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the President completely exonerating General Warren, stating there was no unnecessary delay, and that Warren took the usual methods of a corps commander to prevent delay; as to the imputation that he wished "the sun to go down before dispositions for the attack could be completed,' they say: "His actions, as shown by the evidence, do not appear to have corresponded with such a wish, if ever he entertained it."

And so the Court went on and decided against Sheridan's charges in every instance, and in the end brought in a report completely justifying Warren in his every action, and to-day, nearly thirty years after the events we have related transpired, there is no man who fought under Warren but will say he possessed the love and esteem and confidence of the rank and file of the Fifth Corps.

CHAPTER XXVI.

LEE'S FINAL STRUGGLE AT PETERSBURG AND FLIGHT. SURRENDER AT APPOMATTOX.

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N the 2d of April Lee saw that he could not hold his lines any longer, so he notified Jeff Davis, who was at church, of that fact. Davis immediately left the church to prepare for his flight, with the Confederate archives and what specie there was in Richmond.

In order to deceive Grant as to his real movements he ordered a vigorous assault on Fort Stedman as if he wanted to break through Grant's right; in fact it was a most desperate attack on the part of the Confederates which was repulsed by Parke. It was one of the most brilliant efforts of General Parke's during the whole war.

When Wright broke through the Confederate lines at Hatcher's Run, his troops moved to the right in the direction of Petersburg. Parke had forced the enemy back to the Jerusalem plank road. Gordon made several strong efforts to force Parke back but failed. Humphrey directed Miles, Hays and Mott to attack Heth, who had the brigades of Cook, Scales, McRae, and McGowan, and had been cut off from Petersburg by Wright.

Miles, being in command, attacked Cook, who was then in command, as Heth had gone to Petersburg, and was repulsed. Another attack shared the same fate. A third time Miles threw his skirmishers around Cook's right and attacked his left with Ramsey's brigade, by which he gained Cook's rear and took several hundred prisoners, a section of artillery, and a battle flag. The fortifications around Petersburg having been carried, Anderson retreated up the

Appomattox to be reënforced by Cook's command, and Pickett. At eight o'clock all of the Confederate army began its retreat up the Appomattox River. Ewell who was in front of Richmond on the left of the James in command of the divisions of Kershaw and Custis Lee, R. E. Lee's eldest son, crossed the James at and below Richmond. General Fitz Lee with his cavalry brought up the rear. It was Lee's intention to fly to Johnson, crush Sherman before Grant could reach there, and then he hoped with the two armies to again be able to fight Grant. While Lee was moving westwardly to strike the Danville Railroad, where he expected rations to feed his half famished army, which he had ordered to meet him at Amelia Court House, Sheridon with the cavalry and Fifth Corps was keeping pace with him and moving with great celerity. While Meade with the Second and Sixth Corps were following Sheridan, Parke with the Ninth Corps was moving along the South Side Railroad, followed by Ord with the Army of the James. In the mean time Weitzel marched into Richmond, which had been fired by some parties before our troops arrived. Pandemonium reigned supreme in the city which had just been evacuated by the Confederate officials. Our troops

at once began to control the fire and save as much of the city as possible. On the 4th Lee arrived at Amelia Court House, where he had ordered rations for his army, only to find that the conductor had taken the whole train to Richmond where it had been consumed in the conflagration. His troops were exhausted, and he was compelled to rest there and endeavor to secure something by foraging parties over the country. Sheridan having learned that Lee was there pressed on to tap the Danville Railroad to intercept his flight. Crook was ordered to strike the Danville road between Burke's Junction and Jetersville, with orders for the troops to concentrate at the latter place. Sheridan sent Meade word of the situation at the front, when the Second and Sixth Corps were ordered to Jetersville.

On the morning of the 5th Sheridan sent Davies north

to see if Lee was attempting to escape, when he (Davies) struck a heavy train moving in the direction of Lynchburg, which he captured and burned. It is said that Lee's papers were in that train and burned up. Beyond doubt other valuable papers were consumed there.

Lee having fed his army as best he could, continued the retreat on the night of the 5th. On the morning of the 6th Sheridan ordered Crook to move to Deatonsville, with Merritt to follow him, but the enemy was passing through there when Crook arrived.

Crook, Merritt, and Custer moved on the flank of the enemy to impede its progress and to strike it a blow when opportunity presented. Finally Custer struck a train in the column, which he destroyed, capturing twelve guns from Huger's batteries. In the afternoon of the 6th Humphreys and Gordon had a running fight for several miles, which night put an end to. General Wright attacked the enemy at Sailor's Creek, and with the aid of the cavalry cut Ewell off and captured his whole force; Anderson, who had attempted to assist him, retreated. Longstreet had waited all day at Rice's Station for Ewell, Gordon, and Anderson, only to learn that disaster had befallen Ewell, while Anderson and Gordon had greatly suffered in loss of prisoners. That evening Longstreet, with Wilcox, Heth, and Field proceeded to Farmville, where they crossed to the north bank of the Appomattox, and the next morning attempted to escape to Lynchburg. At Farmville rations were given to the Confederate army. Crook and Ord moved on Farmville, while Merritt marched to Prince Edward's Court House, with Griffin to follow him. Wright followed Ord to Farmville. Humphreys moved to the Lynchburg stage road to prevent Lee from escaping in that direction, when he suddenly came up on the whole of Lee's army. It was then resolved to attack him with all of our forces, but it was soon learned that those in Farmville under Wright and Gibbon could not get across the Appomattox, as the enemy had destroyed the bridges.

On the evening of the 7th Grant began negotiations for the surrender of Lee's army by sending him the following:

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 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. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

To General R. E. LEE.

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 therefore, before considering your proposition, ask the terms you will offer on condition of its surrender. R. E. LEE, General.

To Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT.

As yet Lee hoped to escape. Grant sent 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.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General.

To General R. E. LEE.

To which Lee replied:

April 8, 1865.

GENERAL-I received at a late hour your note of to-day In mine yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the

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