line.

Grant ordered an immediate advance of the Second and Sixth Corps on Lee's weakened front; the attack was gallantly made, and the strongly entrenched picket was carried and permanently held, notwithstanding the desperate efforts of the enemy to retake it. The dash of Lee upon Fort Steadman did not change General Grant's plans for an advance on the 29th.

On Friday, the last day of March, the Fifth and Second Corps crossed Hatcher's Run; both faced north and advanced on the enemy's right. Sheridan, with a large force, had passed around Lee's right and was at Dinwiddie Court House--several miles to the left of the infantry, where he bivouacked on the night of the 29th. General Grant sent him the following dispatch:

"I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so, before going back. I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose, and go after the enemy's roads at present. In the morning push around the enemy if you can, and get on to his right rear. The movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify your action. We will act all together as one army here until it is seen what can be done with the enemy. The signal-officer at Cobb's Hill reported at half. past eleven, A. M., that a cavalry column had passed that point from Richmond toward Petersburg, taking forty minutes to pass. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN,

The 30th the rain fell in such torrents as to make an advance movement impossible. On the 31st Sheridan was at Five Forks, on the Southside Railroad. This was the key to the whole Rebel line. Here the enemy appeared in strong force. Dismounting his cavalry, Sheridan repulsed their advance with great slaughter. During the night he was reinforced by the Second Corps, and at daylight the battle was renewed. The troops moved into battle mag

nificently; the enemy were pressed steadily back to their works, when the infantry charging in flank and rear rushed over the entrenchments with a force that was irresistible. The Rebels fled toward the west, but were charged and pursued with unsparing vigor until long after the shades of night had settled upon the scene. In the severe battle of Five Forks the Rebels had lost six thousand prisoners, and all their artillery.

On the following day, Grant ordered an advance along the entire Union line. With fearful power he hurled his army against the Rebel entrenchments-the battle raging

with great determination on the one side, and stubborn resistance on the other. On the 3d, Lee's line was broken at all points, and the following morning Richmond and Petersburg were hastily evacuated, and the Union forces took possession. The warehouses of the Confederate capital were fired by the retreating army, and the better part of the city was destroyed.

The strife lasted but a few days longer. General Lee retreated as fast as possible up the north bank of the Appomattox, and Grant followed on the south side. Lee was pressing forward to reach Burkesville, confident that by so doing he could make a successful retreat and a prolonged campaign. Grant hotly pursued him, and by the 4th had gained a commanding position half way between Burkesville and Amelia Court House-thus effectually preventing a retreat in that direction. The Confederate Army was now at Grant's mercy-it could not escape.

General Lee now turned to escape by way of Lynchburg, and reach the mountains beyond. At Sailor's Creek a severe battle was fought between Ewell and Sheridan, supported by the Sixth Corps, resulting in the overwhelming defeat and capture of the former, with six thousand

men.

On the 7th, General Grant, anxious to save further effusion of blood, addressed the following dispatch to Lee: “APRIL 7, 1865.

"GENERAL:-The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and I regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate-States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia.'

"GEN. R. E. Lee."

"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

The next morning, before leaving his headquarters, he received the following reply:

"APRIL 7, 1865. "GENERAL:-I have received your note of this date. Though not entertaining the opinion you express on the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I

reciprocate your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and there. fore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer în condition of its surrender.

"LIEUT.-GEN. U. S. GRANT."

"R. E. LEE, General.

General Grant at once forwarded the following reply: "APRIL 8, 1865.

"General:-Your note of last evening, in reply to mine of same date, asking the condition on which I will accept the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, is just received. In reply, I would say that, peace being my great desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon; namely, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms again against the government of the United States until properly exchanged. I will meet you, or will designate officers to meet any officers you may name for the same purpose, at any point agreeable to you, for the purpose of arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia will be received.

"GEN. R. E. LEE."

"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

Sheridan had secured a strong position at Appomattox Station, where he captured four heavily-laden trains for Lee's army. He pushed on toward Appomattox Courthouse, striking Lee's advance, capturing twenty-five guns, a hospital train, wagons, and many prisoners. He was now directly across the line of Lee's retreat, and was strongly supported by infantry. The Union lines were prepared, and the order was about to be given, to charge the Confederates, when a horseman was seen advancing from the enemy's lines bearing a white flag, asking for a truce until a surrender could be completed.

At two o'clock in the afternoon of Palm Sunday, April 9, 1865, the two generals met each other in the parlor of Wilmer McLean's residence, at Appomattox Court House.