Some idea could be obtained of the ceaseless
activity of the commander's mind during these
busy days of combat if the limits of one book per-
mitted the insertion of the immense number of
brief, terse, condensed orders and dispatches he sent
out. They related to all things, small and great,
and one of their most prominent showings is as to
his constant thoughtfulness of his men, his sym-
pathy with all their endurances, and his full ap-
preciation of their good qualities. Another and
most important feature is his manifest refusal to
overestimate his own difficulties or to place too high
an estimate upon the mental or bodily power of the
men opposed to him.
Before beginning another week of the constant



ULYSSES S. GRANT. 233

grinding process which was wearing away Lee's
army, with losses which could not be accurately
ascertained, the Union army counted its own.
From the 8th of May to the 21st, in killed, wounded,
and missing, it had lost thirteen thousand six hun-
dred and one men.
Re-enforcements were arriving slowly. Lee had
been strengthened by twelve thousand veteran
troops, but he adhered to his defensive policy, and
neglected several very good opportunities to strike,
unavoidably given him as the Union troops moved
toward the North Anna River.
