were compelled to retire. Lee, realizing the importance of this road to him, had placed its defense in the hands of that able and brilliant leader, A. P. Hill. On the 22d and 23d the attempt was renewed, but with only slight advantage gained. While this attempt was being made in every part of the line each day had its battle. This was the daily story of two weeks of constant manoeuvering, the losses on each side being fully fifteen thousand men. Every extension of the Union line westward was met by a continuation of the defensive works of the enemy.

General Foster, with a division of the Tenth Corps, on the night of the 20th occupied Deep Bottom, a place but ten miles from Richmond, and on the north side of the James. An entrenched camp was at once formed, and by thus holding it the Federal commander was able at any time to threaten Richmond. A pontoon bridge was at once laid connecting it with General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred. Lee had met this possible movement by constructing a pontoon bridge over the James at Drury's Bluff, thus enabling him to protect the defenses of Richmond with comparative ease.

The Union army now occupied a circuitous line around Petersburg, on its eastern and southern side, about thirty miles in extent. By extending his line, and by a constant. movement of his troops, Grant hoped to find a weak point in the rebel line of defense. The energies of the entire army were devoted to the erection of strong defensive works, so that the position could be held with a comparatively small force, thus allowing a column to be spared for offensive operations at the proper time. These works were completed during the last days of July.

On the other hand, Lee, having the inner line of defenses,

which were almost impregnable, could mass vast numbers at his leisure and throw them against any portion of the Union line for its destruction, thus requiring the greatest vigilance on the part of the Federals. During all this time shells from heavy siege guns on the Union side, dropped in all parts of the city every five and fifteen minutes during the day and night, exploding with thundering roar, scattering ruin and destruction around. On the 30th many buildings were fired by these shells. Hour after hour the doomed city burned, and yet no cessation from the Federal bombardment.

While General Grant was tightening his hold on Petersburg, he sent out a strong cavalry column under Generals Wilson and Kautz, eight thousand men in all, their object being to destroy the roads that could not at the time be reached by his army. Marching rapidly southward, the expedition struck the Weldon Road at Reams Station, where they destroyed the depot and tore up several miles of the road. Moving without delay, they struck the Southside road at a point fifteen miles from Petersburg; thence they went to Nottaway Station, destroying twenty-two miles of the track. Near this place the enemy's cavalry was encountered, under the command of General W. F. Lee. Wilson drove the enemy from his front. Kautz at this point was detached to destroy the railroad at Burke's Station, the junction of the Danville and Southside roads. This being successfully accomplished, he rejoined Wilson, and the united forces destroyed the Danville road to Roanoke Bridge, twenty-five miles in extent.

Finding the enemy strongly posted and assembling at all points, Wilson started to return. At several points he was forced to desperately fight his way through over

whelming numbers; reaching our lines, his men and horses were in a pitiable condition, in his efforts to escape he lost his entire artillery and trains. Notwithstanding these disasters, he had been successful in severing the connection with Richmond for several weeks. General Grant said that the "damage done the enemy in this expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained."

After the defeat of General Sigel, in the Shenandoah Valley, General David Hunter had been placed in command. He was ordered to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac, and make a rapid advance southward, to capture Staunton and Gordonville, thence to Charlottesville and Lynchburg,-destroy the canals and railroads as he passed, and work his way back to his original base, or join the Army of the Potomac.

Passing rapidly up the valley, the enemy were driven from all points until North River was reached, where a desperate battle of ten hours' duration was fought, and the enemy routed with the loss of fifteen hundred prisoners, three hundred stand of arms, three cannon, and death of their commander, W. E. Jones,-the Union loss being but fifty men.

On the 8th he occupied Staunton, where he was joined by Averill and Crook. The combined forces pushed forward to Lynchburg, passing through Lexington. On the 16th Lynchburg was invested. The reinforcement of the city from Lee's army, and his ammunition giving out, compelled Hunter to retire in haste. His retreat was by the line of the railroad, through Liberty to the Kanawah River. By this line of retreat he threw the entire Shenandoah Valley open to the advance of the Confederates, with no force to oppose them. Such an opportunity was