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swept around the right flank of the rebel army, striking the Virginia Central Railroad at Beaver Dam Station, destroyed ten miles of track, three trains of cars, a million and a half of rations, liberated 400 Union prisoners taken in the Wilderness and then on the way to Libby prison. On the 11th he captured Ashland Station, on the Fredericksburg road, destroying the railroad property and a large amount of supplies. Being charged with the duty of menacing Richmond, he pushed on to Yellow Tavern, a few miles north of Richmond, where he was confronted by that able rebel cavalry leader, General Stuart.. After a sharp engagement he drove the Confederates toward Ashland with the loss of their gallant commander. Dashing down the road to Richmond he made a spirited charge upon the outer works -which were bravely carried by Custer, who captured over 100 prisoners. Finding the second line too strong for his force, he crossed the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge, where he destroyed the railroad bridge, pushing southward to Huxhall's Landing on the James-here he rested three days-rejoining the army on May 25.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND.

Petersburg contained at this time a population of about fifteen thousand. It is situated on the south bank of the Appomattox River, twelve miles above its mouth, and twenty-five miles south of Richmond. It was the intention of the Union commander to seize the railways leading south from the city, investing it on the south and west. The first railroad south of the James, which was easily seized, was the one running from Petersburg to Norfolk. The next one, some ten or twelve miles west of this, was the Petersburg and Weldon, and still further west was the Petersburg and Lynchburg road, running nearly west. Both of these roads were of vital importance to the Confederacy, opening as they did all of the resources of the South.

After General Grant had become convinced that it would be impossible to carry the strong entrenchments of the city, manned by the veterans of Lee's army, it became necessary to close the avenues of supplies, in order that a siege might be successfully prosecuted; and he at once instructed the Sixth and Second Corps to advance toward the Weldon road. The movement was made on the 21st, and advanced as far as the Jerusalem plank road, about midway between the Norfolk and the Weldon roads. Here they encountered the enemy in such force that they

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M. NEW YORK PUBLIC LISRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

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 manœuvering, 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,

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