed him in returning to our quarters. In this short engagement Grimes' Division lost four hundred and seventy-eight officers and men. This was the first battle in which General Grimes was engaged after receiving his commission as major-general, and he acted with more than his usual gallantry, if such a thing be possible. He was the only Confederate on horseback--riding a captured horse--and thus rendering himself a conspicuous target for the enemy's fire, but, notwithstanding his great danger, he rode up and down the lines, urging on and encouraging his men, who, enthused with admiration of his dauntless courage, cheered him most lustily.

But the end was rapidly drawing near. On Saturday night, April 1st, about ten o'clock, the enemy opened a heavy artillery and mortar fire, and by a sudden dash captured a portion of the picket line held by Grimes' Division. General Grimes at once informed General J. B. Gordon, who commanded the corps, of the situation, and that, if the enemy charged his weak line, he would not be able to resist them. But there were no reenforcements to be sent, for Lee's lines had been broken at other points, and although our picket line was soon reestablished, yet shortly before daylight the Federal forces in large numbers attacked and captured that portion of our line known as Rune's Salient, held by Battle's Alabama Brigade. The enemy at once extended their line some distance up and down our breastworks before they could be checked. In a few minutes, however, General Grimes, on foot, rushed down the line, calling on his old brigade to follow him, and began rallying the troops who were retiring before the advancing enemy. Seizing a musket from a soldier, General Grimes himself opened fire on the enemy, and by his cool courage soon restored confidence to his men, and the enemy's further advance was promptly checked. Fighting continued until late in the day, and our troops not only successfully resisted any further advance of the enemy, but drove them back from traverse to traverse until the space in our breastworks occupied by them was not two hundred yards long. The fighting that day was desperate and bloody, being at such close quarters, and Grimes' Division--especially Grimes' old brigade--suffered heavily. If all of Lee's army could have held back the enemy that day as successfully as did Grimes' Division, Petersburg would not that night have been evacuated. But orders were received for our withdrawal, and shortly after dark the main body of the division retired from the trenches, marched through Petersburg and crossed the Appomattox river. A force of about two hundred and fifty men was left at the breastworks to cover the retreat of the main body, and this little band remained there, keeping up a brisk fire until after midnight, and then quietly followed the route taken by the division, being the last troops to leave Petersburg; and well do I remember crossing the Appomattox river on the old Pocahontas Bridge while the railroad bridge near by was burning brightly and making a light by which the enemy's artillery was directed at us.

Time would fail me and your patience would be exhausted, were I to attempt a detailed recital of the part taken by General Grimes on that memorable retreat from Petersburg to Appomattox. Always placed at the post of danger, his division rendered conspicuous service. Now stubbornly resisting the advance of superior numbers flushed with victory, now turning like a wounded lion upon his pursuers and charging desperately and putting to flight a too confident foe, and now toiling along over muddy roads, famished with hunger, exhausted with constant marching day and night, almost stupefied with the want of sleep, those men proved themselves to be heroes indeed--the equals of any the world has ever seen!

On Thursday, the 6th of April, the enemy pressed us most pertinaciously, and that afternoon, at Sailor's Creek, overwhelmed our exhausted troops; and at this place General Grimes made a most wonderful escape. And yet, notwithstanding their rout that afternoon, on the next day those men were as ready for battle as ever before, and made a most brilliant charge, with the old Confederate yell, recapturing the line from which General Mahone's Division had just been driven. General Lee himself was near, and saw this charge, and at once sent for General Grimes, and in person thanked him for this service rendered by him and his division.

And now we come to the last sad scenes at Appomattox Court House, where General Grimes planned and led the last charge made by the Army of Northern Virginia. General Lee had been trying to carry his army to Lynchburg, but the enemy had in overwhelming numbers thrown themselves in his front to head him off. Thereupon Grimes' Division, which always occupied the post of greatest danger, was hurried from the rear, where it had been covering the retreat, and placed in the advance. Shortly before daylight on that memorable Sunday, the 9th of April, 1865, our troops arrived at the village of Appomattox Court House, when it was ascertained that the enemy in strong numbers were in our immediate front. On the night before the last council of war had been held at General Lee's headquarters, which was attended by Generals Lee, Longstreet, Gordon, Pendleton, and Fitzhugh Lee, and the plan agreed upon was that Gordon's Corps and Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry were to attack the enemy next morning and attempt to cut a way out, and the other troops and wagon-train were to follow. It was then thought that only Sheridan's cavalry were in our front, and that they could be forced back. Soon after General Grimes arrived at Appomattox, Generals Gordon and Fitzhugh Lee joined him and held a conference as to what should be done. Gordon insisted that the enemy's troops were cavalry and that Fitzhugh Lee should attack, while the latter contended that they were infantry and that Gordon should attack. They discussed this so long, and so much valuable time was being lost, that General Grimes became impatient and said that it was somebody's duty to make the attack, and that at once, and that he would undertake it; whereupon General Gordon told him to do so, and placed under his command, in addition to his own division, the other two divisions of the corps, Evans' and Walker's--Bushrod Johnson's Division and Wise's Brigade having been placed under his command two or three days previously. General Grimes at once rode forward, made all the necessary arrangements, placed the troops in proper positions, and gave the signal to advance, which was done in gallant style, our troops charging the enemy and driving them back nearly a mile. General Grimes then sent a message to General Gordon, announcing his success and that the road to Lynchburg was now open for the escape of the wagons. Then, to his great surprise, he received orders to retire, which he declined to do, thinking that General Gordon did not understand the commanding position held by him. Gordon continued to send orders to withdraw, which General Grimes continued to disregard, still thinking that General Gordon was in ignorance of his position, until finally an order to retire came from General Lee himself, and then sullenly and slowly our men began to retrace their steps over the ground from which they had so successfully driven the enemy. This withdrawal was conducted in an orderly manner, although in the immediate front of a greatly superior force. At one time the enemy with loud cheers made a sudden rush as if to overwhelm our little band, but the brigade of General W. R. Cox (which was bringing up the rear) faced about, and with the steadiness of veterans on parade poured such a sudden and deadly volley into the astonished Federals that they hastily retired in confusion, and our troops were then allowed to withdraw without further molestation. This was the last volley fired at Appomattox and the last ever fired by the grand old Army of Northern Virginia! General Grimes having thus successfully withdrawn his men to their original position, rode up to General Gordon and inquired where he should form line of battle, to which he replied, "Anywhere you choose." Struck by so strange an answer, General Grimes asked an explanation, when he was informed that General Lee was then negotiating a surrender. At this astounding intelligence, General Grimes expressed himself very forcibly and indignantly upbraided General Gordon for not giving him notice of such intention, so that he could have escaped with his troops and joined General Joe Johnston's army, then near Raleigh. So horrible to General Grimes was the idea of surrendering that he turned his horse and started towards his command with the intention of informing his men of the approaching surrender and telling all, who might desire to do so, that they might escape with him. But General Gordon quickly overtook him, and placing his hand on his shoulder, asked him if he were going to desert the army and tarnish his honor as a soldier, and added that it would be a reflection upon General Lee and an indelible disgrace to him (Grimes), if he, an officer of high rank, should escape while a flag of truce was pending. Of course such an appeal had its immediate effect, for General Grimes' great courage was only equalled by his high sense of honor. But never can I forget his manner and the expression of his face while awaiting the final announcement of the surrender. He resembled a caged lion eager to break loose and scatter his tormentors. But the end had come, the Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered, the star of the young Confederacy had forever set, its tattered and blood-stained banners were forever furled, and its brave defenders, with "the consciousness of duty well performed," returned to their desolated homes and devastated fields. There a new duty awaited them. They realized that "peace hath her victories no less renowned than war," and at once went to work to build up the waste places. They had perilled their lives on an hundred carnage-covered fields because of their love for their native land, and they were now ready to work for her material prosperity. They thought of their beloved South, devastated as she was, as Byron exclaimed of Greece,

"Even in thy desert, what is like to thee? Thy very weeds are beautiful, thy waste More rich than other climes' fertility; Thy wreck a glory, and thy ruin graced With an immaculate charm which cannot be defaced."

Animated by these feelings, General Grimes, at the close of the war, returned to his farm and diligently applied himself to its cultivation, leading the quiet life of a country gentleman, his greatest pleasure being the society of his family and friends. Brave in war, he was gentle in peace; the bold soldier became the courteous gentleman, whose home was the seat of a refined and open-handed hospitality. With his ample means, he was ever ready to relieve the wants of the needy, and with his warm and generous heart he ever sympathized with the sufferings of the afflicted.

On the 14th day of August, 1880, while returning home from the town of Washington, N. C., this hero of an hundred battles was shot from the roadside by a concealed assassin and almost instantly killed. I cannot here trust myself to speak of the circumstances connected with his foul assassination--which will ever excite the fiercest indignation in every manly heart--but be it said to the everlasting disgrace of the administration of justice in North Carolina, his assassin escaped punishment!

In reviewing the military record of General Grimes, it seems almost incredible that any one, without the slightest previous military experience or training, should have attained his high rank or rendered such efficient services. Not only did he win the love and admiration of his soldiers, but the confidence and esteem of his superior officers. While a strict disciplinarian, he was remarkably careful of the comfort of his troops, and they never endured any hardships or dangers in which he did not willingly share. Indeed I have often known him to peril his own life in order to protect his men.

In recommending his promotion for Brigadier-General, Generals Ramseur and Daniel were very complimentary, saying that, "In battle Colonel Grimes is conspicuous for skill and gallantry. As a disciplinarian, Colonel Grimes has few superiors. He is ever zealous in the performance of military duty, and in providing for and taking care of his men."

Major-General Rodes endorsed this recommendation as follows: "I take pleasure in endorsing Colonel Grimes' claims to promotion. He has served in this division since its formation at Yorktown, and shown himself under all circumstances to be a good and reliable officer. He is a thorough gentleman, brave to a fault, invaluable in an action, and his habits are worthy of imitation."

In March, 1863, General D. H. Hill urged his promotion, saying: "Colonel Bryan Grimes entered the service as Major of the Fourth North Carolina Regiment, and for more than a year had the admirable training of the lamented General G. B. Anderson, who was Colonel of that regiment. Colonel Grimes led the Fourth with most distinguished gallantry at Seven Pines, and in all the subsequent battles of the year 1862 except Sharpsburg (when he was ill). He has been in many pitched battles, and has behaved most gallantly in them all. I think that he has seen more service than any Colonel from North Carolina. His gallantry, ripe experience, admirable training, intelligence and moral worth constitute strong claims for promotion."

With such testimonials from such Generals as Ramseur, Daniel, Rodes, and D. H. Hill, the friends of General Grimes may well feel proud of his reputation as a soldier, and nothing that I might say could add to it. No high-sounding words of praise are needed to perpetuate his memory. His heroic deeds and illustrious achievements are themselves sufficient, and will so brightly illumine the pages of North Carolina's history that words of eulogy would be dimmed by their brilliancy. And yet I cannot close without paying a slight tribute to one whom I loved while living, and whose memory I now so fondly cherish. It was my privilege, though a beardless boy, to have enjoyed the friendship of General Grimes and to have been with him on occasions that indeed "tried men's souls," and to-day it affords me peculiar pleasure and pride to declare that in devotion to every duty, in faithfulness to every trust, in sincerity of purpose, in dauntless courage, in unselfish patriotism--in everything that constitutes a noble, generous, true man--North Carolina has never honored a son superior to BRYAN GRIMES.

* * * * *

General Grimes was one of those men of iron nerve whom the God of battle raises up wherever a noble cause is to be defended. He was a strong man, loved truth, hated shams, and learned war to defend his country. His life is well told by his courier, H. A. London, Esq., in his address delivered May 10, 1886, and will be read with especial interest, not only by his old soldiers, but by all who seek to set before the minds of youth exemplars of valor. It is sad that he, who bore a charmed life in the war, was reserved by fate for the hand of an assassin. His account of the surrender at Appomattox is the simple, unvarnished statement of an eye-witness and participant of those stirring scenes, who told the truth as he saw it and believed it, and whose strong character you can feel through his words.

SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX.

BY BRYAN GRIMES.

On the night of Saturday, April 1, 1865, my division occupied a portion of the defenses around the city of Petersburg, my left resting on Otey's Battery, near the memorable crater, my right extending to the dam on a creek beyond Battery Forty-five. Ramseur's old Brigade of North Carolinians, commanded by Colonel W. R. Cox (holding appointment as temporary Brigadier) was on the right; Archer's Brigade of Virginia Junior Reserves, and Grimes' old brigade of North Carolinians, commanded by Colonel D. G. Cowand of the Thirty-second North Carolina, Battle's Brigade of Alabamians, commanded by Colonel Hobson, of the Fifth Alabama, Cook's Brigade of Georgians, commanded by Colonel Nash, extended to the left in the order above named, numbering for duty about two thousand two hundred muskets, covering at least three and a half miles of the trenches around Petersburg. One-third of my men were constantly on picket duty in our front, one-third kept awake at the breastworks during the night, with one-third only off duty at a time, and they were required always to sleep with their accoutrements on and upon their arms, ready to repel an attack at a moment's warning.

About 10 o'clock on the night of April 1, 1865, the cannonading from the artillery and mortars in my front became unusually severe, and about 11 o'clock the Federals charged, capturing my picket line, which consisted of pits dug in the earth for protection from sharpshooters, and occupied by my soldiers, varying in distance from one hundred and fifty to three hundred yards in front of our main breastworks. I took measures immediately to reestablish this line, which was successfully accomplished, and our pits reoccupied. About daylight of the second the enemy again drove in our pickets and charged Rune's salient at the point where Battle's Brigade was posted, carrying the works for a few hundred yards on each side of that point, doubling and throwing Cook's Brigade back a short distance. I hurried the commands of Colonels Cowand and Archer to the point of attack as rapidly as possible, charging the enemy, who were in possession of and protected by our traverses and bomb-proofs (which were erected to prevent our line being enfiladed, and also as a place of refuge from their perpendicular mortar fire), and continued gradually to gain traverse after traverse of our captured works.

I then secured four pieces of artillery, which were placed in our second line of works, and were invaluable in checking the advance of the enemy, thus confining them by grape and canister to this particular point at the salient, preventing their advancing to attack our lines in flank or rear; Cook and Battle holding them in check on the left, and Cowand and Archer on the right of the captured works, their only point of egress being exposed to the fire of the artillery.

I regret my inability to recall the names and thus give honorable mention to those gallant artillerists who rendered me such effective service.