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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 05:26:21 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/5865-h.zip b/5865-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3037336 --- /dev/null +++ b/5865-h.zip diff --git a/5865-h/5865-h.htm b/5865-h/5865-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6143c34 --- /dev/null +++ b/5865-h/5865-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8383 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>PERSONAL MEMOIRS U. S. GRANT, Part 6.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {background:#faebd7; margin:10%; text-align:justify} + P { + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 95% } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + + +</head> +<body> + +<h2>MEMOIRS OF GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Part6</h2> +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant, +Part 6., by Ulysses S. Grant + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant, Part 6. + +Author: Ulysses S. Grant + +Release Date: June 1, 2004 [EBook #5865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<br><hr> +<br><br><br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT</h1></center> + +<center><h3>by Ulysses S. Grant</h3></center> + +<br><br> + + <center><h3>Part 6.</h3></center> + +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="bookcover.jpg (180K)" src="images/bookcover.jpg" height="918" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="spines.jpg (117K)" src="images/spines.jpg" height="1477" width="637"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + + +<center><a name="dedication"></a><img alt="dedication.jpg (20K)" src="images/dedication.jpg" height="516" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2>CONTENTS</h2></center> + +<center><h3>Volume 6.</h3></center> +<br> + +<blockquote> + +<p><a href="#ch62">CHAPTER LXII.</a> +SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH—SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG—CANBY +ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE—MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND +THOMAS—CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA—SHERMAN IN THE +CAROLINAS.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch63">CHAPTER LXIII.</a> +ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS—LINCOLN AND THE PEACE +COMMISSIONERS—AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN—THE WINTER BEFORE +PETERSBURG—SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD—GORDON CARRIES THE +PICKET LINE—PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE—THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK +ROAD.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch64">CHAPTER LXIV.</a> +INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN—GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC—SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS—BATTLE OF FIVE +FORKS—PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE—BATTLES BEFORE +PETERSBURG.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch65">CHAPTER LXV.</a> +THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG—MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN +PETERSBURG—THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND—PURSUING THE ENEMY—VISIT +TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch66">CHAPTER LXVI.</a> +BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK—ENGAGEMENT AT +FARMVILLE—CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE—SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS +THE ENEMY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch67">CHAPTER LXVII.</a> +NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX—INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S +HOUSE—THE TERMS OF SURRENDER—LEE'S SURRENDER—INTERVIEW WITH +LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch68">CHAPTER LXVIII.</a> +MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES—RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND +SOUTH—PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND—ARRIVAL AT +WASHINGTON—PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION—PRESIDENT +JOHNSON'S POLICY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch69">CHAPTER LXIX.</a> +SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON—JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN—CAPTURE +OF MOBILE—WILSON'S EXPEDITION—CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON +DAVIS—GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES—ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch70">CHAPTER LXX.</a> +THE END OF THE WAR—THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON—ONE OF LINCOLN'S +ANECDOTES—GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON—CHARACTERISTICS OF +LINCOLN AND STANTON—ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.</p> + +<p><a href="#conclusion">CONCLUSION</a></p> + +<p><a href="#appendix">APPENDIX</a></p> + + + + + + +</blockquote> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2>MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS</h2></center> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + +<a href="#b407">MAP OF SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH</a> <br /><br /> +<a href="#b441">MAP OF PETERSBURG AND FIVE FORKS</a> <br /><br /> +<a href="#b457">MAP OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN</a> <br /><br /> +<a href="#b471">MAP OF JETERSVILLE AND SAILOR'S CREEK</a> <br /><br /> +<a href="#b475">MAP OF HIGH BRIDGE AND FARMVILLE</a> <br /><br /> +<a href="#b487">MAP OF APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE</a><br /><br /> + +<a href="#b489">ETCHING OF MCLEAN'S HOUSE AT APPOMATTOX WHERE<br /> + GENERAL LEE'S SURRENDER TOOK PLACE</a><br /><br /> + +<a href="#b497a">FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL TERMS OF LEE'S SURRENDER<br /> + AS WRITTEN BY GENERAL GRANT</a> <br /><br /> + +<a href="#b520">MAP OF THE DEFENCES OF THE CITY OF MOBILE</a><br /><br /> +<a href="#b632">MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR-1861 TO 1865</a><br /> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch62"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH—SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG—CANBY +ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE—MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND +THOMAS—CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA—SHERMAN IN THE +CAROLINAS.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the +North, distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to +see him. Among others who went was the Secretary of War, who +seemed much pleased at the result of his campaign. Mr. Draper, +the collector of customs of New York, who was with Mr. Stanton's +party, was put in charge of the public property that had been +abandoned and captured. Savannah was then turned over to +General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his +own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the +future. I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac +(General Barnard) with letters to General Sherman. He remained +some time with the general, and when he returned brought back +letters, one of which contained suggestions from Sherman as to +what ought to be done in co-operation with him, when he should +have started upon his march northward.</p> + +<p>I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea +originally of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or +even to North Carolina. The season was bad, the roads impassable +for anything except such an army as he had, and I should not have +thought of ordering such a move. I had, therefore, made +preparations to collect transports to carry Sherman and his army +around to the James River by water, and so informed him. On +receiving this letter he went to work immediately to prepare for +the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to collect +the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north +through the Carolinas. I was only too happy to approve this; +for if successful, it promised every advantage. His march +through Georgia had thoroughly destroyed all lines of +transportation in that State, and had completely cut the enemy +off from all sources of supply to the west of it. If North and +South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as capacity for +feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison at +Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw +supplies, to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and, +although that section of the country was fertile, it was already +well exhausted of both forage and food. I approved Sherman's +suggestion therefore at once.</p> + +<p>The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load +the wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long +distance. Sherman would now have to march through a country +furnishing fewer provisions than that he had previously been +operating in during his march to the sea. Besides, he was +confronting, or marching toward, a force of the enemy vastly +superior to any his troops had encountered on their previous +march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now +become of such vast importance to the very existence of the +Confederate army, that the most desperate efforts were to be +expected in order to save it.</p> + +<p>Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to +start with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who +commanded that part of the navy on the South Carolina and +Georgia coast, and General Foster, commanding the troops, to +take positions, and hold a few points on the sea coast, which he +(Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of Charleston.</p> + +<p>This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea +coast, in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop +his onward progress. He also wrote me a letter, making +suggestions as to what he would like to have done in support of +his movement farther north. This letter was brought to City +Point by General Barnard at a time when I happened to be going +to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of January. I +cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate with +Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than +by giving my reply to this letter.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., +<br>Jan. 21, 1865.</p> + +<p>MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, +<br>Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>GENERAL:—Your letters brought by General Barnard were received +at City Point, and read with interest. Not having them with me, +however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you +on all points of recommendation. As I arrived here at one P.M., +and must leave at six P.M., having in the meantime spent over +three hours with the Secretary and General Halleck, I must be +brief. Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign +into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis, +Md., with his corps. The advance (six thousand) will reach the +seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as +railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The +corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men. I was induced to do +this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off +before spring. His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness +that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your +campaigns. The command of the advance of the pursuit was left +to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far behind. When Hood +had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it, +Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from +whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He +is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty, +but he is not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops +fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up. This report and +a determination to give the enemy no rest determined me to use +his surplus troops elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to +Selma under an energetic leader. He has been telegraphed to, to +know whether he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes +he would select. No reply is yet received. Canby has been +ordered to act offensively from the sea-coast to the interior, +towards Montgomery and Selma. Thomas's forces will move from +the north at an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to +Canby. Without further reinforcements Canby will have a moving +column of twenty thousand men.</p> + +<p>Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured. We have a force +there of eight thousand effective. At New Bern about half the +number. It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also +has fallen. I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the +17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort +Caswell, and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington.</p> + +<p>If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there. If not, he +will be sent to New Bern. In either event, all the surplus +forces at the two points will move to the interior toward +Goldsboro' in co-operation with your movements. From either +point, railroad communications can be run out, there being here +abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads.</p> + +<p>There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army +south. Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, +if Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort +Fisher having overtaken about two thousand.</p> + +<p>All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in +communication with them. They will be so instructed. From +about Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much +more, or attempts to evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, +should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps +of thirty thousand effective men to your support, from the +troops about Richmond.</p> + +<p>To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the +Gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it +doubtful. A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will +co-operate with you from New Bern or Wilmington, or both. You +can call for reinforcements.</p> + +<p>This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will +return with any message you may have for me. If there is +anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on +ship-board, at any point on the sea-coast, ready for you, let me +know it.</p> + +<p>Yours truly, +<br>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving +him the news of the battle of Nashville. He was much pleased at +the result, although, like myself, he had been very much +disappointed at Thomas for permitting Hood to cross the +Tennessee River and nearly the whole State of Tennessee, and +come to Nashville to be attacked there. He, however, as I had +done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to +Sherman and his army passed by Congress were approved.</p> + +<p>Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up, +commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from +the river, and taking up all obstructions. He had then +intrenched the city, so that it could be held by a small +garrison. By the middle of January all his work was done, +except the accumulation of supplies to commence his movement +with.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b407"></a><img alt="b407.jpg (149K)" src="images/b407.jpg" height="388" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b407.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going +along by the river of the same name, and the other by roads +farther east, threatening Charleston. He commenced the advance +by moving his right wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to +Pocotaligo by water. This column, in moving north, threatened +Charleston, and, indeed, it was not determined at first that +they would have a force visit Charleston. South Carolina had +done so much to prepare the public mind of the South for +secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision +of the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it, +that there was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and +also largely entertained by people of the South, that the State +of South Carolina, and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in +particular, ought to have a heavy hand laid upon them. In fact, +nothing but the decisive results that followed, deterred the +radical portion of the people from condemning the movement, +because Charleston had been left out. To pass into the interior +would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the city, and its +possession by the navy and Foster's troops. It is so situated +between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have +held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold +out. Sherman therefore passed it by.</p> + +<p>By the first of February all preparations were completed for the +final march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective; +Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or +neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be +determined upon. The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the +left from about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns +taking a pretty direct route for Columbia. The cavalry, +however, were to threaten Charleston on the right, and Augusta +on the left.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which +Sherman had received before starting out on his march. We +already had New Bern and had soon Wilmington, whose fall +followed that of Fort Fisher; as did other points on the sea +coast, where the National troops were now in readiness to +co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed +Fayetteville.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New +Orleans, to move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, +for the purpose of destroying roads, machine shops, etc. On the +8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the Valley of +Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit +and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg; and +on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the +roads would permit, saying: "As soon as it is possible to +travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching +Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there you could +destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be +of no further use to the rebellion. * * * This additional raid, +with one starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering +about four or five thousand cavalry; one from Eastport, +Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with +about eighteen thousand mixed troops—these three latter pushing +for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina—is all that will +be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I +would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish +this. Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last."</p> + +<p>On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had +received his orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was +extremely anxious to hear of his being in Alabama. I notified +him, also, that I had sent Grierson to take command of his +cavalry, he being a very efficient officer. I further suggested +that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, and if he was there, he +would find him an officer of great courage and capacity whom it +would be difficult to get by. I still further informed him that +Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into Mississippi +on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter. This +force did not get off however.</p> + +<p>All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's +march, the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the +West from leaving there. But neither Canby nor Thomas could be +got off in time. I had some time before depleted Thomas's army +to reinforce Canby, for the reason that Thomas had failed to +start an expedition which he had been ordered to send out, and +to have the troops where they might do something. Canby seemed +to be equally deliberate in all of his movements. I ordered him +to go in person; but he prepared to send a detachment under +another officer. General Granger had got down to New Orleans, +in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put him +in command of troops. In spite of this he asked the War +Department to assign Granger to the command of a corps.</p> + +<p>Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the +cause in that quarter, I said to Canby: "I am in receipt of a +dispatch * * * informing me that you have made requisitions for +a construction corps and material to build seventy miles of +railroad. I have directed that none be sent. Thomas's army has +been depleted to send a force to you that they might be where +they could act in winter, and at least detain the force the +enemy had in the West. If there had been any idea of repairing +railroads, it could have been done much better from the North, +where we already had the troops. I expected your movements to +be co-operative with Sherman's last. This has now entirely +failed. I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly +and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine +shops, etc., not to build them. Take Mobile and hold it, and +push your forces to the interior—to Montgomery and to Selma. +Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for +carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such +positions as can be supplied by water. By this means alone you +can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the +interior can be kept broken."</p> + +<p>Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to +render any service in the direction for which they were designed.</p> + +<p>The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's +troops and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand +men in all; but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as +I was sure would be the case, to retard Sherman's movements. +Everything possible was being done to raise troops in the +South. Lee dispatched against Sherman the troops which had been +sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including those of the other +defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, amounted, after +deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, to +fourteen thousand men. After Thomas's victory at Nashville what +remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as +rapidly as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces; +and, finally, General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest +commanders of the South though not in favor with the +administration (or at least with Mr. Davis), was put in command +of all the troops in North and South Carolina.</p> + +<p>Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January, +but before sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him +down the coast to see the situation of affairs, as I could give +fuller directions after being on the ground than I could very +well have given without. We soon returned, and the troops were +sent by sea to Cape Fear River. Both New Bern and Wilmington +are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite at +Goldsboro. Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the +mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to +secure the Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad. This column +took their pontoon bridges with them, to enable them to cross +over to the island south of the city of Wilmington. A large +body was sent by the north side to co-operate with them. They +succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of February. I took the +precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case he should be +forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching North +Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was +liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected +march. I also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a +great abundance, now that we were not operating the roads in +Virginia. The gauge of the North Carolina railroads being the +same as the Virginia railroads had been altered too; these cars +and locomotives were ready for use there without any change.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to +Thomas to move south to Alabama and Georgia. (I had previously +reduced his force by sending a portion of it to Terry.) I +directed in lieu of this movement, that he should send Stoneman +through East Tennessee, and push him well down toward Columbia, +South Carolina, in support of Sherman. Thomas did not get +Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I had supposed +he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his being +in Louisville, Kentucky. I immediately changed the order, and +directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg. Finally, however, +on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western +end of South Carolina, creating some consternation. I also +ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and +to destroy no more roads east of that. I also directed him to +concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable +movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.</p> + +<p>Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah. +Sherman's march was without much incident until he entered +Columbia, on the 17th of February. He was detained in his +progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild +the bridges. There was constant skirmishing and fighting between +the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the +advance of the infantry. Four days, also, were lost in making +complete the destruction of the most important railroads south +of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, +and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road. A +formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in +the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton. There +was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high +water in the stream. Hampton left as Sherman approached, and +the city was found to be on fire.</p> + +<p>There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in +discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire. +Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies +it on the part of the Confederates. One thing is certain: as +soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to +extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the +limited means at hand. In any case, the example set by the +Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town +which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act +of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible +for the conflict then raging, not imperative.</p> + +<p>The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took +possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the +National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making +terms for the protection of property, etc. Sherman paid no +attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took +the town without making any conditions whatever with its +citizens. He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in +extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were +rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes. When he +left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to +be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some +arrangement could be made for their future supplies. He +remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings, +workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were +destroyed. While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first +time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting him, +under the command of General Beauregard.</p> + +<p>Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster +garrisoned the place. Wilmington was captured on the 22d. +Columbia and Cheraw farther north, were regarded as so secure +from invasion that the wealthy people of Charleston and Augusta +had sent much of their valuable property to these two points to +be stored. Among the goods sent there were valuable carpets, +tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture. I am afraid +much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops. There +was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery, +small-arms and fixed ammunition. These, of course were among +the articles destroyed. While here, Sherman also learned of +Johnston's restoration to command. The latter was given, as +already stated, all troops in North and South Carolina. After +the completion of the destruction of public property about +Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his march and reached Cheraw +without any special opposition and without incident to relate. +The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed on the +way. Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on +the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced +straight for Fayetteville. Hardee and Hampton were there, and +barely escaped. Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of +March. He had dispatched scouts from Cheraw with letters to +General Terry, at Wilmington, asking him to send a steamer with +some supplies of bread, clothing and other articles which he +enumerated. The scouts got through successfully, and a boat was +sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had asked +as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those +stores did not contain clothing.</p> + +<p>Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for +Goldsboro. The march, now, had to be made with great caution, +for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that +still remained open to the enemy. Besides, he was confronting +all that he had had to confront in his previous march up to that +point, reinforced by the garrisons along the road and by what +remained of Hood's army. Frantic appeals were made to the +people to come in voluntarily and swell the ranks of our foe. I +presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all over 35,000 +or 40,000 men. The people had grown tired of the war, and +desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous +than the voluntary accessions.</p> + +<p>There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between +Johnston's troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at +Bentonville on the 19th and 21st of March, but Johnston withdrew +from the contest before the morning of the 22d. Sherman's loss +in these last engagements in killed, wounded, and missing, was +about sixteen hundred. Sherman's troops at last reached +Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; and +there his men were destined to have a long rest. Schofield was +there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to +Wilmington.</p> + +<p>Sherman was no longer in danger. He had Johnston confronting +him; but with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers +and morale. He had Lee to the north of him with a force largely +superior; but I was holding Lee with a still greater force, and +had he made his escape and gotten down to reinforce Johnston, +Sherman, with the reinforcements he now had from Schofield and +Terry, would have been able to hold the Confederates at bay for +an indefinite period. He was near the sea-shore with his back +to it, and our navy occupied the harbors. He had a railroad to +both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly +protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country +and deepen as they approach the sea. Then, too, Sherman knew +that if Lee should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and +Johnson together would be crushed in one blow if they attempted +to make a stand. With the loss of their capital, it is doubtful +whether Lee's army would have amounted to much as an army when it +reached North Carolina. Johnston's army was demoralized by +constant defeat and would hardly have made an offensive +movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on +duty. The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like +their brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man +is so brave that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as +to discourage him and dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter +how just he deems it.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch63"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS—LINCOLN AND THE PEACE +COMMISSIONERS—AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN—THE WINTER BEFORE +PETERSBURG—SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD—GORDON CARRIES THE +PICKET LINE—PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE—THE LINE OF BATTLE OF +WHITE OAK ROAD.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the +so-called Confederate States presented themselves on our lines +around Petersburg, and were immediately conducted to my +headquarters at City Point. They proved to be Alexander H. +Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, Judge Campbell, +Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly United +States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.</p> + +<p>It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at +once conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River +boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of +passengers. I at once communicated by telegraph with Washington +and informed the Secretary of War and the President of the +arrival of these commissioners and that their object was to +negotiate terms of peace between he United States and, as they +termed it, the Confederate Government. I was instructed to +retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom +he would designate, should come to meet them. They remained +several days as guests on board the boat. I saw them quite +frequently, though I have no recollection of having had any +conversation whatever with them on the subject of their +mission. It was something I had nothing to do with, and I +therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject. For +my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit, +that they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT. There had +been too great a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything +of the kind. As long as they remained there, however, our +relations were pleasant and I found them all very agreeable +gentlemen. I directed the captain to furnish them with the best +the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort in every +way possible. No guard was placed over them and no restriction +was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked +that they would not abuse the privileges extended to them. They +were permitted to leave the boat when they felt like it, and did +so, coming up on the bank and visiting me at my headquarters.</p> + +<p>I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but +knew them well by reputation and through their public services, +and I had been a particular admirer of Mr. Stephens. I had +always supposed that he was a very small man, but when I saw him +in the dusk of the evening I was very much surprised to find so +large a man as he seemed to be. When he got down on to the boat +I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen overcoat, a +manufacture that had been introduced into the South during the +rebellion. The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I +had ever seen, even in Canada. The overcoat extended nearly to +his feet, and was so large that it gave him the appearance of +being an average-sized man. He took this off when he reached +the cabin of the boat, and I was struck with the apparent change +in size, in the coat and out of it.</p> + +<p>After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a +dispatch from Washington, directing me to send the commissioners +to Hampton Roads to meet the President and a member of the +cabinet. Mr. Lincoln met them there and had an interview of +short duration. It was not a great while after they met that +the President visited me at City Point. He spoke of his having +met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there +would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they +would recognize, first: that the Union as a whole must be +forever preserved, and second: that slavery must be abolished. +If they were willing to concede these two points, then he was +ready to enter into negotiations and was almost willing to hand +them a blank sheet of paper with his signature attached for them +to fill in the terms upon which they were willing to live with us +in the Union and be one people. He always showed a generous and +kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I never heard him +abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President +Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the +heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful +disposition and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he +seemed glad to get away from the cares and anxieties of the +capital.</p> + +<p>Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. It was on +the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the +peace commissioners at Hampton Roads. After a little +conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of +Stephens's. I replied that I had. "Well," said he, "did you +see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," said he, "didn't you +think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you +did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate +General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. He +repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens +laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.</p> + +<p>The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace +commissioners, passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for +two or three little incidents. On one occasion during this +period, while I was visiting Washington City for the purpose of +conferring with the administration, the enemy's cavalry under +General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left and then going to +the south, got in east of us. Before their presence was known, +they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were +grazing in that section. It was a fair capture, and they were +sufficiently needed by the Confederates. It was only +retaliating for what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a +time, when out of supplies taking what the Confederate army +otherwise would have gotten. As appears in this book, on one +single occasion we captured five thousand head of cattle which +were crossing the Mississippi River near Port Hudson on their +way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in the East.</p> + +<p>One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the +rebellion was the last few weeks before Petersburg. I felt that +the situation of the Confederate army was such that they would +try to make an escape at the earliest practicable moment, and I +was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to +hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but a picket +line. He had his railroad by the way of Danville south, and I +was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores and +ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him +for his immediate defence. I knew he could move much more +lightly and more rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start, +he would leave me behind so that we would have the same army to +fight again farther south and the war might be prolonged another +year.</p> + +<p>I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it +was possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where +they were. There is no doubt that Richmond would have been +evacuated much sooner than it was, if it had not been that it +was the capital of the so-called Confederacy, and the fact of +evacuating the capital would, of course, have had a very +demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army. When it was +evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once +began to crumble and fade away. Then, too, desertions were +taking place, not only among those who were with General Lee in +the neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole +Confederacy. I remember that in a conversation with me on one +occasion long prior to this, General Butler remarked that the +Confederates would find great difficulty in getting more men for +their army; possibly adding, though I am not certain as to this, +"unless they should arm the slave."</p> + +<p>The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied +man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they +had passed a law for the further conscription of boys from +fourteen to eighteen, calling them the junior reserves, and men +from forty-five to sixty to be called the senior reserves. The +latter were to hold the necessary points not in immediate +danger, and especially those in the rear. General Butler, in +alluding to this conscription, remarked that they were thus +"robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I +afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.</p> + +<p>It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits +they were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout +the entire army, by desertions alone. Then by casualties of +war, sickness, and other natural causes, their losses were much +heavier. It was a mere question of arithmetic to calculate how +long they could hold out while that rate of depletion was going +on. Of course long before their army would be thus reduced to +nothing the army which we had in the field would have been able +to capture theirs. Then too I knew from the great number of +desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so gallantly +and so long for the cause which they believed in—and as +earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which +they were fighting—had lost hope and become despondent. Many of +them were making application to be sent North where they might +get employment until the war was over, when they could return to +their Southern homes.</p> + +<p>For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for +the time to come when I could commence the spring campaign, +which I thoroughly believed would close the war.</p> + +<p>There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and +which detained me. One was the fact that the winter had been +one of heavy rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery +and teams. It was necessary to wait until they had dried +sufficiently to enable us to move the wagon trains and artillery +necessary to the efficiency of an army operating in the enemy's +country. The other consideration was that General Sheridan with +the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was operating on the north +side of the James River, having come down from the Shenandoah. It +was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, and I was +therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the +James River.</p> + +<p>Let us now take account of what he was doing.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan. He had met Early +between Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing +nearly his entire command. Early and some of his officers +escaped by finding refuge in the neighboring houses or in the +woods.</p> + +<p>On the 12th I heard from him again. He had turned east, to come +to White House. He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because +the rains had been so very heavy and the streams were so very +much swollen. He had a pontoon train with him, but it would not +reach half way across some of the streams, at their then stage of +water, which he would have to get over in going south as first +ordered.</p> + +<p>I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the +depot there open until he arrived. We had intended to abandon +it because the James River had now become our base of supplies.</p> + +<p>Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into +two divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin. +General Merritt was acting as chief of cavalry. Sheridan moved +very light, carrying only four days' provisions with him, with a +larger supply of coffee, salt and other small rations, and a very +little else besides ammunition. They stopped at Charlottesville +and commenced tearing up the railroad back toward Lynchburg. He +also sent a division along the James River Canal to destroy +locks, culverts etc. All mills and factories along the lines of +march of his troops were destroyed also.</p> + +<p>Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a +march to White House was now somewhat hazardous. He determined +therefore to fight his way along the railroad and canal till he +was as near to Richmond as it was possible to get, or until +attacked. He did this, destroying the canal as far as +Goochland, and the railroad to a point as near Richmond as he +could get. On the 10th he was at Columbia. Negroes had joined +his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they +assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads +and the canal. His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when +he started, because he had been able to find plenty of forage. +He had captured most of Early's horses and picked up a good many +others on the road. When he reached Ashland he was assailed by +the enemy in force. He resisted their assault with part of his +command, moved quickly across the South and North Anna, going +north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.</p> + +<p>The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to +the time he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was. +Supplies had to be got up to him which would last him through a +long march, as there would probably not be much to be obtained +in the country through which he would pass. I had to arrange, +therefore, that he should start from where he was, in the +neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the earliest day +at which he supposed he could be ready.</p> + +<p>Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he +could come up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined +to move as soon as the roads and weather would admit of my doing +so. I had been tied down somewhat in the matter of fixing any +time at my pleasure for starting, until Sheridan, who was on his +way from the Shenandoah Valley to join me, should arrive, as both +his presence and that of his cavalry were necessary to the +execution of the plans which I had in mind. However, having +arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to +make my plans.</p> + +<p>Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night +before I was aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into +North Carolina to join with Johnston in attempting to crush out +Sherman, I had, as early as the 1st of the month of March, given +instructions to the troops around Petersburg to keep a sharp +lookout to see that such a movement should not escape their +notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was undertaken.</p> + +<p>It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and +General Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in +and about and Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no +longer tenable for them, and that they must get away as soon as +possible. They, too, were waiting for dry roads, or a condition +of the roads which would make it possible to move.</p> + +<p>General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider +opening to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater +security than he would have in the way the two armies were +situated, determined upon an assault upon the right of our lines +around Petersburg. The night of the 24th of March was fixed upon +for this assault, and General Gordon was assigned to the +execution of the plan. The point between Fort Stedman and +Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was +selected as the point of his attack. The attack was to be made +at night, and the troops were to get possession of the higher +ground in the rear where they supposed we had intrenchments, +then sweep to the right and left, create a panic in the lines of +our army, and force me to contract my lines. Lee hoped this +would detain me a few days longer and give him an opportunity of +escape. The plan was well conceived and the execution of it very +well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our +line.</p> + +<p>Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the +point at which they were to make their charge, and got +possession of our picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of +the troops inside of our main line of intrenchments; this reduced +the distance he would have to charge over to not much more than +fifty yards. For some time before the deserters had been coming +in with great frequency, often bringing their arms with them, and +this the Confederate general knew. Taking advantage of this +knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through +to ours as if to desert. When they got to our lines they at once +took possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In +the main line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great +security. This plan was to have been executed and much damage +done before daylight; but the troops that were to reinforce +Gordon had to be brought from the north side of the James River +and, by some accident on the railroad on their way over, they +were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to be +nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.</p> + +<p>The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the +enemy passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery +No. 10. Then turning to the right and left they captured the +fort and the battery, with all the arms and troops in them. +Continuing the charge, they also carried batteries Eleven and +Twelve to our left, which they turned toward City Point.</p> + +<p>Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in +his line cut him off from all communication with his +headquarters. Parke, however, commanding the 9th corps when +this breach took place, telegraphed the facts to Meade's +headquarters, and learning that the general was away, assumed +command himself and with commendable promptitude made all +preparations to drive the enemy back. General Tidball gathered +a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them in rear +of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground +between the lines very thoroughly. Hartranft was soon out with +his division, as also was Willcox. Hartranft to the right of +the breach headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly +drove them back into Fort Stedman. On the other side they were +driven back into the intrenchments which they had captured, and +batteries eleven and twelve were retaken by Willcox early in the +morning.</p> + +<p>Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and +batteries, and communication was once more established. The +artillery fire was kept up so continuously that it was +impossible for the Confederates to retreat, and equally +impossible for reinforcements to join them. They all, +therefore, fell captives into our hands. This effort of Lee's +cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing, +wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.</p> + +<p>After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates, +our troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched +picket line, which they strengthened and held. This, in turn, +gave us but a short distance to charge over when our attack came +to be made a few days later.</p> + +<p>The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack +(24th of March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence +on the 29th. Ord, with three divisions of infantry and +Mackenzie's cavalry, was to move in advance on the night of the +27th, from the north side of the James River and take his place +on our extreme left, thirty miles away. He left Weitzel with +the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda Hundred and +the north of the James River. The engineer brigade was to be +left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about +Petersburg. [See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, +March 24th, Appendix.]</p> + +<p>Ord was at his place promptly. Humphreys and Warren were then +on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps. They were +directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position +in their places, to cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west +toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from +which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the +Danville Railroad. There was considerable fighting in taking up +these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army +of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses +were quite severe.</p> + +<p>This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch64"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN—GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC—SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS—BATTLE OF FIVE +FORKS—PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE—BATTLES BEFORE +PETERSBURG.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March. His +horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their +shoes. A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the +animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for +moving. Immediately on General Sheridan's arrival at City Point +I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided +upon. The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.</p> + +<p>After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked +out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with +him by himself—not in the presence of anybody else, even of a +member of my staff. In preparing his instructions I +contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing +Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and +terminating the contest before separating from the enemy. But +the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the +prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never +terminate except by compromise. Knowing that unless my plan +proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous +defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event +he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of +supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of +the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the +rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with +Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces +to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had +received, to act in cooperation with the armies around +Petersburg and Richmond.</p> + +<p>I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed +somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut +loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself +between the two main armies of the enemy. I said to him: +"General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely +as a blind;" and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore +described. I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to +close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should +go no farther. His face at once brightened up, and slapping his +hand on his leg he said: "I am glad to hear it, and we can do +it."</p> + +<p>Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks +until he got further instructions from me.</p> + +<p>One day, after the movement I am about to describe had +commenced, and when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far +to the rear, south, Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters +were then established, at Dabney's Mills. He met some of my +staff officers outside, and was highly jubilant over the +prospects of success, giving reasons why he believed this would +prove the final and successful effort. Although my +chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our +position about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he +asked Sheridan to come in to see me and say to me what he had +been saying to them. Sheridan felt a little modest about giving +his advice where it had not been asked; so one of my staff came +in and told me that Sheridan had what they considered important +news, and suggested that I send for him. I did so, and was glad +to see the spirit of confidence with which he was imbued. Knowing +as I did from experience, of what great value that feeling of +confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a movement +at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen after +I had started out the roads were still very heavy. Orders were +given accordingly.</p> + +<p>Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having +been a few days free from rain, the surface of the ground was +dry, giving indications that the time had come when we could +move. On that date I moved out with all the army available +after leaving sufficient force to hold the line about +Petersburg. It soon set in raining again however, and in a very +short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and +almost so for cavalry. Sometimes a horse or mule would be +standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot +would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all +his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of +the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other +southern States. It became necessary therefore to build +corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our +artillery upon. The army had become so accustomed to this kind +of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very +rapidly. The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient +progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan +with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then +come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus +menacing the right of Lee's line.</p> + +<p>This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to +the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, +or Five Forks. The column moving detached from the army still in +the trenches was, excluding the cavalry, very small. The forces +in the trenches were themselves extending to the left flank. +Warren was on the extreme left when the extension began, but +Humphreys was marched around later and thrown into line between +him and Five Forks.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b441"></a><img alt="b441.jpg (171K)" src="images/b441.jpg" height="394" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b441.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get +on the enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken +their centre to protect their right so that an assault in the +centre might be successfully made. General Wright's corps had +been designated to make this assault, which I intended to order +as soon as information reached me of Sheridan's success. He was +to move under cover as close to the enemy as he could get.</p> + +<p>It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to +be to get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville +Railroad, as soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on +the 29th. These roads were so important to his very existence +while he remained in Richmond and Petersburg, and of such vital +importance to him even in case of retreat, that naturally he +would make most strenuous efforts to defend them. He did on the +30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce Five Forks. He +also sent around to the right of his army some two or three other +divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in +readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on +call. He came over himself to superintend in person the defence +of his right flank.</p> + +<p>Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the +30th, and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks. He +had only his cavalry with him. Soon encountering the rebel +cavalry he met with a very stout resistance. He gradually drove +them back however until in the neighborhood of Five Forks. Here +he had to encounter other troops besides those he had been +contending with, and was forced to give way.</p> + +<p>In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken +place and stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie +gradually and slowly, and asked me to send Wright's corps to his +assistance. I replied to him that it was impossible to send +Wright's corps because that corps was already in line close up +to the enemy, where we should want to assault when the proper +time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but the 2d +(Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left +and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the +left flank of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send +Warren.</p> + +<p>Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that +night (the 31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in +communication with Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to +him. He was very slow in moving, some of his troops not +starting until after 5 o'clock next morning. When he did move +it was done very deliberately, and on arriving at Gravelly Run +he found the stream swollen from the recent rains so that he +regarded it as not fordable. Sheridan of course knew of his +coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as +possible, sent orders to him to hasten. He was also hastened or +at least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade. He now +felt that he could not cross that creek without bridges, and his +orders were changed to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in +flank or get in their rear; but he was so late in getting up that +Sheridan determined to move forward without him. However, +Ayres's division of Warren's corps reached him in time to be in +the fight all day, most of the time separated from the remainder +of the 5th corps and fighting directly under Sheridan.</p> + +<p>Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the +whole of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until +late in the afternoon. Griffin's division in backing to get out +of the way of a severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching +away from the fighting. This did not continue long, however; the +division was brought back and with Ayres's division did most +excellent service during the day. Crawford's division of the +same corps had backed still farther off, and although orders +were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was late before it +finally got to where it could be of material assistance. Once +there it did very excellent service.</p> + +<p>Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little +later, in advancing up to the point from which to make his +designed assault upon Five Forks itself. He was very impatient +to make the assault and have it all over before night, because +the ground he occupied would be untenable for him in bivouac +during the night. Unless the assault was made and was +successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie +Court-House, or even further than that for the night.</p> + +<p>It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get +Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren. He sent +staff officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing +that general to report to him, but they were unable to find +him. At all events Sheridan was unable to get that officer to +him. Finally he went himself. He issued an order relieving +Warren and assigning Griffin to the command of the 5th corps. +The troops were then brought up and the assault successfully +made.</p> + +<p>I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in +the battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach +Sheridan in time, that I was very much afraid that at the last +moment he would fail Sheridan. He was a man of fine +intelligence, great earnestness, quick perception, and could +make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, under +difficulties where he was forced to act. But I had before +discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very +prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just +before us. He could see every danger at a glance before he had +encountered it. He would not only make preparations to meet the +danger which might occur, but he would inform his commanding +officer what others should do while he was executing his move.</p> + +<p>I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his +attention to these defects, and to say that as much as I liked +General Warren, now was not a time when we could let our +personal feelings for any one stand in the way of success; and +if his removal was necessary to success, not to hesitate. It +was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed Warren. I was +very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still more that I +had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another field +of duty.</p> + +<p>It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the +parapets of the enemy. The two armies were mingled together +there for a time in such manner that it was almost a question +which one was going to demand the surrender of the other. Soon, +however, the enemy broke and ran in every direction; some six +thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms in large +quantities, falling into our hands. The flying troops were +pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under +Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.</p> + +<p>This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when +Sheridan halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of +the part of the enemy's line which had been captured, returned, +sending the 5th corps across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of +Petersburg, and facing them toward it. Merritt, with the +cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of Five Forks.</p> + +<p>This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the +1st of April. I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and +Parke at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d. I also ordered +the 2d corps, General Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army +of the James, on the left, to hold themselves in readiness to +take any advantage that could be taken from weakening in their +front.</p> + +<p>I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day; +in fact I had reported to him during the day and evening as I +got news, because he was so much interested in the movements +taking place that I wanted to relieve his mind as much as I +could. I notified Weitzel on the north side of the James River, +directing him, also, to keep close up to the enemy, and take +advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to promptly +enter the city of Richmond.</p> + +<p>I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks +as of so much importance that he would make a last desperate +effort to retake it, risking everything upon the cast of a +single die. It was for this reason that I had ordered the +assault to take place at once, as soon as I had received the +news of the capture of Five Forks. The corps commanders, +however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not see +to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But +we kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the +whole line including that north of the James River, until it was +light enough to move, which was about a quarter to five in the +morning.</p> + +<p>At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, +brushed the abatis from their front as they advanced under a +heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and went without flinching +directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves +inside of the enemy's line. Parke, who was on the right, swept +down to the right and captured a very considerable length of +line in that direction, but at that point the outer was so near +the inner line which closely enveloped the city of Petersburg +that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a very +serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the +defence of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in +this.</p> + +<p>Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run, +sweeping everything before him. The enemy had traverses in rear +of his captured line, under cover of which he made something of a +stand, from one to another, as Wright moved on; but the latter +met no serious obstacle. As you proceed to the left the outer +line becomes gradually much farther from the inner one, and +along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly two miles apart. +Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of +artillery and some prisoners—Wright about three thousand of +them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the +instructions they had received, had succeeded by daylight, or +very early in the morning, in capturing the intrenched +picket-lines in their front; and before Wright got up to that +point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of the enemy's +intrenchments. The second corps soon followed; and the outer +works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops, +never to be wrenched from them again. When Wright reached +Hatcher's Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side +Railroad just outside of the city.</p> + +<p>My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills. As soon as I +received the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches +announcing the fact to all points around the line, including the +troops at Bermuda Hundred and those on the north side of the +James, and to the President at City Point. Further dispatches +kept coming in, and as they did I sent the additional news to +these points. Finding at length that they were all in, I +mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works. +When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as +Wright's three thousand prisoners were coming out. I was soon +joined inside by General Meade and his staff.</p> + +<p>Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost +ground. Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but +repulsed every effort. Before noon Longstreet was ordered up +from the north side of the James River thus bringing the bulk of +Lee's army around to the support of his extreme right. As soon +as I learned this I notified Weitzel and directed him to keep up +close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, commanding the Bermuda +Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they found any break +to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this would +separate Richmond and Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to +Petersburg, coming in on our left. This gave us a continuous +line from the Appomattox River below the city to the same river +above. At eleven o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I +reinforced Parke with two brigades from City Point. With this +additional force he completed his captured works for better +defence, and built back from his right, so as to protect his +flank. He also carried in and made an abatis between himself +and the enemy. Lee brought additional troops and artillery +against Parke even after this was done, and made several +assaults with very heavy losses.</p> + +<p>The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to +Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and +Fort Whitworth. We thought it had now become necessary to carry +them by assault. About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was +assaulted by Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's), +supported by two brigades from Ord's command. The battle was +desperate and the National troops were repulsed several times; +but it was finally carried, and immediately the troops in Fort +Whitworth evacuated the place. The guns of Fort Gregg were +turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding officer +with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.</p> + +<p>I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan. In +moving to execute this order he came upon the enemy at the +intersection of the White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road. The +enemy fell back to Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and +were followed by Miles. This position, naturally a strong and +defensible one, was also strongly intrenched. Sheridan now came +up and Miles asked permission from him to make the assault, which +Sheridan gave. By this time Humphreys had got through the outer +works in his front, and came up also and assumed command over +Miles, who commanded a division in his corps. I had sent an +order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards +Petersburg. This order he now got, and started off, thus +leaving Miles alone. The latter made two assaults, both of +which failed, and he had to fall back a few hundred yards.</p> + +<p>Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed +Humphreys to send a division back to his relief. He went +himself.</p> + +<p>Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent +Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate +cavalry that had assembled there. Merritt drove them north to +the Appomattox River. Sheridan then took the enemy at +Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and +the two together captured the place, with a large number of +prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder, +portions of three Confederate corps, to flight. Sheridan +followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was +stopped. Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he +with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault. I cannot +explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to +City Point that evening:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG, +<br>April 2, 1865.—4.40 P.M.</p> + +<p>COLONEL T. S. BOWERS, +<br>City Point.</p> + +<p>We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few +hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to +the river above. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of +them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either +designedly on their part or because they could not help it. +Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them. Miles's +division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to +Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met +them, and at last accounts was engaged with them. Not knowing +whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was +sent with another division from here. The whole captures since +the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve +thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery. I do not +know the number of men and guns accurately however. * * * I +think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the +river above to the river below. I ordered a bombardment to be +commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an +assault at six o'clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early +in the morning.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch65"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXV.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG—MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN +PETERSBURG—THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND—PURSUING +THE ENEMY—VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d +and took a position under cover of a house which protected us +from the enemy's musketry which was flying thick and fast +there. As we would occasionally look around the corner we could +see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the +bridge, packed with the Confederate army. I did not have +artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make +his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit. At all +events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass +of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.</p> + +<p>Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man +came in who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of +Northern Virginia. He said that Lee had for some time been at +work preparing a strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he +would throw himself when forced out of Petersburg, and fight his +final battle there; that he was actually at that time drawing his +troops from Richmond, and falling back into this prepared work. +This statement was made to General Meade and myself when we were +together. I had already given orders for the movement up the +south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading off Lee; +but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he +thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move +against Lee in his new position. I knew that Lee was no fool, +as he would have been to have put himself and his army between +two formidable streams like the James and Appomattox rivers, and +between two such armies as those of the Potomac and the James. +Then these streams coming together as they did to the east of +him, it would be only necessary to close up in the west to have +him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or possibility of +reinforcement. It would only have been a question of days, and +not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him +by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to +surrender his army. Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war +to deceive your antagonist. My judgment was that Lee would +necessarily have to evacuate Richmond, and that the only course +for him to pursue would be to follow the Danville Road. +Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that road south +of Lee, and I told Meade this. He suggested that if Lee was +going that way we would follow him. My reply was that we did +not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut +him off, and if he would only stay in the position he (Meade) +believed him to be in at that time, I wanted nothing better; +that when we got in possession of the Danville Railroad, at its +crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still found him between +the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward and close +him up. That we would then have all the advantage we could +possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg, +even if he remained in the position assigned him by the engineer +officer.</p> + +<p>I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so +as to start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning, +supposing that Lee would be gone during the night. During the +night I strengthened Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b457"></a><img alt="b457.jpg (133K)" src="images/b457.jpg" height="391" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b457.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond, +during the day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it +would be impossible for him to hold out longer than night, if he +could hold out that long. Davis was at church when he received +Lee's dispatch. The congregation was dismissed with the notice +that there would be no evening service. The rebel government +left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d.</p> + +<p>At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court +House, his object being to get away, join Johnston if possible, +and to try to crush Sherman before I could get there. As soon +as I was sure of this I notified Sheridan and directed him to +move out on the Danville Railroad to the south side of the +Appomattox River as speedily as possible. He replied that he +already had some of his command nine miles out. I then ordered +the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the +same road in the morning. Parke's corps followed by the same +road, and the Army of the James was directed to follow the road +which ran alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's +Station, and to repair the railroad and telegraph as they +proceeded. That road was a 5 feet gauge, while our rolling +stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; consequently the +rail on one side of the track had to be taken up throughout the +whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of our +cars and locomotives.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some +days. I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only +while I felt a strong conviction that the move was going to be +successful, yet it might not prove so; and then I would have +only added another to the many disappointments he had been +suffering for the past three years. But when we started out he +saw that we were moving for a purpose, and bidding us Godspeed, +remained there to hear the result.</p> + +<p>The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed +Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I +would await his arrival. I had started all the troops out early +in the morning, so that after the National army left Petersburg +there was not a soul to be seen, not even an animal in the +streets. There was absolutely no one there, except my staff +officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry. We had +selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until +the President arrived.</p> + +<p>About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm +congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and +to the army which had accomplished it, was: "Do you know, +general, that I have had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days +that you intended to do something like this." Our movements +having been successful up to this point, I no longer had any +object in concealing from the President all my movements, and +the objects I had in view. He remained for some days near City +Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by +telegraph.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join +me at a fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's +army. I told him that I had been very anxious to have the +Eastern armies vanquish their old enemy who had so long resisted +all their repeated and gallant attempts to subdue them or drive +them from their capital. The Western armies had been in the +main successful until they had conquered all the territory from +the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and were +now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking +admittance. I said to him that if the Western armies should be +even upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the +credit would be given to them for the capture, by politicians +and non-combatants from the section of country which those +troops hailed from. It might lead to disagreeable bickerings +between members of Congress of the East and those of the West in +some of their debates. Western members might be throwing it up +to the members of the East that in the suppression of the +rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to +accomplish much in the way of contributing toward that end, but +had to wait until the Western armies had conquered all the +territory south and west of them, and then come on to help them +capture the only army they had been engaged with.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it +before, because his anxiety was so great that he did not care +where the aid came from so the work was done.</p> + +<p>The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four +years' record in the suppression of the rebellion. The army it +had to fight was the protection to the capital of a people which +was attempting to found a nation upon the territory of the United +States. Its loss would be the loss of the cause. Every energy, +therefore, was put forth by the Confederacy to protect and +maintain their capital. Everything else would go if it went. +Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to maintain its +position, no matter what territory was wrested from the South in +another quarter.</p> + +<p>I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between +the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has +been none between the politicians. Possibly I am the only one +who thought of the liability of such a state of things in +advance.</p> + +<p>When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his +horse and started on his return to City Point, while I and my +staff started to join the army, now a good many miles in +advance. Up to this time I had not received the report of the +capture of Richmond.</p> + +<p>Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from +General Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession +of Richmond at about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day, +the 3d, and that he had found the city on fire in two places. +The city was in the most utter confusion. The authorities had +taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter, +and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government +had left, for the people to gather up. The city had been +deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any +notice whatever that they were about to leave. In fact, up to +the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to +believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere +around Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in +Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers +in the town. The city was on fire. Our troops were directed to +extinguish the flames, which they finally succeeded in doing. +The fire had been started by some one connected with the +retreating army. All authorities deny that it was authorized, +and I presume it was the work of excited men who were leaving +what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it +was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of +their enemy. Be that as it may, the National troops found the +city in flames, and used every effort to extinguish them.</p> + +<p>The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them, +were cut off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued +by our cavalry so hotly and closely that they threw away +caissons, ammunition, clothing, and almost everything to lighten +their loads, and pushed along up the Appomattox River until +finally they took water and crossed over.</p> + +<p>I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join +the command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine +miles out. We had still time to march as much farther, and time +was an object; but the roads were bad and the trains belonging to +the advance corps had blocked up the road so that it was +impossible to get on. Then, again, our cavalry had struck some +of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the orders were that +the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever they +appeared. This caused further delay.</p> + +<p>General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which +were left back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into +bivouac and trying to get up some rations for them, and clearing +out the road, so that when they did start they would be +uninterrupted. Humphreys, who was far ahead, was also out of +rations. They did not succeed in getting them up through the +night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were so +elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a +victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations +to running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them. So +the march was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven +them north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were +forced to cross.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations +up from Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to +meet him at Farmville. This showed that Lee had already +abandoned the idea of following the railroad down to Danville, +but had determined to go farther west, by the way of +Farmville. I notified Sheridan of this and directed him to get +possession of the road before the supplies could reach Lee. He +responded that he had already sent Crook's division to get upon +the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face north +and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought +Crook must be there now. The bulk of the army moved directly +for Jetersville by two roads.</p> + +<p>After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that +Crook was on the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to +make a forced march with the Army of the Potomac, and to send +Parke's corps across from the road they were on to the South +Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the Army of the James and +to protect the railroad which that army was repairing as it went +along.</p> + +<p>Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph +office, they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred +thousand rations from Danville. The dispatch had not been sent, +but Sheridan sent a special messenger with it to Burkesville and +had it forwarded from there. In the meantime, however, +dispatches from other sources had reached Danville, and they +knew there that our army was on the line of the road; so that +they sent no further supplies from that quarter.</p> + +<p>At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off +between the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on +and the Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in +flank. They picked up a great many prisoners and forced the +abandonment of some property.</p> + +<p>Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his +advance north of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect +forage. The country was very poor and afforded but very +little. His foragers scattered a great deal; many of them were +picked up by our men, and many others never returned to the Army +of Northern Virginia.</p> + +<p>Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of +Jetersville, and Sheridan notified me of the situation. I again +ordered Meade up with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one +corps of infantry with a little cavalry confronting Lee's entire +army. Meade, always prompt in obeying orders, now pushed forward +with great energy, although he was himself sick and hardly able +to be out of bed. Humphreys moved at two, and Wright at three +o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have said, the +wagons being far in the rear.</p> + +<p>I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side +Railroad. On the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of +the progress Meade was making, and suggested that he might now +attack Lee. We had now no other objective than the Confederate +armies, and I was anxious to close the thing up at once.</p> + +<p>On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about +ten miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I +then received from Sheridan the following dispatch:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and +on this side of it. General Davies, whom I sent out to +Painesville on their right flank, has just captured six pieces +of artillery and some wagons. We can capture the Army of +Northern Virginia if force enough can be thrown to this point, +and then advance upon it. My cavalry was at Burkesville +yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last +night. General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person. They +are out of rations, or nearly so. They were advancing up the +railroad towards Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them +at this point."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to +his provisions.</p> + +<p>Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards +Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him. +Davies found the movement had already commenced. He attacked +and drove away their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the +west, capturing and burning 180 wagons. He also captured five +pieces of artillery. The Confederate infantry then moved +against him and probably would have handled him very roughly, +but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of cavalry to follow +Davies, and they came to his relief in time. A sharp engagement +took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the +enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.</p> + +<p>Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the +afternoon, but in advance of all his troops. The head of +Humphreys's corps followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan +stationed the troops as they came up, at Meade's request, the +latter still being very sick. He extended two divisions of this +corps off to the west of the road to the left of Griffin's corps, +and one division to the right. The cavalry by this time had also +come up, and they were put still farther off to the left, +Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the +enemy intended to escape. He wanted to attack, feeling that if +time was given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented +this, preferring to wait till his troops were all up.</p> + +<p>At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed +to him by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he +wished I was there myself. The letter was dated Amelia Court +House, April 5th, and signed by Colonel Taylor. It was to his +mother, and showed the demoralization of the Confederate army. +Sheridan's note also gave me the information as here related of +the movements of that day. I received a second message from +Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more emphatically the +importance of my presence. This was brought to me by a scout in +gray uniform. It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up in +tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in. This was a +precaution taken so that if the scout should be captured he +could take this tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into +his mouth, chew it. It would cause no surprise at all to see a +Confederate soldier chewing tobacco. It was nearly night when +this letter was received. I gave Ord directions to continue his +march to Burkesville and there intrench himself for the night, +and in the morning to move west to cut off all the roads between +there and Farmville.</p> + +<p>I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of +cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's +army. The distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being +dark our progress was slow through the woods in the absence of +direct roads. However, we got to the outposts about ten o'clock +in the evening, and after some little parley convinced the +sentinels of our identity and were conducted in to where +Sheridan was bivouacked. We talked over the situation for some +little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was +trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to +the right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of +escaping us and putting us in rear of him.</p> + +<p>We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about +midnight. I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow +the enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders +would allow the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no +doubt that Lee was moving right then. Meade changed his orders +at once. They were now given for an advance on Amelia Court +House, at an early hour in the morning, as the army then lay; +that is, the infantry being across the railroad, most of it to +the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out still farther +to the left.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch66"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK—ENGAGEMENT AT +FARMVILLE—CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE—SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.></h3></center> +<br> + +<p>The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the +south-west from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville +Railroad bridge, and then trends north-westerly. Sailor's +Creek, an insignificant stream, running northward, empties into +the Appomattox between the High Bridge and Jetersville. Near +the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to Lynchburg +crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge. The railroad +runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles +west, and from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of +it. The roads coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross +the Appomattox River there on a bridge and run on the north +side, leaving the Lynchburg and Petersburg Railroad well to the +left.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b471"></a><img alt="b471.jpg (144K)" src="images/b471.jpg" height="390" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b471.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of +all the roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to +move upon, and never permitted the head of his columns to stop +because of any fighting that might be going on in his rear. In +this way he came very near succeeding in getting to his +provision trains and eluding us with at least part of his army.</p> + +<p>As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and +our army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered +them. There was a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek +was reached. Our cavalry charged in upon a body of theirs which +was escorting a wagon train in order to get it past our left. A +severe engagement ensued, in which we captured many prisoners, +and many men also were killed and wounded. There was as much +gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in these little +engagements as was displayed at any time during the war, +notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.</p> + +<p>The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy +engagement took place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry +were all brought into action. Our men on the right, as they +were brought in against the enemy, came in on higher ground, and +upon his flank, giving us every advantage to be derived from the +lay of the country. Our firing was also very much more rapid, +because the enemy commenced his retreat westward and in firing +as he retreated had to turn around every time he fired. The +enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded as in +captures. Some six general officers fell into our hands in this +engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners. This +engagement was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the +6th, and the retreat and pursuit were continued until nightfall, +when the armies bivouacked upon the ground where the night had +overtaken them.</p> + +<p>When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that +morning, I ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme +right, to be moved to the left past the whole army, to take the +place of Griffin's, and ordered the latter at the same time to +move by and place itself on the right. The object of this +movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, next to the +cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously and +so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.</p> + +<p>The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's +direct command until after the surrender.</p> + +<p>Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads +southward between Burkesville and the High Bridge. On the +morning of the 6th he sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry +regiments with instructions to destroy High Bridge and to return +rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he prepared himself to resist +the enemy there. Soon after Washburn had started Ord became a +little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel Read, of his +staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and bring +him back. Very shortly after this he heard that the head of +Lee's column had got up to the road between him and where +Washburn now was, and attempted to send reinforcements, but the +reinforcements could not get through. Read, however, had got +through ahead of the enemy. He rode on to Farmville and was on +his way back again when he found his return cut off, and +Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's army. Read +drew his men up into line of battle, his force now consisting of +less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode along +their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the +same enthusiasm that he himself felt. He then gave the order to +charge. This little band made several charges, of course +unsuccessful ones, but inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than +equal to their own entire number. Colonel Read fell mortally +wounded, and then Washburn; and at the close of the conflict +nearly every officer of the command and most of the rank and +file had been either killed or wounded. The remainder then +surrendered. The Confederates took this to be only the advance +of a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to +intrench; so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked +the progress of a strong detachment of the Confederate army.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b475"></a><img alt="b475.jpg (119K)" src="images/b475.jpg" height="389" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b475.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains +following. Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road +bridge near the High Bridge, and attempted to destroy it. He +did set fire to it, but the flames had made but little headway +when Humphreys came up with his corps and drove away the +rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it was being +burned up. Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, and +followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at +Farmville with the one from Petersburg. Here Lee held a +position which was very strong, naturally, besides being +intrenched. Humphreys was alone, confronting him all through +the day, and in a very hazardous position. He put on a bold +face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was not +assaulted in return.</p> + +<p>Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's +Court House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in +between Griffin and the Appomattox. Crook's division of cavalry +and Wright's corps pushed on west of Farmville. When the +cavalry reached Farmville they found that some of the +Confederates were in ahead of them, and had already got their +trains of provisions back to that point; but our troops were in +time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, although +they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did +not get them for some time. These troops retreated to the north +side of the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying +the bridge after them. Considerable fighting ensued there +between Wright's corps and a portion of our cavalry and the +Confederates, but finally the cavalry forded the stream and +drove them away. Wright built a foot-bridge for his men to +march over on and then marched out to the junction of the roads +to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night. I had stopped +the night before at Burkesville Junction. Our troops were then +pretty much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital +there, and Ord's command was extended from that point towards +Farmville.</p> + +<p>Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular +army, who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one +of the prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when +we had got across the James River he knew their cause was lost, +and it was the duty of their authorities to make the best terms +they could while they still had a right to claim concessions. +The authorities thought differently, however. Now the cause was +lost and they had no right to claim anything. He said further, +that for every man that was killed after this in the war +somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little better +than murder. He was not sure that Lee would consent to +surrender his army without being able to consult with the +President, but he hoped he would.</p> + +<p>I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the +day. Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the +south. Meade was back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys +confronting Lee as before stated. After having gone into +bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, Sheridan learned that +seven trains of provisions and forage were at Appomattox, and +determined to start at once and capture them; and a forced march +was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could +secure them. He wrote me a note telling me this. This fact, +together with the incident related the night before by Dr. +Smith, gave me the idea of opening correspondence with General +Lee on the subject of the surrender of his army. I therefore +wrote to him on this day, as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., +<br>5 P.M., April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL: I have received your note of this day. 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.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, +<br>General.</p> + +<p>LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +<br>Commanding Armies of the U. S.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving +another letter and wrote him as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Lee's army was rapidly crumbling. Many of his soldiers had +enlisted from that part of the State where they now were, and +were continually dropping out of the ranks and going to their +homes. I know that I occupied a hotel almost destitute of +furniture at Farmville, which had probably been used as a +Confederate hospital. The next morning when I came out I found +a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and said that he +was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel of a +regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood. He said +that when he came along past home, he found that he was the only +man of the regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped +out, and now wanted to surrender himself. I told him to stay +there and he would not be molested. That was one regiment which +had been eliminated from Lee's force by this crumbling process.</p> + +<p>Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved +with alacrity and without any straggling. They began to see the +end of what they had been fighting four years for. Nothing +seemed to fatigue them. They were ready to move without rations +and travel without rest until the end. Straggling had entirely +ceased, and every man was now a rival for the front. The +infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry could.</p> + +<p>Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of +Appomattox Station, which is about five miles south-west of the +Court House, to get west of the trains and destroy the roads to +the rear. They got there the night of the 8th, and succeeded +partially; but some of the train men had just discovered the +movement of our troops and succeeded in running off three of the +trains. The other four were held by Custer.</p> + +<p>The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning +of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union +soldiers near. The Confederates were surprised to find our +cavalry had possession of the trains. However, they were +desperate and at once assaulted, hoping to recover them. In the +melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one of the trains, +but not in getting anything from it. Custer then ordered the +other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the +fight continued.</p> + +<p>So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were +engaged. Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the +rear, no doubt expecting they had nothing to meet but our +cavalry. But our infantry had pushed forward so rapidly that by +the time the enemy got up they found Griffin's corps and the Army +of the James confronting them. A sharp engagement ensued, but +Lee quickly set up a white flag.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch67"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX—INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S +HOUSE—THE TERMS OF SURRENDER—LEE'S SURRENDER—INTERVIEW WITH +LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of +Lee. I was suffering very severely with a sick headache, +[The old name for what we now call a Migraine Headache. D.W.] +and stopped at a farmhouse on the road some distance in rear of the +main body of the army. I spent the night in bathing my feet in +hot water and mustard, and putting mustard plasters on my wrists +and the back part of my neck, hoping to be cured by morning. +During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter of the +8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following +morning. [See Appendix.] But it was for a different purpose from that of +surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., +<br>April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to +treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M. +to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, +that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole +North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace +can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their +arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands +of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet +destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be +settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, +etc.,</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering +with the headache, to get to the head of the column. I was not +more than two or three miles from Appomattox Court House at the +time, but to go direct I would have to pass through Lee's army, +or a portion of it. I had therefore to move south in order to +get upon a road coming up from another direction.</p> + +<p>When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I +was in this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and +consequently could not be communicated with immediately, and be +informed of what Lee had done. Lee, therefore, sent a flag to +the rear to advise Meade and one to the front to Sheridan, +saying that he had sent a message to me for the purpose of +having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his army, and +asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be +communicated with. As they had heard nothing of this until the +fighting had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of +these commanders hesitated very considerably about suspending +hostilities at all. They were afraid it was not in good faith, +and we had the Army of Northern Virginia where it could not +escape except by some deception. They, however, finally +consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours to give +an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if +possible. It was found that, from the route I had taken, they +would probably not be able to communicate with me and get an +answer back within the time fixed unless the messenger should +pass through the rebel lines.</p> + +<p>Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this +message through his lines to me.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL: I received your note of this morning on the +picket-line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain +definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of +yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now +request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in +your letter of yesterday for that purpose.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, General.</p> + +<p>LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT +<br>Commanding U. S. Armies.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick +headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was +cured. I wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. Armies.</p> + +<p>Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, +in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and +Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at +this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will +push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice +sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take +place will meet me.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b487"></a><img alt="b487.jpg (124K)" src="images/b487.jpg" height="1054" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<br><br> + +<p> +I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his +troops drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army +near by. They were very much excited, and expressed their view +that this was all a ruse employed to enable the Confederates to +get away. They said they believed that Johnston was marching up +from North Carolina now, and Lee was moving to join him; and they +would whip the rebels where they now were in five minutes if I +would only let them go in. But I had no doubt about the good +faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he was. I +found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court +House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers, +awaiting my arrival. The head of his column was occupying a +hill, on a portion of which was an apple orchard, beyond a +little valley which separated it from that on the crest of which +Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle to the south.</p> + +<p>Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I +will give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.</p> + +<p>Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told +until they are believed to be true. The war of the rebellion +was no exception to this rule, and the story of the apple tree +is one of those fictions based on a slight foundation of fact. +As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the +hill occupied by the Confederate forces. Running diagonally up +the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, ran very near +one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on that +side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little +embankment. General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that +when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this +embankment with his feet in the road below and his back resting +against the tree. The story had no other foundation than +that. Like many other stories, it would be very good if it was +only true.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b489"></a><img alt="b489.jpg (61K)" src="images/b489.jpg" height="574" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b489.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + + +<p>I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him +in the Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference +in our age and rank, that he would remember me, while I would +more naturally remember him distinctly, because he was the chief +of staff of General Scott in the Mexican War.</p> + +<p>When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the +result that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough +garb. I was without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback +on the field, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the +shoulder straps of my rank to indicate to the army who I was. +When I went into the house I found General Lee. We greeted each +other, and after shaking hands took our seats. I had my staff +with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the +whole of the interview.</p> + +<p>What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man +of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to +say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, +or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it. +Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my +observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant +on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt +like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who +had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a +cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for +which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the +least excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the +great mass of those who were opposed to us.</p> + +<p>General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely +new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely +the sword which had been presented by the State of Virginia; at +all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that +would ordinarily be worn in the field. In my rough traveling +suit, the uniform of a private with the straps of a +lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a +man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of faultless form. +But this was not a matter that I thought of until afterwards.</p> + +<p>We soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He +remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I +told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly, +but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about +sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very +likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be +remembered by him after such a long interval. Our conversation +grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our +meeting. After the conversation had run on in this style for +some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our +meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the +purpose of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his +army. I said that I meant merely that his army should lay down +their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of +the war unless duly and properly exchanged. He said that he had +so understood my letter.</p> + +<p>Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters +foreign to the subject which had brought us together. This +continued for some little time, when General Lee again +interrupted the course of the conversation by suggesting that +the terms I proposed to give his army ought to be written out. I +called to General Parker, secretary on my staff, for writing +materials, and commenced writing out the following terms:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,</p> + +<p>Ap 19th, 1865.</p> + +<p>GEN. R. E. LEE, +<br>Comd'g C. S. A.</p> + +<p>GEN: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of +the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of +N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers +and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an +officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such +officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give +their individual paroles not to take up arms against the +Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and +each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the +men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property +to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer +appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the +side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or +baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to +return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in +force where they may reside.</p> + +<p>Very respectfully, +<br><br>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lt. Gen.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word +that I should make use of in writing the terms. I only knew +what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that +there could be no mistaking it. As I wrote on, the thought +occurred to me that the officers had their own private horses +and effects, which were important to them, but of no value to +us; also that it would be an unnecessary humiliation to call +upon them to deliver their side arms.</p> + +<p>No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and +myself, either about private property, side arms, or kindred +subjects. He appeared to have no objections to the terms first +proposed; or if he had a point to make against them he wished to +wait until they were in writing to make it. When he read over +that part of the terms about side arms, horses and private +property of the officers, he remarked, with some feeling, I +thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his army.</p> + +<p>Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked +to me again that their army was organized a little differently +from the army of the United States (still maintaining by +implication that we were two countries); that in their army the +cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses; and he asked +if he was to understand that the men who so owned their horses +were to be permitted to retain them. I told him that as the +terms were written they would not; that only the officers were +permitted to take their private property. He then, after +reading over the terms a second time, remarked that that was +clear.</p> + +<p>I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last +battle of the war—I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I +took it that most of the men in the ranks were small farmers. +The whole country had been so raided by the two armies that it +was doubtful whether they would be able to put in a crop to +carry themselves and their families through the next winter +without the aid of the horses they were then riding. The United +States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the +officers I left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to +let every man of the Confederate army who claimed to own a horse +or mule take the animal to his home. Lee remarked again that +this would have a happy effect.</p> + +<p>He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, +<br>April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL:—I received your letter of this date containing the +terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as +proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those +expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I +will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the +stipulations into effect.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, General. +<br>LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union +generals present were severally presented to General Lee.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b497a"></a><img alt="b497a.jpg (107K)" src="images/b497a.jpg" height="844" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b497a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br> + +<center><a name="b497b"></a><img alt="b497b.jpg (125K)" src="images/b497b.jpg" height="833" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b497b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<br>[NOTE.—The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender +inserted at this place, was copied from the original document +furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S. +Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time +of the surrender. + +<br><br>Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold +order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations +and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of +General Grant. After such alteration it was handed to General +Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to +General Grant. The original was then transcribed by General +Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General +Lee. + +<br><br>The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the +original document and all interlineations and erasures. + +<br><br>There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and +Lee each signed the articles of surrender. The document in the +form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor +of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and +General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and +handed it to General Grant.] +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it +back, this and much more that has been said about it is the +purest romance. The word sword or side arms was not mentioned +by either of us until I wrote it in the terms. There was no +premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I +wrote it down. If I had happened to omit it, and General Lee +had called my attention to it, I should have put it in the terms +precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers +retaining their horses.</p> + +<p>General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his +leave, remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for +want of food, and that they were without forage; that his men +had been living for some days on parched corn exclusively, and +that he would have to ask me for rations and forage. I told him +"certainly," and asked for how many men he wanted rations. His +answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I authorized him to +send his own commissary and quartermaster to Appomattox Station, +two or three miles away, where he could have, out of the trains +we had stopped, all the provisions wanted. As for forage, we +had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.</p> + +<p>Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to +carry into effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they +should start for their homes—General Lee leaving Generals +Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for them to confer with in +order to facilitate this work. Lee and I then separated as +cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and all +went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.</p> + +<p>Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., +<br>April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.</p> + +<p>HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, +<br>Washington.</p> + +<p>General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this +afternoon on terms proposed by myself. The accompanying +additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men +commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the +victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The +Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult +over their downfall.</p> + +<p>I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to +putting a stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now +deemed other useless outlay of money. Before leaving, however, +I thought I would like to see General Lee again; so next +morning I rode out beyond our lines towards his headquarters, +preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer carrying a white flag.</p> + +<p>Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me. We +had there between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very +pleasant conversation of over half an hour, in the course of +which Lee said to me that the South was a big country and that +we might have to march over it three or four times before the +war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do it as +they could no longer resist us. He expressed it as his earnest +hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more +loss and sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the +result. I then suggested to General Lee that there was not a +man in the Confederacy whose influence with the soldiery and the +whole people was as great as his, and that if he would now advise +the surrender of all the armies I had no doubt his advice would +be followed with alacrity. But Lee said, that he could not do +that without consulting the President first. I knew there was +no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of what was +right.</p> + +<p>I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom +seemed to have a great desire to go inside the Confederate +lines. They finally asked permission of Lee to do so for the +purpose of seeing some of their old army friends, and the +permission was granted. They went over, had a very pleasant +time with their old friends, and brought some of them back with +them when they returned.</p> + +<p>When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I +returned to the house of Mr. McLean. Here the officers of both +armies came in great numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as +much as though they had been friends separated for a long time +while fighting battles under the same flag. For the time being +it looked very much as if all thought of the war had escaped +their minds. After an hour pleasantly passed in this way I set +out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort, +for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by +this time been repaired.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch68"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVIII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES—RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND +SOUTH—PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND—ARRIVAL AT +WASHINGTON—PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION—PRESIDENT +JOHNSON'S POLICY.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac +and the James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale +of the National troops had greatly improved. There was no more +straggling, no more rear guards. The men who in former times +had been falling back, were now, as I have already stated, +striving to get to the front. For the first time in four weary +years they felt that they were now nearing the time when they +could return to their homes with their country saved. On the +other hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly +depressed. Their despondency increased with each returning day, +and especially after the battle of Sailor's Creek. They threw +away their arms in constantly increasing numbers, dropping out +of the ranks and betaking themselves to the woods in the hope of +reaching their homes. I have already instanced the case of the +entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met at +Farmville. As a result of these and other influences, when Lee +finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356 +officers and men left to be paroled, and many of these were +without arms. It was probably this latter fact which gave rise +to the statement sometimes made, North and South, that Lee +surrendered a smaller number of men than what the official +figures show. As a matter of official record, and in addition +to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March +29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say +nothing of Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing, +during the series of desperate conflicts which marked his +headlong and determined flight. The same record shows the +number of cannon, including those at Appomattox, to have been +689 between the dates named.</p> + +<p>There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the +number of troops engaged in every battle, or all important +battles, fought between the sections, the South magnifying the +number of Union troops engaged and belittling their own. +Northern writers have fallen, in many instances, into the same +error. I have often heard gentlemen, who were thoroughly loyal +to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South had made +and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with +their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the +twelve four being colored slaves, non-combatants. I will add to +their argument. We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who +volunteered under great difficulty from the twelve million +belonging to the South.</p> + +<p>But the South had rebelled against the National government. It +was not bound by any constitutional restrictions. The whole +South was a military camp. The occupation of the colored people +was to furnish supplies for the army. Conscription was resorted +to early, and embraced every male from the age of eighteen to +forty-five, excluding only those physically unfit to serve in +the field, and the necessary number of civil officers of State +and intended National government. The old and physically +disabled furnished a good portion of these. The slaves, the +non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in +the field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to +age. Children from the age of eight years could and did handle +the hoe; they were not much older when they began to hold the +plough. The four million of colored non-combatants were equal +to more than three times their number in the North, age for age +and sex for sex, in supplying food from the soil to support +armies. Women did not work in the fields in the North, and +children attended school.</p> + +<p>The arts of peace were carried on in the North. Towns and +cities grew during the war. Inventions were made in all kinds +of machinery to increase the products of a day's labor in the +shop, and in the field. In the South no opposition was allowed +to the government which had been set up and which would have +become real and respected if the rebellion had been +successful. No rear had to be protected. All the troops in +service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of +ground threatened with invasion. The press of the South, like +the people who remained at home, were loyal to the Southern +cause.</p> + +<p>In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented +about the same appearance they do in time of peace. The furnace +was in blast, the shops were filled with workmen, the fields were +cultivated, not only to supply the population of the North and +the troops invading the South, but to ship abroad to pay a part +of the expense of the war. In the North the press was free up +to the point of open treason. The citizen could entertain his +views and express them. Troops were necessary in the Northern +States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being +released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by +fire our Northern cities. Plans were formed by Northern and +Southern citizens to burn our cities, to poison the water +supplying them, to spread infection by importing clothing from +infected regions, to blow up our river and lake +steamers—regardless of the destruction of innocent lives. The +copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel +successes, and belittled those of the Union army. It was, with +a large following, an auxiliary to the Confederate army. The +North would have been much stronger with a hundred thousand of +these men in the Confederate ranks and the rest of their kind +thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment was in the South, +than we were as the battle was fought.</p> + +<p>As I have said, the whole South was a military camp. The +colored people, four million in number, were submissive, and +worked in the field and took care of the families while the +able-bodied white men were at the front fighting for a cause +destined to defeat. The cause was popular, and was +enthusiastically supported by the young men. The conscription +took all of them. Before the war was over, further +conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of +age as junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty +as senior reserves. It would have been an offence, directly +after the war, and perhaps it would be now, to ask any +able-bodied man in the South, who was between the ages of +fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, whether he had +been in the Confederate army. He would assert that he had, or +account for his absence from the ranks. Under such +circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a +superiority of force in every battle fought. I know they did +not.</p> + +<p>During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no +military education, but possessed of courage and endurance, +operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and +Tennessee. He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at +home wherever he went. The army operating against the South, on +the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the +North, from which all supplies had to come to the front. Every +foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient +distances apart. These guards could not render assistance beyond +the points where stationed. Morgan Was foot-loose and could +operate where, his information—always correct—led him to +believe he could do the greatest damage. During the time he was +operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several +times the number he ever had under his command at any one +time. He destroyed many millions of property in addition. +Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by +him. Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held +from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for +offensive operations. It is safe to say that more than half the +National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were +on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their +bearing arms. Then, again, large forces were employed where no +Confederate army confronted them. I deem it safe to say that +there were no large engagements where the National numbers +compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment +occupied by the enemy.</p> + +<p>While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to +Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his +flagship. He found the people of that city in great +consternation. The leading citizens among the people who had +remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should +be done to relieve them from suspense. General Weitzel was not +then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring +villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the +conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the +Confederate capital. The President sent for him, and, on his +arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral +Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present. +After this interview the President wrote an order in about these +words, which I quote from memory: "General Weitzel is authorized +to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to +meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the +Confederate armies."</p> + +<p>Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out +a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers. This +call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had +contemplated, as he did not say the "Legislature of Virginia" +but "the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia." +Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the +very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order +authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body, +and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer +the spot than he was.</p> + +<p>This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton. He was a man who never +questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time +what he wanted to do. He was an able constitutional lawyer and +jurist; but the Constitution was not an impediment to him while +the war lasted. In this latter particular I entirely agree with +the view he evidently held. The Constitution was not framed with +a view to any such rebellion as that of 1861-5. While it did not +authorize rebellion it made no provision against it. Yet the +right to resist or suppress rebellion is as inherent as the +right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an +individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy. The +Constitution was therefore in abeyance for the time being, so +far as it in any way affected the progress and termination of +the war.</p> + +<p>Those in rebellion against the government of the United States +were not restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other, +except the acts of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted +to the cause for which the South was then fighting. It would be +a hard case when one-third of a nation, united in rebellion +against the national authority, is entirely untrammeled, that +the other two-thirds, in their efforts to maintain the Union +intact, should be restrained by a Constitution prepared by our +ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the permanency of +the confederation of the States.</p> + +<p>After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my +staff and a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way +to Washington. The road from Burkesville back having been newly +repaired and the ground being soft, the train got off the track +frequently, and, as a result, it was after midnight of the +second day when I reached City Point. As soon as possible I +took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.</p> + +<p>While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the +necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating +with my different commanders of separate departments, bodies of +troops, etc. But by the 14th I was pretty well through with +this work, so as to be able to visit my children, who were then +in Burlington, New Jersey, attending school. Mrs. Grant was +with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by +President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on +the evening of that day. I replied to the President's verbal +invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would +take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very +anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get +through my work during the day I should do so. I did get +through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending +Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.</p> + +<p>At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on +Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the +Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they +took the cars again. When I reached the ferry, on the east side +of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival +there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of +the President and Mr. Seward, and of the probable assassination +of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and requesting my immediate +return.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that +overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially +the assassination of the President. I knew his goodness of +heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to +have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the +people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges +of citizenship with equality among all. I knew also the feeling +that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation +against the Southern people, and I feared that his course +towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling +citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a +long while. I felt that reconstruction had been set back, no +telling how far.</p> + +<p>I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to +Washington City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after +midnight and Burlington was but an hour away. Finding that I +could accompany her to our house and return about as soon as +they would be ready to take me from the Philadelphia station, I +went up with her and returned immediately by the same special +train. The joy that I had witnessed among the people in the +street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had +been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of +mourning. I have stated what I believed then the effect of this +would be, and my judgment now is that I was right. I believe the +South would have been saved from very much of the hardness of +feeling that was engendered by Mr. Johnson's course towards them +during the first few months of his administration. Be this as it +may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was particularly unfortunate for +the entire nation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness +of feeling. His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready +remark, "Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was +repeated to all those men of the South who came to him to get +some assurances of safety so that they might go to work at +something with the feeling that what they obtained would be +secure to them. He uttered his denunciations with great +vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of +safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond +endurance.</p> + +<p>The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or +ought to be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and +judgment of those over whom he presides; and the Southerners who +read the denunciations of themselves and their people must have +come to the conclusion that he uttered the sentiments of the +Northern people; whereas, as a matter of fact, but for the +assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great majority of +the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would have +been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be +the least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against +their government. They believed, I have no doubt, as I did, +that besides being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.</p> + +<p>The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back +into the Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the +nation. Naturally the nearer they were placed to an equality +with the people who had not rebelled, the more reconciled they +would feel with their old antagonists, and the better citizens +they would be from the beginning. They surely would not make +good citizens if they felt that they had a yoke around their +necks.</p> + +<p>I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at +that time were in favor of negro suffrage. They supposed that +it would naturally follow the freedom of the negro, but that +there would be a time of probation, in which the ex-slaves could +prepare themselves for the privileges of citizenship before the +full right would be conferred; but Mr. Johnson, after a complete +revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard the South not only as +an oppressed people, but as the people best entitled to +consideration of any of our citizens. This was more than the +people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were +prepared for, and they became more radical in their views. The +Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr. +Johnson having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and +such sympathy and support as they could get from the North, they +felt that they would be able to control the nation at once, and +already many of them acted as if they thought they were entitled +to do so.</p> + +<p>Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and +receiving the support of the South on the other, drove Congress, +which was overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one +measure and then another to restrict his power. There being a +solid South on one side that was in accord with the political +party in the North which had sympathized with the rebellion, it +finally, in the judgment of Congress and of the majority of the +legislatures of the States, became necessary to enfranchise the +negro, in all his ignorance. In this work, I shall not discuss +the question of how far the policy of Congress in this +particular proved a wise one. It became an absolute necessity, +however, because of the foolhardiness of the President and the +blindness of the Southern people to their own interest. As to +myself, while strongly favoring the course that would be the +least humiliating to the people who had been in rebellion, I +gradually worked up to the point where, with the majority of the +people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch69"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIX.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON—JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN—CAPTURE +OF MOBILE—WILSON'S EXPEDITION—CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON +DAVIS—GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES—ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed +leisurely back to Burkesville Station with the Army of the +Potomac and the Army of the James, and to go into camp there +until further orders from me. General Johnston, as has been +stated before, was in North Carolina confronting General +Sherman. It could not be known positively, of course, whether +Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though +I supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was +the natural point from which to move to attack him. The army +which I could have sent against him was superior to his, and +that with which Sherman confronted him was also superior; and +between the two he would necessarily have been crushed, or +driven away. With the loss of their capital and the Army of +Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether Johnston's men would +have the spirit to stand. My belief was that he would make no +such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution against +what might happen, however improbable.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a +messenger to North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General +Sherman, informing him of the surrender of Lee and his army; +also of the terms which I had given him; and I authorized +Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston if the latter chose +to accept them. The country is familiar with the terms that +Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a +political question as well as a military one and he would +therefore have to confer with the government before agreeing to +them definitely.</p> + +<p>General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting +there to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what +Mr. Lincoln had said to the peace commissioners when he met them +at Hampton Roads, viz.: that before he could enter into +negotiations with them they would have to agree to two points: +one being that the Union should be preserved, and the other that +slavery should be abolished; and if they were ready to concede +these two points he was almost ready to sign his name to a blank +piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance of the +terms upon which we would live together. He had also seen +notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond, +and had read in the same papers that while there he had +authorized the convening of the Legislature of Virginia.</p> + +<p>Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had +made with general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes +of the President of the United States. But seeing that he was +going beyond his authority, he made it a point that the terms +were only conditional. They signed them with this +understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms could be +sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper +authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved, +then he would give due notice, before resuming hostilities. As +the world knows, Sherman, from being one of the most popular +generals of the land (Congress having even gone so far as to +propose a bill providing for a second lieutenant-general for the +purpose of advancing him to that grade), was denounced by the +President and Secretary of War in very bitter terms. Some +people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor—a most +preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much +service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in +granting such terms as he did to Johnston and his army. If +Sherman had taken authority to send Johnston with his army home, +with their arms to be put in the arsenals of their own States, +without submitting the question to the authorities at +Washington, the suspicions against him might have some +foundation. But the feeling against Sherman died out very +rapidly, and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the +fullest confidence of the American people.</p> + +<p>When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson +and the Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman +had forwarded for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately +called and I was sent for. There seemed to be the greatest +consternation, lest Sherman would commit the government to terms +which they were not willing to accede to and which he had no +right to grant. A message went out directing the troops in the +South not to obey General Sherman. I was ordered to proceed at +once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there myself. +Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as +possible. I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly +as possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of +my presence.</p> + +<p>When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at +once closeted together. I showed him the instruction and orders +under which I visited him. I told him that I wanted him to +notify General Johnston that the terms which they had +conditionally agreed upon had not been approved in Washington, +and that he was authorized to offer the same terms I had given +General Lee. I sent Sherman to do this himself. I did not wish +the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army generally; so +I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender +solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was +anywhere near the field. As soon as possible I started to get +away, to leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.</p> + +<p>At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last +newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement +in the North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and +harsh orders that had been promulgated by the President and +Secretary of War. I knew that Sherman must see these papers, +and I fully realized what great indignation they would cause +him, though I do not think his feelings could have been more +excited than were my own. But like the true and loyal soldier +that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given him, +obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in +his camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.</p> + +<p>There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could +not be communicated with, and had to be left to act according to +the judgment of their respective commanders. With these it was +impossible to tell how the news of the surrender of Lee and +Johnston, of which they must have heard, might affect their +judgment as to what was best to do.</p> + +<p>The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from +the commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off: one under +Canby himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman +from East Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson, +starting from Eastport, Mississippi, on the 22d of March. They +were all eminently successful, but without any good result. +Indeed much valuable property was destroyed and many lives lost +at a time when we would have liked to spare them. The war was +practically over before their victories were gained. They were +so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any +troops away that otherwise would have been operating against the +armies which were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a +surrender. The only possible good that we may have experienced +from these raids was by Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about +the time the armies of the Potomac and the James were closing in +on Lee at Appomattox.</p> + +<p>Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike +the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He got upon that road, +destroyed its bridges at different places and rendered the road +useless to the enemy up to within a few miles of Lynchburg. His +approach caused the evacuation of that city about the time we +were at Appomattox, and was the cause of a commotion we heard of +there. He then pushed south, and was operating in the rear of +Johnston's army about the time the negotiations were going on +between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's surrender. In +this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount of +stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners +were the trophies of his success.</p> + +<p>Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March. The city of +Mobile was protected by two forts, besides other +intrenchments—Spanish Fort, on the east side of the bay, and +Fort Blakely, north of the city. These forts were invested. On +the night of the 8th of April, the National troops having carried +the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was evacuated; and +on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was carried +by assault, with a considerable loss to us. On the 11th the city +was evacuated.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b520"></a><img alt="b520.jpg (98K)" src="images/b520.jpg" height="467" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b520.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent +against Mobile when its possession by us would have been of +great advantage. It finally cost lives to take it when its +possession was of no importance, and when, if left alone, it +would within a few days have fallen into our hands without any +bloodshed whatever.</p> + +<p>Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well +armed. He was an energetic officer and accomplished his work +rapidly. Forrest was in his front, but with neither his +old-time army nor his old-time prestige. He now had principally +conscripts. His conscripts were generally old men and boys. He +had a few thousand regular cavalry left, but not enough to even +retard materially the progress of Wilson's cavalry. Selma fell +on the 2d of April, with a large number of prisoners and a large +quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to be disposed of +by the victors. Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point fell in +quick succession. These were all important points to the enemy +by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies, +and because of their manufactories of war material. They were +fortified or intrenched, and there was considerable fighting +before they were captured. Macon surrendered on the 21st of +April. Here news was received of the negotiations for the +surrender of Johnston's army. Wilson belonged to the military +division commanded by Sherman, and of course was bound by his +terms. This stopped all fighting.</p> + +<p>General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate +officer still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on +the 4th of May he surrendered everything within the limits of +this extensive command. General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the +trans-Mississippi department on the 26th of May, leaving no +other Confederate army at liberty to continue the war.</p> + +<p>Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president +of the defunct confederacy before he got out of the country. +This occurred at Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May. For +myself, and I believe Mr. Lincoln shared the feeling, I would +have been very glad to have seen Mr. Davis succeed in escaping, +but for one reason: I feared that if not captured, he might get +into the trans-Mississippi region and there set up a more +contracted confederacy. The young men now out of homes and out +of employment might have rallied under his standard and +protracted the war yet another year. The Northern people were +tired of the war, they were tired of piling up a debt which +would be a further mortgage upon their homes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he +did not wish to deal with the matter of his punishment. He knew +there would be people clamoring for the punishment of the +ex-Confederate president, for high treason. He thought blood +enough had already been spilled to atone for our wickedness as a +nation. At all events he did not wish to be the judge to decide +whether more should be shed or not. But his own life was +sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president +of the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government +which he had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.</p> + +<p>All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best +interest of all concerned. This reflection does not, however, +abate in the slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely +loss of so good and great a man as Abraham Lincoln.</p> + +<p>He would have proven the best friend the South could have had, +and saved much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling +brought out by reconstruction under a President who at first +wished to revenge himself upon Southern men of better social +standing than himself, but who still sought their recognition, +and in a short time conceived the idea and advanced the +proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly out +of all their difficulties.</p> + +<p>The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction +period to stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the +minds of the people to be told now. Much of it, no doubt, was +unconstitutional; but it was hoped that the laws enacted would +serve their purpose before the question of constitutionality +could be submitted to the judiciary and a decision obtained. +These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a dead +letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one +taking interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.</p> + +<p>Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing +when he was captured. I cannot settle this question from +personal knowledge of the facts; but I have been under the +belief, from information given to me by General Wilson shortly +after the event, that when Mr. Davis learned that he was +surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed in a +gentleman's dressing gown. Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted +to escape, and would not reflect much how this should be +accomplished provided it might be done successfully. If +captured, he would be no ordinary prisoner. He represented all +there was of that hostility to the government which had caused +four years of the bloodiest war—and the most costly in other +respects of which history makes any record. Every one supposed +he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he would be +executed. Had he succeeded in making his escape in any disguise +it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his +admirers.</p> + +<p>As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as +my remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling +somewhat upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to +him, that I give my estimate of him as a soldier. The same +remark will apply also in the case of General Canby. I had been +at West Point with Thomas one year, and had known him later in +the old army. He was a man of commanding appearance, slow and +deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest and brave. He +possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent degree. He +gained the confidence of all who served under him, and almost +their love. This implies a very valuable quality. It is a +quality which calls out the most efficient services of the +troops serving under the commander possessing it.</p> + +<p>Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good. +He could not be driven from a point he was given to hold. He +was not as good, however, in pursuit as he was in action. I do +not believe that he could ever have conducted Sherman's army +from Chattanooga to Atlanta against the defences and the +commander guarding that line in 1864. On the other hand, if it +had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to +hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer +could have done it better.</p> + +<p>Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has +received, the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played +in the great tragedy of 1861-5.</p> + +<p>General Canby was an officer of great merit. He was naturally +studious, and inclined to the law. There have been in the army +but very few, if any, officers who took as much interest in +reading and digesting every act of Congress and every regulation +for the government of the army as he. His knowledge gained in +this way made him a most valuable staff officer, a capacity in +which almost all his army services were rendered up to the time +of his being assigned to the Military Division of the Gulf. He +was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and +learning. I presume his feelings when first called upon to +command a large army against a fortified city, were somewhat +like my own when marching a regiment against General Thomas +Harris in Missouri in 1861. Neither of us would have felt the +slightest trepidation in going into battle with some one else +commanding. Had Canby been in other engagements afterwards, he +would, I have no doubt, have advanced without any fear arising +from a sense of the responsibility. He was afterwards killed in +the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the hostile +Modoc Indians. His character was as pure as his talent and +learning were great. His services were valuable during the war, +but principally as a bureau officer. I have no idea that it was +from choice that his services were rendered in an office, but +because of his superior efficiency there.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch70"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXX.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>THE END OF THE WAR—THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON—ONE OF LINCOLN'S +ANECDOTES—GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON—CHARACTERISTICS OF +LINCOLN AND STANTON—ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there +would be no more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in +North Carolina and Virginia were ordered to march immediately to +the capital, and go into camp there until mustered out. Suitable +garrisons were left at the prominent places throughout the South +to insure obedience to the laws that might be enacted for the +government of the several States, and to insure security to the +lives and property of all classes. I do not know how far this +was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, that +such a course should be pursued. I think now that these +garrisons were continued after they ceased to be absolutely +required; but it is not to be expected that such a rebellion as +was fought between the sections from 1861 to 1865 could +terminate without leaving many serious apprehensions in the mind +of the people as to what should be done.</p> + +<p>Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on +the south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there +put them in camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the +situation was there.</p> + +<p>It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon +him. Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and +had issued orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from +obeying his, Sherman's, orders. Sherman met the papers on his +return, containing this order of Halleck, and very justly felt +indignant at the outrage. On his arrival at Fortress Monroe +returning from Savannah, Sherman received an invitation from +Halleck to come to Richmond and be his guest. This he +indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, that he +had seen his order. He also stated that he was coming up to +take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would +probably be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he +(Sherman) would not be responsible for what some rash person +might do through indignation for the treatment he had +received. Very soon after that, Sherman received orders from me +to proceed to Washington City, and to go into camp on the south +side of the city pending the mustering-out of the troops.</p> + +<p>There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from +Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington +City. The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been +engaged in all the battles of the West and had marched from the +Mississippi through the Southern States to the sea, from there +to Goldsboro, and thence to Washington City, had passed over +many of the battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, thus +having seen, to a greater extent than any other body of troops, +the entire theatre of the four years' war for the preservation +of the Union.</p> + +<p>The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to +Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was +anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally +magnificent in the way it was conducted. It had an important +bearing, in various ways, upon the great object we had in view, +that of closing the war. All the States east of the Mississippi +River up to the State of Georgia, had felt the hardships of the +war. Georgia, and South Carolina, and almost all of North +Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from invasion by the +Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts. Their +newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success, +that the people who remained at home had been convinced that the +Yankees had been whipped from first to last, and driven from +pillar to post, and that now they could hardly be holding out +for any other purpose than to find a way out of the war with +honor to themselves.</p> + +<p>Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front +were proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a +mob of men who were frightened out of their wits and hastening, +panic-stricken, to try to get under the cover of our navy for +protection against the Southern people. As the army was seen +marching on triumphantly, however, the minds of the people +became disabused and they saw the true state of affairs. In +turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to +submit without compromise.</p> + +<p>Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was +calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great +storehouse of Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate +armies. As the troops advanced north from Savannah, the +destruction of the railroads in South Carolina and the southern +part of North Carolina, further cut off their resources and left +the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina dependent for +supplies upon a very small area of country, already very much +exhausted of food and forage.</p> + +<p>In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and +the other from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, +arrived and went into camp near the Capital, as directed. The +troops were hardy, being inured to fatigue, and they appeared in +their respective camps as ready and fit for duty as they had ever +been in their lives. I doubt whether an equal body of men of any +nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, was ever +gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great +battle.</p> + +<p>The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the +officers capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of +the nations of Europe are taken from a class of people who are +not very intelligent and who have very little interest in the +contest in which they are called upon to take part. Our armies +were composed of men who were able to read, men who knew what +they were fighting for, and could not be induced to serve as +soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the nation +was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal +to men who fought merely because they were brave and because +they were thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.</p> + +<p>There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the +time these troops were in camp before starting North.</p> + +<p>I remember one little incident which I will relate as an +anecdote characteristic of Mr. Lincoln. It occurred a day after +I reached Washington, and about the time General Meade reached +Burkesville with the army. Governor Smith of Virginia had left +Richmond with the Confederate States government, and had gone to +Danville. Supposing I was necessarily with the army at +Burkesville, he addressed a letter to me there informing me +that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia, +he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond to +Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the +functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal +authorities. I give this letter only in substance. He also +inquired of me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the +duties of his office, he with a few others might not be permitted +to leave the country and go abroad without interference. General +Meade being informed that a flag of truce was outside his pickets +with a letter to me, at once sent out and had the letter brought +in without informing the officer who brought it that I was not +present. He read the letter and telegraphed me its contents. +Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this dispatch, I +repeated its contents to him. Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was +asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor +Smith's letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would +be permitted to leave the country unmolested, that his position +was like that of a certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in +Springfield who was very popular with the people, a man of +considerable promise, and very much liked. Unfortunately he had +acquired the habit of drinking, and his friends could see that +the habit was growing on him. These friends determined to make +an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a pledge to +abstain from all alcoholic drinks. They asked Pat to join them +in signing the pledge, and he consented. He had been so long +out of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he +resorted to soda-water as a substitute. After a few days this +began to grow distasteful to him. So holding the glass behind +him, he said: "Doctor, couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in +that unbeknownst to myself."</p> + +<p>I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave +me, but I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform +the duties of his office. I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had +been spared, there would have been no efforts made to prevent +any one from leaving the country who desired to do so. He would +have been equally willing to permit the return of the same +expatriated citizens after they had time to repent of their +choice.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general +for a grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's +and Meade's armies. The review commenced on the 23d and lasted +two days. Meade's army occupied over six hours of the first day +in passing the grand stand which had been erected in front of the +President's house. Sherman witnessed this review from the grand +stand which was occupied by the President and his cabinet. Here +he showed his resentment for the cruel and harsh treatment that +had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by the Secretary of +War, by refusing to take his extended hand.</p> + +<p>Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the +Potomac. During the night of the 23d he crossed over and +bivouacked not far from the Capitol. Promptly at ten o'clock on +the morning of the 24th, his troops commenced to pass in +review. Sherman's army made a different appearance from that of +the Army of the Potomac. The latter had been operating where +they received directly from the North full supplies of food and +clothing regularly: the review of this army therefore was the +review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and +orderly soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but +without the experience of gathering their own food and supplies +in an enemy's country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's +army was not so well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but +their marching could not be excelled; they gave the appearance +of men who had been thoroughly drilled to endure hardships, +either by long and continuous marches or through exposure to any +climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp. They exhibited +also some of the order of march through Georgia where the "sweet +potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went +marching through. In the rear of a company there would be a +captured horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils, +captured chickens and other food picked up for the use of the +men. Negro families who had followed the army would sometimes +come along in the rear of a company, with three or four children +packed upon a single mule, and the mother leading it.</p> + +<p>The sight was varied and grand: nearly all day for two +successive days, from the Capitol to the Treasury Building, +could be seen a mass of orderly soldiers marching in columns of +companies. The National flag was flying from almost every house +and store; the windows were filled with spectators; the +door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored people and +poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters from +which to get a view of the grand armies. The city was about as +full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually +is on inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.</p> + +<p>It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln +and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great +conspicuous figures in the executive branch of the government. +There is no great difference of opinion now, in the public mind, +as to the characteristics of the President. With Mr. Stanton the +case is different. They were the very opposite of each other in +almost every particular, except that each possessed great +ability. Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them +feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred yielding +his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon having +his own way. It distressed him to disappoint others. In matters +of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least +offensive way. Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority +to command, unless resisted. He cared nothing for the feeling +of others. In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to +disappoint than to gratify. He felt no hesitation in assuming +the functions of the executive, or in acting without advising +with him. If his act was not sustained, he would change it—if +he saw the matter would be followed up until he did so.</p> + +<p>It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the +complement of each other. The Secretary was required to prevent +the President's being imposed upon. The President was required +in the more responsible place of seeing that injustice was not +done to others. I do not know that this view of these two men +is still entertained by the majority of the people. It is not a +correct view, however, in my estimation. Mr. Lincoln did not +require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a public +trust.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his +generals in making and executing their plans. The Secretary was +very timid, and it was impossible for him to avoid interfering +with the armies covering the capital when it was sought to +defend it by an offensive movement against the army guarding the +Confederate capital. He could see our weakness, but he could not +see that the enemy was in danger. The enemy would not have been +in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field. These +characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly +after Early came so near getting into the capital.</p> + +<p>Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during +the war between the States, and who attracted much public +attention, but of whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given +any estimate, are Meade, Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and +Hooker. There were others of great merit, such as Griffin, +Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie. Of those first named, Burnside +at one time had command of the Army of the Potomac, and later of +the Army of the Ohio. Hooker also commanded the Army of the +Potomac for a short time.</p> + +<p>General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to +his usefulness that were beyond his control. He had been an +officer of the engineer corps before the war, and consequently +had never served with troops until he was over forty-six years +of age. He never had, I believe, a command of less than a +brigade. He saw clearly and distinctly the position of the +enemy, and the topography of the country in front of his own +position. His first idea was to take advantage of the lay of +the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we +wanted to move afterwards. He was subordinate to his superiors +in rank to the extent that he could execute an order which +changed his own plans with the same zeal he would have displayed +if the plan had been his own. He was brave and conscientious, +and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He was +unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his control, at +times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the most +offensive manner. No one saw this fault more plainly than he +himself, and no one regretted it more. This made it unpleasant +at times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him +even with information. In spite of this defect he was a most +valuable officer and deserves a high place in the annals of his +country.</p> + +<p>General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and +respected. He was not, however, fitted to command an army. No +one knew this better than himself. He always admitted his +blunders, and extenuated those of officers under him beyond what +they were entitled to. It was hardly his fault that he was ever +assigned to a separate command.</p> + +<p>Of Hooker I saw but little during the war. I had known him very +well before, however. Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his +achievement in bringing his command around the point of Lookout +Mountain and into Chattanooga Valley was brilliant. I +nevertheless regarded him as a dangerous man. He was not +subordinate to his superiors. He was ambitious to the extent of +caring nothing for the rights of others. His disposition was, +when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main body of +the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his +standard all he could of his juniors.</p> + +<p>Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general +officers who did not exercise a separate command. He commanded +a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never +mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he +was responsible. He was a man of very conspicuous personal +appearance. Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now +write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that +would attract the attention of an army as he passed. His genial +disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his +presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for +him the confidence of troops serving under him. No matter how +hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander +was looking after them.</p> + +<p>Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity +of forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from +personal observation. I had known him in Mexico when both of us +were lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that +either of us would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He +stood very high in the army, however, as an officer and a man. +He was brave and conscientious. His ambition was not great, and +he seemed to dread responsibility. He was willing to do any +amount of battling, but always wanted some one else to direct. +He declined the command of the Army of the Potomac once, if not +oftener.</p> + +<p>General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer +without a military education. His way was won without political +influence up to an important separate command—the expedition +against Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. His success there was +most brilliant, and won for him the rank of brigadier-general in +the regular army and of major-general of volunteers. He is a man +who makes friends of those under him by his consideration of +their wants and their dues. As a commander, he won their +confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of +perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed +at any given time.</p> + +<p>Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders, +but came into that position so near to the close of the war as +not to attract public attention. All three served as such, in +the last campaign of the armies of the Potomac and the James, +which culminated at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th of April, +1865. The sudden collapse of the rebellion monopolized attention +to the exclusion of almost everything else. I regarded Mackenzie +as the most promising young officer in the army. Graduating at +West Point, as he did, during the second year of the war, he had +won his way up to the command of a corps before its close. This +he did upon his own merit and without influence.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="conclusion"></a><center><h2>CONCLUSION.</h2></center> +<br><br> + +<p>The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United +Status will have to be attributed to slavery. For some years +before the war began it was a trite saying among some +politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot +exist." All must become slave or all free, or the state will go +down. I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the +time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I +have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.</p> + +<p>Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for +its security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours +where the larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by +an intelligent and well-to-do population, the people would +naturally have but little sympathy with demands upon them for +its protection. Hence the people of the South were dependent +upon keeping control of the general government to secure the +perpetuation of their favorite institution. They were enabled +to maintain this control long after the States where slavery +existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the +assistance they received from odd men here and there throughout +the Northern States. They saw their power waning, and this led +them to encroach upon the prerogatives and independence of the +Northern States by enacting such laws as the Fugitive Slave +Law. By this law every Northern man was obliged, when properly +summoned, to turn out and help apprehend the runaway slave of a +Southern man. Northern marshals became slave-catchers, and +Northern courts had to contribute to the support and protection +of the institution.</p> + +<p>This was a degradation which the North would not permit any +longer than until they could get the power to expunge such laws +from the statute books. Prior to the time of these +encroachments the great majority of the people of the North had +no particular quarrel with slavery, so long as they were not +forced to have it themselves. But they were not willing to play +the role of police for the South in the protection of this +particular institution.</p> + +<p>In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, +telegraphs and steamboats—in a word, rapid transit of any +sort—the States were each almost a separate nationality. At +that time the subject of slavery caused but little or no +disturbance to the public mind. But the country grew, rapid +transit was established, and trade and commerce between the +States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of +the National government became more felt and recognized and, +therefore, had to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.</p> + +<p>It is probably well that we had the war when we did. We are +better off now than we would have been without it, and have made +more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made. The +civilized nations of Europe have been stimulated into unusual +activity, so that commerce, trade, travel, and thorough +acquaintance among people of different nationalities, has become +common; whereas, before, it was but the few who had ever had the +privilege of going beyond the limits of their own country or who +knew anything about other people. Then, too, our republican +institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking out +of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that +our republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the +slightest strain was brought upon it. Now it has shown itself +capable of dealing with one of the greatest wars that was ever +made, and our people have proven themselves to be the most +formidable in war of any nationality.</p> + +<p>But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the +necessity of avoiding wars in the future.</p> + +<p>The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles +shows the lack of conscience of communities where the +responsibility does not come upon a single individual. Seeing a +nation that extended from ocean to ocean, embracing the better +part of a continent, growing as we were growing in population, +wealth and intelligence, the European nations thought it would +be well to give us a check. We might, possibly, after a while +threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their +institutions. Hence, England was constantly finding fault with +the administration at Washington because we were not able to +keep up an effective blockade. She also joined, at first, with +France and Spain in setting up an Austrian prince upon the +throne in Mexico, totally disregarding any rights or claims that +Mexico had of being treated as an independent power. It is true +they trumped up grievances as a pretext, but they were only +pretexts which can always be found when wanted.</p> + +<p>Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that +protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would +have liked to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had +forced loans from them. Under pretence of protecting their +citizens, these nations seized upon Mexico as a foothold for +establishing a European monarchy upon our continent, thus +threatening our peace at home. I, myself, regarded this as a +direct act of war against the United States by the powers +engaged, and supposed as a matter of course that the United +States would treat it as such when their hands were free to +strike. I often spoke of the matter to Mr. Lincoln and the +Secretary of War, but never heard any special views from them to +enable me to judge what they thought or felt about it. I +inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were unwilling +to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our +hands.</p> + +<p>All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the +armed intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince +upon the throne of Mexico; but the governing people of these +countries continued to the close of the war to throw obstacles +in our way. After the surrender of Lee, therefore, entertaining +the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan with a corps to the +Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in expelling +the French from Mexico. These troops got off before they could +be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan +distributed them up and down the river, much to the +consternation of the troops in the quarter of Mexico bordering +on that stream. This soon led to a request from France that we +should withdraw our troops from the Rio Grande and to +negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs. Finally Bazaine was +withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government. From +that day the empire began to totter. Mexico was then able to +maintain her independence without aid from us.</p> + +<p>France is the traditional ally and friend of the United +States. I did not blame France for her part in the scheme to +erect a monarchy upon the ruins of the Mexican Republic. That +was the scheme of one man, an imitator without genius or +merit. He had succeeded in stealing the government of his +country, and made a change in its form against the wishes and +instincts of his people. He tried to play the part of the first +Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role. He sought by +new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal +failure of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own +overthrow.</p> + +<p>Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was +an expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her +people. It was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon +III. The beginning was when he landed troops on this +continent. Failing here, the prestige of his name—all the +prestige he ever had—was gone. He must achieve a success or +fall. He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia—and fell.</p> + +<p>I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I +recognize his great genius. His work, too, has left its impress +for good on the face of Europe. The third Napoleon could have no +claim to having done a good or just act.</p> + +<p>To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared +for war. There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict, +such as the last one, occurring among our own people again; but, +growing as we are, in population, wealth and military power, we +may become the envy of nations which led us in all these +particulars only a few years ago; and unless we are prepared for +it we may be in danger of a combined movement being some day made +to crush us out. Now, scarcely twenty years after the war, we +seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on +as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an +invasion by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time +until we could prepare for them.</p> + +<p>We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be +put in the finest possible condition. Neither of these cost much +when it is considered where the money goes, and what we get in +return. Money expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our +security and tends to prevent war in the future, but is very +material aid to our commerce with foreign nations in the +meantime. Money spent upon sea-coast defences is spent among +our own people, and all goes back again among the people. The +work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a +feeling of security.</p> + +<p>England's course towards the United States during the rebellion +exasperated the people of this country very much against the +mother country. I regretted it. England and the United States +are natural allies, and should be the best of friends. They +speak one language, and are related by blood and other ties. We +together, or even either separately, are better qualified than +any other people to establish commerce between all the +nationalities of the world.</p> + +<p>England governs her own colonies, and particularly those +embracing the people of different races from her own, better +than any other nation. She is just to the conquered, but +rigid. She makes them self-supporting, but gives the benefit of +labor to the laborer. She does not seem to look upon the +colonies as outside possessions which she is at liberty to work +for the support and aggrandizement of the home government.</p> + +<p>The hostility of England to the United States during our +rebellion was not so much real as it was apparent. It was the +hostility of the leaders of one political party. I am told that +there was no time during the civil war when they were able to get +up in England a demonstration in favor of secession, while these +were constantly being gotten up in favor of the Union, or, as +they called it, in favor of the North. Even in Manchester, +which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off from +her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the +North at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.</p> + +<p>It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may +come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery +before. The condition of the colored man within our borders may +become a source of anxiety, to say the least. But he was brought +to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as +having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our +citizens. It was looking to a settlement of this question that +led me to urge the annexation of Santo Domingo during the time I +was President of the United States.</p> + +<p>Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the +administration, but by all the people, almost without price. The +island is upon our shores, is very fertile, and is capable of +supporting fifteen millions of people. The products of the soil +are so valuable that labor in her fields would be so compensated +as to enable those who wished to go there to quickly repay the +cost of their passage. I took it that the colored people would +go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states +governed by their own race. They would still be States of the +Union, and under the protection of the General Government; but +the citizens would be almost wholly colored.</p> + +<p>By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen, +territory almost equal in extent to that we already possessed. +It was seen that the volunteers of the Mexican war largely +composed the pioneers to settle up the Pacific coast country. +Their numbers, however, were scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus +for the population of the important points of the territory +acquired by that war. After our rebellion, when so many young +men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found they +were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of +the villages, but wanted larger fields. The mines of the +mountains first attracted them; but afterwards they found that +rich valleys and productive grazing and farming lands were +there. This territory, the geography of which was not known to +us at the close of the rebellion, is now as well mapped as any +portion of our country. Railroads traverse it in every +direction, north, south, east, and west. The mines are +worked. The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich +agricultural lands are found in many of the valleys. This is +the work of the volunteer. It is probable that the Indians +would have had control of these lands for a century yet but for +the war. We must conclude, therefore, that wars are not always +evils unmixed with some good.</p> + +<p>Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were +satisfied to remain near the scenes of their birth. In fact an +immense majority of the whole people did not feel secure against +coming to want should they move among entire strangers. So much +was the country divided into small communities that localized +idioms had grown up, so that you could almost tell what section +a person was from by hearing him speak. Before, new territories +were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with +others; people who, when the country began to settle up around +them, would push out farther from civilization. Their guns +furnished meat, and the cultivation of a very limited amount of +the soil, their bread and vegetables. All the streams abounded +with fish. Trapping would furnish pelts to be brought into the +States once a year, to pay for necessary articles which they +could not raise—powder, lead, whiskey, tobacco and some store +goods. Occasionally some little articles of luxury would enter +into these purchases—a quarter of a pound of tea, two or three +pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if +anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.</p> + +<p>Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the +settlements of these frontiersmen. This is all changed now. The +war begot a spirit of independence and enterprise. The feeling +now is, that a youth must cut loose from his old surroundings to +enable him to get up in the world. There is now such a +commingling of the people that particular idioms and +pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; the +country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea"; +railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior; +maps, nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now +furnished the student of geography.</p> + +<p>The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We +have but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity +at home, and the respect of other nations. Our experience ought +to teach us the necessity of the first; our power secures the +latter.</p> + +<p>I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be +great harmony between the Federal and Confederate. I cannot +stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; +but I feel it within me that it is to be so. The universally +kind feeling expressed for me at a time when it was supposed +that each day would prove my last, seemed to me the beginning of +the answer to "Let us have peace."</p> + +<p>The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a +section of the country, nor to a division of the people. They +came from individual citizens of all nationalities; from all +denominations—the Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and +from the various societies of the land—scientific, educational, +religious or otherwise. Politics did not enter into the matter +at all.</p> + +<p>I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should +be given because I was the object of it. But the war between +the States was a very bloody and a very costly war. One side or +the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life +before it could be brought to an end. I commanded the whole of +the mighty host engaged on the victorious side. I was, no +matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative of that +side of the controversy. It is a significant and gratifying +fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this +spontaneous move. I hope the good feeling inaugurated may +continue to the end.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="appendix"></a><center><h2>APPENDIX</h2></center> +<br><br> + +<center><h3>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES +ARMIES 1864-65.</h3></center> +<br><br><br> +<p>HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., +<br>July 22, 1865.</p> + +<p>HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the +operations of the Armies of the United States from the date of +my appointment to command the same.</p> + +<p>From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with +the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops +that could be brought into the field, regardless of season and +weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of the war. The +resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far +inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast +territory, with a population hostile to the government, to +garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to +protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.</p> + +<p>The armies in the East and West acted independently and without +concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together, +enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his interior lines +of communication for transporting troops from East to West, +reinforcing the army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough +large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on our part, to go +to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of +their armies. It was a question whether our numerical strength +and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages +and the enemy's superior position.</p> + +<p>From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could +be had that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the +people, both North and South, until the military power of the +rebellion was entirely broken.</p> + +<p>I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of +troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy; +preventing him from using the same force at different seasons +against first one and then another of our armies, and the +possibility of repose for refitting and producing necessary +supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to hammer +continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his +resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there +should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the +loyal section of our common country to the constitution and laws +of the land.</p> + +<p>These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given +and campaigns made to carry them out. Whether they might have +been better in conception and execution is for the people, who +mourn the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the +pecuniary cost, to say. All I can say is, that what I have done +has been done conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in +what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole +country.</p> + +<p>At the date when this report begins, the situation of the +contending forces was about as follows: The Mississippi River +was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops, from St. Louis, +Missouri, to its mouth. The line of the Arkansas was also held, +thus giving us armed possession of all west of the Mississippi, +north of that stream. A few points in Southern Louisiana, not +remote from the river, were held by us, together with a small +garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande. All the +balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas +was in the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an +army of probably not less than eighty thousand effective men, +that could have been brought into the field had there been +sufficient opposition to have brought them out. The let-alone +policy had demoralized this force so that probably but little +more than one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one +time. But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of +guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along the +Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the +population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to +keep navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal +people to the west of it. To the east of the Mississippi we +held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston +rivers, running eastward to include nearly all of the State of +Tennessee. South of Chattanooga, a small foothold had been +obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East Tennessee from +incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West +Virginia was substantially within our lines. Virginia, with the +exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area +about the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk +and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the +Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the +enemy. Along the sea-coast footholds had been obtained at +Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in North Carolina; Beaufort, +Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Port +Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in +Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our possession, +while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy. The +accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman +and other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the +territory occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and +at the opening of the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are +the lines which it was proposed to occupy.</p> + +<p>Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a +large population disloyal to the government, making it necessary +to guard every foot of road or river used in supplying our +armies. In the South, a reign of military despotism prevailed, +which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier; +and those who could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts +for collecting deserters and returning them. This enabled the +enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the field.</p> + +<p>The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the +Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and +J. E. Johnston, his ablest and best generals. The army commanded +by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from +Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending +Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. +The army under Johnston occupied a strongly intrenched position +at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defending Atlanta, Georgia, a +place of great importance as a railroad centre, against the +armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman. In addition to these +armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in North-east +Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the Shenandoah +Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme eastern +part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons, +and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.</p> + +<p>These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, +were the main objective points of the campaign.</p> + +<p>Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of +the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the +armies and territory east of the Mississippi River to the +Alleghanies and the Department of Arkansas, west of the +Mississippi, had the immediate command of the armies operating +against Johnston.</p> + +<p>Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the +Army of the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision +of the movements of all our armies.</p> + +<p>General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, +to break it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's +country as far as he could, inflicting all the damage he could +upon their war resources. If the enemy in his front showed +signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his +ability, while I would prevent the concentration of Lee upon him, +if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do so. More +specific written instructions were not given, for the reason that +I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was +satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the +fullest extent possible.</p> + +<p>Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River +against Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous +to my appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of +March, of the importance it was that Shreveport should be taken +at the earliest possible day, and that if he found that the +taking of it would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time +than General Sherman had given his troops to be absent from +their command, he would send them back at the time specified by +General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main +object of the Red River expedition, for this force was necessary +to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his expedition +prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River +with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the +balance of his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans, +commencing no move for the further acquisition of territory, +unless it was to make that then held by him more easily held; +that it might be a part of the spring campaign to move against +Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops enough could be +obtained to make it without embarrassing other movements; that +New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an +expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a +real move from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks), +instead of a demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification +and directions, he was instructed as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"1st. If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that +you turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and +the navy.</p> + +<p>"2d. That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of +your hold upon the Rio Grande. This can be held with four +thousand men, if they will turn their attention immediately to +fortifying their positions. At least one-half of the force +required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.</p> + +<p>"3d. By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force +to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten +thousand men, if not to a less number. Six thousand more would +then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until +active operations can again be resumed west of the river. +According to your last return, this would give you a force of +over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against +Mobile. To this I expect to add five thousand men from +Missouri. If however, you think the force here stated too small +to hold the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession +of, I would say concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of +your present command for operations against Mobile. With these +and such additions as I can give you from elsewhere, lose no +time in making a demonstration, to be followed by an attack upon +Mobile. Two or more iron-clads will be ordered to report to +Admiral Farragut. This gives him a strong naval fleet with +which to co-operate. You can make your own arrangements with +the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of +approach. My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should +be your base; but, from your long service in the Gulf +Department, you will know best about the matter. It is intended +that your movements shall be co-operative with movements +elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon. All I would now +add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at +once. Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and +start at the earliest possible moment.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his +objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For +his movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the +Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, +moving by his left. Each presented advantages over the other, +with corresponding objections. By crossing above, Lee would be +cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a +raid. But if we took this route, all we did would have to be +done whilst the rations we started with held out; besides, it +separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how +to cooperate. If we took the other route, Brandy Station could +be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the +York or James rivers. Of these, however, it was decided to take +the lower route.</p> + +<p>The following letter of instruction was addressed to +Major-General B. F. Butler:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall +commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to +have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far +as this object can be accomplished.</p> + +<p>"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three +large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute +necessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the +enemy. But, generally speaking, concentration can be +practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the +enemy's country from the territory they have to guard. By such +movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy and the +country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to +guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a +part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's +army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our +attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable +to unite all the force we can against them. The necessity of +covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of +covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to +unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose, +therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems +practicable: The Army of the Potomac will act from its present +base, Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect +all the forces from your command that can be spared from +garrison duty—I should say not less than twenty thousand +effective men—to operate on the south side of James River, +Richmond being your objective point. To the force you already +have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina, +under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person. +Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to +command the troops sent into the field from your own department.</p> + +<p>"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress +Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, +or as soon thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive +notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of +them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to +deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.</p> + +<p>"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much +force as possible. Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and +concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as +you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this +time for your further movements.</p> + +<p>"The fact that has already been stated—that is, that Richmond +is to be your objective point, and that there is to be +co-operation between your force and the Army of the +Potomac—must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of +your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you +advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his +intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, +and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.</p> + +<p>"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your +direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your +cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford, +about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense +advantage.</p> + +<p>"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest +practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may +give for the execution of this order.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On +the 19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army +and that of General Meade, he was informed that I expected him +to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade moved +from Culpeper. The exact time I was to telegraph him as soon as +it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27th of +April; that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper +and Richmond, if he would stand. Should he, however, fall back +into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his +(General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be +certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, +so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I +would form the junction there; that circumstances might make +this course advisable anyhow; that he should use every exertion +to secure footing as far up the south side of the river as he +could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to +move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least +detain as large a force there as possible.</p> + +<p>In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and +Johnston, I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily +kept in departments remote from the fields of immediate +operations, and also those kept in the background for the +protection of our extended lines between the loyal States and +the armies operating against them.</p> + +<p>A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, +was so held for the protection of West Virginia, and the +frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Whilst these troops +could not be withdrawn to distant fields without exposing the +North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of the enemy, +they could act directly to their front, and give better +protection than if lying idle in garrison. By such a movement +they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the +protection of his supplies and lines of communication, or he +would lose them. General Sigel was therefore directed to +organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move +from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and +Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. +Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own +request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to +give up the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one +under General Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten +thousand men, and one on the Shenandoah, numbering about seven +thousand men. The one on the Shenandoah to assemble between +Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery +advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made +available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah +Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook would +take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down +the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could, +destroying the New River Bridge and the salt-works, at +Saltville, Va.</p> + +<p>Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations +were delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in +readiness and the roads favorable, orders were given for a +general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of May.</p> + +<p>My first object being to break the military power of the +rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made +me desirous that General Butler should succeed in his movement +against Richmond, as that would tend more than anything else, +unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to accomplish this +desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my +determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to +retreat, or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large +force to go north, and still retain enough for the defence of +Richmond. It was well understood, by both Generals Butler and +Meade, before starting on the campaign, that it was my intention +to put both their armies south of the James River, in case of +failure to destroy Lee without it.</p> + +<p>Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at +Fort Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent +importance of getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying +railroad communication as far south as possible. Believing, +however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it +was reinforced, I made that the objective point of his +operations. As the Army of the Potomac was to move +simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with +safety, and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to +the defence of the city in time to meet a rapid movement from +the north of James River.</p> + +<p>I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I +tried, as far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent +command of the Army of the Potomac. My instructions for that +army were all through him, and were general in their nature, +leaving all the details and the execution to him. The campaigns +that followed proved him to be the right man in the right +place. His commanding always in the presence of an officer +superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that public +attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he +would otherwise have received.</p> + +<p>The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the +morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and +orders of Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions. Before +night, the whole army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth +corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's +Ford, the cavalry, under Major-General Sheridan, moving in +advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about +four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition. The +average distance travelled by the troops that day was about +twelve miles. This I regarded as a great success, and it +removed from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had +entertained, that of crossing the river in the face of an +active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how +so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country, +and protected. Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth, +Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy +outside his intrenchments near Mine Run. The battle raged +furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight +as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which, +considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the +roads, was done with commendable promptness.</p> + +<p>General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the +Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at +the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, +holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move +until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was +secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was +received. This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of +the 4th. By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was +leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some +of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, +crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Considering +that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was +composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the +accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.</p> + +<p>The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock +on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury +until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same +position that they had on the evening of the 5th. After dark, +the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank, +capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable +confusion. But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was +personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon +reformed it and restored order. On the morning of the 7th, +reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his +intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of +the battle-field. From this it was evident to my mind that the +two days' fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further +maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his +advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind +his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my whole +force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued +for a movement by his right flank. On the night of the 7th, the +march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth +corps moving on the most direct road. But the enemy having +become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line, +was enabled to reach there first. On the 8th, General Warren +met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and +delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at +Spottsylvania. This force was steadily driven back on the main +force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable +fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides. On the morning +of the 9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the +enemy's lines of communication with Richmond. The 9th, 10th, +and 11th were spent in manoeuvring and fighting, without +decisive results. Among the killed on the 9th was that able and +distinguished soldier Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the +sixth army corps. Major-General H. G. Wright succeeded him in +command. Early on the morning of the 12th a general attack was +made on the enemy in position. The second corps, Major-General +Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, capturing +most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces of +artillery. But the resistance was so obstinate that the +advantage gained did not prove decisive. The 13th, 14th, 15th, +16th, 17th, and 18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting +the arrival of reinforcements from Washington. Deeming it +impracticable to make any further attack upon the enemy at +Spottsylvania Court House, orders were issued on the 15th with a +view to a movement to the North Anna, to commence at twelve +o'clock on the night of the 19th. Late in the afternoon of the +19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our extreme right +flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy loss. +This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of +the 21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy again, having +the shorter line, and being in possession of the main roads, was +enabled to reach the North Anna in advance of us, and took +position behind it. The fifth corps reached the North Anna on +the afternoon of the 23d, closely followed by the sixth corps. +The second and ninth corps got up about the same time, the +second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying between +that and Jericho Ford. General Warren effected a crossing the +same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon +after getting into position he was violently attacked, but +repulsed the enemy with great slaughter. On the 25th, General +Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac from the raid on which +he started from Spottsylvania, having destroyed the depots at +Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, large +supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track; +recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to +Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's +cavalry at Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around +Richmond (but finding the second line too strong to be carried by +assault), recrossed to the north bank of the Chickahominy at +Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, and moved by a detour to +Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he communicated with +General Butler. This raid had the effect of drawing off the +whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy +to guard our trains.</p> + +<p>General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in +pursuance of instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore +having joined him with the tenth corps. At the same time he +sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way of +West Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a +foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, under General +Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of +Petersburg and Richmond. On the 5th, he occupied, without +opposition, both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement +being a complete surprise. On the 6th, he was in position with +his main army, and commenced intrenching. On the 7th he made a +reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, +destroying a portion of it after some fighting. On the 9th he +telegraphed as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, +<br>May 9, 1864.</p> + +<p>"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>"Our operations may be summed up in a few words. With one +thousand seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the +Peninsula, forced the Chickahominy, and have safely, brought +them to their present position. These were colored cavalry, and +are now holding our advance pickets towards Richmond.</p> + +<p>"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the +same day with our movement up James River, forced the Black +Water, burned the railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below +Petersburg, cutting into Beauregard's force at that point.</p> + +<p>"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles +of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we +can hold out against the whole of Lee's army. I have ordered up +the supplies.</p> + +<p>"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south +by the cutting of the railroads by Kautz. That portion which +reached Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and +wounding many, and taking many prisoners, after a severe and +well-contested fight.</p> + +<p>"General Grant will not be troubled with any further +reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's force.</p> + +<p>"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a +portion of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff, +or Fort Darling, with small loss. The time thus consumed from +the 6th lost to us the benefit of the surprise and capture of +Richmond and Petersburg, enabling, as it did, Beauregard to +collect his loose forces in North and South Carolina, and bring +them to the defence of those places. On the 16th, the enemy +attacked General Butler in his position in front of Drury's +Bluff. He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments +between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy +intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads, +the city, and all that was valuable to him. His army, +therefore, though in a position of great security, was as +completely shut off from further operations directly against +Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked. It +required but a comparatively small force of the enemy to hold it +there.</p> + +<p>On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a +raid against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at +Coalfield, Powhatan, and Chula Stations, destroying them, the +railroad-track, two freight trains, and one locomotive, together +with large quantities of commissary and other stores; thence, +crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at Wilson's, +Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the +road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point, +which he reached on the 18th.</p> + +<p>On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General +Butler, the enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an +iron-clad ram, attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H. +W. Wessells, and our gunboats there, and, after severe fighting, +the place was carried by assault, and the entire garrison and +armament captured. The gunboat Smithfield was sunk, and the +Miami disabled.</p> + +<p>The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically +sealed itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to +bring the most, if not all, the reinforcements brought from the +south by Beauregard against the Army of the Potomac. In addition +to this reinforcement, a very considerable one, probably not less +than fifteen thousand men, was obtained by calling in the +scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of +Virginia.</p> + +<p>The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was +difficult to operate from against the enemy. I determined, +therefore, to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough +only to secure what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d, +I directed that they be sent forward, under command of +Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by +Major-General A. E. Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the +Potomac, and from this time forward constituted a portion of +Major-General Meade's command.</p> + +<p>Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than +either of his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th +to the north bank of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town +to turn the enemy's position by his right.</p> + +<p>Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under +Sheridan, and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the +Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and +on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe, but +successful engagement with the enemy at Hawes's Shop. On the +29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy skirmishing, to the +Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the +enemy's position north of the Chickahominy. Late on the evening +of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but was +repulsed with very considerable loss. An attack was immediately +ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted +in driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.</p> + +<p>On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the +railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the +enemy's cavalry. General Sheridan, on the same day, reached +Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and +General Smith's command, which had just arrived, via White +House, from General Butler's army.</p> + +<p>On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the +6th corps and the troops under General Smith, the other corps +being held in readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. +This resulted in our carrying and holding the enemy's first line +of works in front of the right of the 6th corps, and in front of +General Smith. During the attack the enemy made repeated +assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack, +but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance. That night +he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the day, +but failed. The 2d was spent in getting troops into position +for an attack on the 3d. On the 3d of June we again assaulted +the enemy's works, in the hope of driving him from his +position. In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of the +enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light. It was +the only general attack made from the Rapidan to the James which +did not inflict upon the enemy losses to compensate for our own +losses. I would not be understood as saying that all previous +attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished as +much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy +severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete +overthrow of the rebellion.</p> + +<p>From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond, +it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between +him and the city. I was still in a condition to either move by +his left flank, and invest Richmond from the north side, or +continue my move by his right flank to the south side of the +James. While the former might have been better as a covering +for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground satisfied me +that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and east of +Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long, +vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to +guard, and that would have to be protected to supply the army, +and would leave open to the enemy all his lines of communication +on the south side of the James. My idea, from the start, had +been to beat Lee's army north of Richmond, if possible. Then, +after destroying his lines of communication north of the James +River, to transfer the army to the south side, and besiege Lee +in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. After +the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that the enemy +deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army +he then had. He acted purely on the defensive, behind +breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of +them, and where, in case of repulse, he could easily retire +behind them. Without a greater sacrifice of life than I was +willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had +designed north of Richmond. I therefore determined to continue +to hold substantially the ground we then occupied, taking +advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present +themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville +and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection +between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and +when the cavalry got well off, to move the army to the south +side of the James River, by the enemy's right flank, where I +felt I could cut off all his sources of supply, except by the +canal.</p> + +<p>On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan, +got off on the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad, +with instructions to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near +Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and after the +work laid out for them was thoroughly done, to join the Army of +the Potomac by the route laid down in Sheridan's instructions.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, +under General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to +capture Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and +common bridges across the Appomattox. The cavalry carried the +works on the south side, and penetrated well in towards the +town, but were forced to retire. General Gillmore, finding the +works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault +impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting +one.</p> + +<p>Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I +sent back to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's +command by water, via the White House, to reach there in advance +of the Army of the Potomac. This was for the express purpose of +securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our +intention, could reinforce the place.</p> + +<p>The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the +evening of the 12th. One division of cavalry, under General +Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long +Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossings +of the other corps. The advance corps reached James River, at +Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, on the night of +the 13th.</p> + +<p>During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern +Virginia had been confronting each other. In that time they had +fought more desperate battles than it probably ever before fell +to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing +the vantage ground of either. The Southern press and people, +with more shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding +that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New +York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they only +defended their Capital and Southern territory. Hence, Antietam, +Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were +by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for +them. Their army believed this. It produced a morale which +could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard +fighting. The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North +Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our +side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him +as to make him wary ever after of taking the offensive. His +losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that +we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking +party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field. The +details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the +part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in +the report of Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports +accompanying it.</p> + +<p>During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the +James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting +base, by wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded +country, with a lack of wharves at each new base from which to +conveniently discharge vessels. Too much credit cannot, +therefore, be awarded to the quartermaster and commissary +departments for the zeal and efficiency displayed by them. Under +the general supervision of the chief quartermaster, +Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to occupy all +the available roads between the army and our water-base, and but +little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.</p> + +<p>The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under +General Sigel, commenced on the 1st of May. General Crook, who +had the immediate command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his +forces into two columns, giving one, composed of cavalry, to +General Averell. They crossed the mountains by separate routes. +Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near +Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and +Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges +and depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with +Crook at Union on the 15th. General Sigel moved up the +Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and, +after a severe engagement, was defeated with heavy loss, and +retired behind Cedar Creek. Not regarding the operations of +General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal from command, +and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him. His +instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to +Major-General H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA. +<br>"May 20, 1864.</p> +<br> +<br>***************************************** +<br> +<p> "The enemy are evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as +are brought over the branch road running through Staunton. On +the whole, therefore, I think it would be better for General +Hunter to move in that direction; reach Staunton and +Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too much +opposition. If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he +will be doing good service. * * *</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<p> +"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.</p> + +<p>"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he +should do so, living on the country. The railroads and canal +should be destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks. +Completing this, he could find his way back to his original +base, or from about Gordonsville join this army.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up +the Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at +Piedmont, and, after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated +him, capturing on the field of battle one thousand five hundred +men, three pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small +arms. On the 8th of the same month he formed a junction with +Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct +on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he reached and invested +on the 16th day of June. Up to this time he was very successful; +and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance +stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would, +no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, point. The +destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was very +great. To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee +sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached +Lynchburg a short time before Hunter. After some skirmishing on +the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition +to give battle, retired from before the place. Unfortunately, +this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his +return but by way of Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his +troops for several weeks from the defence of the North.</p> + +<p>Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of +Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been +in a position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the +enemy, should the force he met have seemed to endanger it. If +it did not, he would have been within easy distance of the James +River Canal, on the main line of communication between Lynchburg +and the force sent for its defence. I have never taken +exception to the operations of General Hunter, and am not now +disposed to find fault with him, for I have no doubt he acted +within what he conceived to be the spirit of his instructions +and the interests of the service. The promptitude of his +movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the +commendation of his country.</p> + +<p>To return to the Army of the Potomac: The 2d corps commenced +crossing the James River on the morning of the 14th by +ferry-boats at Wilcox's Landing. The laying of the +pontoon-bridge was completed about midnight of the 14th, and the +crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly pushed forward +by both bridge and ferry.</p> + +<p>After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to +Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate +capture of Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him +to send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the +troops he could give him without sacrificing the position he +then held. I told him that I would return at once to the Army +of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and throw it forward to +Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be done, that we +could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the enemy +could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as +directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg +before daylight next morning, but for some reason that I have +never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready +to assault his main lines until near sundown. Then, with a part +of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines +north-east of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a +distance of over two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces +of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about seven +P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no +other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had +reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The +night was clear the moon shining brightly and favorable to +further operations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the +2d corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the +service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to +the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the +position of affairs, and what to do with the troops. But +instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into +Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of +his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.</p> + +<p>By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. +An attack was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by +the troops under Smith and the 2d and 9th corps. It required +until that time for the 9th corps to get up and into position. +The attack was made as ordered, and the fighting continued with +but little intermission until six o'clock the next morning, and +resulted in our carrying the advance and some of the main works +of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously +captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over +four hundred prisoners.</p> + +<p>The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and +persisted in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only +resulted in forcing the enemy into an interior line, from which +he could not be dislodged. The advantages of position gained by +us were very great. The army then proceeded to envelop +Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far as possible +without attacking fortifications.</p> + +<p>On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a +part of his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting, +no doubt, to get troops from north of the James to take the place +of those withdrawn before we could discover it. General Butler, +taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad +between Petersburg and Richmond. As soon as I was apprised of +the advantage thus gained, to retain it I ordered two divisions +of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that were embarking +at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to report to +General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was +notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of +his present line urged upon him.</p> + +<p>About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced +back to the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. +General Wright, with his two divisions, joined General Butler on +the forenoon of the 17th, the latter still holding with a strong +picket-line the enemy's works. But instead of putting these +divisions into the enemy's works to hold them, he permitted them +to halt and rest some distance in the rear of his own line. +Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy +attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was +effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the +north bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by +pontoon-bridge with Bermuda Hundred.</p> + +<p>On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition +against the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House +just as the enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled +it to retire. The result of this expedition was, that General +Sheridan met the enemy's cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the +morning of the 11th of June, whom he attacked, and after an +obstinate contest drove from the field in complete rout. He +left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and about +four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses. On the 12th +he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court +House. This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced +in the direction of Gordonsville. He found the enemy reinforced +by infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles +from the latter place and too strong to successfully assault. On +the extreme right, however, his reserve brigade carried the +enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by +infantry. Night closed the contest. Not having sufficient +ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals being +without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing), +and hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command +to the north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return +march, reaching White House at the time before stated. After +breaking up the depot at that place, he moved to the James +River, which he reached safely after heavy fighting. He +commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, without +further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of +the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry +of the Army of the James moved against the enemy's railroads +south of Richmond. Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's +Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and +the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near +Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the +enemy's cavalry. He reached Burkesville Station on the +afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville +Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, +where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which +he could not dislodge him. He then commenced his return march, +and on the 28th met the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon +Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not +decisive engagement. Thence he made a detour from his left with +a view of reaching Reams's Station (supposing it to be in our +possession). At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry, +supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of +his artillery and trains. In this last encounter, General +Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made +his way into our lines. General Wilson, with the remainder of +his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming +in safely on our left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this +expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained. It +severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several +weeks.</p> + +<p>With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond +to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his +army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to +take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from +Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of +the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the +night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the +cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank +of the James River and joined the force General Butler had +there. On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched +position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery. On the +28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market +Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in +heavy force. The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in +considerable loss to both sides. The first object of this move +having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by +the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made, +by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back +there. One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night +of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th +corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be +foot-loose in the assault to be made. The other two divisions +of the 2d corps and Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the +night of the 29th and moved in front of Petersburg. On the +morning of the 30th, between four and five o'clock, the mine was +sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a regiment, and the +advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th corps, +immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion, +and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a +detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to +advance promptly to the ridge beyond. Had they done this, I +have every reason to believe that Petersburg would have +fallen. Other troops were immediately pushed forward, but the +time consumed in getting them up enabled the enemy to rally from +his surprise (which had been complete), and get forces to this +point for its defence. The captured line thus held being +untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were withdrawn, +but not without heavy loss. Thus terminated in disaster what +promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter +was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus +laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and +Pennsylvania, he returned northward and moved down that +valley. As soon as this movement of the enemy was ascertained, +General Hunter, who had reached the Kanawha River, was directed +to move his troops without delay, by river and railroad, to +Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of navigation by +reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great delay was +experienced in getting there. It became necessary, therefore, +to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy. For +this purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating +against Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then +fortunately beginning to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf +Department, under orders issued immediately after the +ascertainment of the result of the Red River expedition. The +garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time made up +of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments +from the invalid corps. One division under command of General +Ricketts, of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the +remaining two divisions of the 6th corps, under General Wright, +were subsequently sent to Washington. On the 3d of July the +enemy approached Martinsburg. General Sigel, who was in command +of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac at +Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry, +crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards +Frederick City. General Wallace, with Rickett's division and +his own command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops, +pushed out from Baltimore with great promptness, and met the +enemy in force on the Monocacy, near the crossing of the +railroad bridge. His force was not sufficient to insure +success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and although it +resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and +thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with +two division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th +corps, before him. From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington, +his cavalry advance reaching Rockville on the evening of the +10th. On the 12th a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of +Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position and force. A +severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred and +eighty in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss was probably +greater. He commenced retreating during the night. Learning +the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by +telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th, +the assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of +all the troops that could be made available to operate in the +field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside +of the trenches with all the force he could, and push Early to +the last moment. General Wright commenced the pursuit on the +13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on +the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 20th, +General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of the rebel +army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and +several hundred prisoners.</p> + +<p>Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or +Richmond, I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to +the armies operating against Richmond, so that they might be +used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops +sent by him into the valley; and that Hunter should remain in +the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between any force of the enemy +and Washington, acting on the defensive as much as possible. I +felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the fact +would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave +Washington. Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the +order to return to the James.</p> + +<p>About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again +advancing upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps, +then at Washington, was ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's +Ferry. The rebel force moved down the valley, and sent a raiding +party into Pennsylvania which on the 30th burned Chambersburg, +and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards +Cumberland. They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and +with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West +Virginia. From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires +were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making +it necessary to transmit messages a part of the way by boat. It +took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches +through and return answers would be received showing a +different state of facts from those on which they were based, +causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that must +have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and +rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they +otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident +to my mind that some person should have the supreme command of +all the forces in the Department of West Virginia, Washington, +Susquehanna, and the Middle Department, and I so recommended.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in +person to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington, +with a view to his assignment to the command of all the forces +against Early. At this time the enemy was concentrated in the +neighborhood of Winchester, while our forces, under General +Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of +the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy +Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. From where I was, I +hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces +at Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington. +Therefore, on the 4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's +command, and determine for myself what was best to be done. On +arrival there, and after consultation with General Hunter, I +issued to him the following instructions:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND, +<br>August 5, 1864—8 P.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—Concentrate all your available force without delay in +the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards +and garrisons for public property as may be necessary. Use, in +this concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has +moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following +him and attacking him wherever found; follow him, if driven south +of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is +ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the +Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a +competent commander, a sufficient force to look after the +raiders, and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a +force, the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington +via Rockville may be taken into account.</p> + +<p>"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of +the best cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and +horses. These will be instructed, in the absence of further +orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac. One +brigade will probably start to-morrow. In pushing up the +Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go +first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command; such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings +should be destroyed—they should rather be protected; but the +people should be informed that, so long as an army can subsist +among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and we +are determined to stop them at all hazards.</p> + +<p>"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do +this you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your +course by the course he takes.</p> + +<p>"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving +regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in +the country through which you march.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance +reached Halltown that night.</p> + +<p>General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a +willingness to be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have +General Sheridan, then at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by +the morning train, with orders to take general command of all +the troops in the field, and to call on General Hunter at +Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of +instructions. I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan +arrived, on the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with +him in relation to military affairs in that vicinity, I returned +to City Point by way of Washington.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments +of West Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted +into the "Middle Military Division," and Major-General Sheridan +was assigned to temporary command of the same.</p> + +<p>Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and +Wilson, were sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The +first reached him at Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.</p> + +<p>His operations during the month of August and the fore part of +September were both of an offensive and defensive character, +resulting in many severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry, +in which we were generally successful, but no general engagement +took place. The two armies lay in such a position—the enemy on +the west bank of the Opequon Creek covering Winchester, and our +forces in front of Berryville—that either could bring on a +battle at any time. Defeat to us would lay open to the enemy +the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances +before another army could be interposed to check him. Under +these circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to +be taken. Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, +and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by +the enemy, became so indispensably necessary to us, and the +importance of relieving Pennsylvania and Maryland from +continuously threatened invasion so great, that I determined the +risk should be taken. But fearing to telegraph the order for an +attack without knowing more than I did of General Sheridan's +feelings as to what would be the probable result, I left City +Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his headquarters, +to decide, after conference with him, what should be done. I met +him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each +army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and +expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but +two words of instructions necessary—Go in! For the +conveniences of forage, the teams for supplying the army were +kept at Harper's Ferry. I asked him if he could get out his +teams and supplies in time to make an attack on the ensuing +Tuesday morning. His reply was, that he could before daylight +on Monday. He was off promptly to time, and I may here add, +that the result was such that I have never since deemed it +necessary to visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked +General Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a +most sanguinary and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in +the evening, defeated him with heavy loss, carrying his entire +position from Opequon Creek to Winchester, capturing several +thousand prisoners and five pieces of artillery. The enemy +rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at Fisher's Hill, +where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss on the +20th [22d]. Sheridan pursued him with great energy through +Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge. After +stripping the upper valley of most of the supplies and +provisions for the rebel army, he returned to Strasburg, and +took position on the north side of Cedar Creek.</p> + +<p>Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again +returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry +encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated, +with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and +fifty prisoners. On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the +mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded +the North Fork, and early on the morning of the 19th, under +cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised and turned our left +flank, and captured the batteries which enfiladed our whole +line. Our troops fell back with heavy loss and in much +confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and +Newtown. At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at +Winchester when the battle commenced arrived on the field, +arranged his lines just in time to repulse a heavy attack of the +enemy, and immediately assuming the offensive, he attacked in +turn with great vigor. The enemy was defeated with great +slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and +the trophies he had captured in the morning. The wreck of his +army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of +Staunton and Lynchburg. Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus +ended this, the enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the +Shenandoah Valley. I was now enabled to return the 6th corps to +the Army of the Potomac, and to send one division from Sheridan's +army to the Army of the James, and another to Savannah, Georgia, +to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the sea-coast, and thus +enable him to move without detaching from his force for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy +had detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early +in the Shenandoah Valley. I therefore sent the 2d corps and +Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a +force of General Butler's army, on the night of the 13th of +August, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James, +to prevent him from sending troops away, and, if possible, to +draw back those sent. In this move we captured six pieces of +artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that +were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one +division (Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.</p> + +<p>The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist +this movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was +moved out on the 18th, and took possession of the Weldon +Railroad. During the day he had considerable fighting. To +regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and +desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great +loss. On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of +the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the +front at Petersburg. On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's +division of cavalry, while at Reams's Station destroying the +railroad, were attacked, and after desperate fighting, a part of +our line gave way, and five pieces of artillery fell into the +hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from +the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, +enabling us to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the +army in front of Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled +the enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few +troops north of the James for the defence of Richmond. On the +night of the 28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the +18th corps, Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's +army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced +on the morning of the 29th, carrying the very strong +fortifications and intrenchments below Chaffin's Farm, known as +Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery, and the +New Market Road and intrenchments. This success was followed up +by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front of +the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with +heavy loss. Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to +the right of this, supported by infantry, and reached the +enemy's inner line, but was unable to get further. The position +captured from the enemy was so threatening to Richmond, that I +determined to hold it. The enemy made several desperate +attempts to dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, and for +which he paid dearly. On the morning of the 30th, General Meade +sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the enemy's +line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of +troops to the north side. In this reconnoissance we captured +and held the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church. In the +afternoon, troops moving to get to the left of the point gained +were attacked by the enemy in heavy force, and compelled to fall +back until supported by the forces holding the captured works. +Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, but repulsed the +enemy with great loss.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north +of the James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, +wounded, and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight +or nine pieces. This he followed up by an attack on our +intrenched infantry line, but was repulsed with severe +slaughter. On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent out by +General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new +works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to +us.</p> + +<p>On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient +men to hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right +flank. The 2d corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th +corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering our left flank, +forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, and moved up the south side +of it towards the South Side Railroad, until the 2d corps and +part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it +crosses Hatcher's Run. At this point we were six miles distant +from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement +to reach and hold. But finding that we had not reached the end +of the enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself +for a successful assault by which he might be doubled up and +shortened, I determined to withdraw to within our fortified +line. Orders were given accordingly. Immediately upon +receiving a report that General Warren had connected with +General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters. Soon after I +left the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap +between Generals Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as +reported, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right +and rear. General Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet +it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works, +and withdrew that night to his old position.</p> + +<p>In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration +on the north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the +Williamsburg Road, and also on the York River Railroad. In the +former he was unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in +carrying a work which was afterwards abandoned, and his forces +withdrawn to their former positions.</p> + +<p>From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and +Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the +defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements +for crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent +his detaching any considerable force to send south. By the 7th +of February, our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the +Weldon Railroad had been destroyed to Hicksford.</p> + +<p>General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with +the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, +respectively, by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon +Johnston's army at Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at +Buzzard's Roost, covering Dalton, too strong to be assaulted, +General McPherson was sent through Snake Gap to turn it, while +Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it in front and on the +north. This movement was successful. Johnston, finding his +retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified +position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of +May 15th. A heavy battle ensued. During the night the enemy +retreated south. Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken +near Adairsville, and heavy skirmishing followed. The next +morning, however, he had again disappeared. He was vigorously +pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville on the 19th, but during +the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah. While these +operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's division +of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts +and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries. General +Sherman, having give his army a few days' rest at this point, +again put it in motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of +turning the difficult pass at Allatoona. On the afternoon of +the 25th, the advance, under General Hooker, had a severe battle +with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope Church, near +Dallas. Several sharp encounters occurred at this point. The +most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General +McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position +at New Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of +Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains. He was forced to yield the +two last-named places, and concentrate his army on Kenesaw, +where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and McPherson made a +determined but unsuccessful assault. On the night of the 2d of +July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, and +on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence +of this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the +Chattahoochee.</p> + +<p>General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men +rest and get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed +his operations, crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large +portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy back to +Atlanta. At this place General Hood succeeded General Johnston +in command of the rebel army, and assuming the +offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon +Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and +determined of which was on the 22d of July. About one P.M. of +this day the brave, accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson +was killed. General Logan succeeded him, and commanded the Army +of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and until he was +superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same +success and ability that had characterized him in the command of +a corps or division.</p> + +<p>In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. +Finding it impossible to entirely invest the place, General +Sherman, after securing his line of communications across the +Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's left +flank upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy +from his fortifications. In this he succeeded, and after +defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and +Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of +September occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.</p> + +<p>About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, +attempted to cut his communications in the rear, but was +repulsed at Dalton, and driven into East Tennessee, whence it +proceeded west to McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and +was finally driven south of the Tennessee. The damage done by +this raid was repaired in a few days.</p> + +<p>During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau +joined General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur, +having made a successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery +Railroad, and its branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also +made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the +remaining Railroad communication with Atlanta. The first two +were successful the latter, disastrous.</p> + +<p>General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was +prompt, skilful, and brilliant. The history of his flank +movements and battles during that memorable campaign will ever +be read with an interest unsurpassed by anything in history.</p> + +<p>His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, +accompanying it, give the details of that most successful +campaign.</p> + +<p>He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a +single-track railroad from Nashville to the point where he was +operating. This passed the entire distance through a hostile +country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. The +cavalry force of the enemy under Forrest, in Northern +Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to advance far +enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat +disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the +possibility of further use. To guard against this danger, +Sherman left what he supposed to be a sufficient force to +operate against Forrest in West Tennessee. He directed General +Washburn, who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D. +Sturgis in command of this force to attack him. On the morning +of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near Guntown, +Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout and +confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles, +hotly pursued by the enemy. By this, however, the enemy was +defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications. +The persistency with which he followed up this success exhausted +him, and made a season for rest and repairs necessary. In the +meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, with the troops of the Army +of the Tennessee that had been sent by General Sherman to General +Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return from Red River, where +they had done most excellent service. He was directed by +General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against +Forrest. This he did with the promptness and effect which has +characterized his whole military career. On the 14th of July, +he met the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him +badly. The fighting continued through three days. Our loss was +small compared with that of the enemy. Having accomplished the +object of his expedition, General Smith returned to Memphis.</p> + +<p>During the months of March and April this same force under +Forrest annoyed us considerably. On the 24th of March it +captured Union City, Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th +attacked Paducah, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois +Volunteers. Colonel H., having but a small force, withdrew to +the forts near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and +drove him from the place.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel +General Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to +surrender, but received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th +New Jersey Volunteers, that being placed there by his Government +with adequate force to hold his post and repel all enemies from +it, surrender was out of the question.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow, +Tennessee, garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and +the 1st Regiment Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major +Booth. The garrison fought bravely until about three o'clock in +the afternoon, when the enemy carried the works by assault; and, +after our men threw down their arms, proceeded to an inhuman and +merciless massacre of the garrison.</p> + +<p>On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared +before Paducah, but was again driven off.</p> + +<p>Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's +operations, were also very active in Kentucky. The most noted +of these was Morgan. With a force of from two to three thousand +cavalry, he entered the State through Pound Gap in the latter +part of May. On the 11th of June they attacked and captured +Cynthiana, with its entire garrison. On the 12th he was +overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy +loss, and was finally driven out of the State. This notorious +guerilla was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville, +Tennessee, and his command captured and dispersed by General +Gillem.</p> + +<p>In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the +Red River expedition, except so far as relates to the movements +of the troops sent by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith, +I am unable to give the date of its starting. The troops under +General Smith, comprising two divisions of the 16th and a +detachment of the 17th army corps, left Vicksburg on the 10th of +March, and reached the designated point on Red River one day +earlier than that appointed by General Banks. The rebel forces +at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the +14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying +the enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed +forward to Fort de Russy, which had been left with a weak +garrison, and captured it with its garrison about three hundred +and fifty men, eleven pieces of artillery, and many +small-arms. Our loss was but slight. On the 15th he pushed +forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th. On +the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's +Hill, in which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten +prisoners and four pieces of artillery.</p> + +<p>On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the +rebel General Taylor, at Cane River. By the 26th, General Banks +had assembled his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to +Grand Ecore. On the morning of April 6th he moved from Grand +Ecore. On the afternoon of the 7th, he advanced and met the +enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him from the field. On the +same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight miles beyond +Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat. On the 8th, +at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and +defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and +an immense amount of transportation and stores. During the +night, General Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another +battle was fought on the 9th, and the enemy repulsed with great +loss. During the night, General Banks continued his retrograde +movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to Alexandria, which he +reached on the 27th of April. Here a serious difficulty arose +in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the +expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much +since they passed up as to prevent their return. At the +suggestion of Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under +his superintendence, wing-dams were constructed, by which the +channel was contracted so that the fleet passed down the rapids +in safety.</p> + +<p>The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after +considerable skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached +Morganzia and Point Coupee near the end of the month. The +disastrous termination of this expedition, and the lateness of +the season, rendered impracticable the carrying out of my plans +of a movement in force sufficient to insure the capture of +Mobile.</p> + +<p>On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with +the 7th army corps, to cooperate with General Banks's +expedition on the Red River, and reached Arkadelphia on the +28th. On the 16th of April, after driving the enemy before him, +he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in Washita County, by General +Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith. After several severe +skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele +reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April.</p> + +<p>On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks +on Red River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's +Mill, in Dallas County, General Steele determined to fall back +to the Arkansas River. He left Camden on the 26th of April, and +reached Little Rock on the 2d of May. On the 30th of April, the +enemy attacked him while crossing Saline River at Jenkins's +Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable loss. Our loss was +about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.</p> + +<p>Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the +"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore +directed to send the 19th army corps to join the armies +operating against Richmond, and to limit the remainder of his +command to such operations as might be necessary to hold the +positions and lines of communications he then occupied.</p> + +<p>Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, +General Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy +that was collecting near the Mississippi River. General Smith +met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of +June. Our loss was about forty killed and seventy wounded.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General +Gordon Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to +co-operate with Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile +Bay. On the 8th of August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the +combined naval and land forces. Fort Powell was blown up and +abandoned.</p> + +<p>On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe +bombardment, surrendered on the 23d. The total captures +amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four prisoners, +and one hundred and four pieces of artillery.</p> + +<p>About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel +General Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had +reached Jacksonport, on his way to invade Missouri, General A. +J. Smith's command, then en route from Memphis to join Sherman, +was ordered to Missouri. A cavalry force was also, at the same +time, sent from Memphis, under command of Colonel Winslow. This +made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those of Price, and +no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price and +drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in +Arkansas, would cut off his retreat. On the 26th day of +September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to +retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and +continued up that river towards Kansas. General Curtis, +commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such +forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while +General Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.</p> + +<p>The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, +with the loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large +number of prisoners. He made a precipitate retreat to Northern +Arkansas. The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam +over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable +mischief done by him, show to how little purpose a superior force +may be used. There is no reason why General Rosecrans should not +have concentrated his forces, and beaten and driven Price before +the latter reached Pilot Knob.</p> + +<p>September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the +Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the +garrison at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which +capitulated on the 24th. Soon after the surrender two regiments +of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were +compelled to surrender. Forrest destroyed the railroad +westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle, +skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the +same day cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near +Tullahoma and Dechard. On the morning of the 30th, one column +of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before Huntsville, +and summoned the surrender of the garrison. Receiving an answer +in the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until +next morning, when he again summoned its surrender, and received +the same reply as on the night before. He withdrew in the +direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, and +attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without +success. On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but +was handsomely repulsed.</p> + +<p>Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the +morning of the 1st, but did not make an attack. On the morning +of the 3d he moved towards Mount Pleasant. While these +operations were going on, every exertion was made by General +Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest before he could +recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his escape to +Corinth, Mississippi.</p> + +<p>In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to +destroy the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy +on the 2d of October, about three miles and a half from +Saltville, and drove him into his strongly intrenched position +around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge +him. During the night he withdrew his command and returned to +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his +armies in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations +for refitting and supplying them for future service. The great +length of road from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, +which had to be guarded, allowed the troops but little rest.</p> + +<p>During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, +Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon +became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the +enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them. He +exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been +beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt at the +defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against +the army that had so often defeated it.</p> + +<p>In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon +reported to the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's +right, he succeeded in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty, +and moved north on it.</p> + +<p>General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the +remainder of his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden, +Alabama. Seeing the constant annoyance he would have with the +roads to his rear if he attempted to hold Atlanta, General +Sherman proposed the abandonment and destruction of that place, +with all the railroads leading to it, and telegraphed me as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA +<br>"October 10—noon.</p> + +<p>"Dispatch about Wilson just received. Hood is now crossing +Coosa River, twelve miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes +over the Mobile and Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan +of my letter sent by Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas +with the troops now in Tennessee to defend the State? He will +have an ample force when the reinforcements ordered reach +Nashville.</p> + +<p>"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this +dispatch, I quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:</p> + +<p>"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's +should be reinforced to the maximum; that after you get +Wilmington, you strike for Savannah and the river; that Canby be +instructed to hold the Mississippi River, and send a force to get +Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of the Alabama or the +Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put my army in +final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to +be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the +city of Savannah is in our possession." This was in reply to a +letter of mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch +of his containing substantially the same proposition, and in +which I informed him of a proposed movement against Wilmington, +and of the situation in Virginia, etc.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,</p> + +<p>"October 11, 1864—11 A.M.</p> + +<p>"Your dispatch of October 10th received. Does it not look as if +Hood was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using +the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply +his base on the Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur? If +he does this, he ought to be met and prevented from getting +north of the Tennessee River. If you were to cut loose, I do +not believe you would meet Hood's army, but would be bushwhacked +by all the old men and little boys, and such railroad guards as +are still left at home. Hood would probably strike for +Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater +damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south. If +there is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that, +but I must trust to your own judgment. I find I shall not be +able to send a force from here to act with you on Savannah. Your +movements, therefore, will be independent of mine; at least until +the fall of Richmond takes place. I am afraid Thomas, with such +lines of road as he has to protect, could not prevent Hood from +going north. With Wilson turned loose, with all your cavalry, +you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive than +heretofore.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"KINGSTON, GEORGIA, +<br>"October 11—11 A.M.</p> + +<p>"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and +Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome. He +threw one corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to +follow. I hold Atlanta with the 20th corps, and have strong +detachments along my line. This reduces my active force to a +comparatively small army. We cannot remain here on the +defensive. With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold +cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads. I would +infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the +country from Chattanooga to Atlanta including the latter city +send back all my wounded and worthless, and with my effective +army, move through Georgia, smashing things, to the sea. Hood +may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be +forced to follow me. Instead of my being on the defensive, I +would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means +to do, he would have to guess at my plans. The difference in +war is full twenty-five per cent. I can make Savannah, +Charleston, or the mouth of the Chattahoochee.</p> + +<p>"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.</p> + +<p>"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>"October 11,1864—11.30 P.M.</p> + +<p>"Your dispatch of to-day received. If you are satisfied the +trip to the sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the +Tennessee River firmly, you may make it, destroying all the +railroad south of Dalton or Chattanooga, as you think best.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting +through to the coast, with a garrison left on the southern +railroads, leading east and west, through Georgia, to +effectually sever the east from the west. In other words, cut +the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had been cut once +by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River. General +Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.</p> + +<p>General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his +proposed movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime +to watch Hood. Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward +from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th +corps, Major-General Stanley commanding, and the 23d corps, +Major-General Schofield commanding, back to Chattanooga to +report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed +in command of all the troops of his military division, save the +four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with +through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal, +there was little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line +of the Tennessee, or, in the event Hood should force it, would +be able to concentrate and beat him in battle. It was therefore +readily consented to that Sherman should start for the sea-coast.</p> + +<p>Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of +November, he commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and +Macon. His coming-out point could not be definitely fixed. +Having to gather his subsistence as he marched through the +country, it was not impossible that a force inferior to his own +might compel him to head for such point as he could reach, +instead of such as he might prefer. The blindness of the enemy, +however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the +only considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the +Mississippi River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the +whole country open, and Sherman's route to his own choice.</p> + +<p>How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met +with, the condition of the country through which the armies +passed, the capture of Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River, +and the occupation of Savannah on the 21st of December, are all +clearly set forth in General Sherman's admirable report.</p> + +<p>Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two +expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from +Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the +enemy's lines of communication with Mobile and detain troops in +that field. General Foster, commanding Department of the South, +also sent an expedition, via Broad River, to destroy the railroad +between Charleston and Savannah. The expedition from Vicksburg, +under command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (colonel +3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on the 27th of +November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge +and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles +of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of +stores. The expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable +results. The expedition from the Department of the South, under +the immediate command of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, +consisting of about five thousand men of all arms, including a +brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad River and debarked at +Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it moved to +strike the railroad at Grahamsville. At Honey Hill, about three +miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a +strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe +fighting, in our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and +forty-six in killed, wounded, and missing. During the night +General Hatch withdrew. On the 6th of December General Foster +obtained a position covering the Charleston and Savannah +Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifinny rivers.</p> + +<p>Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move +northward, which seemed to me to be leading to his certain +doom. At all events, had I had the power to command both +armies, I should not have changed the orders under which he +seemed to be acting. On the 26th of October, the advance of +Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but +failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and +succeeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment +on the north side of the Tennessee River, near Florence. On the +28th, Forrest reached the Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured +a gunboat and three transports. On the 2d of November he planted +batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of +the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports. On +the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, and was +replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The gunboats +becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports, +to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. About a +million and a half dollars' worth of store and property on the +levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire. On the 5th the +enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee +River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and +subsequently joined Hood. On the night of the 5th, General +Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached +Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to +Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with +instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his +advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival +of General A. J. Smith's command from Missouri, and until +General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.</p> + +<p>On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance. General +Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards +Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and +gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements. The enemy +coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield, +at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during +the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance +repulsed. His loss in this battle was one thousand seven +hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and +three thousand eight hundred wounded. Among his losses were six +general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured. Our +entire loss was two thousand three hundred. This was the first +serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was +the fatal blow to all his expectations. During the night, +General Schofield fell back towards Nashville. This left the +field to the enemy—not lost by battle, but voluntarily +abandoned—so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought +together. The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment +of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the +Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, +General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the +troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops +as he could spare. The advance of this reinforcement reached +Nashville on the 30th of November.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked +Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated +and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in +our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners, +including four general officers.</p> + +<p>Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it +appeared to me, the unnecessary delay. This impatience was +increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of +cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky. I feared Hood +would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there. +After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately +assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters +there in person. Reaching Washington City, I received General +Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the +result as far as the battle had progressed. I was delighted. +All fears and apprehensions were dispelled. I am not yet +satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the +appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to +fortify, should have moved out with his whole force and given +him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which +delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it +impracticable to attack earlier than he did. But his final +defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a +vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.</p> + +<p>After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued +by cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to +abandon many pieces of artillery and most of his +transportation. On the 28th of December our advanced forces +ascertained that he had made good his escape to the south side +of the river.</p> + +<p>About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee +and North Alabama, making it difficult to move army +transportation and artillery, General Thomas stopped the pursuit +by his main force at the Tennessee River. A small force of +cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th Pennsylvania +Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance, +capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's +pontoon-bridge. The details of these operations will be found +clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.</p> + +<p>A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, +started from Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he +surprised and captured Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona, +Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroyed the +railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for +Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large +amounts of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he +attacked and captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and +destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the +south-west, he struck the Mississippi Central Railroad at +Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at +Bankston, and the machine-shops and public property at Grenada, +arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.</p> + +<p>During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a +force under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee. On +the 13th of November he attacked General Gillem, near +Morristown, capturing his artillery and several hundred +prisoners. Gillem, with what was left of his command, retreated +to Knoxville. Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to +near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General +Ammen. Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman +concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near +Bean's Station to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or +drive him into Virginia—destroy the salt-works at Saltville, +and the railroad into Virginia as far as he could go without +endangering his command. On the 12th of December he commenced +his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces +wherever he met them. On the 16th he struck the enemy, under +Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to +Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred +and ninety-eight prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its +stores and supplies, and the extensive lead-works near there. +Returning to Marion, he met a force under Breckinridge, +consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville, +that had started in pursuit. He at once made arrangements to +attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge +gone. He then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the +extensive salt-works at that place, a large amount of stores, +and captured eight pieces of artillery. Having thus +successfully executed his instructions, he returned General +Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.</p> + +<p>Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast +port left to the enemy through which to get supplies from +abroad, and send cotton and other products out by +blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic +value. The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the +harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect. The nature +of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required +watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the +land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for +the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of +blockade-runners.</p> + +<p>To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation +of a land force, which I agreed to furnish. Immediately +commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. +Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for +concentration upon one given point. This necessarily attracted +the attention of the enemy, as well as that of the loyal North; +and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely +of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the +expedition became a subject of common discussion in the +newspapers both North and South. The enemy, thus warned, +prepared to meet it. This caused a postponement of the +expedition until the later part of November, when, being again +called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, +I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself, +in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we +had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and +the time of starting. A force of six thousand five hundred men +was regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not +definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by +the 6th of December, if not before. Learning, on the 30th of +November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most +of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost +importance that the expedition should reach its destination +before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make +all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who +had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy +might not be detained one moment.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: The first object of the expedition under General +Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If +successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington +itself. There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if +advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the +enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The +directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the +expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of +where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be +taken. The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting +a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the +Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river. Should such +landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and +the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the +troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the +navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in +our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of +Wilmington would be sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point of +land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops +immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to +capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise. If time is +consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the +second will become a matter of after consideration.</p> + +<p>"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer +immediately in command of the troops.</p> + +<p>"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a +landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the +armies operating against Richmond without delay.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were +taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they +were to operate, military courtesy required that all orders and +instructions should go through him. They were so sent, but +General Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never +received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their +existence, until he read General Butler's published official +report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorsement and +papers accompanying it. I had no idea of General Butler's +accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off +from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General +Weitzel had received all the instructions, and would be in +command. I rather formed the idea that General Butler was +actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of +the powder-boat. The expedition was detained several days at +Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat.</p> + +<p>The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without +any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon +General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.</p> + +<p>The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and +arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort +Fisher, on the evening of the 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on +the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get +ammunition for the monitors. The sea becoming rough, making it +difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being +about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to +replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the +return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th. The +powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the +return of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from +the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the +enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion +until they were informed by the Northern press.</p> + +<p>On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a +reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up +towards the fort. But before receiving a full report of the +result of this reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct +violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation +of the troops and the return of the expedition. The +re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 27th.</p> + +<p>On the return of the expedition officers and men among them +Brevet Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M. +Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York +Volunteers, First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and +Second-Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers +voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly +into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken +without much loss.</p> + +<p>Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch +from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral +Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, +and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the +place could be taken. The natural supposition with me was, that +when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so +also. Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of +December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would +send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This +time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. +Terry to command the expedition. The troops composing it +consisted of the same that composed the former, with the +addition of a small brigade, numbering about one thousand five +hundred, and a small siege train. The latter it was never found +necessary to land. I communicated direct to the commander of the +expedition the following instructions:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: The expedition intrusted to your command has been +fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C., +and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then +proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet +lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself +and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic +Blockading Squadron.</p> + +<p>"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete +understanding should exist between yourself and the naval +commander. I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral +Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each +branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of +action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid down +in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that +you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he +proposes. I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is +consistent with your own responsibilities. The first object to +be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on +which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against +that fort. You want to look to the practicability of receiving +your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces +sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If +such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will +not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another +plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.</p> + +<p>"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought +to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the +balance of it operates on the outside. Land forces cannot +invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or +reinforcements, while the river is in possession of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort +Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required. All other +supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.</p> + +<p>"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is +assured. When you find they can be spared, order them back, or +such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for +orders.</p> + +<p>"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back +to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further +instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.</p> + +<p>"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops +to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops +will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels +until you are heard from. Should you require them, they will be +sent to you.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet +brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, was +assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that these instructions did not differ +materially from those given for the first expedition, and that +in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. +This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the +commanding officer.</p> + +<p>The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the +6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, +where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until +the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its +destination that evening. Under cover of the fleet, the +disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the +13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without loss. On +the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred +yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession +of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that +might be made from the fort. This reconnoissance disclosed the +fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by +the navy fire. In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was +assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with +its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by the +combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important +successes of the war. Our loss was: killed, one hundred and +ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six. On the 16th and the +17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works +on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This +gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.</p> + +<p>At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and +Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of +Virginia and North Carolina.</p> + +<p>The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the +force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now +threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation +for General Thomas's surplus troops—fields from which they +would co-operate with other movements. General Thomas was +therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold +his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders. On the +7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of +the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General +Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as +possible. This direction was promptly complied with, and the +advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same +month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern. On the +26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith's command and a +division of cavalry to report to General Canby. By the 7th of +February the whole force was en route for its destination.</p> + +<p>The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military +department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and +placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman. The following +instructions were given him:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:— ******** Your movements are intended as +co-operative with Sherman's through the States of South and +North Carolina. The first point to be attained is to secure +Wilmington. Goldsboro' will then be your objective point, +moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, or both, as you deem +best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you will +advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place +with the sea-coast—as near to it as you can, building the road +behind you. The enterprise under you has two objects: the +first is to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his +march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on +his line of march. As soon, therefore, as you can determine +which of the two points, Wilmington or New Bern, you can best +use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you will +commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for +sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of +these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the +interior as you may be able to occupy. I believe General Palmer +has received some instructions direct from General Sherman on the +subject of securing supplies for his army. You will learn what +steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions +accordingly. A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary.</p> + +<p>"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective +departments in the field with me at City Point. Communicate +with me by every opportunity, and should you deem it necessary +at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which +point you can communicate by telegraph.</p> + +<p>"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of +those required for your own command.</p> + +<p>"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your +imperative duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the +interior to aid Sherman. In such case you will act on your own +judgment without waiting for instructions. You will report, +however, what you purpose doing. The details for carrying out +these instructions are necessarily left to you. I would urge, +however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to +the importance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be looked for +in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the +28th of February; this limits your time very materially.</p> + +<p>"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, +it can be supplied from Washington. A large force of railroad +men have already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will +go to Fort Fisher in a day or two. On this point I have informed +you by telegraph.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher, +accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for +myself the condition of things, and personally conferring with +General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.</p> + +<p>Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army +entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee, +the Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several +months to re-establish a through line from west to east, and +regarding the capture of Lee's army as the most important +operation towards closing the rebellion—I sent orders to +General Sherman on the 6th of December, that after establishing +a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to include all +his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point with +the balance of his command.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of December, having received information of the +defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and +that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean +transportation, it would take over two months to transport +Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as +much towards the desired result by operating from where he was, +I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to +what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a +communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December, +acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing +me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he +could get transportation. Also that he had expected, upon +reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South +Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but +that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of +Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the +middle of January. The confidence he manifested in this letter +of being able to march up and join me pleased me, and, without +waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on +the 28th of December, to make preparations to start as he +proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and +South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond +as soon as he could.</p> + +<p>On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had +ordered the 23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, +east; that it numbered about twenty-one thousand men; that we +had at Fort Fisher, about eight thousand men; at New Bern, about +four thousand; that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofield +would go there; if not, he would be sent to New Bern; that, in +either event, all the surplus force at both points would move to +the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his +movement; that from either point railroad communication could be +run out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders +as he came into communication with them.</p> + +<p>In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to +reduce Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy +under Admiral Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the +Cape Fear River. Fort Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the +west bank of the river, was occupied on the morning of the 19th, +the enemy having evacuated it after our appearance before it.</p> + +<p>After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington +on the morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards +Goldsboro' during the night. Preparations were at once made for +a movement on Goldsboro' in two columns—one from Wilmington, and +the other from New Bern—and to repair the railroad leading there +from each place, as well as to supply General Sherman by Cape +Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became necessary. The +column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, at Wise's +Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred +prisoners. On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our +intrenched position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell +back during the night. On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed +and Kinston occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered. +The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse +River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d.</p> + +<p>By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in +motion from Savannah. He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on +the 17th; thence moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via +Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March, +opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape +Fear River. On the 15th he resumed his march on Goldsboro'. He +met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a severe fight +defeated and compelled it to retreat. Our loss in this +engagement was about six hundred. The enemy's loss was much +greater. On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under +Joe Johnston, attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing +three guns and driving it back upon the main body. General +Slocum, who was in the advance ascertaining that the whole of +Johnston's army was in the front, arranged his troops on the +defensive, intrenched himself and awaited reinforcements, which +were pushed forward. On the night of the 21st the enemy +retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our +hands. From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place +had been occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the +Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General +Terry had got possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d), +thus forming a junction with the columns from New Bern and +Wilmington.</p> + +<p>Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of +Charleston, South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the +night of the 17th of February, and occupied by our forces on the +18th.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was +directed to send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, +from East Tennessee, to penetrate South Carolina well down +towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military +resources of the country, and return, if he was able, to East +Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing our +prisoners there, if possible. Of the feasibility of this +latter, however, General Stoneman was to judge. Sherman's +movements, I had no doubt, would attract the attention of all +the force the enemy could collect, and facilitate the execution +of this. General Stoneman was so late in making his start on +this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of +South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed General +Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of +last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he +could. This would keep him between our garrisons in East +Tennessee and the enemy. I regarded it not impossible that in +the event of the enemy being driven from Richmond, he might fall +back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through East +Tennessee. On the 14th of February the following communication +was sent to General Thomas:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.</p> + +<p>"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against +Mobile and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of +about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command. The +cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg. +It, with the available cavalry already in that section, will +move from there eastward, in co-operation. Hood's army has been +terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in +Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by +the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman. (I take it a +large portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn. It is so +asserted in the Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel +Congress said a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it +had been brought to South Carolina to oppose Sherman.) This +being true, or even if it is not true, Canby's movement will +attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance +from your standpoint easy. I think it advisable, therefore, +that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare, +and hold it in readiness to go south. The object would be +threefold: first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as +possible, to insure success to Canby; second, to destroy the +enemy's line of communications and military resources; third, to +destroy or capture their forces brought into the field. +Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the points to direct the +expedition against. This, however, would not be so important as +the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama. Discretion +should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go +where, according to the information he may receive, he will best +secure the objects named above.</p> + +<p>"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know +what number of men you can put into the field. If not more than +five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be +sufficient. It is not desirable that you should start this +expedition until the one leaving Vicksburg has been three or +four days out, or even a week. I do not know when it will +start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn. If +you should hear through other sources before hearing from me, +you can act on the information received.</p> + +<p>"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little +wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for +supplies. I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery, +or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns +taken. No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight +horses.</p> + +<p>"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force +you think you will be able to send under these directions.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon +after the 20th as he could get it off.</p> + +<p>I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement +of the armies operating against Richmond, that all +communications with the city, north of James River, should be +cut off. The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from +the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent +from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable, +whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the +enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which, +if successful. would accomplish the first at least, and possibly +the latter of the objects. I therefore telegraphed General +Sheridan as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865—1 P.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will +have no difficulty about reaching Lychburg with a cavalry force +alone. From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in +every direction, so as to be of no further use to the +rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look +after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information you might +get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the +streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and +join General Sherman. This additional raid, with one now about +starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or +give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or +eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then +thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight +thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, +Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out +the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to +leave mothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise +you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston +was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, +inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him +definite information as to the points he might be expected to +move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina. In answer, the +following telegram was sent him:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of +opposition he meets with from the enemy. If strongly opposed, +he may possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit +out for a new start. I think, however, all danger for the +necessity of going to that point has passed. I believe he has +passed Charlotte. He may take Fayetteville on his way to +Goldsboro'. If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided +in your after movements by the information you obtain. Before +you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him +moving from Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy +strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with +railroad communications opened from his army to Wilmington or +New Bern.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February, +with two divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand +each. On the 1st of March he secured the bridge, which the +enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the +Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d, +the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'. Thence he pushed on +to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an +intrenched position, under General Early. Without stopping to +make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the +position was carried, and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven +pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons complete, two +hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence, and seventeen +battle-flags, were captured. The prisoners, under an escort of +fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester. Thence he +marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the railroad +and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d. Here +he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond +and Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north +and south forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of +his trains. This necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea +of capturing Lynchburg. On the morning of the 6th, dividing his +force into two columns, he sent one to Scottsville, whence it +marched up the James River Canal to New Market, destroying every +lock, and in many places the bank of the canal. From here a +force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to +obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that +place, but failed. The enemy burned it on our approach. The +enemy also burned the bridge across the river at +Hardwicksville. The other column moved down the railroad +towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Court House, +sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, uniting +with the column at New Market. The river being very high, his +pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having +destroyed the bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river +and get on the South Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy +it to Appomattox Court House, the only thing left for him was to +return to Winchester or strike a base at the White House. +Fortunately, he chose the latter. From New Market he took up +his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond, +destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever +practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, +concentrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th. Here he +rested one day, and sent through by scouts information of his +whereabouts and purposes, and a request for supplies to meet him +at White House, which reached me on the night of the 12th. An +infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White +House, and supplies were forwarded. Moving from Columbia in a +direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, he +crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges +and many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of +the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.</p> + +<p>Previous to this the following communication was sent to General +Thomas:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>March 7, 1865—9.30 A.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—I think it will be advisable now for you to repair +the railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to +Bull's Gap and fortify there. Supplies at Knoxville could +always be got forward as required. With Bull's Gap fortified, +you can occupy as outposts about all of East Tennessee, and be +prepared, if it should be required of you in the spring, to make +a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North Carolina. I do not +think Stoneman should break the road until he gets into +Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may +be caught west of that.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was +moving an adequate force against Mobile and the army defending +it under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large +and well-appointed cavalry expeditions—one from Middle +Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's +vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee, under +Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg—and assembling the +remainder of his available forces, preparatory to commence +offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's +cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James +were confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of +Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies, +reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; +General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign +against the enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the +Mississippi; and General Hancock was concentrating a force in +the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion +or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.</p> + +<p>After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter +roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at White House. At +this time the greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear +that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg and +Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, and before he +was driven from them by battle, or I was prepared to make an +effectual pursuit. On the 24th of March, General Sheridan moved +from White House, crossed the James River at Jones's Landing, and +formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in front of +Petersburg on the 27th. During this move, General Ord sent +forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general +movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>March 24, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: On the 29th instant the armies operating against +Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of +turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, +and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan, +which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and +destroy the South Side and Danville railroads. Two corps of the +Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking +the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest where the present +line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards +Dinwiddie Court House.</p> + +<p>"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now +under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon +Road and the Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column +before reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move +independently, under other instructions which will be given +him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the +Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military +Division not required for guarding property belonging to their +arm of service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be +added to the defences of City Point. Major-General Parke will +be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines +about Petersburg and City Point, subject of course to orders +from the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The 9th army +corps will be left intact, to hold the present line of works so +long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, however, +the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the +left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the +position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon +Road. All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in +readiness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be +designated when the order is given.</p> + +<p>"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one +colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present +lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the +Potomac. In the absence of further orders, or until further +orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left +column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the +right column. During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be +left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army +of the James.</p> + +<p>"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence +on the night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind +the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the +absence of the main army. A cavalry expedition, from General +Ord's command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there +on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the +purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford. This, if +accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from +three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They should, +however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared +from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry +crosses the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at +Uniten. Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon +Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the +triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The +railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of +carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation +of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke. +All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks +and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as +possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of +days' supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will +direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient +supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in +passing. Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in +wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will +carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies. The +densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making +the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with +the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, +at the option of the army commanders.</p> + +<p>"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into +operation may be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th +corps should be massed as much as possible. While I would not +now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them, +they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy +weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders. In +case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could +follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the +army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations +issued to them, same as the balance of the army. General +Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at +all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so. A +success north of the James should be followed up with great +promptness. An attack will not be feasible unless it is found +that the enemy has detached largely. In that case it may be +regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local +reserves principally for the defence of Richmond. Preparations +may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James, +except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a +break is made in the lines of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating +against Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, +as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in +the hope of advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl +everything against the moving column, and return. It cannot be +impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the +trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of +it. The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does +so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a +weakening of his lines. I would have it particularly enjoined +upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the enemy, +those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding +officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move +promptly, and notify the commander of their action. I would also +enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when +other parts of their corps are engaged. In like manner, I would +urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines +in front of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River +towards our left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the +line to the right and left of it, established themselves and +turned the guns of the fort against us, but our troops on either +flank held their ground until the reserves were brought up, when +the enemy was driven back with a heavy loss in killed and +wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners. Our loss was +sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and +five hundred and six missing. General Meade at once ordered the +other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective +fronts. Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's +strongly intrenched picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th +corps, and eight hundred and thirty-four prisoners. The enemy +made desperate attempts to retake this line, but without +success. Our loss in front of these was fifty-two killed, eight +hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven +missing. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.</p> + +<p>General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about +Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them +perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and +stated that he would be ready to move, as he had previously +written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed +for twenty days, if it should become necessary to bring his +command to bear against Lee's army, in co-operation with our +forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg. General Sherman +proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, by +turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or +thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and +Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, +or join the armies operating against Richmond, as might be +deemed best. This plan he was directed to carry into execution, +if he received no further directions in the meantime. I +explained to him the movement I had ordered to commence on the +29th of March. That if it should not prove as entirely +successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy +the Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the +enemy of further supplies, and also to prevent the rapid +concentration of Lee's and Johnston's armies.</p> + +<p>I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the +report that the enemy had retreated the night before. I was +firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be +the signal for Lee to leave. With Johnston and him combined, a +long, tedious, and expensive campaign, consuming most of the +summer, might become necessary. By moving out I would put the +army in better condition for pursuit, and would at least, by the +destruction of the Danville Road, retard the concentration of the +two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to abandon +much material that he might otherwise save. I therefore +determined not to delay the movement ordered.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions +of the 24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one +division of the 25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, +and MacKenzie's cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance +of the foregoing instructions, and reached the position assigned +him near Hatcher's Run on the morning of the 29th. On the 28th +the following instructions were given to General Sheridan:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at +three A.M. to-morrow morning. The 2d moves at about nine A.M., +having but about three miles to march to reach the point +designated for it to take on the right of the 5th corps, after +the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House. Move your cavalry at +as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any +particular road or roads. You may go out by the nearest roads +in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to +or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as +soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in +his intrenched position, but to force him out, if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and +with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you. Should I not do so, +and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched +line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road. If you +find it practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side +Road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some +extent. I would not advise much detention, however, until you +reach the Danville Road, which I would like you to strike as +near to the Appomattox as possible. Make your destruction on +that road as complete as possible. You can then pass on to the +South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like +manner.</p> + +<p>"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road further south, or you +may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should +you select the latter course, get the information to me as early +as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced. At night the +cavalry was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our +infantry line extended to the Quaker Road, near its intersection +with the Boydton Plank Road. The position of the troops from +left to right was as follows: Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord, +Wright, Parke.</p> + +<p>Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the +capture of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was +made. I therefore addressed the following communication to +General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not to +cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until he +received notice from me to do so:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to +Dinwiddie. We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the +Jerusalem Plank Road to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can +be used advantageously. After getting into line south of +Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position. +General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker Road +intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing +about one hundred men. Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was +pushing on when last heard from.</p> + +<p>"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 towards Petersburg, +taking forty minutes to pass.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain +fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled +vehicle, except as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. +During the 30th, Sheridan advanced from Dinwiddie Court House +towards Five Forks, where he found the enemy in full force. +General Warren advanced and extended his line across the Boydton +Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of getting +across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front +and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he +was, and fortify. General Humphreys drove the enemy from his +front into his main line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills. +Generals Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their +fronts to determine the feasibility of an assault on the enemy's +lines. The two latter reported favorably. The enemy confronting +us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our extreme left, I +conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated +if my estimate of his forces was correct. I determined, +therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce +General Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him +to cut loose and turn the enemy's right flank, and with the +other corps assault the enemy's lines. The result of the +offensive effort of the enemy the week before, when he assaulted +Fort Stedman, particularly favored this. The enemy's +intrenched picket-line captured by us at that time threw the +lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some +points that it was but a moment's run from one to the other. +Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphreys's +corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the +roads prevented immediate movement. On the morning of the 31st, +General Warren reported favorably to getting possession of the +White Oak Road, and was directed to do so. To accomplish this, +he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, which +was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on +the 2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn, +forced back upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked. A +division of the 2d corps was immediately sent to his support, the +enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the White +Oak Road gained. Sheridan advanced, and with a portion of his +cavalry got possession of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after +the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced the rebel cavalry, +defending that point with infantry, and forced him back towards +Dinwiddie Court House. Here General Sheridan displayed great +generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command on +the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, +he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough +to take charge of the horses. This compelled the enemy to +deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made +his progress slow. At this juncture he dispatched to me what had +taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie +Court House. General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of +the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance. Soon +after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could +hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two +divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so +ordered at once. Thus the operations of the day necessitated +the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of +Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended +movements. On the morning of the 1st of April, General +Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on +Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried +his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and +between five and six thousand prisoners.</p> + +<p>About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles +Griffin relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th +corps. The report of this reached me after nightfall. Some +apprehensions filled my mind lest the enemy might desert his +lines during the night, and by falling upon General Sheridan +before assistance could reach him, drive him from his position +and open the way for retreat. To guard against this, General +Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him, +and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in +the morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's +lines. General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps, +sweeping everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's +Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners. He was +closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command, +until he met the other division of General Ord's that had +succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near Hatcher's Run. +Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and +closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, +while General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and +joined General Wright on the left. General Parke succeeded in +carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners, +but was unable to carry his inner line. General Sheridan being +advised of the condition of affairs, returned General Miles to +his proper command. On reaching the enemy's lines immediately +surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by +a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works—the +most salient and commanding south of Petersburg—thus materially +shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the +city. The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to +Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles's +division. A severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his +right and left flanks were threatened by the approach of General +Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station towards Petersburg, +and a division sent by General Meade from the front of +Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in +our hands his guns and many prisoners. This force retreated by +the main road along the Appomattox River. During the night of +the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and +retreated towards Danville. On the morning of the 3d pursuit +was commenced. General Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road, +keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General Meade with the +2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for Burkesville, along +the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along that road +behind him. On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville +Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia +Court House. He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the +arrival of General Meade, who reached there the next day. +General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the +following communication:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: All indications now are that Lee will attempt to +reach Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was +up with him last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot, +and dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to +reduce this number one-half. I shall push on to Burkesville, +and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go +there. If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are, +and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and +Johnston's armies. Whether it will be better for you to strike +for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able +to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only +strategic points to strike at.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was +moving west of Jetersville, towards Danville. General Sheridan +moved with his cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to +General Meade on his reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank, +followed by the 6th corps, while the 2d and 5th corps pressed +hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and +several pieces of artillery. General Ord advanced from +Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry +and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General +Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance +met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically +attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small +force overpowered. This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, +and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his +force, on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched +himself. In the afternoon, General Sheridan struck the enemy +south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery +and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th +corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was +made, which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand +prisoners, among whom were many general officers. The movements +of the 2d corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to +the day's success.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, +except one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's +Court House; the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one +division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High +Bridge Road. It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to +the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit, +that the 2d corps got possession of the common bridge at High +Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately +crossed over. The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed +at Farmville to its support.</p> + +<p>Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly +hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from +Farmville:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at +Farmville the following:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +To this I immediately replied:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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 the Northern +Virginia will be received.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General +Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, +with all the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox +Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps. +During the day General Meade's advance had considerable fighting +with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general +engagement. Late in the evening General Sheridan struck the +railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and +captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and +four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. During +this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight +received the following communication from General Lee:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In +mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of +the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your +proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has +arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the +restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired +to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, +therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of +Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the +Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the +restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten +A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the +picket-lines of the two armies.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as +follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the +Appomattox:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—Your note of yesterday is received. I have no +authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed +for ten A.M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, +however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with +yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The +terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the +South laying down their arms they will hasten that most +desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of +millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that +all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another +life, I subscribe myself, etc.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th +corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a +desperate effort to break through our cavalry. The infantry was +at once thrown in. Soon after a white flag was received, +requesting a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for +a surrender.</p> + +<p>Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the +following from General Lee:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:—I received your note of this morning on the +picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain +definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of +yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now +ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your +letter of yesterday, for that purpose.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of +which is set forth in the following correspondence:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you +of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the +Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls +of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to +be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be +retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The +officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms +against the Government of the United States until properly +exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like +parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and +public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the +officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace +the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or +baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to +return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in +force where they may reside.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p> +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: I have received your letter of this date containing +the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as +proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those +expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are +accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to +carry the stipulations into effect.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under +Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at +Appomattox Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered +army was completed, and to take charge of the public property. +The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity +of Burkesville.</p> + +<p>General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused +his example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the +armies lately under his leadership are at their homes, desiring +peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ordnance +officers.</p> + +<p>On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved +directly against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and +through Raleigh, which place General Sherman occupied on the +morning of the 13th. The day preceding, news of the surrender +of General Lee reached him at Smithfield.</p> + +<p>On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman +and General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement +for a suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for +peace, subject to the approval of the President. This agreement +was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval, +together with your instructions, was communicated to General +Sherman by me in person on the morning of the 24th, at Raleigh, +North Carolina, in obedience to your orders. Notice was at once +given by him to General Johnston for the termination of the truce +that had been entered into. On the 25th another meeting between +them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which +terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army +upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.</p> + +<p>The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got +off on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North +Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, +and Big Lick. The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to +within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important +bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed it +between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro', +on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and destroyed +the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between +Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies +along it, and captured four hundred prisoners. At Salisbury he +attacked and defeated a force of the enemy under General +Gardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one +thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and destroyed +large amounts of army stores. At this place he destroyed +fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte. +Thence he moved to Slatersville.</p> + +<p>General Canby, who had been directed in January to make +preparations for a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and +the interior of Alabama, commenced his movement on the 20th of +March. The 16th corps, Major-General A. J. Smith commanding, +moved from Fort Gaines by water to Fish River; the 13th corps, +under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved from Fort Morgan and +joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving thence on +Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General +Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading +from Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and +partially invested Fort Blakely. After a severe bombardment of +Spanish Fort, a part of its line was carried on the 8th of +April. During the night the enemy evacuated the fort. Fort +Blakely was carried by assault on the 9th, and many prisoners +captured; our loss was considerable. These successes +practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to +approach Mobile from the north. On the night of the 11th the +city was evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on +the morning of the 12th.</p> + +<p>The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, +consisting of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was +delayed by rains until March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw, +Alabama. On the 1st of April, General Wilson encountered the +enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in +confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and +destroyed the central bridge over the Cahawba River. On the 2d +he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended +by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, +destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, +vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand +prisoners. On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa. On +the 10th he crossed the Alabama River, and after sending +information of his operations to General Canby, marched on +Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy +having abandoned it. At this place many stores and five +steamboats fell into our hands. Thence a force marched direct +on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places +were assaulted and captured on the 16th. At the former place we +got one thousand five hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns, +destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many +factories, and much other public property. At the latter place +we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed +nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the 20th he +took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one +thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by +General Howell Cobb. General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis +was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and +succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11th.</p> + +<p>On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to +General Canby all the remaining rebel forces east of the +Mississippi.</p> + +<p>A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy +under Kirby Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put +in motion for Texas, and Major-General Sheridan designated for +its immediate command; but on the 26th day of May, and before +they reached their destination, General Kirby Smith surrendered +his entire command to Major-General Canby. This surrender did +not take place, however, until after the capture of the rebel +President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of +first disbanding most of his army and permitting an +indiscriminate plunder of public property.</p> + +<p>Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against +the government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico, +carrying with them arms rightfully belonging to the United +States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement among them +some of the leaders who had surrendered in person and the +disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio Grande, the orders for +troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.</p> + +<p>There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and +movements to defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most +of them reflecting great credit on our arms, and which +contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not +mentioned. Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the +reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and brief +dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have +not as yet been officially reported.</p> + +<p>For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would +respectfully refer to the reports of the commanders of +departments in which they have occurred.</p> + +<p>It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and +the East fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there +is no difference in their fighting qualities. All that it was +possible for men to do in battle they have done. The Western +armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and +received the final surrender of the remnant of the principal +army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of the East +commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the +Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of +their old antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The +splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories +removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately +experienced too much), and the cause of crimination and +recrimination that might have followed had either section failed +in its duty. All have a proud record, and all sections can well +congratulate themselves and each other for having done their +full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of +territory belonging to the United States. Let them hope for +perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, +however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of +valor.</p> + +<p> I have the honor to be, +<br> Very respectfully, your obedient servant, +<br> U. S. GRANT, +<br> Lieutenant-General.</p> + +<p>THE END</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b632"></a><img alt="b632.jpg (215K)" src="images/b632.jpg" height="451" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="images/b632.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="images/enlarge.jpg"></a></center> +<br><br> +<br><br> + + + + +<center><h2>FOOTNOTE</h2> +</center> +<center><h3>ORGANIZATION CHARTS—UNION AND CONFEDERATE</h3> +</center> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864. + +[COMPILED.] + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + +MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow. + First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles. + Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth. + Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank. + Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen. + Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll. + + Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays. + + Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott. + First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister. + Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball. + + +MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres. + Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson. + First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter. + Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford. + First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless. + Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler. + Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice. + Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone + + Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright. + + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright. + First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown. + Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton. + Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins + + +MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer. + Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin. + Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson. + First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman. + + +MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson. + First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth. + Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter. + First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss. + Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox. + First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft. + Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero. + First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried. + Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas. + + Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall. + + +BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery. + + Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton. + First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching. + Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins. + First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson. + Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom. + Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh. + + +GENERAL HEADQUARTERS....... + Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick. + Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham. + + + + + +CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by +GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834. + + First Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a) + Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's " + " Eppa Hunton's " + " Wm. R. Terry's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b) + Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade + " E. M. Law's (c) " + " John Bratton's " + +MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d) + Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade + " B. G. Humphreys' " + " Goode Bryan's " + " Kershaw's (Old) " + + + Second Army Corps: MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e) + " John Pegram 's " (f) + " Gordon's " (g) + Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's " + +MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division. + Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h) + Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h) + " Geo H. Stewart's " (h) + " L. A. Stafford's " (e) + +MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division. + Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i) + " Geo. Dole's " (k) + " S. D. Ramseur's Brigade. + " C. A. Battle's " + " R. D. Johnston's " (f) + + + Third Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l) + Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade. + Mahone's " + Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's " (m) + " A. R. Wright's " + " Joseph Finegan's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n) + " James H. Lane's " + " Sam'l McCowan's " + " Alfred M. Scale's " + +MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o) + Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade. + " John R. Cooke's " + " D. McRae's " + " J. J. Archer's " + " H. H. Walker's " + + _unattached_: 5th Alabama Battalion. + + + Cavalry Corps: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p) + +MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division + Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade + " L. L. Lomax's " + +MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade. + " P. M. B. Young's " + " Thomas L. Rosser's " + +MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade. + " J. R. Chambliss's " + + + Artillery Reserve: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding. + +BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.* + Cabell's Battalion. + Manly's Battery. + 1st Co. Richmond Howitzers. + Carleton's Battery. + Calloway's Battery. + + Haskell's Battalion. + Branch's Battery. + Nelson's " + Garden's " + Rowan " + + Huger's Battalion. + Smith's Battery. + Moody " + Woolfolk " + Parker's " + Taylor's " + Fickling's " + Martin's " + + Gibb's Battalion. + Davidson's Battery. + Dickenson's " + Otey's " + + +BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION. + + Braxton's Battalion. + Lee Battery. + 1st Md. Artillery. + Stafford " + Alleghany " + + Cutshaw's Battalion. + Charlotteville Artillery. + Staunton " + Courtney " + + Carter's Battalion. + Morris Artillery. + Orange " + King William Artillery. + Jeff Davis " + + Nelson's Battalion. + Amherst Artillery. + Milledge " + Fluvauna " + + Brown's Battalion. + Powhatan Artillery. + 2d Richmond Howitzers. + 3d " " + Rockbridge Artillery. + Salem Flying Artillery. + + +COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION. + + Cutt's Battalion. + Ross's Battery. + Patterson's Battery. + Irwin Artillery. + + Richardson's Battalion. + Lewis Artillery. + Donaldsonville Artillery. + Norfolk Light " + Huger " + + Mclntosh 's Battalion. + Johnson's Battery. + Hardaway Artillery. + Danville " + 2d Rockbridge Artillery. + + Pegram's Battalion. + Peedee Artillery. + Fredericksburg Artillery. + Letcher " + Purcell Battery. + Crenshaw's Battery. + + Poague's Battalion. + Madison Artillery. + Albemarle " + Brooke " + Charlotte " + + +NOTE. +(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at +above date. +(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also +contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by +Colonel P. D. Bowles. +(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not +indicated. + +Organization of the Army of the Valley District. +(e) Constituting York's Brigade. +(f) In Ramseur's Division. +(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and +containing 12th Georgia Battalion. +(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's +Division. +(i) Grimes' Brigade. +(k) Cook's " + +(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty; +name not indicated. +(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding. +(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four +brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not +indicated. +(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's, +Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade. + +*But one general officer reported present for duty in the +artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original. + +</pre> +</blockquote> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="backcover1"></a><img alt="backcover1.jpg (184K)" src="images/backcover1.jpg" height="980" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<hr> +<br><br> +<br><br> +<br><br> + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. +Grant, Part 6., by Ulysses S. 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Grant, +Part 6., by Ulysses S. Grant + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant, Part 6. + +Author: Ulysses S. Grant + +Release Date: June 1, 2004 [EBook #5865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + +PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT, Part 6. + +by U. S. Grant + + +(Plus Footnotes for Parts 1 to 6) + + +CHAPTER LXII. + +SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY ORDERED TO +MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND THOMAS--CAPTURE OF +COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE CAROLINAS. + +When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the North, +distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to see him. Among +others who went was the Secretary of War, who seemed much pleased at the +result of his campaign. Mr. Draper, the collector of customs of New +York, who was with Mr. Stanton's party, was put in charge of the public +property that had been abandoned and captured. Savannah was then turned +over to General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his +own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the future. +I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac (General Barnard) +with letters to General Sherman. He remained some time with the +general, and when he returned brought back letters, one of which +contained suggestions from Sherman as to what ought to be done in +co-operation with him, when he should have started upon his march +northward. + +I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea originally +of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or even to North +Carolina. The season was bad, the roads impassable for anything except +such an army as he had, and I should not have thought of ordering such a +move. I had, therefore, made preparations to collect transports to +carry Sherman and his army around to the James River by water, and so +informed him. On receiving this letter he went to work immediately to +prepare for the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to +collect the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north +through the Carolinas. I was only too happy to approve this; for if +successful, it promised every advantage. His march through Georgia had +thoroughly destroyed all lines of transportation in that State, and had +completely cut the enemy off from all sources of supply to the west of +it. If North and South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as +capacity for feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison +at Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw supplies, +to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and, although that +section of the country was fertile, it was already well exhausted of +both forage and food. I approved Sherman's suggestion therefore at +once. + +The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load the +wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long distance. Sherman +would now have to march through a country furnishing fewer provisions +than that he had previously been operating in during his march to the +sea. Besides, he was confronting, or marching toward, a force of the +enemy vastly superior to any his troops had encountered on their +previous march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now +become of such vast importance to the very existence of the Confederate +army, that the most desperate efforts were to be expected in order to +save it. + +Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to start +with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who commanded that part +of the navy on the South Carolina and Georgia coast, and General Foster, +commanding the troops, to take positions, and hold a few points on the +sea coast, which he (Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of +Charleston. + +This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea coast, +in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop his onward +progress. He also wrote me a letter, making suggestions as to what he +would like to have done in support of his movement farther north. This +letter was brought to City Point by General Barnard at a time when I +happened to be going to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of +January. I cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate +with Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than by +giving my reply to this letter. + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 21, +1865. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi. + +GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received at City +Point, and read with interest. Not having them with me, however, I +cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on all points of +recommendation. As I arrived here at one P.M., and must leave at six +P.M., having in the meantime spent over three hours with the Secretary +and General Halleck, I must be brief. Before your last request to have +Thomas make a campaign into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered +Schofield to Annapolis, Md., with his corps. The advance (six thousand) +will reach the seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly +as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps +numbers over twenty-one thousand men. I was induced to do this because +I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring. His +pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would +never do to conduct one of your campaigns. The command of the advance +of the pursuit was left to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far +behind. When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had +reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from +whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is +possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty, but he is +not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops fagged, and that it +was necessary to equip up. This report and a determination to give the +enemy no rest determined me to use his surplus troops elsewhere. + +Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to Selma +under an energetic leader. He has been telegraphed to, to know whether +he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes he would select. +No reply is yet received. Canby has been ordered to act offensively +from the sea-coast to the interior, towards Montgomery and Selma. +Thomas's forces will move from the north at an early day, or some of his +troops will be sent to Canby. Without further reinforcements Canby will +have a moving column of twenty thousand men. + +Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured. We have a force there of +eight thousand effective. At New Bern about half the number. It is +rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also has fallen. I am +inclined to believe the rumor, because on the 17th we knew the enemy +were blowing up their works about Fort Caswell, and that on the 18th +Terry moved on Wilmington. + +If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there. If not, he will be +sent to New Bern. In either event, all the surplus forces at the two +points will move to the interior toward Goldsboro' in co-operation with +your movements. From either point, railroad communications can be run +out, there being here abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of +those roads. + +There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army south. +Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, if Wilmington is +not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort Fisher having overtaken about +two thousand. + +All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in communication +with them. They will be so instructed. From about Richmond I will +watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much more, or attempts to +evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, should you be brought to a +halt anywhere, I can send two corps of thirty thousand effective men to +your support, from the troops about Richmond. + +To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the Gulf. +A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. A force of +twenty-eight or thirty thousand will co-operate with you from New Bern +or Wilmington, or both. You can call for reinforcements. + +This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will return +with any message you may have for me. If there is anything I can do for +you in the way of having supplies on ship-board, at any point on the +sea-coast, ready for you, let me know it. + +Yours truly, U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving him the +news of the battle of Nashville. He was much pleased at the result, +although, like myself, he had been very much disappointed at Thomas for +permitting Hood to cross the Tennessee River and nearly the whole State +of Tennessee, and come to Nashville to be attacked there. He, however, +as I had done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter. + +On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to Sherman and +his army passed by Congress were approved. + +Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up, +commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from the river, +and taking up all obstructions. He had then intrenched the city, so +that it could be held by a small garrison. By the middle of January all +his work was done, except the accumulation of supplies to commence his +movement with. + +He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going along by +the river of the same name, and the other by roads farther east, +threatening Charleston. He commenced the advance by moving his right +wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to Pocotaligo by water. This +column, in moving north, threatened Charleston, and, indeed, it was not +determined at first that they would have a force visit Charleston. +South Carolina had done so much to prepare the public mind of the South +for secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision of +the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it, that there +was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and also largely +entertained by people of the South, that the State of South Carolina, +and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in particular, ought to have a +heavy hand laid upon them. In fact, nothing but the decisive results +that followed, deterred the radical portion of the people from +condemning the movement, because Charleston had been left out. To pass +into the interior would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the +city, and its possession by the navy and Foster's troops. It is so +situated between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have +held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold out. +Sherman therefore passed it by. + +By the first of February all preparations were completed for the final +march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective; +Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or +neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be +determined upon. The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the left from +about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns taking a pretty +direct route for Columbia. The cavalry, however, were to threaten +Charleston on the right, and Augusta on the left. + +On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which Sherman had +received before starting out on his march. We already had New Bern and +had soon Wilmington, whose fall followed that of Fort Fisher; as did +other points on the sea coast, where the National troops were now in +readiness to co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed +Fayetteville. + +On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New Orleans, to +move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, for the purpose of +destroying roads, machine shops, etc. On the 8th of February I ordered +Sheridan, who was in the Valley of Virginia, to push forward as soon as +the weather would permit and strike the canal west of Richmond at or +about Lynchburg; and on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as +soon as the roads would permit, saying: "As soon as it is possible to +travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg +with a cavalry force alone. From there you could destroy the railroad +and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the +rebellion. * * * This additional raid, with one starting from East +Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering about four or five thousand cavalry; +one from Eastport, Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile +Bay, with about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter +pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will be wanted +to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise you to +overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston was evacuated +on Tuesday last." + +On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had received his +orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was extremely anxious to +hear of his being in Alabama. I notified him, also, that I had sent +Grierson to take command of his cavalry, he being a very efficient +officer. I further suggested that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, +and if he was there, he would find him an officer of great courage and +capacity whom it would be difficult to get by. I still further informed +him that Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into +Mississippi on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter. +This force did not get off however. + +All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's march, +the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the West from leaving +there. But neither Canby nor Thomas could be got off in time. I had +some time before depleted Thomas's army to reinforce Canby, for the +reason that Thomas had failed to start an expedition which he had been +ordered to send out, and to have the troops where they might do +something. Canby seemed to be equally deliberate in all of his +movements. I ordered him to go in person; but he prepared to send a +detachment under another officer. General Granger had got down to New +Orleans, in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put +him in command of troops. In spite of this he asked the War Department +to assign Granger to the command of a corps. + +Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the cause in +that quarter, I said to Canby: "I am in receipt of a dispatch * * * +informing me that you have made requisitions for a construction corps +and material to build seventy miles of railroad. I have directed that +none be sent. Thomas's army has been depleted to send a force to you +that they might be where they could act in winter, and at least detain +the force the enemy had in the West. If there had been any idea of +repairing railroads, it could have been done much better from the North, +where we already had the troops. I expected your movements to be +co-operative with Sherman's last. This has now entirely failed. I +wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly and to live upon the +country, and destroy railroads, machine shops, etc., not to build them. +Take Mobile and hold it, and push your forces to the interior--to +Montgomery and to Selma. Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and +everything useful for carrying on war, and, when you have done this, +take such positions as can be supplied by water. By this means alone +you can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the interior +can be kept broken." + +Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to render any +service in the direction for which they were designed. + +The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's troops +and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand men in all; +but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as I was sure would be +the case, to retard Sherman's movements. Everything possible was being +done to raise troops in the South. Lee dispatched against Sherman the +troops which had been sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including +those of the other defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, +amounted, after deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, +to fourteen thousand men. After Thomas's victory at Nashville what +remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as rapidly +as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces; and, finally, +General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest commanders of the South +though not in favor with the administration (or at least with Mr. +Davis), was put in command of all the troops in North and South +Carolina. + +Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January, but before +sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him down the coast to +see the situation of affairs, as I could give fuller directions after +being on the ground than I could very well have given without. We soon +returned, and the troops were sent by sea to Cape Fear River. Both New +Bern and Wilmington are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite +at Goldsboro. Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the +mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to secure the +Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad. This column took their pontoon +bridges with them, to enable them to cross over to the island south of +the city of Wilmington. A large body was sent by the north side to +co-operate with them. They succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of +February. I took the precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case +he should be forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching +North Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was +liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected march. I +also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a great abundance, now +that we were not operating the roads in Virginia. The gauge of the +North Carolina railroads being the same as the Virginia railroads had +been altered too; these cars and locomotives were ready for use there +without any change. + +On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to Thomas to +move south to Alabama and Georgia. (I had previously reduced his force +by sending a portion of it to Terry.) I directed in lieu of this +movement, that he should send Stoneman through East Tennessee, and push +him well down toward Columbia, South Carolina, in support of Sherman. +Thomas did not get Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I +had supposed he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his +being in Louisville, Kentucky. I immediately changed the order, and +directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg. Finally, however, on the +12th of March, he did push down through the north-western end of South +Carolina, creating some consternation. I also ordered Thomas to send +the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and to destroy no more roads east +of that. I also directed him to concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with +a view to a probable movement of his army through that way toward +Lynchburg. + +Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah. Sherman's +march was without much incident until he entered Columbia, on the 17th +of February. He was detained in his progress by having to repair and +corduroy the roads, and rebuild the bridges. There was constant +skirmishing and fighting between the cavalry of the two armies, but this +did not retard the advance of the infantry. Four days, also, were lost +in making complete the destruction of the most important railroads south +of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, and the +destruction of the bridges on the line of the road. A formidable river +had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in the face of a small +garrison under General Wade Hampton. There was but little delay, +however, further than that caused by high water in the stream. Hampton +left as Sherman approached, and the city was found to be on fire. + +There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in discussions +of the question as to who set Columbia on fire. Sherman denies it on the +part of his troops, and Hampton denies it on the part of the +Confederates. One thing is certain: as soon as our troops took +possession, they at once proceeded to extinguish the flames to the best +of their ability with the limited means at hand. In any case, the +example set by the Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, +Pa., a town which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of +the act of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible +for the conflict then raging, not imperative. + +The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took +possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the National +forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making terms for the +protection of property, etc. Sherman paid no attention at all to the +overture, but pushed forward and took the town without making any +conditions whatever with its citizens. He then, however, co-operated +with the mayor in extinguishing the flames and providing for the people +who were rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes. When he +left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to be +distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some arrangement +could be made for their future supplies. He remained in Columbia until +the roads, public buildings, workshops and everything that could be +useful to the enemy were destroyed. While at Columbia, Sherman learned +for the first time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting +him, under the command of General Beauregard. + +Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster garrisoned +the place. Wilmington was captured on the 22d. Columbia and Cheraw +farther north, were regarded as so secure from invasion that the wealthy +people of Charleston and Augusta had sent much of their valuable +property to these two points to be stored. Among the goods sent there +were valuable carpets, tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture. +I am afraid much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops. +There was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery, +small-arms and fixed ammunition. These, of course were among the +articles destroyed. While here, Sherman also learned of Johnston's +restoration to command. The latter was given, as already stated, all +troops in North and South Carolina. After the completion of the +destruction of public property about Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his +march and reached Cheraw without any special opposition and without +incident to relate. The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed +on the way. Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on +the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced straight +for Fayetteville. Hardee and Hampton were there, and barely escaped. +Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of March. He had dispatched +scouts from Cheraw with letters to General Terry, at Wilmington, asking +him to send a steamer with some supplies of bread, clothing and other +articles which he enumerated. The scouts got through successfully, and +a boat was sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had +asked as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those +stores did not contain clothing. + +Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for Goldsboro. +The march, now, had to be made with great caution, for he was +approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that still remained open +to the enemy. Besides, he was confronting all that he had had to +confront in his previous march up to that point, reinforced by the +garrisons along the road and by what remained of Hood's army. Frantic +appeals were made to the people to come in voluntarily and swell the +ranks of our foe. I presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all +over 35,000 or 40,000 men. The people had grown tired of the war, and +desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous than the +voluntary accessions. + +There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between Johnston's +troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at Bentonville on the 19th and +21st of March, but Johnston withdrew from the contest before the morning +of the 22d. Sherman's loss in these last engagements in killed, +wounded, and missing, was about sixteen hundred. Sherman's troops at +last reached Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; +and there his men were destined to have a long rest. Schofield was +there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to Wilmington. + +Sherman was no longer in danger. He had Johnston confronting him; but +with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers and morale. He +had Lee to the north of him with a force largely superior; but I was +holding Lee with a still greater force, and had he made his escape and +gotten down to reinforce Johnston, Sherman, with the reinforcements he +now had from Schofield and Terry, would have been able to hold the +Confederates at bay for an indefinite period. He was near the sea-shore +with his back to it, and our navy occupied the harbors. He had a +railroad to both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly +protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country and +deepen as they approach the sea. Then, too, Sherman knew that if Lee +should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and Johnson together +would be crushed in one blow if they attempted to make a stand. With +the loss of their capital, it is doubtful whether Lee's army would have +amounted to much as an army when it reached North Carolina. Johnston's +army was demoralized by constant defeat and would hardly have made an +offensive movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on +duty. The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like their +brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man is so brave +that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as to discourage him and +dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter how just he deems it. + + + +CHAPTER LXIII. + +ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS +--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS +THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE +--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF WHITE OAK ROAD. + +On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the so-called +Confederate States presented themselves on our lines around Petersburg, +and were immediately conducted to my headquarters at City Point. They +proved to be Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, +Judge Campbell, Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly +United States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate. + +It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at once +conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River boat which was +very comfortably fitted up for the use of passengers. I at once +communicated by telegraph with Washington and informed the Secretary of +War and the President of the arrival of these commissioners and that +their object was to negotiate terms of peace between he United States +and, as they termed it, the Confederate Government. I was instructed to +retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom he +would designate, should come to meet them. They remained several days +as guests on board the boat. I saw them quite frequently, though I have +no recollection of having had any conversation whatever with them on the +subject of their mission. It was something I had nothing to do with, +and I therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject. For +my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit, that +they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT. There had been too great +a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything of the kind. As long +as they remained there, however, our relations were pleasant and I found +them all very agreeable gentlemen. I directed the captain to furnish +them with the best the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort +in every way possible. No guard was placed over them and no restriction +was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked that they +would not abuse the privileges extended to them. They were permitted to +leave the boat when they felt like it, and did so, coming up on the bank +and visiting me at my headquarters. + +I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but knew them +well by reputation and through their public services, and I had been a +particular admirer of Mr. Stephens. I had always supposed that he was a +very small man, but when I saw him in the dusk of the evening I was very +much surprised to find so large a man as he seemed to be. When he got +down on to the boat I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen +overcoat, a manufacture that had been introduced into the South during +the rebellion. The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I had +ever seen, even in Canada. The overcoat extended nearly to his feet, +and was so large that it gave him the appearance of being an +average-sized man. He took this off when he reached the cabin of the +boat, and I was struck with the apparent change in size, in the coat and +out of it. + +After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a dispatch from +Washington, directing me to send the commissioners to Hampton Roads to +meet the President and a member of the cabinet. Mr. Lincoln met them +there and had an interview of short duration. It was not a great while +after they met that the President visited me at City Point. He spoke of +his having met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there +would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they would +recognize, first: that the Union as a whole must be forever preserved, +and second: that slavery must be abolished. If they were willing to +concede these two points, then he was ready to enter into negotiations +and was almost willing to hand them a blank sheet of paper with his +signature attached for them to fill in the terms upon which they were +willing to live with us in the Union and be one people. He always +showed a generous and kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I +never heard him abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about +President Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the +heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful disposition +and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he seemed glad to get +away from the cares and anxieties of the capital. + +Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. It was on the +occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the peace +commissioners at Hampton Roads. After a little conversation, he asked +me if I had seen that overcoat of Stephens's. I replied that I had. +"Well," said he, "did you see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," +said he, "didn't you think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear +that ever you did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the +Confederate General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. +He repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens laughed +immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln. + +The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace commissioners, +passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for two or three little +incidents. On one occasion during this period, while I was visiting +Washington City for the purpose of conferring with the administration, +the enemy's cavalry under General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left +and then going to the south, got in east of us. Before their presence +was known, they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were +grazing in that section. It was a fair capture, and they were +sufficiently needed by the Confederates. It was only retaliating for +what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a time, when out of +supplies taking what the Confederate army otherwise would have gotten. +As appears in this book, on one single occasion we captured five +thousand head of cattle which were crossing the Mississippi River near +Port Hudson on their way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in +the East. + +One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the rebellion +was the last few weeks before Petersburg. I felt that the situation of +the Confederate army was such that they would try to make an escape at +the earliest practicable moment, and I was afraid, every morning, that I +would awake from my sleep to hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing +was left but a picket line. He had his railroad by the way of Danville +south, and I was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores +and ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him for +his immediate defence. I knew he could move much more lightly and more +rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start, he would leave me behind +so that we would have the same army to fight again farther south and the +war might be prolonged another year. + +I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it was +possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where they were. +There is no doubt that Richmond would have been evacuated much sooner +than it was, if it had not been that it was the capital of the so-called +Confederacy, and the fact of evacuating the capital would, of course, +have had a very demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army. When it +was evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once +began to crumble and fade away. Then, too, desertions were taking +place, not only among those who were with General Lee in the +neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole Confederacy. I +remember that in a conversation with me on one occasion long prior to +this, General Butler remarked that the Confederates would find great +difficulty in getting more men for their army; possibly adding, though I +am not certain as to this, "unless they should arm the slave." + +The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied man +between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they had passed a +law for the further conscription of boys from fourteen to eighteen, +calling them the junior reserves, and men from forty-five to sixty to be +called the senior reserves. The latter were to hold the necessary +points not in immediate danger, and especially those in the rear. +General Butler, in alluding to this conscription, remarked that they +were thus "robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I +afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn. + +It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits they +were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout the entire +army, by desertions alone. Then by casualties of war, sickness, and +other natural causes, their losses were much heavier. It was a mere +question of arithmetic to calculate how long they could hold out while +that rate of depletion was going on. Of course long before their army +would be thus reduced to nothing the army which we had in the field +would have been able to capture theirs. Then too I knew from the great +number of desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so +gallantly and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as +earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which they +were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent. Many of them were +making application to be sent North where they might get employment +until the war was over, when they could return to their Southern homes. + +For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for the time +to come when I could commence the spring campaign, which I thoroughly +believed would close the war. + +There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and which +detained me. One was the fact that the winter had been one of heavy +rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery and teams. It was +necessary to wait until they had dried sufficiently to enable us to move +the wagon trains and artillery necessary to the efficiency of an army +operating in the enemy's country. The other consideration was that +General Sheridan with the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was +operating on the north side of the James River, having come down from +the Shenandoah. It was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, +and I was therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the +James River. + +Let us now take account of what he was doing. + +On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan. He had met Early between +Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing nearly his +entire command. Early and some of his officers escaped by finding +refuge in the neighboring houses or in the woods. + +On the 12th I heard from him again. He had turned east, to come to +White House. He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because the rains +had been so very heavy and the streams were so very much swollen. He +had a pontoon train with him, but it would not reach half way across +some of the streams, at their then stage of water, which he would have +to get over in going south as first ordered. + +I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the depot +there open until he arrived. We had intended to abandon it because the +James River had now become our base of supplies. + +Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into two +divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin. General Merritt +was acting as chief of cavalry. Sheridan moved very light, carrying +only four days' provisions with him, with a larger supply of coffee, +salt and other small rations, and a very little else besides ammunition. +They stopped at Charlottesville and commenced tearing up the railroad +back toward Lynchburg. He also sent a division along the James River +Canal to destroy locks, culverts etc. All mills and factories along the +lines of march of his troops were destroyed also. + +Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a march +to White House was now somewhat hazardous. He determined therefore to +fight his way along the railroad and canal till he was as near to +Richmond as it was possible to get, or until attacked. He did this, +destroying the canal as far as Goochland, and the railroad to a point as +near Richmond as he could get. On the 10th he was at Columbia. Negroes +had joined his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they +assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads and the +canal. His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when he started, +because he had been able to find plenty of forage. He had captured most +of Early's horses and picked up a good many others on the road. When he +reached Ashland he was assailed by the enemy in force. He resisted +their assault with part of his command, moved quickly across the South +and North Anna, going north, and reached White House safely on the 19th. + +The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to the time +he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was. Supplies had to be +got up to him which would last him through a long march, as there would +probably not be much to be obtained in the country through which he +would pass. I had to arrange, therefore, that he should start from +where he was, in the neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the +earliest day at which he supposed he could be ready. + +Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he could come +up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined to move as soon as +the roads and weather would admit of my doing so. I had been tied down +somewhat in the matter of fixing any time at my pleasure for starting, +until Sheridan, who was on his way from the Shenandoah Valley to join +me, should arrive, as both his presence and that of his cavalry were +necessary to the execution of the plans which I had in mind. However, +having arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to +make my plans. + +Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night before I was +aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into North Carolina to join +with Johnston in attempting to crush out Sherman, I had, as early as the +1st of the month of March, given instructions to the troops around +Petersburg to keep a sharp lookout to see that such a movement should +not escape their notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was +undertaken. + +It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and General +Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in and about and +Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no longer tenable for them, +and that they must get away as soon as possible. They, too, were +waiting for dry roads, or a condition of the roads which would make it +possible to move. + +General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider opening +to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater security than he +would have in the way the two armies were situated, determined upon an +assault upon the right of our lines around Petersburg. The night of the +24th of March was fixed upon for this assault, and General Gordon was +assigned to the execution of the plan. The point between Fort Stedman +and Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was selected +as the point of his attack. The attack was to be made at night, and the +troops were to get possession of the higher ground in the rear where +they supposed we had intrenchments, then sweep to the right and left, +create a panic in the lines of our army, and force me to contract my +lines. Lee hoped this would detain me a few days longer and give him an +opportunity of escape. The plan was well conceived and the execution of +it very well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our +line. + +Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the point at +which they were to make their charge, and got possession of our +picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of the troops inside of our +main line of intrenchments; this reduced the distance he would have to +charge over to not much more than fifty yards. For some time before the +deserters had been coming in with great frequency, often bringing their +arms with them, and this the Confederate general knew. Taking advantage +of this knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through +to ours as if to desert. When they got to our lines they at once took +possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In the main +line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great security. This plan +was to have been executed and much damage done before daylight; but the +troops that were to reinforce Gordon had to be brought from the north +side of the James River and, by some accident on the railroad on their +way over, they were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to +be nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge. + +The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the enemy +passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery No. 10. Then +turning to the right and left they captured the fort and the battery, +with all the arms and troops in them. Continuing the charge, they also +carried batteries Eleven and Twelve to our left, which they turned +toward City Point. + +Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in his +line cut him off from all communication with his headquarters. Parke, +however, commanding the 9th corps when this breach took place, +telegraphed the facts to Meade's headquarters, and learning that the +general was away, assumed command himself and with commendable +promptitude made all preparations to drive the enemy back. General +Tidball gathered a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them +in rear of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground +between the lines very thoroughly. Hartranft was soon out with his +division, as also was Willcox. Hartranft to the right of the breach +headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly drove them back into +Fort Stedman. On the other side they were driven back into the +intrenchments which they had captured, and batteries eleven and twelve +were retaken by Willcox early in the morning. + +Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and +batteries, and communication was once more established. The artillery +fire was kept up so continuously that it was impossible for the +Confederates to retreat, and equally impossible for reinforcements to +join them. They all, therefore, fell captives into our hands. This +effort of Lee's cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their +killing, wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours. + +After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates, our +troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched picket line, +which they strengthened and held. This, in turn, gave us but a short +distance to charge over when our attack came to be made a few days +later. + +The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack (24th of +March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence on the 29th. +Ord, with three divisions of infantry and Mackenzie's cavalry, was to +move in advance on the night of the 27th, from the north side of the +James River and take his place on our extreme left, thirty miles away. +He left Weitzel with the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda +Hundred and the north of the James River. The engineer brigade was to +be left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about Petersburg. +(*42) + +Ord was at his place promptly. Humphreys and Warren were then on our +extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps. They were directed on the +arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position in their places, to +cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west toward Five Forks, the object +being to get into a position from which we could strike the South Side +Railroad and ultimately the Danville Railroad. There was considerable +fighting in taking up these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in +which the Army of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the +losses were quite severe. + +This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road. + + + +CHAPTER LXIV. + +INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC +--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS--PARKE AND +WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE PETERSBURG. + +Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March. His horses, of +course, were jaded and many of them had lost their shoes. A few days of +rest were necessary to recuperate the animals and also to have them shod +and put in condition for moving. Immediately on General Sheridan's +arrival at City Point I prepared his instructions for the move which I +had decided upon. The movement was to commence on the 29th of the +month. + +After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked out of +my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with him by himself +--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a member of my staff. In +preparing his instructions I contemplated just what took place; that is +to say, capturing Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and +Richmond and terminating the contest before separating from the enemy. +But the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the +prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never terminate +except by compromise. Knowing that unless my plan proved an entire +success it would be interpreted as a disastrous defeat, I provided in +these instructions that in a certain event he was to cut loose from the +Army of the Potomac and his base of supplies, and living upon the +country proceed south by the way of the Danville Railroad, or near it, +across the Roanoke, get in the rear of Johnston, who was guarding that +road, and cooperate with Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these +combined forces to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already +had received, to act in cooperation with the armies around Petersburg +and Richmond. + +I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed somewhat +disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut loose again from +the Army of the Potomac, and place himself between the two main armies +of the enemy. I said to him: "General, this portion of your +instructions I have put in merely as a blind;" and gave him the reason +for doing so, heretofore described. I told him that, as a matter of +fact, I intended to close the war right here, with this movement, and +that he should go no farther. His face at once brightened up, and +slapping his hand on his leg he said: "I am glad to hear it, and we can +do it." + +Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks until +he got further instructions from me. + +One day, after the movement I am about to describe had commenced, and +when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far to the rear, south, +Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters were then established, at +Dabney's Mills. He met some of my staff officers outside, and was +highly jubilant over the prospects of success, giving reasons why he +believed this would prove the final and successful effort. Although my +chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our position +about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he asked Sheridan +to come in to see me and say to me what he had been saying to them. +Sheridan felt a little modest about giving his advice where it had not +been asked; so one of my staff came in and told me that Sheridan had +what they considered important news, and suggested that I send for him. +I did so, and was glad to see the spirit of confidence with which he was +imbued. Knowing as I did from experience, of what great value that +feeling of confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a +movement at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen +after I had started out the roads were still very heavy. Orders were +given accordingly. + +Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having been a few +days free from rain, the surface of the ground was dry, giving +indications that the time had come when we could move. On that date I +moved out with all the army available after leaving sufficient force to +hold the line about Petersburg. It soon set in raining again however, +and in a very short time the roads became practically impassable for +teams, and almost so for cavalry. Sometimes a horse or mule would be +standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot would +sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all his feet would +sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of the quicksands so +common in that part of Virginia and other southern States. It became +necessary therefore to build corduroy roads every foot of the way as we +advanced, to move our artillery upon. The army had become so accustomed +to this kind of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done +very rapidly. The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient progress +to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan with his cavalry +over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then come up by the road leading +north-west to Five Forks, thus menacing the right of Lee's line. + +This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to the +west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, or Five +Forks. The column moving detached from the army still in the trenches +was, excluding the cavalry, very small. The forces in the trenches were +themselves extending to the left flank. Warren was on the extreme left +when the extension began, but Humphreys was marched around later and +thrown into line between him and Five Forks. + +My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get on the +enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken their centre to +protect their right so that an assault in the centre might be +successfully made. General Wright's corps had been designated to make +this assault, which I intended to order as soon as information reached +me of Sheridan's success. He was to move under cover as close to the +enemy as he could get. + +It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to be to +get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville Railroad, as +soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on the 29th. These roads +were so important to his very existence while he remained in Richmond +and Petersburg, and of such vital importance to him even in case of +retreat, that naturally he would make most strenuous efforts to defend +them. He did on the 30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce +Five Forks. He also sent around to the right of his army some two or +three other divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in +readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on call. He +came over himself to superintend in person the defence of his right +flank. + +Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the 30th, +and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks. He had only his +cavalry with him. Soon encountering the rebel cavalry he met with a +very stout resistance. He gradually drove them back however until in +the neighborhood of Five Forks. Here he had to encounter other troops +besides those he had been contending with, and was forced to give way. + +In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken place and +stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie gradually and slowly, +and asked me to send Wright's corps to his assistance. I replied to him +that it was impossible to send Wright's corps because that corps was +already in line close up to the enemy, where we should want to assault +when the proper time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but +the 2d (Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left +and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the left flank +of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send Warren. + +Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that night (the +31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in communication with +Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to him. He was very slow in +moving, some of his troops not starting until after 5 o'clock next +morning. When he did move it was done very deliberately, and on +arriving at Gravelly Run he found the stream swollen from the recent +rains so that he regarded it as not fordable. Sheridan of course knew +of his coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as +possible, sent orders to him to hasten. He was also hastened or at +least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade. He now felt that he +could not cross that creek without bridges, and his orders were changed +to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in flank or get in their +rear; but he was so late in getting up that Sheridan determined to move +forward without him. However, Ayres's division of Warren's corps +reached him in time to be in the fight all day, most of the time +separated from the remainder of the 5th corps and fighting directly +under Sheridan. + +Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the whole +of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until late in the +afternoon. Griffin's division in backing to get out of the way of a +severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching away from the +fighting. This did not continue long, however; the division was brought +back and with Ayres's division did most excellent service during the +day. Crawford's division of the same corps had backed still farther +off, and although orders were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was +late before it finally got to where it could be of material assistance. +Once there it did very excellent service. + +Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little later, in +advancing up to the point from which to make his designed assault upon +Five Forks itself. He was very impatient to make the assault and have +it all over before night, because the ground he occupied would be +untenable for him in bivouac during the night. Unless the assault was +made and was successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie +Court-House, or even further than that for the night. + +It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get +Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren. He sent staff +officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing that general +to report to him, but they were unable to find him. At all events +Sheridan was unable to get that officer to him. Finally he went +himself. He issued an order relieving Warren and assigning Griffin to +the command of the 5th corps. The troops were then brought up and the +assault successfully made. + +I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in the +battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach Sheridan in time, +that I was very much afraid that at the last moment he would fail +Sheridan. He was a man of fine intelligence, great earnestness, quick +perception, and could make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, +under difficulties where he was forced to act. But I had before +discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very +prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just before +us. He could see every danger at a glance before he had encountered it. +He would not only make preparations to meet the danger which might +occur, but he would inform his commanding officer what others should do +while he was executing his move. + +I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his attention to +these defects, and to say that as much as I liked General Warren, now +was not a time when we could let our personal feelings for any one stand +in the way of success; and if his removal was necessary to success, not +to hesitate. It was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed +Warren. I was very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still +more that I had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another +field of duty. + +It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the parapets of the +enemy. The two armies were mingled together there for a time in such +manner that it was almost a question which one was going to demand the +surrender of the other. Soon, however, the enemy broke and ran in every +direction; some six thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms +in large quantities, falling into our hands. The flying troops were +pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under +Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west. + +This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when Sheridan +halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of the part of the +enemy's line which had been captured, returned, sending the 5th corps +across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of Petersburg, and facing them +toward it. Merritt, with the cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of +Five Forks. + +This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the 1st of +April. I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and Parke at four +o'clock on the morning of the 2d. I also ordered the 2d corps, General +Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army of the James, on the left, to +hold themselves in readiness to take any advantage that could be taken +from weakening in their front. + +I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day; in fact +I had reported to him during the day and evening as I got news, because +he was so much interested in the movements taking place that I wanted to +relieve his mind as much as I could. I notified Weitzel on the north +side of the James River, directing him, also, to keep close up to the +enemy, and take advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to +promptly enter the city of Richmond. + +I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks as of so +much importance that he would make a last desperate effort to retake it, +risking everything upon the cast of a single die. It was for this +reason that I had ordered the assault to take place at once, as soon as +I had received the news of the capture of Five Forks. The corps +commanders, however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not +see to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But we +kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the whole line +including that north of the James River, until it was light enough to +move, which was about a quarter to five in the morning. + +At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, brushed +the abatis from their front as they advanced under a heavy fire of +musketry and artillery, and went without flinching directly on till they +mounted the parapets and threw themselves inside of the enemy's line. +Parke, who was on the right, swept down to the right and captured a very +considerable length of line in that direction, but at that point the +outer was so near the inner line which closely enveloped the city of +Petersburg that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a +very serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the defence +of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in this. + +Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run, sweeping +everything before him. The enemy had traverses in rear of his captured +line, under cover of which he made something of a stand, from one to +another, as Wright moved on; but the latter met no serious obstacle. As +you proceed to the left the outer line becomes gradually much farther +from the inner one, and along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly +two miles apart. Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of +artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of them. + +In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the instructions they +had received, had succeeded by daylight, or very early in the morning, +in capturing the intrenched picket-lines in their front; and before +Wright got up to that point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of +the enemy's intrenchments. The second corps soon followed; and the +outer works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops, +never to be wrenched from them again. When Wright reached Hatcher's +Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side Railroad just outside +of the city. + +My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills. As soon as I received +the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches announcing the fact to +all points around the line, including the troops at Bermuda Hundred and +those on the north side of the James, and to the President at City +Point. Further dispatches kept coming in, and as they did I sent the +additional news to these points. Finding at length that they were all +in, I mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works. +When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as Wright's +three thousand prisoners were coming out. I was soon joined inside by +General Meade and his staff. + +Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost ground. +Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but repulsed every effort. +Before noon Longstreet was ordered up from the north side of the James +River thus bringing the bulk of Lee's army around to the support of his +extreme right. As soon as I learned this I notified Weitzel and +directed him to keep up close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, +commanding the Bermuda Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they +found any break to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this +would separate Richmond and Petersburg. + +Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to Petersburg, +coming in on our left. This gave us a continuous line from the +Appomattox River below the city to the same river above. At eleven +o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I reinforced Parke with two +brigades from City Point. With this additional force he completed his +captured works for better defence, and built back from his right, so as +to protect his flank. He also carried in and made an abatis between +himself and the enemy. Lee brought additional troops and artillery +against Parke even after this was done, and made several assaults with +very heavy losses. + +The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to +Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and Fort +Whitworth. We thought it had now become necessary to carry them by +assault. About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was assaulted by +Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's), supported by two +brigades from Ord's command. The battle was desperate and the National +troops were repulsed several times; but it was finally carried, and +immediately the troops in Fort Whitworth evacuated the place. The guns +of Fort Gregg were turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding +officer with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered. + +I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan. In moving to +execute this order he came upon the enemy at the intersection of the +White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road. The enemy fell back to +Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and were followed by Miles. +This position, naturally a strong and defensible one, was also strongly +intrenched. Sheridan now came up and Miles asked permission from him to +make the assault, which Sheridan gave. By this time Humphreys had got +through the outer works in his front, and came up also and assumed +command over Miles, who commanded a division in his corps. I had sent +an order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards Petersburg. +This order he now got, and started off, thus leaving Miles alone. The +latter made two assaults, both of which failed, and he had to fall back +a few hundred yards. + +Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed Humphreys +to send a division back to his relief. He went himself. + +Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent Merritt +with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate cavalry that had +assembled there. Merritt drove them north to the Appomattox River. +Sheridan then took the enemy at Sutherland Station on the reverse side +from where Miles was, and the two together captured the place, with a +large number of prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the +remainder, portions of three Confederate corps, to flight. Sheridan +followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was stopped. +Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he with Sheridan had +carried so handsomely by assault. I cannot explain the situation here +better than by giving my dispatch to City Point that evening: + + +BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG, April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M. + +COLONEL T. S. BOWERS, City Point. + +We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few hours +will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to the river +above. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of them as were not +captured, were cut off from town, either designedly on their part or +because they could not help it. Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps +is above them. Miles's division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak +Road to Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met +them, and at last accounts was engaged with them. Not knowing whether +Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was sent with another +division from here. The whole captures since the army started out +gunning will amount to not less than twelve thousand men, and probably +fifty pieces of artillery. I do not know the number of men and guns +accurately however. * * * I think the President might come out and pay +us a visit tomorrow. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the river +above to the river below. I ordered a bombardment to be commenced the +next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an assault at six o'clock; +but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early in the morning. + + + +CHAPTER LXV. + +THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN PETERSBURG--THE +CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE. + +General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d and took +a position under cover of a house which protected us from the enemy's +musketry which was flying thick and fast there. As we would +occasionally look around the corner we could see the streets and the +Appomattox bottom, presumably near the bridge, packed with the +Confederate army. I did not have artillery brought up, because I was +sure Lee was trying to make his escape, and I wanted to push immediately +in pursuit. At all events I had not the heart to turn the artillery +upon such a mass of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture +them soon. + +Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man came in +who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of Northern +Virginia. He said that Lee had for some time been at work preparing a +strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he would throw himself when +forced out of Petersburg, and fight his final battle there; that he was +actually at that time drawing his troops from Richmond, and falling back +into this prepared work. This statement was made to General Meade and +myself when we were together. I had already given orders for the +movement up the south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading +off Lee; but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he +thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move against +Lee in his new position. I knew that Lee was no fool, as he would have +been to have put himself and his army between two formidable streams +like the James and Appomattox rivers, and between two such armies as +those of the Potomac and the James. Then these streams coming together +as they did to the east of him, it would be only necessary to close up +in the west to have him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or +possibility of reinforcement. It would only have been a question of +days, and not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him +by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to surrender +his army. Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war to deceive your +antagonist. My judgment was that Lee would necessarily have to evacuate +Richmond, and that the only course for him to pursue would be to follow +the Danville Road. Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that +road south of Lee, and I told Meade this. He suggested that if Lee was +going that way we would follow him. My reply was that we did not want +to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut him off, and if he +would only stay in the position he (Meade) believed him to be in at that +time, I wanted nothing better; that when we got in possession of the +Danville Railroad, at its crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still +found him between the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward +and close him up. That we would then have all the advantage we could +possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg, even if he +remained in the position assigned him by the engineer officer. + +I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so as to +start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning, supposing that +Lee would be gone during the night. During the night I strengthened +Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps. + +Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond, during the +day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it would be impossible +for him to hold out longer than night, if he could hold out that long. +Davis was at church when he received Lee's dispatch. The congregation +was dismissed with the notice that there would be no evening service. +The rebel government left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of +the 2d. + +At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court House, his +object being to get away, join Johnston if possible, and to try to crush +Sherman before I could get there. As soon as I was sure of this I +notified Sheridan and directed him to move out on the Danville Railroad +to the south side of the Appomattox River as speedily as possible. He +replied that he already had some of his command nine miles out. I then +ordered the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the +same road in the morning. Parke's corps followed by the same road, and +the Army of the James was directed to follow the road which ran +alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's Station, and to repair +the railroad and telegraph as they proceeded. That road was a 5 feet +gauge, while our rolling stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; +consequently the rail on one side of the track had to be taken up +throughout the whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of +our cars and locomotives. + +Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some days. +I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only while I felt a +strong conviction that the move was going to be successful, yet it might +not prove so; and then I would have only added another to the many +disappointments he had been suffering for the past three years. But +when we started out he saw that we were moving for a purpose, and +bidding us Godspeed, remained there to hear the result. + +The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed Mr. +Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I would await his +arrival. I had started all the troops out early in the morning, so that +after the National army left Petersburg there was not a soul to be seen, +not even an animal in the streets. There was absolutely no one there, +except my staff officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry. We +had selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until the +President arrived. + +About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm +congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and to the +army which had accomplished it, was: "Do you know, general, that I have +had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days that you intended to do +something like this." Our movements having been successful up to this +point, I no longer had any object in concealing from the President all +my movements, and the objects I had in view. He remained for some days +near City Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by +telegraph. + +Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join me at a +fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's army. I told him +that I had been very anxious to have the Eastern armies vanquish their +old enemy who had so long resisted all their repeated and gallant +attempts to subdue them or drive them from their capital. The Western +armies had been in the main successful until they had conquered all the +territory from the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and +were now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking +admittance. I said to him that if the Western armies should be even +upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the credit would be +given to them for the capture, by politicians and non-combatants from +the section of country which those troops hailed from. It might lead to +disagreeable bickerings between members of Congress of the East and +those of the West in some of their debates. Western members might be +throwing it up to the members of the East that in the suppression of the +rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to accomplish much +in the way of contributing toward that end, but had to wait until the +Western armies had conquered all the territory south and west of them, +and then come on to help them capture the only army they had been +engaged with. + +Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it before, +because his anxiety was so great that he did not care where the aid came +from so the work was done. + +The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four years' +record in the suppression of the rebellion. The army it had to fight +was the protection to the capital of a people which was attempting to +found a nation upon the territory of the United States. Its loss would +be the loss of the cause. Every energy, therefore, was put forth by the +Confederacy to protect and maintain their capital. Everything else +would go if it went. Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to +maintain its position, no matter what territory was wrested from the +South in another quarter. + +I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between the +soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has been none +between the politicians. Possibly I am the only one who thought of the +liability of such a state of things in advance. + +When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his horse and +started on his return to City Point, while I and my staff started to +join the army, now a good many miles in advance. Up to this time I had +not received the report of the capture of Richmond. + +Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from General +Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession of Richmond at +about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day, the 3d, and that he had +found the city on fire in two places. The city was in the most utter +confusion. The authorities had taken the precaution to empty all the +liquor into the gutter, and to throw out the provisions which the +Confederate government had left, for the people to gather up. The city +had been deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any +notice whatever that they were about to leave. In fact, up to the very +hour of the evacuation the people had been led to believe that Lee had +gained an important victory somewhere around Petersburg. + +Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in Lee's army, +there being still a great many men and even officers in the town. The +city was on fire. Our troops were directed to extinguish the flames, +which they finally succeeded in doing. The fire had been started by some +one connected with the retreating army. All authorities deny that it +was authorized, and I presume it was the work of excited men who were +leaving what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it +was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of their +enemy. Be that as it may, the National troops found the city in flames, +and used every effort to extinguish them. + +The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them, were cut +off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued by our cavalry +so hotly and closely that they threw away caissons, ammunition, +clothing, and almost everything to lighten their loads, and pushed along +up the Appomattox River until finally they took water and crossed over. + +I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join the +command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine miles out. We +had still time to march as much farther, and time was an object; but the +roads were bad and the trains belonging to the advance corps had blocked +up the road so that it was impossible to get on. Then, again, our +cavalry had struck some of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the +orders were that the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever +they appeared. This caused further delay. + +General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which were left +back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into bivouac and trying +to get up some rations for them, and clearing out the road, so that when +they did start they would be uninterrupted. Humphreys, who was far +ahead, was also out of rations. They did not succeed in getting them up +through the night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were +so elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a +victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations to +running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them. So the march +was resumed at three o'clock in the morning. + +Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven them +north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were forced to +cross. + +On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations up from +Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to meet him at +Farmville. This showed that Lee had already abandoned the idea of +following the railroad down to Danville, but had determined to go +farther west, by the way of Farmville. I notified Sheridan of this and +directed him to get possession of the road before the supplies could +reach Lee. He responded that he had already sent Crook's division to +get upon the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face +north and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought +Crook must be there now. The bulk of the army moved directly for +Jetersville by two roads. + +After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that Crook was on +the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to make a forced march +with the Army of the Potomac, and to send Parke's corps across from the +road they were on to the South Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the +Army of the James and to protect the railroad which that army was +repairing as it went along. + +Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph office, +they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred thousand rations +from Danville. The dispatch had not been sent, but Sheridan sent a +special messenger with it to Burkesville and had it forwarded from +there. In the meantime, however, dispatches from other sources had +reached Danville, and they knew there that our army was on the line of +the road; so that they sent no further supplies from that quarter. + +At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off between +the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on and the +Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in flank. They picked up +a great many prisoners and forced the abandonment of some property. + +Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his advance north +of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect forage. The country +was very poor and afforded but very little. His foragers scattered a +great deal; many of them were picked up by our men, and many others +never returned to the Army of Northern Virginia. + +Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of Jetersville, +and Sheridan notified me of the situation. I again ordered Meade up +with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one corps of infantry with a +little cavalry confronting Lee's entire army. Meade, always prompt in +obeying orders, now pushed forward with great energy, although he was +himself sick and hardly able to be out of bed. Humphreys moved at two, +and Wright at three o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have +said, the wagons being far in the rear. + +I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side Railroad. On +the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of the progress Meade was +making, and suggested that he might now attack Lee. We had now no other +objective than the Confederate armies, and I was anxious to close the +thing up at once. + +On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about ten +miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I then +received from Sheridan the following dispatch: + +"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and on this +side of it. General Davies, whom I sent out to Painesville on their +right flank, has just captured six pieces of artillery and some wagons. +We can capture the Army of Northern Virginia if force enough can be +thrown to this point, and then advance upon it. My cavalry was at +Burkesville yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last +night. General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person. They are out of +rations, or nearly so. They were advancing up the railroad towards +Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them at this point." + +It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to his +provisions. + +Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards +Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him. Davies +found the movement had already commenced. He attacked and drove away +their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the west, capturing and +burning 180 wagons. He also captured five pieces of artillery. The +Confederate infantry then moved against him and probably would have +handled him very roughly, but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of +cavalry to follow Davies, and they came to his relief in time. A sharp +engagement took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the +enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed. + +Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the afternoon, +but in advance of all his troops. The head of Humphreys's corps +followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan stationed the troops as +they came up, at Meade's request, the latter still being very sick. He +extended two divisions of this corps off to the west of the road to the +left of Griffin's corps, and one division to the right. The cavalry by +this time had also come up, and they were put still farther off to the +left, Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the +enemy intended to escape. He wanted to attack, feeling that if time was +given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented this, preferring to +wait till his troops were all up. + +At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed to him +by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he wished I was +there myself. The letter was dated Amelia Court House, April 5th, and +signed by Colonel Taylor. It was to his mother, and showed the +demoralization of the Confederate army. Sheridan's note also gave me the +information as here related of the movements of that day. I received a +second message from Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more +emphatically the importance of my presence. This was brought to me by a +scout in gray uniform. It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up +in tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in. This was a precaution +taken so that if the scout should be captured he could take this +tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into his mouth, chew it. It +would cause no surprise at all to see a Confederate soldier chewing +tobacco. It was nearly night when this letter was received. I gave Ord +directions to continue his march to Burkesville and there intrench +himself for the night, and in the morning to move west to cut off all +the roads between there and Farmville. + +I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of +cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's army. The +distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being dark our progress +was slow through the woods in the absence of direct roads. However, we +got to the outposts about ten o'clock in the evening, and after some +little parley convinced the sentinels of our identity and were conducted +in to where Sheridan was bivouacked. We talked over the situation for +some little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was +trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to the +right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of escaping us and +putting us in rear of him. + +We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about +midnight. I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow the +enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders would allow +the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no doubt that Lee was +moving right then. Meade changed his orders at once. They were now +given for an advance on Amelia Court House, at an early hour in the +morning, as the army then lay; that is, the infantry being across the +railroad, most of it to the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out +still farther to the left. + + + +CHAPTER LXVI. + +BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH +GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY. + +The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the south-west +from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville Railroad bridge, and +then trends north-westerly. Sailor's Creek, an insignificant stream, +running northward, empties into the Appomattox between the High Bridge +and Jetersville. Near the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to +Lynchburg crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge. The railroad +runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles west, and +from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of it. The roads +coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross the Appomattox River +there on a bridge and run on the north side, leaving the Lynchburg and +Petersburg Railroad well to the left. + +Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of all the +roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to move upon, and +never permitted the head of his columns to stop because of any fighting +that might be going on in his rear. In this way he came very near +succeeding in getting to his provision trains and eluding us with at +least part of his army. + +As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and our +army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered them. There was +a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek was reached. Our cavalry +charged in upon a body of theirs which was escorting a wagon train in +order to get it past our left. A severe engagement ensued, in which we +captured many prisoners, and many men also were killed and wounded. +There was as much gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in +these little engagements as was displayed at any time during the war, +notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week. + +The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy engagement took +place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry were all brought into +action. Our men on the right, as they were brought in against the +enemy, came in on higher ground, and upon his flank, giving us every +advantage to be derived from the lay of the country. Our firing was +also very much more rapid, because the enemy commenced his retreat +westward and in firing as he retreated had to turn around every time he +fired. The enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded +as in captures. Some six general officers fell into our hands in this +engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners. This engagement +was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the 6th, and the retreat +and pursuit were continued until nightfall, when the armies bivouacked +upon the ground where the night had overtaken them. + +When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that morning, I +ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme right, to be moved to +the left past the whole army, to take the place of Griffin's, and +ordered the latter at the same time to move by and place itself on the +right. The object of this movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, +next to the cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously +and so efficiently in the valley of Virginia. + +The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's direct +command until after the surrender. + +Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads southward +between Burkesville and the High Bridge. On the morning of the 6th he +sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry regiments with instructions to +destroy High Bridge and to return rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he +prepared himself to resist the enemy there. Soon after Washburn had +started Ord became a little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel +Read, of his staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and +bring him back. Very shortly after this he heard that the head of Lee's +column had got up to the road between him and where Washburn now was, +and attempted to send reinforcements, but the reinforcements could not +get through. Read, however, had got through ahead of the enemy. He +rode on to Farmville and was on his way back again when he found his +return cut off, and Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's +army. Read drew his men up into line of battle, his force now +consisting of less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode +along their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the +same enthusiasm that he himself felt. He then gave the order to charge. +This little band made several charges, of course unsuccessful ones, but +inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than equal to their own entire +number. Colonel Read fell mortally wounded, and then Washburn; and at +the close of the conflict nearly every officer of the command and most +of the rank and file had been either killed or wounded. The remainder +then surrendered. The Confederates took this to be only the advance of +a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to intrench; +so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked the progress of a +strong detachment of the Confederate army. + +This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains following. +Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road bridge near the High +Bridge, and attempted to destroy it. He did set fire to it, but the +flames had made but little headway when Humphreys came up with his corps +and drove away the rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it +was being burned up. Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, +and followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at Farmville +with the one from Petersburg. Here Lee held a position which was very +strong, naturally, besides being intrenched. Humphreys was alone, +confronting him all through the day, and in a very hazardous position. +He put on a bold face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was +not assaulted in return. + +Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's Court +House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in between +Griffin and the Appomattox. Crook's division of cavalry and Wright's +corps pushed on west of Farmville. When the cavalry reached Farmville +they found that some of the Confederates were in ahead of them, and had +already got their trains of provisions back to that point; but our +troops were in time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, +although they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did +not get them for some time. These troops retreated to the north side of +the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying the bridge after +them. Considerable fighting ensued there between Wright's corps and a +portion of our cavalry and the Confederates, but finally the cavalry +forded the stream and drove them away. Wright built a foot-bridge for +his men to march over on and then marched out to the junction of the +roads to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night. I had stopped +the night before at Burkesville Junction. Our troops were then pretty +much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital there, and Ord's +command was extended from that point towards Farmville. + +Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular army, +who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one of the +prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when we had got +across the James River he knew their cause was lost, and it was the duty +of their authorities to make the best terms they could while they still +had a right to claim concessions. The authorities thought differently, +however. Now the cause was lost and they had no right to claim +anything. He said further, that for every man that was killed after +this in the war somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little +better than murder. He was not sure that Lee would consent to surrender +his army without being able to consult with the President, but he hoped +he would. + +I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the day. +Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the south. Meade was +back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys confronting Lee as before +stated. After having gone into bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, +Sheridan learned that seven trains of provisions and forage were at +Appomattox, and determined to start at once and capture them; and a +forced march was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could +secure them. He wrote me a note telling me this. This fact, together +with the incident related the night before by Dr. Smith, gave me the +idea of opening correspondence with General Lee on the subject of the +surrender of his army. I therefore wrote to him on this day, as +follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., 5 P.M., April 7, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE Commanding C. S. A. + +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, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows: + + +April 7, 1865. + +GENERAL: I have received your note of this day. 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. + +LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies of the U. S. + + +This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving another letter +and wrote him as follows: + + +April 8, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A. + +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, Lieut.-General. + + +Lee's army was rapidly crumbling. Many of his soldiers had enlisted +from that part of the State where they now were, and were continually +dropping out of the ranks and going to their homes. I know that I +occupied a hotel almost destitute of furniture at Farmville, which had +probably been used as a Confederate hospital. The next morning when I +came out I found a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and +said that he was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel +of a regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood. He said that +when he came along past home, he found that he was the only man of the +regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped out, and now +wanted to surrender himself. I told him to stay there and he would not +be molested. That was one regiment which had been eliminated from Lee's +force by this crumbling process. + +Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved with +alacrity and without any straggling. They began to see the end of what +they had been fighting four years for. Nothing seemed to fatigue them. +They were ready to move without rations and travel without rest until +the end. Straggling had entirely ceased, and every man was now a rival +for the front. The infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry +could. + +Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of Appomattox +Station, which is about five miles south-west of the Court House, to get +west of the trains and destroy the roads to the rear. They got there +the night of the 8th, and succeeded partially; but some of the train men +had just discovered the movement of our troops and succeeded in running +off three of the trains. The other four were held by Custer. + +The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning of the +9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union soldiers near. +The Confederates were surprised to find our cavalry had possession of +the trains. However, they were desperate and at once assaulted, hoping +to recover them. In the melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one +of the trains, but not in getting anything from it. Custer then ordered +the other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the fight +continued. + +So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were engaged. +Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the rear, no doubt +expecting they had nothing to meet but our cavalry. But our infantry +had pushed forward so rapidly that by the time the enemy got up they +found Griffin's corps and the Army of the James confronting them. A +sharp engagement ensued, but Lee quickly set up a white flag. + + + +CHAPTER LXVII. + +NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S HOUSE--THE +TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AFTER THE +SURRENDER. + +On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of Lee. I was +suffering very severely with a sick headache, and stopped at a farmhouse +on the road some distance in rear of the main body of the army. I spent +the night in bathing my feet in hot water and mustard, and putting +mustard plasters on my wrists and the back part of my neck, hoping to be +cured by morning. During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter +of the 8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following +morning. (*43) But it was for a different purpose from that of +surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. A. + +Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to treat on +the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day could +lead to no good. I will state, however, General, that I am equally +anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains the same +feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By +the South laying down their arms they will hasten that most desirable +event, save thousands of human lives and hundreds of millions of +property not yet destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties +may be settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, +etc., + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering with the +headache, to get to the head of the column. I was not more than two or +three miles from Appomattox Court House at the time, but to go direct I +would have to pass through Lee's army, or a portion of it. I had +therefore to move south in order to get upon a road coming up from +another direction. + +When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I was in +this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and consequently could +not be communicated with immediately, and be informed of what Lee had +done. Lee, therefore, sent a flag to the rear to advise Meade and one +to the front to Sheridan, saying that he had sent a message to me for +the purpose of having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his +army, and asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be +communicated with. As they had heard nothing of this until the fighting +had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of these commanders +hesitated very considerably about suspending hostilities at all. They +were afraid it was not in good faith, and we had the Army of Northern +Virginia where it could not escape except by some deception. They, +however, finally consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours +to give an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if +possible. It was found that, from the route I had taken, they would +probably not be able to communicate with me and get an answer back +within the time fixed unless the messenger should pass through the rebel +lines. + +Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this message +through his lines to me. + + +April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL: I received your note of this morning on the picket-line +whither I had come to meet you and ascertain definitely what terms were +embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender +of this army. I now request an interview in accordance with the offer +contained in your letter of yesterday for that purpose. + +R. E. LEE, General. + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT Commanding U. S. Armies. + + +When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick +headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was cured. I +wrote the following note in reply and hastened on: + + +April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL R. E. LEE, Commanding C. S. Armies. + +Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, in +consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and Lynchburg road to +the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at this writing about four miles +west of Walker's Church and will push forward to the front for the +purpose of meeting you. Notice sent to me on this road where you wish +the interview to take place will meet me. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + + +I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his troops +drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army near by. They +were very much excited, and expressed their view that this was all a +ruse employed to enable the Confederates to get away. They said they +believed that Johnston was marching up from North Carolina now, and Lee +was moving to join him; and they would whip the rebels where they now +were in five minutes if I would only let them go in. But I had no doubt +about the good faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he +was. I found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court +House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers, awaiting my +arrival. The head of his column was occupying a hill, on a portion of +which was an apple orchard, beyond a little valley which separated it +from that on the crest of which Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line +of battle to the south. + +Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I will +give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree. + +Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they +are believed to be true. The war of the rebellion was no exception to +this rule, and the story of the apple tree is one of those fictions +based on a slight foundation of fact. As I have said, there was an apple +orchard on the side of the hill occupied by the Confederate forces. +Running diagonally up the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, +ran very near one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on +that side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little embankment. +General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that when he first met +General Lee he was sitting upon this embankment with his feet in the +road below and his back resting against the tree. The story had no +other foundation than that. Like many other stories, it would be very +good if it was only true. + +I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him in the +Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference in our age and +rank, that he would remember me, while I would more naturally remember +him distinctly, because he was the chief of staff of General Scott in +the Mexican War. + +When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the result +that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough garb. I was +without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback on the field, and +wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the shoulder straps of my rank +to indicate to the army who I was. When I went into the house I found +General Lee. We greeted each other, and after shaking hands took our +seats. I had my staff with me, a good portion of whom were in the room +during the whole of the interview. + +What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man of much +dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to say whether he +felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, or felt sad over the +result, and was too manly to show it. Whatever his feelings, they were +entirely concealed from my observation; but my own feelings, which had +been quite jubilant on the receipt of his letter, were sad and +depressed. I felt like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall +of a foe who had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much +for a cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for +which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the least +excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the great mass of +those who were opposed to us. + +General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely new, and +was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely the sword which +had been presented by the State of Virginia; at all events, it was an +entirely different sword from the one that would ordinarily be worn in +the field. In my rough traveling suit, the uniform of a private with +the straps of a lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very +strangely with a man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of +faultless form. But this was not a matter that I thought of until +afterwards. + +We soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He remarked that +he remembered me very well in the old army; and I told him that as a +matter of course I remembered him perfectly, but from the difference in +our rank and years (there being about sixteen years' difference in our +ages), I had thought it very likely that I had not attracted his +attention sufficiently to be remembered by him after such a long +interval. Our conversation grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the +object of our meeting. After the conversation had run on in this style +for some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our +meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the purpose +of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his army. I said that I +meant merely that his army should lay down their arms, not to take them +up again during the continuance of the war unless duly and properly +exchanged. He said that he had so understood my letter. + +Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters foreign +to the subject which had brought us together. This continued for some +little time, when General Lee again interrupted the course of the +conversation by suggesting that the terms I proposed to give his army +ought to be written out. I called to General Parker, secretary on my +staff, for writing materials, and commenced writing out the following +terms: + + +APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., + +Ap 19th, 1865. + +GEN. R. E. LEE, Comd'g C. S. A. + +GEN: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the 8th +inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of N. Va. on the +following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made +in duplicate. One copy to be given to an officer designated by me, the +other to be retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. +The officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms +against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged, +and each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the men +of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property to be parked +and stacked, and turned over to the officer appointed by me to receive +them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers, nor their +private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be +allowed to return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force +where they may reside. + +Very respectfully, U. S. GRANT, Lt. Gen. + + +When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word that I +should make use of in writing the terms. I only knew what was in my +mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that there could be no +mistaking it. As I wrote on, the thought occurred to me that the +officers had their own private horses and effects, which were important +to them, but of no value to us; also that it would be an unnecessary +humiliation to call upon them to deliver their side arms. + +No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and myself, +either about private property, side arms, or kindred subjects. He +appeared to have no objections to the terms first proposed; or if he had +a point to make against them he wished to wait until they were in +writing to make it. When he read over that part of the terms about side +arms, horses and private property of the officers, he remarked, with +some feeling, I thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his +army. + +Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked to me +again that their army was organized a little differently from the army +of the United States (still maintaining by implication that we were two +countries); that in their army the cavalrymen and artillerists owned +their own horses; and he asked if he was to understand that the men who +so owned their horses were to be permitted to retain them. I told him +that as the terms were written they would not; that only the officers +were permitted to take their private property. He then, after reading +over the terms a second time, remarked that that was clear. + +I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last battle of +the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I took it that most of +the men in the ranks were small farmers. The whole country had been so +raided by the two armies that it was doubtful whether they would be able +to put in a crop to carry themselves and their families through the next +winter without the aid of the horses they were then riding. The United +States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the officers I +left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to let every man of the +Confederate army who claimed to own a horse or mule take the animal to +his home. Lee remarked again that this would have a happy effect. + +He then sat down and wrote out the following letter: + + +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. + +GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the terms of +the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As +they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the +8th inst., they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper +officers to carry the stipulations into effect. + +R. E. LEE, General. LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. + + +While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union generals +present were severally presented to General Lee. + +The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it back, +this and much more that has been said about it is the purest romance. +The word sword or side arms was not mentioned by either of us until I +wrote it in the terms. There was no premeditation, and it did not occur +to me until the moment I wrote it down. If I had happened to omit it, +and General Lee had called my attention to it, I should have put it in +the terms precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers +retaining their horses. + +General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his leave, +remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for want of food, and +that they were without forage; that his men had been living for some +days on parched corn exclusively, and that he would have to ask me for +rations and forage. I told him "certainly," and asked for how many men +he wanted rations. His answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I +authorized him to send his own commissary and quartermaster to +Appomattox Station, two or three miles away, where he could have, out of +the trains we had stopped, all the provisions wanted. As for forage, we +had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that. + +Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to carry into +effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they should start for their +homes--General Lee leaving Generals Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for +them to confer with in order to facilitate this work. Lee and I then +separated as cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and +all went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox. + +Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as follows: + + +HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M. + +HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington. + +General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this afternoon on +terms proposed by myself. The accompanying additional correspondence +will show the conditions fully. + +U. S. GRANT, Lieut.-General. + + +When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men commenced +firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the victory. I at once +sent word, however, to have it stopped. The Confederates were now our +prisoners, and we did not want to exult over their downfall. + +I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to putting a +stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now deemed other useless +outlay of money. Before leaving, however, I thought I (*44) would like +to see General Lee again; so next morning I rode out beyond our lines +towards his headquarters, preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer +carrying a white flag. + +Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me. We had there +between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very pleasant conversation of +over half an hour, in the course of which Lee said to me that the South +was a big country and that we might have to march over it three or four +times before the war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do +it as they could no longer resist us. He expressed it as his earnest +hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more loss and +sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the result. I then +suggested to General Lee that there was not a man in the Confederacy +whose influence with the soldiery and the whole people was as great as +his, and that if he would now advise the surrender of all the armies I +had no doubt his advice would be followed with alacrity. But Lee said, +that he could not do that without consulting the President first. I +knew there was no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of +what was right. + +I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom seemed to +have a great desire to go inside the Confederate lines. They finally +asked permission of Lee to do so for the purpose of seeing some of their +old army friends, and the permission was granted. They went over, had a +very pleasant time with their old friends, and brought some of them back +with them when they returned. + +When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I returned to the +house of Mr. McLean. Here the officers of both armies came in great +numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as much as though they had been +friends separated for a long time while fighting battles under the same +flag. For the time being it looked very much as if all thought of the +war had escaped their minds. After an hour pleasantly passed in this +way I set out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort, +for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by this +time been repaired. + + + +CHAPTER LXVIII. + +MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH +--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT +LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S POLICY. + +After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac and the +James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale of the National +troops had greatly improved. There was no more straggling, no more rear +guards. The men who in former times had been falling back, were now, as +I have already stated, striving to get to the front. For the first time +in four weary years they felt that they were now nearing the time when +they could return to their homes with their country saved. On the other +hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly depressed. Their +despondency increased with each returning day, and especially after the +battle of Sailor's Creek. They threw away their arms in constantly +increasing numbers, dropping out of the ranks and betaking themselves to +the woods in the hope of reaching their homes. I have already instanced +the case of the entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met +at Farmville. As a result of these and other influences, when Lee +finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356 officers and +men left to be paroled, and many of these were without arms. It was +probably this latter fact which gave rise to the statement sometimes +made, North and South, that Lee surrendered a smaller number of men than +what the official figures show. As a matter of official record, and in +addition to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March +29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say nothing of +Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing, during the series of +desperate conflicts which marked his headlong and determined flight. +The same record shows the number of cannon, including those at +Appomattox, to have been 689 between the dates named. + +There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the number of +troops engaged in every battle, or all important battles, fought between +the sections, the South magnifying the number of Union troops engaged +and belittling their own. Northern writers have fallen, in many +instances, into the same error. I have often heard gentlemen, who were +thoroughly loyal to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South +had made and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with +their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the twelve +four being colored slaves, non-combatants. I will add to their +argument. We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who volunteered +under great difficulty from the twelve million belonging to the South. + +But the South had rebelled against the National government. It was not +bound by any constitutional restrictions. The whole South was a +military camp. The occupation of the colored people was to furnish +supplies for the army. Conscription was resorted to early, and embraced +every male from the age of eighteen to forty-five, excluding only those +physically unfit to serve in the field, and the necessary number of +civil officers of State and intended National government. The old and +physically disabled furnished a good portion of these. The slaves, the +non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in the +field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to age. Children +from the age of eight years could and did handle the hoe; they were not +much older when they began to hold the plough. The four million of +colored non-combatants were equal to more than three times their number +in the North, age for age and sex for sex, in supplying food from the +soil to support armies. Women did not work in the fields in the North, +and children attended school. + +The arts of peace were carried on in the North. Towns and cities grew +during the war. Inventions were made in all kinds of machinery to +increase the products of a day's labor in the shop, and in the field. +In the South no opposition was allowed to the government which had been +set up and which would have become real and respected if the rebellion +had been successful. No rear had to be protected. All the troops in +service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of ground +threatened with invasion. The press of the South, like the people who +remained at home, were loyal to the Southern cause. + +In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented about the +same appearance they do in time of peace. The furnace was in blast, the +shops were filled with workmen, the fields were cultivated, not only to +supply the population of the North and the troops invading the South, +but to ship abroad to pay a part of the expense of the war. In the +North the press was free up to the point of open treason. The citizen +could entertain his views and express them. Troops were necessary in +the Northern States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being +released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by fire our +Northern cities. Plans were formed by Northern and Southern citizens to +burn our cities, to poison the water supplying them, to spread infection +by importing clothing from infected regions, to blow up our river and +lake steamers--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives. The +copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel successes, +and belittled those of the Union army. It was, with a large following, +an auxiliary to the Confederate army. The North would have been much +stronger with a hundred thousand of these men in the Confederate ranks +and the rest of their kind thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment +was in the South, than we were as the battle was fought. + +As I have said, the whole South was a military camp. The colored +people, four million in number, were submissive, and worked in the field +and took care of the families while the able-bodied white men were at +the front fighting for a cause destined to defeat. The cause was +popular, and was enthusiastically supported by the young men. The +conscription took all of them. Before the war was over, further +conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of age as +junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty as senior +reserves. It would have been an offence, directly after the war, and +perhaps it would be now, to ask any able-bodied man in the South, who +was between the ages of fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, +whether he had been in the Confederate army. He would assert that he +had, or account for his absence from the ranks. Under such +circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a +superiority of force in every battle fought. I know they did not. + +During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no military +education, but possessed of courage and endurance, operated in the rear +of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and Tennessee. He had no base of +supplies to protect, but was at home wherever he went. The army +operating against the South, on the contrary, had to protect its lines +of communication with the North, from which all supplies had to come to +the front. Every foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at +convenient distances apart. These guards could not render assistance +beyond the points where stationed. Morgan Was foot-loose and could +operate where, his information--always correct--led him to believe he +could do the greatest damage. During the time he was operating in this +way he killed, wounded and captured several times the number he ever had +under his command at any one time. He destroyed many millions of +property in addition. Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if +threatened by him. Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, +and held from the National front quite as many men as could be spared +for offensive operations. It is safe to say that more than half the +National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were on +leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their bearing arms. +Then, again, large forces were employed where no Confederate army +confronted them. I deem it safe to say that there were no large +engagements where the National numbers compensated for the advantage of +position and intrenchment occupied by the enemy. + +While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to Richmond in +company with Admiral Porter, and on board his flagship. He found the +people of that city in great consternation. The leading citizens among +the people who had remained at home surrounded him, anxious that +something should be done to relieve them from suspense. General Weitzel +was not then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring +villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the conflagration +which they had found in progress on entering the Confederate capital. +The President sent for him, and, on his arrival, a short interview was +had on board the vessel, Admiral Porter and a leading citizen of +Virginia being also present. After this interview the President wrote an +order in about these words, which I quote from memory: "General Weitzel +is authorized to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of +Virginia to meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from +the Confederate armies." + +Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out a call +for a meeting and had it published in their papers. This call, however, +went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had contemplated, as he did not +say the "Legislature of Virginia" but "the body which called itself the +Legislature of Virginia." Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the +Northern papers the very next issue and took the liberty of +countermanding the order authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or +any other body, and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was +nearer the spot than he was. + +This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton. He was a man who never +questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time what he +wanted to do. He was an able constitutional lawyer and jurist; but the +Constitution was not an impediment to him while the war lasted. In this +latter particular I entirely agree with the view he evidently held. The +Constitution was not framed with a view to any such rebellion as that of +1861-5. While it did not authorize rebellion it made no provision +against it. Yet the right to resist or suppress rebellion is as +inherent as the right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an +individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy. The Constitution was +therefore in abeyance for the time being, so far as it in any way +affected the progress and termination of the war. + +Those in rebellion against the government of the United States were not +restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other, except the acts +of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted to the cause for which +the South was then fighting. It would be a hard case when one-third of +a nation, united in rebellion against the national authority, is +entirely untrammeled, that the other two-thirds, in their efforts to +maintain the Union intact, should be restrained by a Constitution +prepared by our ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the +permanency of the confederation of the States. + +After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my staff and +a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way to Washington. +The road from Burkesville back having been newly repaired and the ground +being soft, the train got off the track frequently, and, as a result, it +was after midnight of the second day when I reached City Point. As soon +as possible I took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City. + +While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the +necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating with my +different commanders of separate departments, bodies of troops, etc. +But by the 14th I was pretty well through with this work, so as to be +able to visit my children, who were then in Burlington, New Jersey, +attending school. Mrs. Grant was with me in Washington at the time, and +we were invited by President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the +theatre on the evening of that day. I replied to the President's verbal +invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would take +great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very anxious to get +away and visit my children, and if I could get through my work during +the day I should do so. I did get through and started by the evening +train on the 14th, sending Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not +be at the theatre. + +At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on Broad +Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the Delaware River, +and then ferried to Camden, at which point they took the cars again. +When I reached the ferry, on the east side of the City of Philadelphia, +I found people awaiting my arrival there; and also dispatches informing +me of the assassination of the President and Mr. Seward, and of the +probable assassination of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and +requesting my immediate return. + +It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that overcame me +at the news of these assassinations, more especially the assassination +of the President. I knew his goodness of heart, his generosity, his +yielding disposition, his desire to have everybody happy, and above all +his desire to see all the people of the United States enter again upon +the full privileges of citizenship with equality among all. I knew also +the feeling that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation +against the Southern people, and I feared that his course towards them +would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling citizens; and if they +became such they would remain so for a long while. I felt that +reconstruction had been set back, no telling how far. + +I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to Washington +City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after midnight and Burlington +was but an hour away. Finding that I could accompany her to our house +and return about as soon as they would be ready to take me from the +Philadelphia station, I went up with her and returned immediately by the +same special train. The joy that I had witnessed among the people in +the street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had +been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of mourning. I +have stated what I believed then the effect of this would be, and my +judgment now is that I was right. I believe the South would have been +saved from very much of the hardness of feeling that was engendered by +Mr. Johnson's course towards them during the first few months of his +administration. Be this as it may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was +particularly unfortunate for the entire nation. + +Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness of +feeling. His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready remark, +"Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was repeated to all those +men of the South who came to him to get some assurances of safety so +that they might go to work at something with the feeling that what they +obtained would be secure to them. He uttered his denunciations with +great vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of +safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond endurance. + +The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or ought to +be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and judgment of those over +whom he presides; and the Southerners who read the denunciations of +themselves and their people must have come to the conclusion that he +uttered the sentiments of the Northern people; whereas, as a matter of +fact, but for the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great +majority of the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would +have been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be the +least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against their +government. They believed, I have no doubt, as I did, that besides +being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy. + +The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back into the +Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the nation. Naturally +the nearer they were placed to an equality with the people who had not +rebelled, the more reconciled they would feel with their old +antagonists, and the better citizens they would be from the beginning. +They surely would not make good citizens if they felt that they had a +yoke around their necks. + +I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at that time +were in favor of negro suffrage. They supposed that it would naturally +follow the freedom of the negro, but that there would be a time of +probation, in which the ex-slaves could prepare themselves for the +privileges of citizenship before the full right would be conferred; but +Mr. Johnson, after a complete revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard +the South not only as an oppressed people, but as the people best +entitled to consideration of any of our citizens. This was more than +the people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were +prepared for, and they became more radical in their views. The +Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr. Johnson +having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and such sympathy +and support as they could get from the North, they felt that they would +be able to control the nation at once, and already many of them acted as +if they thought they were entitled to do so. + +Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and receiving the +support of the South on the other, drove Congress, which was +overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one measure and then +another to restrict his power. There being a solid South on one side +that was in accord with the political party in the North which had +sympathized with the rebellion, it finally, in the judgment of Congress +and of the majority of the legislatures of the States, became necessary +to enfranchise the negro, in all his ignorance. In this work, I shall +not discuss the question of how far the policy of Congress in this +particular proved a wise one. It became an absolute necessity, however, +because of the foolhardiness of the President and the blindness of the +Southern people to their own interest. As to myself, while strongly +favoring the course that would be the least humiliating to the people +who had been in rebellion, I gradually worked up to the point where, +with the majority of the people, I favored immediate enfranchisement. + + + +CHAPTER LXIX. + +SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE OF +MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS--GENERAL +THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY. + +When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed leisurely back +to Burkesville Station with the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the +James, and to go into camp there until further orders from me. General +Johnston, as has been stated before, was in North Carolina confronting +General Sherman. It could not be known positively, of course, whether +Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though I +supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was the +natural point from which to move to attack him. The army which I could +have sent against him was superior to his, and that with which Sherman +confronted him was also superior; and between the two he would +necessarily have been crushed, or driven away. With the loss of their +capital and the Army of Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether +Johnston's men would have the spirit to stand. My belief was that he +would make no such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution +against what might happen, however improbable. + +Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a messenger to +North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General Sherman, informing him +of the surrender of Lee and his army; also of the terms which I had +given him; and I authorized Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston +if the latter chose to accept them. The country is familiar with the +terms that Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a +political question as well as a military one and he would therefore have +to confer with the government before agreeing to them definitely. + +General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting there +to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what Mr. Lincoln +had said to the peace commissioners when he met them at Hampton Roads, +viz.: that before he could enter into negotiations with them they would +have to agree to two points: one being that the Union should be +preserved, and the other that slavery should be abolished; and if they +were ready to concede these two points he was almost ready to sign his +name to a blank piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance +of the terms upon which we would live together. He had also seen +notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond, and had +read in the same papers that while there he had authorized the convening +of the Legislature of Virginia. + +Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had made with +general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes of the President of +the United States. But seeing that he was going beyond his authority, +he made it a point that the terms were only conditional. They signed +them with this understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms +could be sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper +authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved, then he +would give due notice, before resuming hostilities. As the world knows, +Sherman, from being one of the most popular generals of the land +(Congress having even gone so far as to propose a bill providing for a +second lieutenant-general for the purpose of advancing him to that +grade), was denounced by the President and Secretary of War in very +bitter terms. Some people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor +--a most preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much +service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in granting such +terms as he did to Johnston and his army. If Sherman had taken +authority to send Johnston with his army home, with their arms to be put +in the arsenals of their own States, without submitting the question to +the authorities at Washington, the suspicions against him might have +some foundation. But the feeling against Sherman died out very rapidly, +and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the fullest +confidence of the American people. + +When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson and the +Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman had forwarded +for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately called and I was sent +for. There seemed to be the greatest consternation, lest Sherman would +commit the government to terms which they were not willing to accede to +and which he had no right to grant. A message went out directing the +troops in the South not to obey General Sherman. I was ordered to +proceed at once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there +myself. Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as +possible. I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly as +possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of my +presence. + +When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at once +closeted together. I showed him the instruction and orders under which +I visited him. I told him that I wanted him to notify General Johnston +that the terms which they had conditionally agreed upon had not been +approved in Washington, and that he was authorized to offer the same +terms I had given General Lee. I sent Sherman to do this himself. I +did not wish the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army +generally; so I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the +surrender solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was +anywhere near the field. As soon as possible I started to get away, to +leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled. + +At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last +newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement in the +North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and harsh orders that +had been promulgated by the President and Secretary of War. I knew that +Sherman must see these papers, and I fully realized what great +indignation they would cause him, though I do not think his feelings +could have been more excited than were my own. But like the true and +loyal soldier that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given +him, obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in his +camp about Raleigh, to await final orders. + +There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could not be +communicated with, and had to be left to act according to the judgment +of their respective commanders. With these it was impossible to tell +how the news of the surrender of Lee and Johnston, of which they must +have heard, might affect their judgment as to what was best to do. + +The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from the +commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off: one under Canby +himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman from East +Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson, starting from Eastport, +Mississippi, on the 22d of March. They were all eminently successful, +but without any good result. Indeed much valuable property was destroyed +and many lives lost at a time when we would have liked to spare them. +The war was practically over before their victories were gained. They +were so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any troops +away that otherwise would have been operating against the armies which +were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a surrender. The only +possible good that we may have experienced from these raids was by +Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about the time the armies of the +Potomac and the James were closing in on Lee at Appomattox. + +Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike the +Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He got upon that road, destroyed its +bridges at different places and rendered the road useless to the enemy +up to within a few miles of Lynchburg. His approach caused the +evacuation of that city about the time we were at Appomattox, and was +the cause of a commotion we heard of there. He then pushed south, and +was operating in the rear of Johnston's army about the time the +negotiations were going on between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's +surrender. In this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount +of stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners were +the trophies of his success. + +Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March. The city of Mobile +was protected by two forts, besides other intrenchments--Spanish Fort, +on the east side of the bay, and Fort Blakely, north of the city. These +forts were invested. On the night of the 8th of April, the National +troops having carried the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was +evacuated; and on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was +carried by assault, with a considerable loss to us. On the 11th the +city was evacuated. + +I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent against +Mobile when its possession by us would have been of great advantage. It +finally cost lives to take it when its possession was of no importance, +and when, if left alone, it would within a few days have fallen into our +hands without any bloodshed whatever. + +Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well armed. He +was an energetic officer and accomplished his work rapidly. Forrest was +in his front, but with neither his old-time army nor his old-time +prestige. He now had principally conscripts. His conscripts were +generally old men and boys. He had a few thousand regular cavalry left, +but not enough to even retard materially the progress of Wilson's +cavalry. Selma fell on the 2d of April, with a large number of +prisoners and a large quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to +be disposed of by the victors. Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point +fell in quick succession. These were all important points to the enemy +by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies, and +because of their manufactories of war material. They were fortified or +intrenched, and there was considerable fighting before they were +captured. Macon surrendered on the 21st of April. Here news was +received of the negotiations for the surrender of Johnston's army. +Wilson belonged to the military division commanded by Sherman, and of +course was bound by his terms. This stopped all fighting. + +General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate officer +still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on the 4th of May he +surrendered everything within the limits of this extensive command. +General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the trans-Mississippi department on +the 26th of May, leaving no other Confederate army at liberty to +continue the war. + +Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president of the +defunct confederacy before he got out of the country. This occurred at +Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May. For myself, and I believe Mr. +Lincoln shared the feeling, I would have been very glad to have seen Mr. +Davis succeed in escaping, but for one reason: I feared that if not +captured, he might get into the trans-Mississippi region and there set +up a more contracted confederacy. The young men now out of homes and +out of employment might have rallied under his standard and protracted +the war yet another year. The Northern people were tired of the war, +they were tired of piling up a debt which would be a further mortgage +upon their homes. + +Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he did not +wish to deal with the matter of his punishment. He knew there would be +people clamoring for the punishment of the ex-Confederate president, for +high treason. He thought blood enough had already been spilled to atone +for our wickedness as a nation. At all events he did not wish to be the +judge to decide whether more should be shed or not. But his own life +was sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president of +the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government which he +had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy. + +All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best interest of +all concerned. This reflection does not, however, abate in the +slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely loss of so good and +great a man as Abraham Lincoln. + +He would have proven the best friend the South could have had, and saved +much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling brought out by +reconstruction under a President who at first wished to revenge himself +upon Southern men of better social standing than himself, but who still +sought their recognition, and in a short time conceived the idea and +advanced the proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly +out of all their difficulties. + +The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction period to +stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the minds of the people +to be told now. Much of it, no doubt, was unconstitutional; but it was +hoped that the laws enacted would serve their purpose before the +question of constitutionality could be submitted to the judiciary and a +decision obtained. These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a +dead letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one taking +interest enough in them to give them a passing thought. + +Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing when he +was captured. I cannot settle this question from personal knowledge of +the facts; but I have been under the belief, from information given to +me by General Wilson shortly after the event, that when Mr. Davis +learned that he was surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed +in a gentleman's dressing gown. Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted to +escape, and would not reflect much how this should be accomplished +provided it might be done successfully. If captured, he would be no +ordinary prisoner. He represented all there was of that hostility to +the government which had caused four years of the bloodiest war--and the +most costly in other respects of which history makes any record. Every +one supposed he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he +would be executed. Had he succeeded in making his escape in any +disguise it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his +admirers. + +As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as my +remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling somewhat +upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to him, that I give +my estimate of him as a soldier. The same remark will apply also in the +case of General Canby. I had been at West Point with Thomas one year, +and had known him later in the old army. He was a man of commanding +appearance, slow and deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest +and brave. He possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent +degree. He gained the confidence of all who served under him, and +almost their love. This implies a very valuable quality. It is a +quality which calls out the most efficient services of the troops +serving under the commander possessing it. + +Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good. He could +not be driven from a point he was given to hold. He was not as good, +however, in pursuit as he was in action. I do not believe that he could +ever have conducted Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta against +the defences and the commander guarding that line in 1864. On the other +hand, if it had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to +hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer could have +done it better. + +Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has received, +the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played in the great +tragedy of 1861-5. + +General Canby was an officer of great merit. He was naturally studious, +and inclined to the law. There have been in the army but very few, if +any, officers who took as much interest in reading and digesting every +act of Congress and every regulation for the government of the army as +he. His knowledge gained in this way made him a most valuable staff +officer, a capacity in which almost all his army services were rendered +up to the time of his being assigned to the Military Division of the +Gulf. He was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and +learning. I presume his feelings when first called upon to command a +large army against a fortified city, were somewhat like my own when +marching a regiment against General Thomas Harris in Missouri in 1861. +Neither of us would have felt the slightest trepidation in going into +battle with some one else commanding. Had Canby been in other +engagements afterwards, he would, I have no doubt, have advanced without +any fear arising from a sense of the responsibility. He was afterwards +killed in the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the +hostile Modoc Indians. His character was as pure as his talent and +learning were great. His services were valuable during the war, but +principally as a bureau officer. I have no idea that it was from choice +that his services were rendered in an office, but because of his +superior efficiency there. + + + +CHAPTER LXX. + +THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S ANECDOTES +--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF LINCOLN AND STANTON +--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS. + +Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there would be no +more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in North Carolina and +Virginia were ordered to march immediately to the capital, and go into +camp there until mustered out. Suitable garrisons were left at the +prominent places throughout the South to insure obedience to the laws +that might be enacted for the government of the several States, and to +insure security to the lives and property of all classes. I do not know +how far this was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, +that such a course should be pursued. I think now that these garrisons +were continued after they ceased to be absolutely required; but it is +not to be expected that such a rebellion as was fought between the +sections from 1861 to 1865 could terminate without leaving many serious +apprehensions in the mind of the people as to what should be done. + +Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on the +south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there put them in +camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the situation was +there. + +It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon him. +Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and had issued +orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from obeying his, +Sherman's, orders. Sherman met the papers on his return, containing +this order of Halleck, and very justly felt indignant at the outrage. +On his arrival at Fortress Monroe returning from Savannah, Sherman +received an invitation from Halleck to come to Richmond and be his +guest. This he indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, +that he had seen his order. He also stated that he was coming up to +take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would probably +be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he (Sherman) would +not be responsible for what some rash person might do through +indignation for the treatment he had received. Very soon after that, +Sherman received orders from me to proceed to Washington City, and to go +into camp on the south side of the city pending the mustering-out of the +troops. + +There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from +Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington City. +The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been engaged in all +the battles of the West and had marched from the Mississippi through the +Southern States to the sea, from there to Goldsboro, and thence to +Washington City, had passed over many of the battle-fields of the Army +of the Potomac, thus having seen, to a greater extent than any other +body of troops, the entire theatre of the four years' war for the +preservation of the Union. + +The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to +Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was +anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally magnificent +in the way it was conducted. It had an important bearing, in various +ways, upon the great object we had in view, that of closing the war. +All the States east of the Mississippi River up to the State of Georgia, +had felt the hardships of the war. Georgia, and South Carolina, and +almost all of North Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from +invasion by the Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts. +Their newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success, that +the people who remained at home had been convinced that the Yankees had +been whipped from first to last, and driven from pillar to post, and +that now they could hardly be holding out for any other purpose than to +find a way out of the war with honor to themselves. + +Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front were +proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a mob of men who +were frightened out of their wits and hastening, panic-stricken, to try +to get under the cover of our navy for protection against the Southern +people. As the army was seen marching on triumphantly, however, the +minds of the people became disabused and they saw the true state of +affairs. In turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to +submit without compromise. + +Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was +calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great storehouse of +Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate armies. As the troops +advanced north from Savannah, the destruction of the railroads in South +Carolina and the southern part of North Carolina, further cut off their +resources and left the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina +dependent for supplies upon a very small area of country, already very +much exhausted of food and forage. + +In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and the other +from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, arrived and went into +camp near the Capital, as directed. The troops were hardy, being inured +to fatigue, and they appeared in their respective camps as ready and fit +for duty as they had ever been in their lives. I doubt whether an equal +body of men of any nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, +was ever gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great +battle. + +The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the officers +capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of the nations of +Europe are taken from a class of people who are not very intelligent and +who have very little interest in the contest in which they are called +upon to take part. Our armies were composed of men who were able to +read, men who knew what they were fighting for, and could not be induced +to serve as soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the +nation was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal +to men who fought merely because they were brave and because they were +thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships. + +There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the time +these troops were in camp before starting North. + +I remember one little incident which I will relate as an anecdote +characteristic of Mr. Lincoln. It occurred a day after I reached +Washington, and about the time General Meade reached Burkesville with +the army. Governor Smith of Virginia had left Richmond with the +Confederate States government, and had gone to Danville. Supposing I +was necessarily with the army at Burkesville, he addressed a letter to +me there informing me that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State +of Virginia, he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond +to Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the +functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal +authorities. I give this letter only in substance. He also inquired of +me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the duties of his +office, he with a few others might not be permitted to leave the country +and go abroad without interference. General Meade being informed that a +flag of truce was outside his pickets with a letter to me, at once sent +out and had the letter brought in without informing the officer who +brought it that I was not present. He read the letter and telegraphed +me its contents. Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this +dispatch, I repeated its contents to him. Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was +asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor Smith's +letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would be permitted +to leave the country unmolested, that his position was like that of a +certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in Springfield who was very +popular with the people, a man of considerable promise, and very much +liked. Unfortunately he had acquired the habit of drinking, and his +friends could see that the habit was growing on him. These friends +determined to make an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a +pledge to abstain from all alcoholic drinks. They asked Pat to join +them in signing the pledge, and he consented. He had been so long out +of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he resorted to +soda-water as a substitute. After a few days this began to grow +distasteful to him. So holding the glass behind him, he said: "Doctor, +couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in that unbeknownst to myself." + +I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave me, but +I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform the duties of +his office. I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had been spared, there +would have been no efforts made to prevent any one from leaving the +country who desired to do so. He would have been equally willing to +permit the return of the same expatriated citizens after they had time +to repent of their choice. + +On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general for a +grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's and Meade's +armies. The review commenced on the 23d and lasted two days. Meade's +army occupied over six hours of the first day in passing the grand stand +which had been erected in front of the President's house. Sherman +witnessed this review from the grand stand which was occupied by the +President and his cabinet. Here he showed his resentment for the cruel +and harsh treatment that had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by +the Secretary of War, by refusing to take his extended hand. + +Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the Potomac. +During the night of the 23d he crossed over and bivouacked not far from +the Capitol. Promptly at ten o'clock on the morning of the 24th, his +troops commenced to pass in review. Sherman's army made a different +appearance from that of the Army of the Potomac. The latter had been +operating where they received directly from the North full supplies of +food and clothing regularly: the review of this army therefore was the +review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and orderly +soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but without the +experience of gathering their own food and supplies in an enemy's +country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's army was not so +well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but their marching could not +be excelled; they gave the appearance of men who had been thoroughly +drilled to endure hardships, either by long and continuous marches or +through exposure to any climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp. +They exhibited also some of the order of march through Georgia where the +"sweet potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went +marching through. In the rear of a company there would be a captured +horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils, captured chickens and +other food picked up for the use of the men. Negro families who had +followed the army would sometimes come along in the rear of a company, +with three or four children packed upon a single mule, and the mother +leading it. + +The sight was varied and grand: nearly all day for two successive days, +from the Capitol to the Treasury Building, could be seen a mass of +orderly soldiers marching in columns of companies. The National flag +was flying from almost every house and store; the windows were filled +with spectators; the door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored +people and poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters +from which to get a view of the grand armies. The city was about as +full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually is on +inauguration day when a new President takes his seat. + +It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln and the +Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great conspicuous figures in +the executive branch of the government. There is no great difference of +opinion now, in the public mind, as to the characteristics of the +President. With Mr. Stanton the case is different. They were the very +opposite of each other in almost every particular, except that each +possessed great ability. Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by +making them feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred +yielding his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon +having his own way. It distressed him to disappoint others. In matters +of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least +offensive way. Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority to +command, unless resisted. He cared nothing for the feeling of others. +In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to disappoint than to gratify. +He felt no hesitation in assuming the functions of the executive, or in +acting without advising with him. If his act was not sustained, he +would change it--if he saw the matter would be followed up until he did +so. + +It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the complement +of each other. The Secretary was required to prevent the President's +being imposed upon. The President was required in the more responsible +place of seeing that injustice was not done to others. I do not know +that this view of these two men is still entertained by the majority of +the people. It is not a correct view, however, in my estimation. Mr. +Lincoln did not require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a +public trust. + +Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his generals in +making and executing their plans. The Secretary was very timid, and it +was impossible for him to avoid interfering with the armies covering the +capital when it was sought to defend it by an offensive movement against +the army guarding the Confederate capital. He could see our weakness, +but he could not see that the enemy was in danger. The enemy would not +have been in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field. These +characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly after +Early came so near getting into the capital. + +Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during the war +between the States, and who attracted much public attention, but of +whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given any estimate, are Meade, +Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and Hooker. There were others of +great merit, such as Griffin, Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie. Of those +first named, Burnside at one time had command of the Army of the +Potomac, and later of the Army of the Ohio. Hooker also commanded the +Army of the Potomac for a short time. + +General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to his +usefulness that were beyond his control. He had been an officer of the +engineer corps before the war, and consequently had never served with +troops until he was over forty-six years of age. He never had, I +believe, a command of less than a brigade. He saw clearly and +distinctly the position of the enemy, and the topography of the country +in front of his own position. His first idea was to take advantage of +the lay of the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we +wanted to move afterwards. He was subordinate to his superiors in rank +to the extent that he could execute an order which changed his own plans +with the same zeal he would have displayed if the plan had been his own. +He was brave and conscientious, and commanded the respect of all who +knew him. He was unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his +control, at times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the +most offensive manner. No one saw this fault more plainly than he +himself, and no one regretted it more. This made it unpleasant at +times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him even with +information. In spite of this defect he was a most valuable officer and +deserves a high place in the annals of his country. + +General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and respected. +He was not, however, fitted to command an army. No one knew this better +than himself. He always admitted his blunders, and extenuated those of +officers under him beyond what they were entitled to. It was hardly his +fault that he was ever assigned to a separate command. + +Of Hooker I saw but little during the war. I had known him very well +before, however. Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his achievement +in bringing his command around the point of Lookout Mountain and into +Chattanooga Valley was brilliant. I nevertheless regarded him as a +dangerous man. He was not subordinate to his superiors. He was +ambitious to the extent of caring nothing for the rights of others. His +disposition was, when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main +body of the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his +standard all he could of his juniors. + +Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general officers +who did not exercise a separate command. He commanded a corps longer +than any other one, and his name was never mentioned as having committed +in battle a blunder for which he was responsible. He was a man of very +conspicuous personal appearance. Tall, well-formed and, at the time of +which I now write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance +that would attract the attention of an army as he passed. His genial +disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his presence +with his command in the thickest of the fight won for him the confidence +of troops serving under him. No matter how hard the fight, the 2d corps +always felt that their commander was looking after them. + +Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity of +forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from personal +observation. I had known him in Mexico when both of us were +lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that either of us +would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He stood very high in +the army, however, as an officer and a man. He was brave and +conscientious. His ambition was not great, and he seemed to dread +responsibility. He was willing to do any amount of battling, but always +wanted some one else to direct. He declined the command of the Army of +the Potomac once, if not oftener. + +General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer without a +military education. His way was won without political influence up to +an important separate command--the expedition against Fort Fisher, in +January, 1865. His success there was most brilliant, and won for him +the rank of brigadier-general in the regular army and of major-general +of volunteers. He is a man who makes friends of those under him by his +consideration of their wants and their dues. As a commander, he won +their confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of +perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed at any +given time. + +Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders, but came +into that position so near to the close of the war as not to attract +public attention. All three served as such, in the last campaign of the +armies of the Potomac and the James, which culminated at Appomattox +Court House, on the 9th of April, 1865. The sudden collapse of the +rebellion monopolized attention to the exclusion of almost everything +else. I regarded Mackenzie as the most promising young officer in the +army. Graduating at West Point, as he did, during the second year of +the war, he had won his way up to the command of a corps before its +close. This he did upon his own merit and without influence. + + + +CONCLUSION. + +The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United Status +will have to be attributed to slavery. For some years before the war +began it was a trite saying among some politicians that "A state half +slave and half free cannot exist." All must become slave or all free, +or the state will go down. I took no part myself in any such view of +the case at the time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole +question, I have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true. + +Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for its +security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours where the +larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by an intelligent and +well-to-do population, the people would naturally have but little +sympathy with demands upon them for its protection. Hence the people of +the South were dependent upon keeping control of the general government +to secure the perpetuation of their favorite institution. They were +enabled to maintain this control long after the States where slavery +existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the assistance +they received from odd men here and there throughout the Northern +States. They saw their power waning, and this led them to encroach upon +the prerogatives and independence of the Northern States by enacting +such laws as the Fugitive Slave Law. By this law every Northern man +was obliged, when properly summoned, to turn out and help apprehend +the runaway slave of a Southern man. Northern marshals became +slave-catchers, and Northern courts had to contribute to the support +and protection of the institution. + +This was a degradation which the North would not permit any longer than +until they could get the power to expunge such laws from the statute +books. Prior to the time of these encroachments the great majority of +the people of the North had no particular quarrel with slavery, so long +as they were not forced to have it themselves. But they were not +willing to play the role of police for the South in the protection of +this particular institution. + +In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, telegraphs +and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any sort--the States were +each almost a separate nationality. At that time the subject of slavery +caused but little or no disturbance to the public mind. But the country +grew, rapid transit was established, and trade and commerce between the +States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of the +National government became more felt and recognized and, therefore, had +to be enlisted in the cause of this institution. + +It is probably well that we had the war when we did. We are better off +now than we would have been without it, and have made more rapid +progress than we otherwise should have made. The civilized nations of +Europe have been stimulated into unusual activity, so that commerce, +trade, travel, and thorough acquaintance among people of different +nationalities, has become common; whereas, before, it was but the few +who had ever had the privilege of going beyond the limits of their own +country or who knew anything about other people. Then, too, our +republican institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking +out of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that our +republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the slightest +strain was brought upon it. Now it has shown itself capable of dealing +with one of the greatest wars that was ever made, and our people have +proven themselves to be the most formidable in war of any nationality. + +But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the necessity of +avoiding wars in the future. + +The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles shows the +lack of conscience of communities where the responsibility does not come +upon a single individual. Seeing a nation that extended from ocean to +ocean, embracing the better part of a continent, growing as we were +growing in population, wealth and intelligence, the European nations +thought it would be well to give us a check. We might, possibly, after +a while threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their +institutions. Hence, England was constantly finding fault with the +administration at Washington because we were not able to keep up an +effective blockade. She also joined, at first, with France and Spain in +setting up an Austrian prince upon the throne in Mexico, totally +disregarding any rights or claims that Mexico had of being treated as an +independent power. It is true they trumped up grievances as a pretext, +but they were only pretexts which can always be found when wanted. + +Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that +protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would have liked +to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had forced loans from +them. Under pretence of protecting their citizens, these nations seized +upon Mexico as a foothold for establishing a European monarchy upon our +continent, thus threatening our peace at home. I, myself, regarded this +as a direct act of war against the United States by the powers engaged, +and supposed as a matter of course that the United States would treat it +as such when their hands were free to strike. I often spoke of the +matter to Mr. Lincoln and the Secretary of War, but never heard any +special views from them to enable me to judge what they thought or felt +about it. I inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were +unwilling to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our +hands. + +All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the armed +intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince upon the throne +of Mexico; but the governing people of these countries continued to the +close of the war to throw obstacles in our way. After the surrender of +Lee, therefore, entertaining the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan +with a corps to the Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in +expelling the French from Mexico. These troops got off before they +could be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan distributed +them up and down the river, much to the consternation of the troops in +the quarter of Mexico bordering on that stream. This soon led to a +request from France that we should withdraw our troops from the Rio +Grande and to negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs. Finally +Bazaine was withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government. +From that day the empire began to totter. Mexico was then able to +maintain her independence without aid from us. + +France is the traditional ally and friend of the United States. I did +not blame France for her part in the scheme to erect a monarchy upon the +ruins of the Mexican Republic. That was the scheme of one man, an +imitator without genius or merit. He had succeeded in stealing the +government of his country, and made a change in its form against the +wishes and instincts of his people. He tried to play the part of the +first Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role. He sought by +new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal failure +of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own overthrow. + +Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was an +expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her people. It +was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon III. The beginning was +when he landed troops on this continent. Failing here, the prestige of +his name--all the prestige he ever had--was gone. He must achieve a +success or fall. He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and +fell. + +I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I recognize his +great genius. His work, too, has left its impress for good on the face +of Europe. The third Napoleon could have no claim to having done a good +or just act. + +To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared for war. +There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict, such as the last +one, occurring among our own people again; but, growing as we are, in +population, wealth and military power, we may become the envy of nations +which led us in all these particulars only a few years ago; and unless +we are prepared for it we may be in danger of a combined movement being +some day made to crush us out. Now, scarcely twenty years after the +war, we seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on +as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an invasion +by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time until we could +prepare for them. + +We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be put in +the finest possible condition. Neither of these cost much when it is +considered where the money goes, and what we get in return. Money +expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our security and tends to +prevent war in the future, but is very material aid to our commerce with +foreign nations in the meantime. Money spent upon sea-coast defences is +spent among our own people, and all goes back again among the people. +The work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a feeling of +security. + +England's course towards the United States during the rebellion +exasperated the people of this country very much against the mother +country. I regretted it. England and the United States are natural +allies, and should be the best of friends. They speak one language, and +are related by blood and other ties. We together, or even either +separately, are better qualified than any other people to establish +commerce between all the nationalities of the world. + +England governs her own colonies, and particularly those embracing +the people of different races from her own, better than any other +nation. She is just to the conquered, but rigid. She makes them +self-supporting, but gives the benefit of labor to the laborer. She +does not seem to look upon the colonies as outside possessions which she +is at liberty to work for the support and aggrandizement of the home +government. + +The hostility of England to the United States during our rebellion was +not so much real as it was apparent. It was the hostility of the +leaders of one political party. I am told that there was no time during +the civil war when they were able to get up in England a demonstration +in favor of secession, while these were constantly being gotten up in +favor of the Union, or, as they called it, in favor of the North. Even +in Manchester, which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off +from her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the North +at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing. + +It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may come up +in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery before. The +condition of the colored man within our borders may become a source of +anxiety, to say the least. But he was brought to our shores by +compulsion, and he now should be considered as having as good a right to +remain here as any other class of our citizens. It was looking to a +settlement of this question that led me to urge the annexation of Santo +Domingo during the time I was President of the United States. + +Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the administration, +but by all the people, almost without price. The island is upon our +shores, is very fertile, and is capable of supporting fifteen millions +of people. The products of the soil are so valuable that labor in her +fields would be so compensated as to enable those who wished to go there +to quickly repay the cost of their passage. I took it that the colored +people would go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states +governed by their own race. They would still be States of the Union, +and under the protection of the General Government; but the citizens +would be almost wholly colored. + +By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen, territory +almost equal in extent to that we already possessed. It was seen that +the volunteers of the Mexican war largely composed the pioneers to +settle up the Pacific coast country. Their numbers, however, were +scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus for the population of the important +points of the territory acquired by that war. After our rebellion, when +so many young men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found +they were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of +the villages, but wanted larger fields. The mines of the mountains +first attracted them; but afterwards they found that rich valleys and +productive grazing and farming lands were there. This territory, the +geography of which was not known to us at the close of the rebellion, is +now as well mapped as any portion of our country. Railroads traverse it +in every direction, north, south, east, and west. The mines are worked. +The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich agricultural +lands are found in many of the valleys. This is the work of the +volunteer. It is probable that the Indians would have had control of +these lands for a century yet but for the war. We must conclude, +therefore, that wars are not always evils unmixed with some good. + +Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were satisfied to +remain near the scenes of their birth. In fact an immense majority of +the whole people did not feel secure against coming to want should they +move among entire strangers. So much was the country divided into small +communities that localized idioms had grown up, so that you could almost +tell what section a person was from by hearing him speak. Before, new +territories were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with +others; people who, when the country began to settle up around them, +would push out farther from civilization. Their guns furnished meat, +and the cultivation of a very limited amount of the soil, their bread +and vegetables. All the streams abounded with fish. Trapping would +furnish pelts to be brought into the States once a year, to pay for +necessary articles which they could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, +tobacco and some store goods. Occasionally some little articles of +luxury would enter into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, +two or three pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if +anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey. + +Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the settlements +of these frontiersmen. This is all changed now. The war begot a spirit +of independence and enterprise. The feeling now is, that a youth must +cut loose from his old surroundings to enable him to get up in the +world. There is now such a commingling of the people that particular +idioms and pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; +the country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea"; +railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior; maps, +nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now furnished the +student of geography. + +The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We have +but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity at home, +and the respect of other nations. Our experience ought to teach us the +necessity of the first; our power secures the latter. + +I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be great +harmony between the Federal and Confederate. I cannot stay to be a +living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; but I feel it within +me that it is to be so. The universally kind feeling expressed for me +at a time when it was supposed that each day would prove my last, seemed +to me the beginning of the answer to "Let us have peace." + +The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a section +of the country, nor to a division of the people. They came from +individual citizens of all nationalities; from all denominations--the +Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and from the various societies of +the land--scientific, educational, religious or otherwise. Politics did +not enter into the matter at all. + +I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should be given +because I was the object of it. But the war between the States was a +very bloody and a very costly war. One side or the other had to yield +principles they deemed dearer than life before it could be brought to an +end. I commanded the whole of the mighty host engaged on the victorious +side. I was, no matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative +of that side of the controversy. It is a significant and gratifying +fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this spontaneous +move. I hope the good feeling inaugurated may continue to the end. + + + +APPENDIX. + +REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMIES +1864-65. + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., July 22, +1865. + +HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations +of the Armies of the United States from the date of my appointment to +command the same. + +From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with the idea +that active and continuous operations of all the troops that could be +brought into the field, regardless of season and weather, were necessary +to a speedy termination of the war. The resources of the enemy and his +numerical strength were far inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, +we had a vast territory, with a population hostile to the government, to +garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to +protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies. + +The armies in the East and West acted independently and without concert, +like a balky team, no two ever pulling together, enabling the enemy to +use to great advantage his interior lines of communication for +transporting troops from East to West, reinforcing the army most +vigorously pressed, and to furlough large numbers, during seasons of +inactivity on our part, to go to their homes and do the work of +producing, for the support of their armies. It was a question whether +our numerical strength and resources were not more than balanced by +these disadvantages and the enemy's superior position. + +From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could be had +that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the people, both +North and South, until the military power of the rebellion was entirely +broken. + +I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of troops +practicable against the armed force of the enemy; preventing him from +using the same force at different seasons against first one and then +another of our armies, and the possibility of repose for refitting and +producing necessary supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to +hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his +resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there should be +nothing left to him but an equal submission with the loyal section of +our common country to the constitution and laws of the land. + +These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given and +campaigns made to carry them out. Whether they might have been better +in conception and execution is for the people, who mourn the loss of +friends fallen, and who have to pay the pecuniary cost, to say. All I +can say is, that what I have done has been done conscientiously, to the +best of my ability, and in what I conceived to be for the best interests +of the whole country. + +At the date when this report begins, the situation of the contending +forces was about as follows: The Mississippi River was strongly +garrisoned by Federal troops, from St. Louis, Missouri, to its mouth. +The line of the Arkansas was also held, thus giving us armed possession +of all west of the Mississippi, north of that stream. A few points in +Southern Louisiana, not remote from the river, were held by us, together +with a small garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande. All the +balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas was in +the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an army of probably +not less than eighty thousand effective men, that could have been +brought into the field had there been sufficient opposition to have +brought them out. The let-alone policy had demoralized this force so +that probably but little more than one-half of it was ever present in +garrison at any one time. But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with +the bands of guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along +the Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the +population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to keep +navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal people to the +west of it. To the east of the Mississippi we held substantially with +the line of the Tennessee and Holston rivers, running eastward to +include nearly all of the State of Tennessee. South of Chattanooga, a +small foothold had been obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East +Tennessee from incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. +West Virginia was substantially within our lines. Virginia, with the +exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area about +the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk and Fort +Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the Potomac lying along +the Rapidan, was in the possession of the enemy. Along the sea-coast +footholds had been obtained at Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in +North Carolina; Beaufort, Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort +Pulaski, and Port Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. +Augustine, in Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our +possession, while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy. +The accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman and +other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the territory +occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and at the opening of +the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are the lines which it was +proposed to occupy. + +Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a large +population disloyal to the government, making it necessary to guard +every foot of road or river used in supplying our armies. In the South, +a reign of military despotism prevailed, which made every man and boy +capable of bearing arms a soldier; and those who could not bear arms in +the field acted as provosts for collecting deserters and returning them. +This enabled the enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the +field. + +The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the +Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and J. E. +Johnston, his ablest and best generals. The army commanded by Lee +occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from Mine Run +westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending Richmond, the +rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. The army under Johnston +occupied a strongly intrenched position at Dalton, Georgia, covering and +defending Atlanta, Georgia, a place of great importance as a railroad +centre, against the armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman. In +addition to these armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in +North-east Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the +Shenandoah Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme +eastern part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons, +and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land. + +These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, were the +main objective points of the campaign. + +Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of the +Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the armies and +territory east of the Mississippi River to the Alleghanies and the +Department of Arkansas, west of the Mississippi, had the immediate +command of the armies operating against Johnston. + +Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the Army of +the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision of the movements +of all our armies. + +General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, to break +it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's country as far as he +could, inflicting all the damage he could upon their war resources. If +the enemy in his front showed signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to +the full extent of his ability, while I would prevent the concentration +of Lee upon him, if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do +so. More specific written instructions were not given, for the reason +that I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was +satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the fullest +extent possible. + +Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River against +Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous to my +appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of March, of the +importance it was that Shreveport should be taken at the earliest +possible day, and that if he found that the taking of it would occupy +from ten to fifteen days' more time than General Sherman had given his +troops to be absent from their command, he would send them back at the +time specified by General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of +the main object of the Red River expedition, for this force was +necessary to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his +expedition prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River +with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the balance of +his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans, commencing no move for +the further acquisition of territory, unless it was to make that then +held by him more easily held; that it might be a part of the spring +campaign to move against Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops +enough could be obtained to make it without embarrassing other +movements; that New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an +expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a real move +from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks), instead of a +demonstration, as Steele thought advisable. + +On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification and +directions, he was instructed as follows: + + +"1st. If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that you +turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and the navy. + +"2d. That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of your hold +upon the Rio Grande. This can be held with four thousand men, if they +will turn their attention immediately to fortifying their positions. At +least one-half of the force required for this service might be taken +from the colored troops. + +"3d. By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force to +guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten thousand +men, if not to a less number. Six thousand more would then hold all the +rest of the territory necessary to hold until active operations can +again be resumed west of the river. According to your last return, this +would give you a force of over thirty thousand effective men with which +to move against Mobile. To this I expect to add five thousand men from +Missouri. If however, you think the force here stated too small to hold +the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession of, I would say +concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of your present command +for operations against Mobile. With these and such additions as I can +give you from elsewhere, lose no time in making a demonstration, to be +followed by an attack upon Mobile. Two or more iron-clads will be +ordered to report to Admiral Farragut. This gives him a strong naval +fleet with which to co-operate. You can make your own arrangements with +the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of approach. +My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should be your base; but, +from your long service in the Gulf Department, you will know best about +the matter. It is intended that your movements shall be co-operative +with movements elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon. All I +would now add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at +once. Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and start +at the earliest possible moment. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS." + + +Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his +objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For his +movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the Rapidan below +Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, moving by his left. +Each presented advantages over the other, with corresponding objections. +By crossing above, Lee would be cut off from all chance of ignoring +Richmond or going north on a raid. But if we took this route, all we +did would have to be done whilst the rations we started with held out; +besides, it separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed +how to cooperate. If we took the other route, Brandy Station could be +used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the York or +James rivers. Of these, however, it was decided to take the lower +route. + +The following letter of instruction was addressed to Major-General B. F. +Butler: + + +"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864. + +"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall commence +at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to have cooperative +action of all the armies in the field, as far as this object can be +accomplished. + +"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three large +ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute necessity of holding +on to the territory already taken from the enemy. But, generally +speaking, concentration can be practically effected by armies moving to +the interior of the enemy's country from the territory they have to +guard. By such movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy +and the country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to +guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a part of +the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's army and +Richmond being the greater objects towards which our attention must be +directed in the next campaign, it is desirable to unite all the force we +can against them. The necessity of covering Washington with the Army of +the Potomac, and of covering your department with your army, makes it +impossible to unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I +propose, therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems +practicable: The Army of the Potomac will act from its present base, +Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect all the forces +from your command that can be spared from garrison duty--I should say +not less than twenty thousand effective men--to operate on the south +side of James River, Richmond being your objective point. To the force +you already have will be added about ten thousand men from South +Carolina, under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person. +Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to command the +troops sent into the field from your own department. + +"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress Monroe, +with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, or as soon +thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive notice by that time +to move, you will make such disposition of them and your other forces as +you may deem best calculated to deceive the enemy as to the real move to +be made. + +"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much force as +possible. Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and concentrate all +your troops for the field there as rapidly as you can. From City Point +directions cannot be given at this time for your further movements. + +"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond is to be +your objective point, and that there is to be co-operation between your +force and the Army of the Potomac--must be your guide. This indicates +the necessity of your holding close to the south bank of the James River +as you advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his intrenchments +in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, and by means of +transports the two armies would become a unit. + +"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your +direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your cavalry +south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford, about the time +of the general advance, it would be of immense advantage. + +"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest practicable +day, all orders, details, and instructions you may give for the +execution of this order. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER." + + +On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On the +19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army and that of +General Meade, he was informed that I expected him to move from Fort +Monroe the same day that General Meade moved from Culpeper. The exact +time I was to telegraph him as soon as it was fixed, and that it would +not be earlier than the 27th of April; that it was my intention to fight +Lee between Culpeper and Richmond, if he would stand. Should he, +however, fall back into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction +with his (General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be +certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, so as to +have his left resting on the James, above the city, I would form the +junction there; that circumstances might make this course advisable +anyhow; that he should use every exertion to secure footing as far up +the south side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after +the receipt of orders to move; that if he could not carry the city, he +should at least detain as large a force there as possible. + +In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and Johnston, I was +desirous of using all other troops necessarily kept in departments +remote from the fields of immediate operations, and also those kept in +the background for the protection of our extended lines between the +loyal States and the armies operating against them. + +A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, was so +held for the protection of West Virginia, and the frontiers of Maryland +and Pennsylvania. Whilst these troops could not be withdrawn to distant +fields without exposing the North to invasion by comparatively small +bodies of the enemy, they could act directly to their front, and give +better protection than if lying idle in garrison. By such a movement +they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the protection +of his supplies and lines of communication, or he would lose them. +General Sigel was therefore directed to organize all his available force +into two expeditions, to move from Beverly and Charleston, under command +of Generals Ord and Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia +Railroad. Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own +request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to give up +the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one under General +Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten thousand men, and one on the +Shenandoah, numbering about seven thousand men. The one on the +Shenandoah to assemble between Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the +infantry and artillery advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as +could be made available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the +Shenandoah Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook +would take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down +the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could, destroying the +New River Bridge and the salt-works, at Saltville, Va. + +Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations were +delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in readiness and +the roads favorable, orders were given for a general movement of all the +armies not later than the 4th of May. + +My first object being to break the military power of the rebellion, and +capture the enemy's important strongholds, made me desirous that General +Butler should succeed in his movement against Richmond, as that would +tend more than anything else, unless it were the capture of Lee's army, +to accomplish this desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my +determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to retreat, or to +so cripple him that he could not detach a large force to go north, and +still retain enough for the defence of Richmond. It was well +understood, by both Generals Butler and Meade, before starting on the +campaign, that it was my intention to put both their armies south of the +James River, in case of failure to destroy Lee without it. + +Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at Fort +Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent importance of +getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying railroad communication +as far south as possible. Believing, however, in the practicability of +capturing Richmond unless it was reinforced, I made that the objective +point of his operations. As the Army of the Potomac was to move +simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with safety, +and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to the defence of +the city in time to meet a rapid movement from the north of James River. + +I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I tried, as +far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent command of the +Army of the Potomac. My instructions for that army were all through +him, and were general in their nature, leaving all the details and the +execution to him. The campaigns that followed proved him to be the +right man in the right place. His commanding always in the presence of +an officer superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that +public attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he +would otherwise have received. + +The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the morning +of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and orders of +Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions. Before night, the whole +army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth corps crossing at +Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's Ford, the cavalry, under +Major-General Sheridan, moving in advance,) with the greater part of its +trains, numbering about four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight +opposition. The average distance travelled by the troops that day was +about twelve miles. This I regarded as a great success, and it removed +from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had entertained, that of +crossing the river in the face of an active, large, well-appointed, and +ably commanded army, and how so large a train was to be carried through +a hostile country, and protected. Early on the 5th, the advance corps +(the fifth, Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the +enemy outside his intrenchments near Mine Run. The battle raged +furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight as fast +as the corps could be got upon the field, which, considering the density +of the forest and narrowness of the roads, was done with commendable +promptness. + +General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the Army of the +Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at the crossing of the +Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, holding the road back to +Bull Run, with instructions not to move until he received notice that a +crossing of the Rapidan was secured, but to move promptly as soon as +such notice was received. This crossing he was apprised of on the +afternoon of the 4th. By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was +leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some of his +troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, crossing both the +Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Considering that a large proportion, +probably two-thirds of his command, was composed of new troops, +unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the accoutrements of a soldier, +this was a remarkable march. + +The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock on the +morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury until darkness set +in, each army holding substantially the same position that they had on +the evening of the 5th. After dark, the enemy made a feeble attempt to +turn our right flank, capturing several hundred prisoners and creating +considerable confusion. But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was +personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon reformed it +and restored order. On the morning of the 7th, reconnoissances showed +that the enemy had fallen behind his intrenched lines, with pickets to +the front, covering a part of the battle-field. From this it was +evident to my mind that the two days' fighting had satisfied him of his +inability to further maintain the contest in the open field, +notwithstanding his advantage of position, and that he would wait an +attack behind his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my +whole force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued for +a movement by his right flank. On the night of the 7th, the march was +commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth corps moving on +the most direct road. But the enemy having become apprised of our +movement, and having the shorter line, was enabled to reach there first. +On the 8th, General Warren met a force of the enemy, which had been sent +out to oppose and delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line +taken up at Spottsylvania. This force was steadily driven back on the +main force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable +fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides. On the morning of the +9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the enemy's lines of +communication with Richmond. The 9th, 10th, and 11th were spent in +manoeuvring and fighting, without decisive results. Among the killed on +the 9th was that able and distinguished soldier Major-General John +Sedgwick, commanding the sixth army corps. Major-General H. G. Wright +succeeded him in command. Early on the morning of the 12th a general +attack was made on the enemy in position. The second corps, +Major-General Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, +capturing most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces +of artillery. But the resistance was so obstinate that the advantage +gained did not prove decisive. The 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and +18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting the arrival of +reinforcements from Washington. Deeming it impracticable to make any +further attack upon the enemy at Spottsylvania Court House, orders were +issued on the 15th with a view to a movement to the North Anna, to +commence at twelve o'clock on the night of the 19th. Late in the +afternoon of the 19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our +extreme right flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy +loss. This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of the +21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy again, having the shorter +line, and being in possession of the main roads, was enabled to reach +the North Anna in advance of us, and took position behind it. The fifth +corps reached the North Anna on the afternoon of the 23d, closely +followed by the sixth corps. The second and ninth corps got up about the +same time, the second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying +between that and Jericho Ford. General Warren effected a crossing the +same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon after +getting into position he was violently attacked, but repulsed the enemy +with great slaughter. On the 25th, General Sheridan rejoined the Army +of the Potomac from the raid on which he started from Spottsylvania, +having destroyed the depots at Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four +trains of cars, large supplies of rations, and many miles of +railroad-track; recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to +Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's cavalry at +Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around Richmond (but +finding the second line too strong to be carried by assault), recrossed +to the north bank of the Chickahominy at Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, +and moved by a detour to Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he +communicated with General Butler. This raid had the effect of drawing +off the whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy +to guard our trains. + +General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in pursuance of +instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore having joined him with +the tenth corps. At the same time he sent a force of one thousand eight +hundred cavalry, by way of West Point, to form a junction with him +wherever he might get a foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, +under General Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of +Petersburg and Richmond. On the 5th, he occupied, without opposition, +both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement being a complete +surprise. On the 6th, he was in position with his main army, and +commenced intrenching. On the 7th he made a reconnoissance against the +Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, destroying a portion of it after some +fighting. On the 9th he telegraphed as follows: + + +"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, May 9, 1864. + +"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War. + +"Our operations may be summed up in a few words. With one thousand +seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the Peninsula, forced the +Chickahominy, and have safely, brought them to their present position. +These were colored cavalry, and are now holding our advance pickets +towards Richmond. + +"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the same +day with our movement up James River, forced the Black Water, burned the +railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below Petersburg, cutting into +Beauregard's force at that point. + +"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles of +railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we can hold +out against the whole of Lee's army. I have ordered up the supplies. + +"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south by the +cutting of the railroads by Kautz. That portion which reached +Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and wounding many, +and taking many prisoners, after a severe and well-contested fight. + +"General Grant will not be troubled with any further reinforcements to +Lee from Beauregard's force. + +"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General." + + +On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a portion +of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff, or Fort Darling, +with small loss. The time thus consumed from the 6th lost to us the +benefit of the surprise and capture of Richmond and Petersburg, +enabling, as it did, Beauregard to collect his loose forces in North and +South Carolina, and bring them to the defence of those places. On the +16th, the enemy attacked General Butler in his position in front of +Drury's Bluff. He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments +between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy +intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads, the +city, and all that was valuable to him. His army, therefore, though in +a position of great security, was as completely shut off from further +operations directly against Richmond as if it had been in a bottle +strongly corked. It required but a comparatively small force of the +enemy to hold it there. + +On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a raid +against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at Coalfield, Powhatan, +and Chula Stations, destroying them, the railroad-track, two freight +trains, and one locomotive, together with large quantities of commissary +and other stores; thence, crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at +Wilson's, Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the +road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point, which he +reached on the 18th. + +On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General Butler, the +enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an iron-clad ram, +attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H. W. Wessells, and our +gunboats there, and, after severe fighting, the place was carried by +assault, and the entire garrison and armament captured. The gunboat +Smithfield was sunk, and the Miami disabled. + +The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically sealed +itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to bring the most, +if not all, the reinforcements brought from the south by Beauregard +against the Army of the Potomac. In addition to this reinforcement, a +very considerable one, probably not less than fifteen thousand men, was +obtained by calling in the scattered troops under Breckinridge from the +western part of Virginia. + +The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was +difficult to operate from against the enemy. I determined, therefore, +to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough only to secure +what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d, I directed that they +be sent forward, under command of Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the +Army of the Potomac. + +On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by Major-General A. E. +Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and from this time +forward constituted a portion of Major-General Meade's command. + +Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than either of +his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th to the north bank +of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town to turn the enemy's +position by his right. + +Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under Sheridan, +and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the Pamunkey River at +Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and on the 28th the two +divisions of cavalry had a severe, but successful engagement with the +enemy at Hawes's Shop. On the 29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy +skirmishing, to the Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and +developed the enemy's position north of the Chickahominy. Late on the +evening of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but +was repulsed with very considerable loss. An attack was immediately +ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted in +driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line. + +On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the railroad +bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the enemy's cavalry. +General Sheridan, on the same day, reached Cold Harbor, and held it +until relieved by the 6th corps and General Smith's command, which had +just arrived, via White House, from General Butler's army. + +On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the 6th corps +and the troops under General Smith, the other corps being held in +readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. This resulted in our +carrying and holding the enemy's first line of works in front of the +right of the 6th corps, and in front of General Smith. During the +attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not engaged +in the main attack, but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance. +That night he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the +day, but failed. The 2d was spent in getting troops into position for +an attack on the 3d. On the 3d of June we again assaulted the enemy's +works, in the hope of driving him from his position. In this attempt +our loss was heavy, while that of the enemy, I have reason to believe, +was comparatively light. It was the only general attack made from the +Rapidan to the James which did not inflict upon the enemy losses to +compensate for our own losses. I would not be understood as saying that +all previous attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished +as much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy +severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete overthrow of +the rebellion. + +From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond, it was +impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between him and the +city. I was still in a condition to either move by his left flank, and +invest Richmond from the north side, or continue my move by his right +flank to the south side of the James. While the former might have been +better as a covering for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground +satisfied me that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and +east of Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long, +vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to guard, and +that would have to be protected to supply the army, and would leave open +to the enemy all his lines of communication on the south side of the +James. My idea, from the start, had been to beat Lee's army north of +Richmond, if possible. Then, after destroying his lines of +communication north of the James River, to transfer the army to the +south side, and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he +should retreat. After the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that +the enemy deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the +army he then had. He acted purely on the defensive, behind breastworks, +or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where, in +case of repulse, he could easily retire behind them. Without a greater +sacrifice of life than I was willing to make, all could not be +accomplished that I had designed north of Richmond. I therefore +determined to continue to hold substantially the ground we then +occupied, taking advantage of any favorable circumstances that might +present themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville +and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection between +Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and when the cavalry +got well off, to move the army to the south side of the James River, by +the enemy's right flank, where I felt I could cut off all his sources of +supply, except by the canal. + +On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan, got off on +the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad, with instructions +to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near Charlottesville, to join his +forces to Sheridan's, and after the work laid out for them was +thoroughly done, to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid down +in Sheridan's instructions. + +On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, under +General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to capture +Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and common bridges +across the Appomattox. The cavalry carried the works on the south side, +and penetrated well in towards the town, but were forced to retire. +General Gillmore, finding the works which he approached very strong, and +deeming an assault impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without +attempting one. + +Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I sent back +to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's command by water, via +the White House, to reach there in advance of the Army of the Potomac. +This was for the express purpose of securing Petersburg before the +enemy, becoming aware of our intention, could reinforce the place. + +The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the evening of the +12th. One division of cavalry, under General Wilson, and the 5th corps, +crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White Oak +Swamp, to cover the crossings of the other corps. The advance corps +reached James River, at Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, +on the night of the 13th. + +During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia +had been confronting each other. In that time they had fought more +desperate battles than it probably ever before fell to the lot of two +armies to fight, without materially changing the vantage ground of +either. The Southern press and people, with more shrewdness than was +displayed in the North, finding that they had failed to capture +Washington and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, +assumed that they only defended their Capital and Southern territory. +Hence, Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been +fought, were by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for +them. Their army believed this. It produced a morale which could only +be overcome by desperate and continuous hard fighting. The battles of +the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and +terrible as they were on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy, +and so crippled him as to make him wary ever after of taking the +offensive. His losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the +fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the +attacking party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field. The +details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the part of +the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in the report of +Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports accompanying it. + +During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the James +River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting base, by +wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded country, with a lack +of wharves at each new base from which to conveniently discharge +vessels. Too much credit cannot, therefore, be awarded to the +quartermaster and commissary departments for the zeal and efficiency +displayed by them. Under the general supervision of the chief +quartermaster, Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to +occupy all the available roads between the army and our water-base, and +but little difficulty was experienced in protecting them. + +The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under General Sigel, +commenced on the 1st of May. General Crook, who had the immediate +command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his forces into two columns, +giving one, composed of cavalry, to General Averell. They crossed the +mountains by separate routes. Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia +Railroad, near Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and +Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges and +depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with Crook at +Union on the 15th. General Sigel moved up the Shenandoah Valley, met +the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and, after a severe engagement, was +defeated with heavy loss, and retired behind Cedar Creek. Not regarding +the operations of General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal +from command, and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him. His +instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to Major-General +H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army: + + +"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA. "May 20, 1864. + +* * * * * * * "The enemy are +evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as are brought over the +branch road running through Staunton. On the whole, therefore, I think +it would be better for General Hunter to move in that direction; reach +Staunton and Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too +much opposition. If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he +will be doing good service. * * * + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK." + + +"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864. + +"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he should +do so, living on the country. The railroads and canal should be +destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks. Completing this, he +could find his way back to his original base, or from about Gordonsville +join this army. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK." + + +General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up the +Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at Piedmont, and, +after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated him, capturing on the +field of battle one thousand five hundred men, three pieces of +artillery, and three hundred stand of small arms. On the 8th of the +same month he formed a junction with Crook and Averell at Staunton, from +which place he moved direct on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he +reached and invested on the 16th day of June. Up to this time he was +very successful; and but for the difficulty of taking with him +sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march, through a hostile +country, he would, no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, +point. The destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was +very great. To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee +sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached +Lynchburg a short time before Hunter. After some skirmishing on the +17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give +battle, retired from before the place. Unfortunately, this want of +ammunition left him no choice of route for his return but by way of +Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his troops for several weeks from +the defence of the North. + +Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of +Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been in a +position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the enemy, should +the force he met have seemed to endanger it. If it did not, he would +have been within easy distance of the James River Canal, on the main +line of communication between Lynchburg and the force sent for its +defence. I have never taken exception to the operations of General +Hunter, and am not now disposed to find fault with him, for I have no +doubt he acted within what he conceived to be the spirit of his +instructions and the interests of the service. The promptitude of his +movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the commendation of +his country. + +To return to the Army of the Potomac: The 2d corps commenced crossing +the James River on the morning of the 14th by ferry-boats at Wilcox's +Landing. The laying of the pontoon-bridge was completed about midnight +of the 14th, and the crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly +pushed forward by both bridge and ferry. + +After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to Bermuda +Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate capture of +Petersburg. + +The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him to send +General Smith immediately, that night, with all the troops he could give +him without sacrificing the position he then held. I told him that I +would return at once to the Army of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and +throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be +done, that we could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the +enemy could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as directed, +and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg before daylight next +morning, but for some reason that I have never been able to +satisfactorily understand, did not get ready to assault his main lines +until near sundown. Then, with a part of his command only, he made the +assault, and carried the lines north-east of Petersburg from the +Appomattox River, for a distance of over two and a half miles, capturing +fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about +seven P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no +other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had reinforced +Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear +the moon shining brightly and favorable to further operations. General +Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached General Smith just +after dark, and offered the service of these troops as he (Smith) might +wish, waiving rank to the named commander, who he naturally supposed +knew best the position of affairs, and what to do with the troops. But +instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into Petersburg, he +requested General Hancock to relieve a part of his line in the captured +works, which was done before midnight. + +By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. An attack +was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by the troops under +Smith and the 2d and 9th corps. It required until that time for the 9th +corps to get up and into position. The attack was made as ordered, and +the fighting continued with but little intermission until six o'clock +the next morning, and resulted in our carrying the advance and some of +the main works of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously +captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over four +hundred prisoners. + +The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and persisted in +with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only resulted in forcing the +enemy into an interior line, from which he could not be dislodged. The +advantages of position gained by us were very great. The army then +proceeded to envelop Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far +as possible without attacking fortifications. + +On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of +his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting, no doubt, to +get troops from north of the James to take the place of those withdrawn +before we could discover it. General Butler, taking advantage of this, +at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. +As soon as I was apprised of the advantage thus gained, to retain it I +ordered two divisions of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that +were embarking at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to +report to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was +notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of his +present line urged upon him. + +About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced back to the +line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. General Wright, with +his two divisions, joined General Butler on the forenoon of the 17th, +the latter still holding with a strong picket-line the enemy's works. +But instead of putting these divisions into the enemy's works to hold +them, he permitted them to halt and rest some distance in the rear of +his own line. Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy +attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line. + +On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was effected +by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the north bank of +the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by pontoon-bridge with Bermuda +Hundred. + +On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition against +the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House just as the +enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled it to retire. The +result of this expedition was, that General Sheridan met the enemy's +cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the morning of the 11th of June, whom +he attacked, and after an obstinate contest drove from the field in +complete rout. He left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our +hands, and about four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses. On +the 12th he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa +Court House. This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced +in the direction of Gordonsville. He found the enemy reinforced by +infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles from the +latter place and too strong to successfully assault. On the extreme +right, however, his reserve brigade carried the enemy's works twice, and +was twice driven therefrom by infantry. Night closed the contest. Not +having sufficient ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals +being without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing), and +hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command to the +north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return march, reaching +White House at the time before stated. After breaking up the depot at +that place, he moved to the James River, which he reached safely after +heavy fighting. He commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, +without further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac. + +On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of the Army +of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry of the Army of +the James moved against the enemy's railroads south of Richmond. +Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's Station, destroying the depot +and several miles of the road, and the South Side road about fifteen +miles from Petersburg, to near Nottoway Station, where he met and +defeated a force of the enemy's cavalry. He reached Burkesville Station +on the afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville +Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, where he +found the enemy in force, and in a position from which he could not +dislodge him. He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met +the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon Railroad crossing of Stony +Creek, where he had a severe but not decisive engagement. Thence he +made a detour from his left with a view of reaching Reams's Station +(supposing it to be in our possession). At this place he was met by the +enemy's cavalry, supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the +loss of his artillery and trains. In this last encounter, General +Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made his way +into our lines. General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, +succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming in safely on our +left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than +compensated for the losses we sustained. It severed all connection by +railroad with Richmond for several weeks. + +With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond to the +Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his army in the +Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to take advantage of +his necessary withdrawal of troops from Petersburg, to explode a mine +that had been prepared in front of the 9th corps and assault the enemy's +lines at that place, on the night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and +two divisions of the cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to +the north bank of the James River and joined the force General Butler +had there. On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched +position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery. On the 28th our +lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market Road, but in getting +this position were attacked by the enemy in heavy force. The fighting +lasted for several hours, resulting in considerable loss to both sides. +The first object of this move having failed, by reason of the very large +force thrown there by the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the +diversion made, by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force +back there. One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night of +the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th corps, to +relieve that corps in the line, that it might be foot-loose in the +assault to be made. The other two divisions of the 2d corps and +Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the night of the 29th and moved +in front of Petersburg. On the morning of the 30th, between four and +five o'clock, the mine was sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a +regiment, and the advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th +corps, immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion, +and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a +detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to advance +promptly to the ridge beyond. Had they done this, I have every reason +to believe that Petersburg would have fallen. Other troops were +immediately pushed forward, but the time consumed in getting them up +enabled the enemy to rally from his surprise (which had been complete), +and get forces to this point for its defence. The captured line thus +held being untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were +withdrawn, but not without heavy loss. Thus terminated in disaster what +promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign. + +Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter was +retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus laying the +Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, he +returned northward and moved down that valley. As soon as this movement +of the enemy was ascertained, General Hunter, who had reached the +Kanawha River, was directed to move his troops without delay, by river +and railroad, to Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of +navigation by reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great +delay was experienced in getting there. It became necessary, therefore, +to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy. For this +purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating against +Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then fortunately beginning +to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf Department, under orders issued +immediately after the ascertainment of the result of the Red River +expedition. The garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time +made up of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments +from the invalid corps. One division under command of General Ricketts, +of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the remaining two divisions +of the 6th corps, under General Wright, were subsequently sent to +Washington. On the 3d of July the enemy approached Martinsburg. +General Sigel, who was in command of our forces there, retreated across +the Potomac at Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's +Ferry, crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards +Frederick City. General Wallace, with Rickett's division and his own +command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops, pushed out from +Baltimore with great promptness, and met the enemy in force on the +Monocacy, near the crossing of the railroad bridge. His force was not +sufficient to insure success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and +although it resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, +and thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with two +division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th corps, before +him. From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington, his cavalry advance +reaching Rockville on the evening of the 10th. On the 12th a +reconnoissance was thrown out in front of Fort Stevens, to ascertain the +enemy's position and force. A severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost +about two hundred and eighty in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss +was probably greater. He commenced retreating during the night. +Learning the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by +telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th, the +assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of all the +troops that could be made available to operate in the field against the +enemy, and directed that he should get outside of the trenches with all +the force he could, and push Early to the last moment. General Wright +commenced the pursuit on the 13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken +at Snicker's Ferry, on the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; +and on the 20th, General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of +the rebel army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and +several hundred prisoners. + +Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or Richmond, +I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to the armies +operating against Richmond, so that they might be used in a movement +against Lee before the return of the troops sent by him into the valley; +and that Hunter should remain in the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between +any force of the enemy and Washington, acting on the defensive as much +as possible. I felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the +fact would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave +Washington. Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the order to +return to the James. + +About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again advancing upon +Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps, then at Washington, was +ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's Ferry. The rebel force moved +down the valley, and sent a raiding party into Pennsylvania which on the +30th burned Chambersburg, and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, +towards Cumberland. They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and +with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West Virginia. +From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires were frequently down +between Washington and City Point, making it necessary to transmit +messages a part of the way by boat. It took from twenty-four to +thirty-six hours to get dispatches through and return answers would be +received showing a different state of facts from those on which they +were based, causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that +must have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and +rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they otherwise +would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident to my mind that +some person should have the supreme command of all the forces in the +Department of West Virginia, Washington, Susquehanna, and the Middle +Department, and I so recommended. + +On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in person to +Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington, with a view to his +assignment to the command of all the forces against Early. At this time +the enemy was concentrated in the neighborhood of Winchester, while our +forces, under General Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the +crossing of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy +Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. From where I was, I +hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces at +Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington. Therefore, on the +4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's command, and determine for +myself what was best to be done. On arrival there, and after +consultation with General Hunter, I issued to him the following +instructions: + + +"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND, August 5, 1864--8 P.M. + +"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in the +vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards and +garrisons for public property as may be necessary. Use, in this +concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be saved. From +Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has moved north of the +Potomac in large force, push north, following him and attacking him +wherever found; follow him, if driven south of the Potomac, as long as +it is safe to do so. If it is ascertained that the enemy has but a +small force north of the Potomac, then push south with the main force, +detaching under a competent commander, a sufficient force to look after +the raiders, and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a force, +the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington via Rockville +may be taken into account. + +"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of the best +cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and horses. These will be +instructed, in the absence of further orders, to join you by the south +side of the Potomac. One brigade will probably start to-morrow. In +pushing up the Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to +go first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to invite +the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and stock wanted for +the use of your command; such as cannot be consumed, destroy. It is not +desirable that the buildings should be destroyed--they should rather be +protected; but the people should be informed that, so long as an army +can subsist among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and +we are determined to stop them at all hazards. + +"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do this +you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your course by the +course he takes. + +"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving regular +vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in the country +through which you march. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER." + + +The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance reached +Halltown that night. + +General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a willingness to +be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have General Sheridan, then +at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by the morning train, with orders +to take general command of all the troops in the field, and to call on +General Hunter at Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of +instructions. I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan arrived, on +the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with him in relation to +military affairs in that vicinity, I returned to City Point by way of +Washington. + +On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments of West +Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted into the "Middle +Military Division," and Major-General Sheridan was assigned to +temporary command of the same. + +Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and Wilson, were +sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The first reached him at +Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August. + +His operations during the month of August and the fore part of September +were both of an offensive and defensive character, resulting in many +severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry, in which we were +generally successful, but no general engagement took place. The two +armies lay in such a position--the enemy on the west bank of the Opequon +Creek covering Winchester, and our forces in front of Berryville--that +either could bring on a battle at any time. Defeat to us would lay open +to the enemy the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances +before another army could be interposed to check him. Under these +circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to be taken. +Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the Chesapeake +and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by the enemy, became so +indispensably necessary to us, and the importance of relieving +Pennsylvania and Maryland from continuously threatened invasion so +great, that I determined the risk should be taken. But fearing to +telegraph the order for an attack without knowing more than I did of +General Sheridan's feelings as to what would be the probable result, I +left City Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his +headquarters, to decide, after conference with him, what should be done. +I met him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each army +lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and expressed such +confidence of success, that I saw there were but two words of +instructions necessary--Go in! For the conveniences of forage, the +teams for supplying the army were kept at Harper's Ferry. I asked him +if he could get out his teams and supplies in time to make an attack on +the ensuing Tuesday morning. His reply was, that he could before +daylight on Monday. He was off promptly to time, and I may here add, +that the result was such that I have never since deemed it necessary to +visit General Sheridan before giving him orders. + +Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked General +Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a most sanguinary +and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in the evening, defeated +him with heavy loss, carrying his entire position from Opequon Creek to +Winchester, capturing several thousand prisoners and five pieces of +artillery. The enemy rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at +Fisher's Hill, where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss +on the 20th [22d]. Sheridan pursued him with great energy through +Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge. After stripping +the upper valley of most of the supplies and provisions for the rebel +army, he returned to Strasburg, and took position on the north side of +Cedar Creek. + +Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again +returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry +encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated, with +the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and fifty +prisoners. On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the mountains +which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded the North Fork, +and early on the morning of the 19th, under cover of the darkness and +the fog, surprised and turned our left flank, and captured the batteries +which enfiladed our whole line. Our troops fell back with heavy loss +and in much confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and +Newtown. At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at Winchester when +the battle commenced arrived on the field, arranged his lines just in +time to repulse a heavy attack of the enemy, and immediately assuming +the offensive, he attacked in turn with great vigor. The enemy was +defeated with great slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and +trains, and the trophies he had captured in the morning. The wreck of +his army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of Staunton +and Lynchburg. Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus ended this, the +enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the Shenandoah Valley. I +was now enabled to return the 6th corps to the Army of the Potomac, and +to send one division from Sheridan's army to the Army of the James, and +another to Savannah, Georgia, to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the +sea-coast, and thus enable him to move without detaching from his force +for that purpose. + +Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy had +detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early in the +Shenandoah Valley. I therefore sent the 2d corps and Gregg's division +of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a force of General Butler's +army, on the night of the 13th of August, to threaten Richmond from the +north side of the James, to prevent him from sending troops away, and, +if possible, to draw back those sent. In this move we captured six +pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that +were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one division +(Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone. + +The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist this +movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was moved out on the +18th, and took possession of the Weldon Railroad. During the day he had +considerable fighting. To regain possession of the road, the enemy made +repeated and desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great +loss. On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of the +James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the front at +Petersburg. On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, +while at Reams's Station destroying the railroad, were attacked, and +after desperate fighting, a part of our line gave way, and five pieces +of artillery fell into the hands of the enemy. + +By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from the City +Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, enabling us to +supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the army in front of +Petersburg. + +The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled the +enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few troops +north of the James for the defence of Richmond. On the night of the +28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the 18th corps, +Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's army, were crossed to +the north side of the James, and advanced on the morning of the 29th, +carrying the very strong fortifications and intrenchments below +Chaffin's Farm, known as Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of +artillery, and the New Market Road and intrenchments. This success was +followed up by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front +of the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with heavy +loss. Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to the right of +this, supported by infantry, and reached the enemy's inner line, but was +unable to get further. The position captured from the enemy was so +threatening to Richmond, that I determined to hold it. The enemy made +several desperate attempts to dislodge us, all of which were +unsuccessful, and for which he paid dearly. On the morning of the 30th, +General Meade sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the +enemy's line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of +troops to the north side. In this reconnoissance we captured and held +the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church. In the afternoon, troops +moving to get to the left of the point gained were attacked by the enemy +in heavy force, and compelled to fall back until supported by the forces +holding the captured works. Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, +but repulsed the enemy with great loss. + +On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north of the +James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, wounded, and +prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight or nine pieces. This +he followed up by an attack on our intrenched infantry line, but was +repulsed with severe slaughter. On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent +out by General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new +works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to us. + +On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient men to +hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right flank. The 2d +corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th corps, with the cavalry in +advance and covering our left flank, forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, +and moved up the south side of it towards the South Side Railroad, until +the 2d corps and part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road +where it crosses Hatcher's Run. At this point we were six miles distant +from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement to +reach and hold. But finding that we had not reached the end of the +enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself for a successful +assault by which he might be doubled up and shortened, I determined to +withdraw to within our fortified line. Orders were given accordingly. +Immediately upon receiving a report that General Warren had connected +with General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters. Soon after I left +the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap between Generals +Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as reported, and made a +desperate attack on General Hancock's right and rear. General Hancock +immediately faced his corps to meet it, and after a bloody combat drove +the enemy within his works, and withdrew that night to his old position. + +In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration on the +north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the Williamsburg +Road, and also on the York River Railroad. In the former he was +unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in carrying a work which was +afterwards abandoned, and his forces withdrawn to their former +positions. + +From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and +Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the +defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements for +crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent his +detaching any considerable force to send south. By the 7th of February, +our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the Weldon Railroad had +been destroyed to Hicksford. + +General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with the +Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, respectively, +by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon Johnston's army at +Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at Buzzard's Roost, covering +Dalton, too strong to be assaulted, General McPherson was sent through +Snake Gap to turn it, while Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it +in front and on the north. This movement was successful. Johnston, +finding his retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified +position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of May 15th. +A heavy battle ensued. During the night the enemy retreated south. +Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken near Adairsville, and +heavy skirmishing followed. The next morning, however, he had again +disappeared. He was vigorously pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville +on the 19th, but during the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah. +While these operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's +division of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts +and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries. General Sherman, +having give his army a few days' rest at this point, again put it in +motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of turning the difficult pass +at Allatoona. On the afternoon of the 25th, the advance, under General +Hooker, had a severe battle with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope +Church, near Dallas. Several sharp encounters occurred at this point. +The most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General +McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse. + +On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position at New +Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of Kenesaw, Pine, and +Lost mountains. He was forced to yield the two last-named places, and +concentrate his army on Kenesaw, where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and +McPherson made a determined but unsuccessful assault. On the night of +the 2d of July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, +and on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence of +this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the +Chattahoochee. + +General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men rest and +get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed his operations, +crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large portion of the railroad to +Augusta, and drove the enemy back to Atlanta. At this place General Hood +succeeded General Johnston in command of the rebel army, and assuming +the offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon Sherman +in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and determined of which +was on the 22d of July. About one P.M. of this day the brave, +accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson was killed. General Logan +succeeded him, and commanded the Army of the Tennessee through this +desperate battle, and until he was superseded by Major-General Howard, +on the 26th, with the same success and ability that had characterized +him in the command of a corps or division. + +In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. Finding it +impossible to entirely invest the place, General Sherman, after securing +his line of communications across the Chattahoochee, moved his main +force round by the enemy's left flank upon the Montgomery and Macon +roads, to draw the enemy from his fortifications. In this he succeeded, +and after defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and +Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of September +occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign. + +About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, attempted +to cut his communications in the rear, but was repulsed at Dalton, and +driven into East Tennessee, whence it proceeded west to McMinnville, +Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and was finally driven south of the +Tennessee. The damage done by this raid was repaired in a few days. + +During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau joined +General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur, having made a +successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery Railroad, and its +branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also made by Generals McCook, +Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the remaining Railroad communication with +Atlanta. The first two were successful the latter, disastrous. + +General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was prompt, +skilful, and brilliant. The history of his flank movements and battles +during that memorable campaign will ever be read with an interest +unsurpassed by anything in history. + +His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, accompanying +it, give the details of that most successful campaign. + +He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a single-track +railroad from Nashville to the point where he was operating. This +passed the entire distance through a hostile country, and every foot of +it had to be protected by troops. The cavalry force of the enemy under +Forrest, in Northern Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to +advance far enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat +disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the possibility +of further use. To guard against this danger, Sherman left what he +supposed to be a sufficient force to operate against Forrest in West +Tennessee. He directed General Washburn, who commanded there, to send +Brigadier-General S. D. Sturgis in command of this force to attack him. +On the morning of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near +Guntown, Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout +and confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles, hotly +pursued by the enemy. By this, however, the enemy was defeated in his +designs upon Sherman's line of communications. The persistency with +which he followed up this success exhausted him, and made a season for +rest and repairs necessary. In the meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, +with the troops of the Army of the Tennessee that had been sent by +General Sherman to General Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return +from Red River, where they had done most excellent service. He was +directed by General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against +Forrest. This he did with the promptness and effect which has +characterized his whole military career. On the 14th of July, he met +the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him badly. The fighting +continued through three days. Our loss was small compared with that of +the enemy. Having accomplished the object of his expedition, General +Smith returned to Memphis. + +During the months of March and April this same force under Forrest +annoyed us considerably. On the 24th of March it captured Union City, +Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th attacked Paducah, commanded +by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois Volunteers. Colonel H., having +but a small force, withdrew to the forts near the river, from where he +repulsed the enemy and drove him from the place. + +On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel General +Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to surrender, but +received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th New Jersey Volunteers, +that being placed there by his Government with adequate force to hold +his post and repel all enemies from it, surrender was out of the +question. + +On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow, Tennessee, +garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and the 1st Regiment +Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major Booth. The garrison fought +bravely until about three o'clock in the afternoon, when the enemy +carried the works by assault; and, after our men threw down their arms, +proceeded to an inhuman and merciless massacre of the garrison. + +On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared before +Paducah, but was again driven off. + +Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's operations, +were also very active in Kentucky. The most noted of these was Morgan. +With a force of from two to three thousand cavalry, he entered the State +through Pound Gap in the latter part of May. On the 11th of June they +attacked and captured Cynthiana, with its entire garrison. On the 12th +he was overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy +loss, and was finally driven out of the State. This notorious guerilla +was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville, Tennessee, and his +command captured and dispersed by General Gillem. + +In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the Red River +expedition, except so far as relates to the movements of the troops sent +by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith, I am unable to give the +date of its starting. The troops under General Smith, comprising two +divisions of the 16th and a detachment of the 17th army corps, left +Vicksburg on the 10th of March, and reached the designated point on Red +River one day earlier than that appointed by General Banks. The rebel +forces at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the +14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying the +enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed forward to Fort +de Russy, which had been left with a weak garrison, and captured it with +its garrison about three hundred and fifty men, eleven pieces of +artillery, and many small-arms. Our loss was but slight. On the 15th +he pushed forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th. On +the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's Hill, in +which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten prisoners and four +pieces of artillery. + +On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the rebel +General Taylor, at Cane River. By the 26th, General Banks had assembled +his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to Grand Ecore. On the +morning of April 6th he moved from Grand Ecore. On the afternoon of the +7th, he advanced and met the enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him +from the field. On the same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight +miles beyond Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat. On the +8th, at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and +defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and an +immense amount of transportation and stores. During the night, General +Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another battle was fought on the +9th, and the enemy repulsed with great loss. During the night, General +Banks continued his retrograde movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to +Alexandria, which he reached on the 27th of April. Here a serious +difficulty arose in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the +expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much since they +passed up as to prevent their return. At the suggestion of Colonel (now +Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under his superintendence, wing-dams were +constructed, by which the channel was contracted so that the fleet +passed down the rapids in safety. + +The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after considerable +skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached Morganzia and Point +Coupee near the end of the month. The disastrous termination of this +expedition, and the lateness of the season, rendered impracticable the +carrying out of my plans of a movement in force sufficient to insure the +capture of Mobile. + +On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with the 7th +army corps, to cooperate with General Banks's expedition on the Red +River, and reached Arkadelphia on the 28th. On the 16th of April, after +driving the enemy before him, he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in +Washita County, by General Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith. +After several severe skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, +General Steele reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of +April. + +On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks on Red +River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's Mill, in Dallas +County, General Steele determined to fall back to the Arkansas River. +He left Camden on the 26th of April, and reached Little Rock on the 2d +of May. On the 30th of April, the enemy attacked him while crossing +Saline River at Jenkins's Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable +loss. Our loss was about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners. + +Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the +"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore directed to +send the 19th army corps to join the armies operating against Richmond, +and to limit the remainder of his command to such operations as might be +necessary to hold the positions and lines of communications he then +occupied. + +Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, General +Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy that was +collecting near the Mississippi River. General Smith met and defeated +this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of June. Our loss was about +forty killed and seventy wounded. + +In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General Gordon +Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to co-operate with +Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile Bay. On the 8th of +August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the combined naval and land forces. +Fort Powell was blown up and abandoned. + +On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe bombardment, +surrendered on the 23d. The total captures amounted to one thousand +four hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and one hundred and four pieces +of artillery. + +About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel General +Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had reached Jacksonport, +on his way to invade Missouri, General A. J. Smith's command, then en +route from Memphis to join Sherman, was ordered to Missouri. A cavalry +force was also, at the same time, sent from Memphis, under command of +Colonel Winslow. This made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those +of Price, and no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price +and drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in Arkansas, +would cut off his retreat. On the 26th day of September, Price attacked +Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to retreat, and thence moved north to +the Missouri River, and continued up that river towards Kansas. General +Curtis, commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such +forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while General +Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear. + +The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, with the +loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large number of +prisoners. He made a precipitate retreat to Northern Arkansas. The +impunity with which Price was enabled to roam over the State of Missouri +for a long time, and the incalculable mischief done by him, show to how +little purpose a superior force may be used. There is no reason why +General Rosecrans should not have concentrated his forces, and beaten +and driven Price before the latter reached Pilot Knob. + +September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the +Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the garrison +at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which capitulated on the 24th. +Soon after the surrender two regiments of reinforcements arrived, and +after a severe fight were compelled to surrender. Forrest destroyed the +railroad westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle, +skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the same day +cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near Tullahoma and Dechard. +On the morning of the 30th, one column of Forrest's command, under +Buford, appeared before Huntsville, and summoned the surrender of the +garrison. Receiving an answer in the negative, he remained in the +vicinity of the place until next morning, when he again summoned its +surrender, and received the same reply as on the night before. He +withdrew in the direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, +and attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without +success. On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but was +handsomely repulsed. + +Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the morning of +the 1st, but did not make an attack. On the morning of the 3d he moved +towards Mount Pleasant. While these operations were going on, every +exertion was made by General Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest +before he could recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his +escape to Corinth, Mississippi. + +In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to destroy +the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy on the 2d of +October, about three miles and a half from Saltville, and drove him into +his strongly intrenched position around the salt-works, from which he +was unable to dislodge him. During the night he withdrew his command +and returned to Kentucky. + +General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his armies +in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations for refitting +and supplying them for future service. The great length of road from +Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, which had to be guarded, +allowed the troops but little rest. + +During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, Georgia, which +was reported in the papers of the South, and soon became known to the +whole country, disclosing the plans of the enemy, thus enabling General +Sherman to fully meet them. He exhibited the weakness of supposing that +an army that had been beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt +at the defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against the +army that had so often defeated it. + +In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon reported to +the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's right, he succeeded +in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty, and moved north on it. + +General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the remainder of +his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden, Alabama. Seeing the +constant annoyance he would have with the roads to his rear if he +attempted to hold Atlanta, General Sherman proposed the abandonment and +destruction of that place, with all the railroads leading to it, and +telegraphed me as follows: + + +"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA", October 10--noon. + +"Dispatch about Wilson just received. Hood is now crossing Coosa River, +twelve miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes over the Mobile and +Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan of my letter sent by +Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas with the troops now in +Tennessee to defend the State? He will have an ample force when the +reinforcements ordered reach Nashville. + +"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT." + + +For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this dispatch, I +quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter: + +"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's should be +reinforced to the maximum; that after you get Wilmington, you strike for +Savannah and the river; that Canby be instructed to hold the Mississippi +River, and send a force to get Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of +the Alabama or the Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put +my army in final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, +to be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the city +of Savannah is in our possession." This was in reply to a letter of +mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch of his containing +substantially the same proposition, and in which I informed him of a +proposed movement against Wilmington, and of the situation in Virginia, +etc. + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, + +"October 11, 1864--11 A.M. + +"Your dispatch of October 10th received. Does it not look as if Hood +was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using the Mobile +and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply his base on the +Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur? If he does this, he ought +to be met and prevented from getting north of the Tennessee River. If +you were to cut loose, I do not believe you would meet Hood's army, but +would be bushwhacked by all the old men and little boys, and such +railroad guards as are still left at home. Hood would probably strike +for Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater +damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south. If there +is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that, but I must +trust to your own judgment. I find I shall not be able to send a force +from here to act with you on Savannah. Your movements, therefore, will +be independent of mine; at least until the fall of Richmond takes place. +I am afraid Thomas, with such lines of road as he has to protect, could +not prevent Hood from going north. With Wilson turned loose, with all +your cavalry, you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive +than heretofore. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +"KINGSTON, GEORGIA, "October 11--11 A.M. + +"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and +Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome. He threw one +corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to follow. I hold Atlanta +with the 20th corps, and have strong detachments along my line. This +reduces my active force to a comparatively small army. We cannot remain +here on the defensive. With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold +cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads. I would infinitely +prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the country from Chattanooga +to Atlanta including the latter city send back all my wounded and +worthless, and with my effective army, move through Georgia, smashing +things, to the sea. Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I +believe he will be forced to follow me. Instead of my being on the +defensive, I would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he +means to do, he would have to guess at my plans. The difference in war +is full twenty-five per cent. I can make Savannah, Charleston, or the +mouth of the Chattahoochee. + +"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long. + +"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT." + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, "October 11,1864--11.30 P.M. + +"Your dispatch of to-day received. If you are satisfied the trip to the +sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the Tennessee River firmly, +you may make it, destroying all the railroad south of Dalton or +Chattanooga, as you think best. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting through to +the coast, with a garrison left on the southern railroads, leading east +and west, through Georgia, to effectually sever the east from the west. +In other words, cut the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had +been cut once by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River. +General Sherman's plan virtually effected this object. + +General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his proposed +movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime to watch Hood. +Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward from Gadsden across Sand +Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th corps, Major-General Stanley +commanding, and the 23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, back +to Chattanooga to report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he +had placed in command of all the troops of his military division, save +the four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with +through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal, there was +little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line of the Tennessee, +or, in the event Hood should force it, would be able to concentrate and +beat him in battle. It was therefore readily consented to that Sherman +should start for the sea-coast. + +Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of November, he +commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and Macon. His coming-out +point could not be definitely fixed. Having to gather his subsistence as +he marched through the country, it was not impossible that a force +inferior to his own might compel him to head for such point as he could +reach, instead of such as he might prefer. The blindness of the enemy, +however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the only +considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the Mississippi +River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the whole country open, +and Sherman's route to his own choice. + +How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met with, the +condition of the country through which the armies passed, the capture of +Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River, and the occupation of Savannah +on the 21st of December, are all clearly set forth in General Sherman's +admirable report. + +Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two +expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from Vicksburg, +Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the enemy's lines of +communication with Mobile and detain troops in that field. General +Foster, commanding Department of the South, also sent an expedition, via +Broad River, to destroy the railroad between Charleston and Savannah. +The expedition from Vicksburg, under command of Brevet Brigadier-General +E. D. Osband (colonel 3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on +the 27th of November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad +bridge and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles +of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of stores. The +expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable results. The +expedition from the Department of the South, under the immediate command +of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, consisting of about five thousand +men of all arms, including a brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad +River and debarked at Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it +moved to strike the railroad at Grahamsville. At Honey Hill, about +three miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a +strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe fighting, in +our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and forty-six in killed, +wounded, and missing. During the night General Hatch withdrew. On the +6th of December General Foster obtained a position covering the +Charleston and Savannah Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and +Tulifinny rivers. + +Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move northward, which +seemed to me to be leading to his certain doom. At all events, had I +had the power to command both armies, I should not have changed the +orders under which he seemed to be acting. On the 26th of October, the +advance of Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but +failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and succeeded, +in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment on the north side of +the Tennessee River, near Florence. On the 28th, Forrest reached the +Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured a gunboat and three transports. +On the 2d of November he planted batteries above and below Johnsonville, +on the opposite side of the river, isolating three gunboats and eight +transports. On the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, +and was replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The gunboats +becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports, to +prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. About a million and +a half dollars' worth of store and property on the levee and in +storehouses was consumed by fire. On the 5th the enemy disappeared and +crossed to the north side of the Tennessee River, above Johnsonville, +moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood. On the night of +the 5th, General Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached +Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to Pulaski, and +was put in command of all the troopers there, with instruction to watch +the movements of Hood and retard his advance, but not to risk a general +engagement until the arrival of General A. J. Smith's command from +Missouri, and until General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted. + +On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance. General Thomas, +retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards Nashville for the +purpose of concentrating his command and gaining time for the arrival of +reinforcements. The enemy coming up with our main force, commanded by +General Schofield, at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works +repeatedly during the afternoon until late at night, but were in every +instance repulsed. His loss in this battle was one thousand seven +hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and three +thousand eight hundred wounded. Among his losses were six general +officers killed, six wounded, and one captured. Our entire loss was two +thousand three hundred. This was the first serious opposition the enemy +met with, and I am satisfied was the fatal blow to all his expectations. +During the night, General Schofield fell back towards Nashville. This +left the field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily +abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought +together. The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment of his +line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December. + +As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the Tennessee +River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, General Rosecrans was +ordered to send to General Thomas the troops of General A. J. Smith's +command, and such other troops as he could spare. The advance of this +reinforcement reached Nashville on the 30th of November. + +On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked Hood in +position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated and drove him from +the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in our hand most of his +artillery and many thousand prisoners, including four general officers. + +Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it +appeared to me, the unnecessary delay. This impatience was increased +upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of cavalry across the +Cumberland into Kentucky. I feared Hood would cross his whole army and +give us great trouble there. After urging upon General Thomas the +necessity of immediately assuming the offensive, I started West to +superintend matters there in person. Reaching Washington City, I +received General Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, +and the result as far as the battle had progressed. I was delighted. +All fears and apprehensions were dispelled. I am not yet satisfied but +that General Thomas, immediately upon the appearance of Hood before +Nashville, and before he had time to fortify, should have moved out with +his whole force and given him battle, instead of waiting to remount his +cavalry, which delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it +impracticable to attack earlier than he did. But his final defeat of +Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a vindication of that +distinguished officer's judgment. + +After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued by +cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to abandon +many pieces of artillery and most of his transportation. On the 28th of +December our advanced forces ascertained that he had made good his +escape to the south side of the river. + +About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee and North +Alabama, making it difficult to move army transportation and artillery, +General Thomas stopped the pursuit by his main force at the Tennessee +River. A small force of cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th +Pennsylvania Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance, +capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's +pontoon-bridge. The details of these operations will be found +clearly set forth in General Thomas's report. + +A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, started from +Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he surprised and captured +Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio +Railroad, destroyed the railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and +pontoons for Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large +amounts of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he attacked and +captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and destroyed a train of +fourteen cars; thence turning to the south-west, he struck the +Mississippi Central Railroad at Winona, destroyed the factories and +large amounts of stores at Bankston, and the machine-shops and public +property at Grenada, arriving at Vicksburg January 5th. + +During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a force under +General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee. On the 13th of November +he attacked General Gillem, near Morristown, capturing his artillery and +several hundred prisoners. Gillem, with what was left of his command, +retreated to Knoxville. Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to +near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General Ammen. +Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman concentrated +the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near Bean's Station to +operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or drive him into Virginia +--destroy the salt-works at Saltville, and the railroad into Virginia +as far as he could go without endangering his command. On the 12th of +December he commenced his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's +forces wherever he met them. On the 16th he struck the enemy, under +Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to Wytheville, +capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred and ninety-eight +prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its stores and supplies, and +the extensive lead-works near there. Returning to Marion, he met a force +under Breckinridge, consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of +Saltville, that had started in pursuit. He at once made arrangements to +attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge gone. He +then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the extensive salt-works +at that place, a large amount of stores, and captured eight pieces of +artillery. Having thus successfully executed his instructions, he +returned General Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville. + +Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast port left +to the enemy through which to get supplies from abroad, and send cotton +and other products out by blockade-runners, besides being a place of +great strategic value. The navy had been making strenuous exertions to +seal the harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect. The nature +of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required watching for +so great a distance that, without possession of the land north of New +Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for the navy to entirely close +the harbor against the entrance of blockade-runners. + +To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation of a +land force, which I agreed to furnish. Immediately commenced the +assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. Porter, of the most +formidable armada ever collected for concentration upon one given point. +This necessarily attracted the attention of the enemy, as well as that +of the loyal North; and through the imprudence of the public press, and +very likely of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of +the expedition became a subject of common discussion in the newspapers +both North and South. The enemy, thus warned, prepared to meet it. +This caused a postponement of the expedition until the later part of +November, when, being again called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant +Secretary of the Navy, I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and +went myself, in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, +where we had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required +and the time of starting. A force of six thousand five hundred men was +regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not definitely +arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by the 6th of December, +if not before. Learning, on the 30th of November, that Bragg had gone +to Georgia, taking with him most of the forces about Wilmington, I +deemed it of the utmost importance that the expedition should reach its +destination before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to +make all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who +had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy might +not be detained one moment. + +On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864. + +"GENERAL: The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel is +to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If successful in this, +the second will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable +grounds to hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence of +the greater part of the enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in +Georgia. The directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of +the expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of where +they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be taken. The object +of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the main land +between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic, north of the north entrance to +the river. Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds +Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then +the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the +navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in our +hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wilmington would +be sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is +built fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it +will be worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and +surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the +expedition, the second will become a matter of after consideration. + +"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer +immediately in command of the troops. + +"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a landing at or +near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the armies operating against +Richmond without delay. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER." + + +General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were taken for +this enterprise, and the territory within which they were to operate, +military courtesy required that all orders and instructions should go +through him. They were so sent, but General Weitzel has since +officially informed me that he never received the foregoing +instructions, nor was he aware of their existence, until he read General +Butler's published official report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my +indorsement and papers accompanying it. I had no idea of General +Butler's accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off +from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General Weitzel +had received all the instructions, and would be in command. I rather +formed the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to witness +the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition was +detained several days at Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the +powder-boat. + +The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without any +delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon General +Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter. + +The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and arrived at +the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort Fisher, on the evening +of the 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on the evening of the 18th, having +put in at Beaufort to get ammunition for the monitors. The sea becoming +rough, making it difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and +coal being about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to +replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the return to +the place of rendezvous until the 24th. The powder-boat was exploded on +the morning of the 24th, before the return of General Butler from +Beaufort; but it would seem, from the notice taken of it in the Southern +newspapers, that the enemy were never enlightened as to the object of +the explosion until they were informed by the Northern press. + +On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a +reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up towards +the fort. But before receiving a full report of the result of this +reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct violation of the instructions +given, ordered the re-embarkation of the troops and the return of the +expedition. The re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the +27th. + +On the return of the expedition officers and men among them Brevet +Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M. Curtis, +First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York Volunteers, +First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and Second-Lieutenant George +Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers voluntarily reported to me that when +recalled they were nearly into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could +have been taken without much loss. + +Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch from the +Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral Porter, informing me +that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, and expressing the conviction +that, under a proper leader, the place could be taken. The natural +supposition with me was, that when the troops abandoned the expedition, +the navy would do so also. Finding it had not, however, I answered on +the 30th of December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I +would send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This +time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. Terry to +command the expedition. The troops composing it consisted of the same +that composed the former, with the addition of a small brigade, +numbering about one thousand five hundred, and a small siege train. The +latter it was never found necessary to land. I communicated direct to +the commander of the expedition the following instructions: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865. + +"GENERAL: The expedition intrusted to your command has been fitted out +to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C., and Wilmington +ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed with as little +delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and +report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, +commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. + +"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete understanding should +exist between yourself and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, +that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part +to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may +be unity of action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid +down in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you +can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. I +would, therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own +responsibilities. The first object to be attained is to get a firm +position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which +you can operate against that fort. You want to look to the +practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself +against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open +to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort +Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or +another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters. + +"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a +portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the balance of it +operates on the outside. Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut +it off from supplies or reinforcements, while the river is in possession +of the enemy. + +"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, in +readiness to be sent to you if required. All other supplies can be +drawn from Beaufort as you need them. + +"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is assured. +When you find they can be spared, order them back, or such of them as +you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders. + +"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to +Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further instructions. +You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed. + +"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to +Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops will be +brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard +from. Should you require them, they will be sent to you. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY." + + +Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet +brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, +was assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this. + +It will be seen that these instructions did not differ materially from +those given for the first expedition, and that in neither instance was +there an order to assault Fort Fisher. This was a matter left entirely +to the discretion of the commanding officer. + +The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, +arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to +the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th, +when it got under way and reached its destination that evening. Under +cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced on the +morning of the 13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without +loss. On the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred +yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession of and +turned into a defensive line against any attempt that might be made from +the fort. This reconnoissance disclosed the fact that the front of the +work had been seriously injured by the navy fire. In the afternoon of +the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was +captured, with its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by +the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important +successes of the war. Our loss was: killed, one hundred and ten; +wounded, five hundred and thirty-six. On the 16th and the 17th the +enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith's +Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This gave us entire +control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River. + +At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and +Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of Virginia and +North Carolina. + +The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force +which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now threatening it, +I determined to find other fields of operation for General Thomas's +surplus troops--fields from which they would co-operate with other +movements. General Thomas was therefore directed to collect all troops, +not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in readiness for +orders. On the 7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was +assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General +Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as possible. This +direction was promptly complied with, and the advance of the corps +reached Washington on the 23d of the same month, whence it was sent to +Fort Fisher and New Bern. On the 26th he was directed to send General +A. J. Smith's command and a division of cavalry to report to General +Canby. By the 7th of February the whole force was en route for its +destination. + +The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military department, +and General Schofield assigned to command, and placed under the orders +of Major-General Sherman. The following instructions were given him: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865. + +"GENERAL:-- * * * Your movements are intended as co-operative +with Sherman's through the States of South and North Carolina. The +first point to be attained is to secure Wilmington. Goldsboro' will +then be your objective point, moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, +or both, as you deem best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', +you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place +with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road behind +you. The enterprise under you has two objects: the first is to give +General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his march north; the second, +to open a base of supplies for him on his line of march. As soon, +therefore, as you can determine which of the two points, Wilmington or +New Bern, you can best use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, +you will commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage +for sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of +these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the interior +as you may be able to occupy. I believe General Palmer has received +some instructions direct from General Sherman on the subject of securing +supplies for his army. You will learn what steps he has taken, and be +governed in your requisitions accordingly. A supply of ordnance stores +will also be necessary. + +"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective departments +in the field with me at City Point. Communicate with me by every +opportunity, and should you deem it necessary at any time, send a +special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you can communicate by +telegraph. + +"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of those +required for your own command. + +"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your imperative +duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the interior to aid +Sherman. In such case you will act on your own judgment without waiting +for instructions. You will report, however, what you purpose doing. +The details for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to +you. I would urge, however, if I did not know that you are already +fully alive to the importance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be +looked for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to +the 28th of February; this limits your time very materially. + +"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it can be +supplied from Washington. A large force of railroad men have already +been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher in a +day or two. On this point I have informed you by telegraph. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD." + + +Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher, +accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for myself +the condition of things, and personally conferring with General Terry +and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done. + +Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army +entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee, the +Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several months to +re-establish a through line from west to east, and regarding the capture +of Lee's army as the most important operation towards closing the +rebellion--I sent orders to General Sherman on the 6th of December, that +after establishing a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to +include all his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point +with the balance of his command. + +On the 18th of December, having received information of the defeat and +utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and that, owing to the +great difficulty of procuring ocean transportation, it would take over +two months to transport Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might +not contribute as much towards the desired result by operating from +where he was, I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views +as to what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a +communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December, acknowledging +the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing me of his preparations +to carry it into effect as soon as he could get transportation. Also +that he had expected, upon reducing Savannah, instantly to march to +Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; +but that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of +Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the middle of +January. The confidence he manifested in this letter of being able to +march up and join me pleased me, and, without waiting for a reply to my +letter of the 18th, I directed him, on the 28th of December, to make +preparations to start as he proposed, without delay, to break up the +railroads in North and South Carolina, and join the armies operating +against Richmond as soon as he could. + +On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had ordered the +23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, east; that it numbered +about twenty-one thousand men; that we had at Fort Fisher, about eight +thousand men; at New Bern, about four thousand; that if Wilmington was +captured, General Schofield would go there; if not, he would be sent to +New Bern; that, in either event, all the surplus force at both points +would move to the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his +movement; that from either point railroad communication could be run +out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders as he came +into communication with them. + +In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to reduce +Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy under Admiral +Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the Cape Fear River. Fort +Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the west bank of the river, was +occupied on the morning of the 19th, the enemy having evacuated it after +our appearance before it. + +After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington on the +morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards Goldsboro' during +the night. Preparations were at once made for a movement on Goldsboro' +in two columns--one from Wilmington, and the other from New Bern--and to +repair the railroad leading there from each place, as well as to supply +General Sherman by Cape Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became +necessary. The column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, +at Wise's Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred +prisoners. On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our intrenched +position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell back during the +night. On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed and Kinston occupied, +and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered. The column from Wilmington +reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on +the 22d. + +By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in motion from +Savannah. He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on the 17th; thence +moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via Fayetteville, reaching the +latter place on the 12th of March, opening up communication with General +Schofield by way of Cape Fear River. On the 15th he resumed his march +on Goldsboro'. He met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a +severe fight defeated and compelled it to retreat. Our loss in this +engagement was about six hundred. The enemy's loss was much greater. +On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under Joe Johnston, +attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing three guns and driving it +back upon the main body. General Slocum, who was in the advance +ascertaining that the whole of Johnston's army was in the front, +arranged his troops on the defensive, intrenched himself and awaited +reinforcements, which were pushed forward. On the night of the 21st the +enemy retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our +hands. From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place had been +occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the Neuse River ten +miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General Terry had got +possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d), thus forming a +junction with the columns from New Bern and Wilmington. + +Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of Charleston, +South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the night of the 17th +of February, and occupied by our forces on the 18th. + +On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was directed to +send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, from East Tennessee, +to penetrate South Carolina well down towards Columbia, to destroy the +railroads and military resources of the country, and return, if he was +able, to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing +our prisoners there, if possible. Of the feasibility of this latter, +however, General Stoneman was to judge. Sherman's movements, I had no +doubt, would attract the attention of all the force the enemy could +collect, and facilitate the execution of this. General Stoneman was so +late in making his start on this expedition (and Sherman having passed +out of the State of South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed +General Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of +last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he could. +This would keep him between our garrisons in East Tennessee and the +enemy. I regarded it not impossible that in the event of the enemy +being driven from Richmond, he might fall back to Lynchburg and attempt +a raid north through East Tennessee. On the 14th of February the +following communication was sent to General Thomas: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865. + +"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile +and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of about twenty +thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command. The cavalry you have sent +to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg. It, with the available cavalry +already in that section, will move from there eastward, in co-operation. +Hood's army has been terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave +it in Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by +the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman. (I take it a large +portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn. It is so asserted in the +Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel Congress said a few days +since in a speech, that one-half of it had been brought to South +Carolina to oppose Sherman.) This being true, or even if it is not +true, Canby's movement will attract all the attention of the enemy, and +leave the advance from your standpoint easy. I think it advisable, +therefore, that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare, +and hold it in readiness to go south. The object would be threefold: +first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as possible, to insure +success to Canby; second, to destroy the enemy's line of communications +and military resources; third, to destroy or capture their forces +brought into the field. Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the +points to direct the expedition against. This, however, would not be so +important as the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama. Discretion +should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go where, +according to the information he may receive, he will best secure the +objects named above. + +"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know what +number of men you can put into the field. If not more than five +thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be sufficient. It +is not desirable that you should start this expedition until the one +leaving Vicksburg has been three or four days out, or even a week. I do +not know when it will start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as +I learn. If you should hear through other sources before hearing from +me, you can act on the information received. + +"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as +possible, relying upon the country for supplies. I would also reduce +the number of guns to a battery, or the number of batteries, and put the +extra teams to the guns taken. No guns or caissons should be taken with +less than eight horses. + +"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force you think +you will be able to send under these directions. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS." + + +On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon after the +20th as he could get it off. + +I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement of the +armies operating against Richmond, that all communications with the +city, north of James River, should be cut off. The enemy having +withdrawn the bulk of his force from the Shenandoah Valley and sent it +south, or replaced troops sent from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce +Sherman, if practicable, whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers +to that of the enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, +which, if successful, would accomplish the first at least, and possibly +the latter of the objects. I therefore telegraphed General Sheridan as +follows: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M. + +"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no +difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From +there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as +to be of no further use to the rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be +left behind to look after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information +you might get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the +streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and join +General Sherman. This additional raid, with one now about starting from +East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or give thousand cavalry, +one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or eight thousand cavalry, one from +Eastport, Mississippi, then thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, +with about thirty-eight thousand mixed troops, these three latter +pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted +to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise you to +overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston was evacuated +on Tuesday 1st. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, inquiring where +Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him definite information as +to the points he might be expected to move on, this side of Charlotte, +North Carolina. In answer, the following telegram was sent him: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of opposition +he meets with from the enemy. If strongly opposed, he may possibly have +to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit out for a new start. I +think, however, all danger for the necessity of going to that point has +passed. I believe he has passed Charlotte. He may take Fayetteville on +his way to Goldsboro'. If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be +guided in your after movements by the information you obtain. Before +you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him moving from +Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy strongly posted at one +or the other of these places, with railroad communications opened from +his army to Wilmington or New Bern. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February, with two +divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand each. On the 1st of +March he secured the bridge, which the enemy attempted to destroy, +across the middle fork of the Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered +Staunton on the 2d, the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'. Thence +he pushed on to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an +intrenched position, under General Early. Without stopping to make a +reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the position was carried, +and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery, with horses +and caissons complete, two hundred wagons and teams loaded with +subsistence, and seventeen battle-flags, were captured. The prisoners, +under an escort of fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester. +Thence he marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the +railroad and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d. Here +he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond and +Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north and south +forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of his trains. This +necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea of capturing Lynchburg. +On the morning of the 6th, dividing his force into two columns, he sent +one to Scottsville, whence it marched up the James River Canal to New +Market, destroying every lock, and in many places the bank of the canal. +From here a force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to +obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that place, +but failed. The enemy burned it on our approach. The enemy also burned +the bridge across the river at Hardwicksville. The other column moved +down the railroad towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst +Court House, sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, +uniting with the column at New Market. The river being very high, his +pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having destroyed the +bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river and get on the South +Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy it to Appomattox Court House, +the only thing left for him was to return to Winchester or strike a base +at the White House. Fortunately, he chose the latter. From New Market +he took up his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond, +destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever +practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, concentrating the +whole force at Columbia on the 10th. Here he rested one day, and sent +through by scouts information of his whereabouts and purposes, and a +request for supplies to meet him at White House, which reached me on the +night of the 12th. An infantry force was immediately sent to get +possession of White House, and supplies were forwarded. Moving from +Columbia in a direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, +he crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges and +many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of the +Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th. + +Previous to this the following communication was sent to General Thomas: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M. + +"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair the +railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to Bull's Gap and +fortify there. Supplies at Knoxville could always be got forward as +required. With Bull's Gap fortified, you can occupy as outposts about +all of East Tennessee, and be prepared, if it should be required of you +in the spring, to make a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North +Carolina. I do not think Stoneman should break the road until he gets +into Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may be +caught west of that. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS." + + +Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was moving an +adequate force against Mobile and the army defending it under General +Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large and well-appointed cavalry +expeditions--one from Middle Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson +against the enemy's vital points in Alabama, the other from East +Tennessee, under Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and +assembling the remainder of his available forces, preparatory to +commence offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's +cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James were +confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of Richmond and +Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies, reinforced by that of +General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; General Pope was making +preparations for a spring campaign against the enemy under Kirby Smith +and Price, west of the Mississippi; and General Hancock was +concentrating a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard +against invasion or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary. + +After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter roads, it +was necessary to rest and refit at White House. At this time the +greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear that the enemy would +leave his strong lines about Petersburg and Richmond for the purpose of +uniting with Johnston, and before he was driven from them by battle, or +I was prepared to make an effectual pursuit. On the 24th of March, +General Sheridan moved from White House, crossed the James River at +Jones's Landing, and formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in +front of Petersburg on the 27th. During this move, General Ord sent +forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy. + +On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general movement +of the armies operating against Richmond were issued: + + +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, March 24, 1865. + +"GENERAL: On the 29th instant the armies operating against Richmond +will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of turning the enemy +out of his present position around Petersburg, and to insure the success +of the cavalry under General Sheridan, which will start at the same +time, in its efforts to reach and destroy the South Side and Danville +railroads. Two corps of the Army of the Potomac will be moved at first +in two columns, taking the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest +where the present line held by us strikes that stream, both moving +towards Dinwiddie Court House. + +"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now under +General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon Road and the +Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter before crossing the +Nottoway, and west with the whole column before reaching Stony Creek. +General Sheridan will then move independently, under other instructions +which will be given him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army +of the Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military +Division not required for guarding property belonging to their arm of +service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be added to the +defences of City Point. Major-General Parke will be left in command of +all the army left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point, +subject of course to orders from the commander of the Army of the +Potomac. The 9th army corps will be left intact, to hold the present +line of works so long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, +however, the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the +left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the position held +by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon Road. All troops to the +left of the 9th corps will be held in readiness to move at the shortest +notice by such route as may be designated when the order is given. + +"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one colored, or +so much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, and march for the +present left of the Army of the Potomac. In the absence of further +orders, or until further orders are given, the white divisions will +follow the left column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored +division the right column. During the movement Major-General Weitzel +will be left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army +of the James. + +"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence on the +night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind the minimum +number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main +army. A cavalry expedition, from General Ord's command, will also be +started from Suffolk, to leave there on Saturday, the 1st of April, +under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cutting the railroad about +Hicksford. This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and +therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They +should, however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared +from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses +the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at Uniten. Should +Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon Road, he will be +instructed to do all the damage possible to the triangle of roads +between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The railroad bridge at Weldon +being fitted up for the passage of carriages, it might be practicable to +destroy any accumulation of supplies the enemy may have collected south +of the Roanoke. All the troops will move with four days' rations in +haversacks and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as +possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of days' +supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will direct his +commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient supplies delivered at +the terminus of the road to fill up in passing. Sixty rounds of +ammunition per man will be taken in wagons, and as much grain as the +transportation on hand will carry, after taking the specified amount of +other supplies. The densely wooded country in which the army has to +operate making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken +with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, at +the option of the army commanders. + +"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into operation +may be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th corps should be +massed as much as possible. While I would not now order an +unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them, they should be ready +and should make the attack if the enemy weakens his line in their front, +without waiting for orders. In case they carry the line, then the whole +of the 9th corps could follow up so as to join or co-operate with the +balance of the army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have +rations issued to them, same as the balance of the army. General +Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at all +practicable to break through at any point, he will do so. A success +north of the James should be followed up with great promptness. An +attack will not be feasible unless it is found that the enemy has +detached largely. In that case it may be regarded as evident that the +enemy are relying upon their local reserves principally for the defence +of Richmond. Preparations may be made for abandoning all the line north +of the James, except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after +a break is made in the lines of the enemy. + +"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating against +Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, as an only +chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in the hope of +advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl everything against the +moving column, and return. It cannot be impressed too strongly upon +commanders of troops left in the trenches not to allow this to occur +without taking advantage of it. The very fact of the enemy coming out +to attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost conclusive +evidence of such a weakening of his lines. I would have it particularly +enjoined upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the +enemy, those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding +officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move +promptly, and notify the commander of their action. I would also enjoin +the same action on the part of division commanders when other parts of +their corps are engaged. In like manner, I would urge the importance of +following up a repulse of the enemy. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN." + + +Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines in front +of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River towards our +left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the line to the right and +left of it, established themselves and turned the guns of the fort +against us, but our troops on either flank held their ground until the +reserves were brought up, when the enemy was driven back with a heavy +loss in killed and wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners. +Our loss was sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, +and five hundred and six missing. General Meade at once ordered the +other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective fronts. +Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's strongly intrenched +picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th corps, and eight hundred and +thirty-four prisoners. The enemy made desperate attempts to retake this +line, but without success. Our loss in front of these was fifty-two +killed, eight hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven +missing. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater. + +General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about +Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them +perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and stated +that he would be ready to move, as he had previously written me, by the +10th of April, fully equipped and rationed for twenty days, if it should +become necessary to bring his command to bear against Lee's army, in +co-operation with our forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg. +General Sherman proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, +by turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or +thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and Danville +Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, or join the armies +operating against Richmond, as might be deemed best. This plan he was +directed to carry into execution, if he received no further directions +in the meantime. I explained to him the movement I had ordered to +commence on the 29th of March. That if it should not prove as entirely +successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy the +Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the enemy of further +supplies, and also to prevent the rapid concentration of Lee's and +Johnston's armies. + +I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the report +that the enemy had retreated the night before. I was firmly convinced +that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be the signal for Lee to +leave. With Johnston and him combined, a long, tedious, and expensive +campaign, consuming most of the summer, might become necessary. By +moving out I would put the army in better condition for pursuit, and +would at least, by the destruction of the Danville Road, retard the +concentration of the two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy +to abandon much material that he might otherwise save. I therefore +determined not to delay the movement ordered. + +On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions of the +24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one division of the +25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, and MacKenzie's +cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance of the foregoing +instructions, and reached the position assigned him near Hatcher's Run +on the morning of the 29th. On the 28th the following instructions were +given to General Sheridan: + + +"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at three A.M. +to-morrow morning. The 2d moves at about nine A.M., having but about +three miles to march to reach the point designated for it to take on the +right of the 5th corps, after the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House. +Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being +confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the nearest +roads in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to or +through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as soon as you +can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in his intrenched +position, but to force him out, if possible. Should he come out and +attack us, or get himself where he can be attacked, move in with your +entire force in your own way, and with the full reliance that the army +will engage or follow, as circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the +field, and will probably be able to communicate with you. Should I not +do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched +line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road. If you find it +practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side Road, between +Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not +advise much detention, however, until you reach the Danville Road, which +I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible. Make +your destruction on that road as complete as possible. You can then +pass on to the South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in +like manner. + +"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which +are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may return to this +army, selecting your road further south, or you may go on into North +Carolina and join General Sherman. Should you select the latter course, +get the information to me as early as possible, so that I may send +orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced. At night the cavalry +was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our infantry line extended +to the Quaker Road, near its intersection with the Boydton Plank Road. +The position of the troops from left to right was as follows: Sheridan, +Warren, Humphreys, Ord, Wright, Parke. + +Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the capture +of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was made. I therefore +addressed the following communication to General Sheridan, having +previously informed him verbally not to cut loose for the raid +contemplated in his orders until he received notice from me to do so: + + +"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie. +We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the Jerusalem Plank Road +to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can be used advantageously. After +getting into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the +enemy's position. General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker +Road intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing +about one hundred men. Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was pushing +on when last heard from. + +"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 towards Petersburg, +taking forty minutes to pass. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN." + + +From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain fell in +such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled vehicle, except +as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. During the 30th, Sheridan +advanced from Dinwiddie Court House towards Five Forks, where he found +the enemy in full force. General Warren advanced and extended his line +across the Boydton Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of +getting across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front +and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he was, and +fortify. General Humphreys drove the enemy from his front into his main +line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills. Generals Ord, Wright, and +Parke made examinations in their fronts to determine the feasibility of +an assault on the enemy's lines. The two latter reported favorably. +The enemy confronting us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our +extreme left, I conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be +penetrated if my estimate of his forces was correct. I determined, +therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce General +Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him to cut loose and +turn the enemy's right flank, and with the other corps assault the +enemy's lines. The result of the offensive effort of the enemy the week +before, when he assaulted Fort Stedman, particularly favored this. The +enemy's intrenched picket-line captured by us at that time threw the +lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some points that +it was but a moment's run from one to the other. Preparations were at +once made to relieve General Humphreys's corps, to report to General +Sheridan; but the condition of the roads prevented immediate movement. +On the morning of the 31st, General Warren reported favorably to getting +possession of the White Oak Road, and was directed to do so. To +accomplish this, he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, +which was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on the +2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn, forced back +upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked. A division of the 2d +corps was immediately sent to his support, the enemy driven back with +heavy loss, and possession of the White Oak Road gained. Sheridan +advanced, and with a portion of his cavalry got possession of the Five +Forks; but the enemy, after the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced +the rebel cavalry, defending that point with infantry, and forced him +back towards Dinwiddie Court House. Here General Sheridan displayed +great generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command on the +main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed +his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough to take charge of +the horses. This compelled the enemy to deploy over a vast extent of +wooded and broken country, and made his progress slow. At this juncture +he dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back +slowly on Dinwiddie Court House. General Mackenzie's cavalry and one +division of the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance. +Soon after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could +hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two divisions +of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so ordered at once. +Thus the operations of the day necessitated the sending of Warren, +because of his accessibility, instead of Humphreys, as was intended, and +precipitated intended movements. On the morning of the 1st of April, +General Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on +Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried his +strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and between +five and six thousand prisoners. + +About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles Griffin +relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th corps. The report +of this reached me after nightfall. Some apprehensions filled my mind +lest the enemy might desert his lines during the night, and by falling +upon General Sheridan before assistance could reach him, drive him from +his position and open the way for retreat. To guard against this, +General Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him, +and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in the +morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's lines. +General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps, sweeping +everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's Run, capturing +many guns and several thousand prisoners. He was closely followed by +two divisions of General Ord's command, until he met the other division +of General Ord's that had succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near +Hatcher's Run. Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, +and closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, while +General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and joined General +Wright on the left. General Parke succeeded in carrying the enemy's +main line, capturing guns and prisoners, but was unable to carry his +inner line. General Sheridan being advised of the condition of affairs, +returned General Miles to his proper command. On reaching the enemy's +lines immediately surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's +corps, by a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the +most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially +shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the city. The +enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to Sutherland's Station, +where they were overtaken by Miles's division. A severe engagement +ensued, and lasted until both his right and left flanks were threatened +by the approach of General Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station +towards Petersburg, and a division sent by General Meade from the front +of Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in our +hands his guns and many prisoners. This force retreated by the main +road along the Appomattox River. During the night of the 2d the enemy +evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and retreated towards Danville. On +the morning of the 3d pursuit was commenced. General Sheridan pushed +for the Danville Road, keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General +Meade with the 2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for +Burkesville, along the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along +that road behind him. On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville +Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia Court +House. He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the arrival of +General Meade, who reached there the next day. General Ord reached +Burkesville on the evening of the 5th. + +On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the +following communication: + + +"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865. + +"GENERAL: All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach +Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was up with him +last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot, and dragoons, at +twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to reduce this number +one-half. I shall push on to Burkesville, and if a stand is made at +Danville, will in a very few days go there. If you can possibly do so, +push on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish the job +with Lee's and Johnston's armies. Whether it will be better for you to +strike for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able +to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only strategic +points to strike at. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN." + + +On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was moving west +of Jetersville, towards Danville. General Sheridan moved with his +cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to General Meade on his +reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank, followed by the 6th corps, +while the 2d and 5th corps pressed hard after, forcing him to abandon +several hundred wagons and several pieces of artillery. General Ord +advanced from Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of +infantry and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General +Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance met the +head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically attacked and +detained until General Read was killed and his small force overpowered. +This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, and enabled General Ord to +get well up with the remainder of his force, on meeting which, the enemy +immediately intrenched himself. In the afternoon, General Sheridan +struck the enemy south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of +artillery and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th +corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was made, +which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand prisoners, among +whom were many general officers. The movements of the 2d corps and +General Ord's command contributed greatly to the day's success. + +On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, except +one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's Court House; +the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one division of cavalry, on +Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High Bridge Road. It was soon found +that the enemy had crossed to the north side of the Appomattox; but so +close was the pursuit, that the 2d corps got possession of the common +bridge at High Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately +crossed over. The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed at +Farmville to its support. + +Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, I +addressed him the following communication from Farmville: + + +"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. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at Farmville +the following: + + +"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. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +To this I immediately replied: + + +"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 the Northern Virginia will be received. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General Meade +followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, with all the +cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox Station, followed by +General Ord's command and the 5th corps. During the day General Meade's +advance had considerable fighting with the enemy's rear-guard, but was +unable to bring on a general engagement. Late in the evening General +Sheridan struck the railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from +there, and captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, +and four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. During +this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight +received the following communication from General Lee: + + +April 8, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In mine of +yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of +Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be +frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the surrender +of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object +of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. +I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army +of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the +Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration +of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten A.M. to-morrow on the +old stage-road to Richmond, between the picket-lines of the two armies. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as follows, and +immediately started to join the column south of the Appomattox: + + +"April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received. I have no authority to +treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed for ten A.M. to-day +could lead to no good. I will state, however, general, that I am +equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole North entertains +the same feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are well +understood. By the South laying down their arms they will hasten that +most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of +millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that all our +difficulties may be settled without the loss of another life, I +subscribe myself, etc. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th corps +reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a desperate +effort to break through our cavalry. The infantry was at once thrown +in. Soon after a white flag was received, requesting a suspension of +hostilities pending negotiations for a surrender. + +Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the +following from General Lee: + + +"April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the picket-line, +whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain definitely what terms were +embraced in your proposal of yesterday with reference to the surrender +of this army. I now ask an interview, in accordance with the offer +contained in your letter of yesterday, for that purpose. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of which is +set forth in the following correspondence: + + +APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of the +8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of Northern +Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and +men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be +designated by me, the other to be retained by such officer or officers +as you may designate. The officers to give their individual paroles not +to take up arms against the Government of the United States until +properly exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like +parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public +property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers +appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of +the officers, nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each +officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be +disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their +paroles and the laws in force where they may reside. + +"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +"GENERAL R. E. LEE." + + +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. + +"GENERAL: I have received your letter of this date containing the terms +of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As +they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the +8th instant, they are accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper +officers to carry the stipulations into effect. + +"R. E. LEE, General. +"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT." + + +The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under Griffin, +and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at Appomattox +Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered army was completed, +and to take charge of the public property. The remainder of the army +immediately returned to the vicinity of Burkesville. + +General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused his +example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the armies lately +under his leadership are at their homes, desiring peace and quiet, and +their arms are in the hands of our ordnance officers. + +On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved directly +against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and through Raleigh, +which place General Sherman occupied on the morning of the 13th. The +day preceding, news of the surrender of General Lee reached him at +Smithfield. + +On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman and +General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement for a +suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for peace, subject +to the approval of the President. This agreement was disapproved by the +President on the 21st, which disapproval, together with your +instructions, was communicated to General Sherman by me in person on the +morning of the 24th, at Raleigh, North Carolina, in obedience to your +orders. Notice was at once given by him to General Johnston for the +termination of the truce that had been entered into. On the 25th +another meeting between them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, +which terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army +upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee. + +The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got off on the +20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North Carolina, and struck the +railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, and Big Lick. The force striking +it at Big Lick pushed on to within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying +the important bridges, while with the main force he effectually +destroyed it between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for +Greensboro', on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and +destroyed the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between +Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies along +it, and captured four hundred prisoners. At Salisbury he attacked and +defeated a force of the enemy under General Gardiner, capturing fourteen +pieces of artillery and one thousand three hundred and sixty-four +prisoners, and destroyed large amounts of army stores. At this place he +destroyed fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte. +Thence he moved to Slatersville. + +General Canby, who had been directed in January to make preparations for +a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and the interior of Alabama, +commenced his movement on the 20th of March. The 16th corps, +Major-General A. J. Smith commanding, moved from Fort Gaines by water to +Fish River; the 13th corps, under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved +from Fort Morgan and joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving +thence on Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General +Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading from +Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and partially +invested Fort Blakely. After a severe bombardment of Spanish Fort, a +part of its line was carried on the 8th of April. During the night the +enemy evacuated the fort. Fort Blakely was carried by assault on the +9th, and many prisoners captured; our loss was considerable. These +successes practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to +approach Mobile from the north. On the night of the 11th the city was +evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on the morning of +the 12th. + +The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, consisting +of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was delayed by rains until +March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw, Alabama. On the 1st of April, +General Wilson encountered the enemy in force under Forrest near +Ebenezer Church, drove him in confusion, captured three hundred +prisoners and three guns, and destroyed the central bridge over the +Cahawba River. On the 2d he attacked and captured the fortified city of +Selma, defended by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, +destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, vast +quantities of stores, and captured three thousand prisoners. On the 4th +he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa. On the 10th he crossed the +Alabama River, and after sending information of his operations to +General Canby, marched on Montgomery, which place he occupied on the +14th, the enemy having abandoned it. At this place many stores and five +steamboats fell into our hands. Thence a force marched direct on +Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places were assaulted +and captured on the 16th. At the former place we got one thousand five +hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns, destroyed two gunboats, the +navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many factories, and much other public +property. At the latter place we got three hundred prisoners, four +guns, and destroyed nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the +20th he took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one +thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by General +Howell Cobb. General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis was trying to +make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and succeeded in capturing him +on the morning of May 11th. + +On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to General Canby +all the remaining rebel forces east of the Mississippi. + +A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy under Kirby +Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put in motion for Texas, +and Major-General Sheridan designated for its immediate command; but on +the 26th day of May, and before they reached their destination, General +Kirby Smith surrendered his entire command to Major-General Canby. This +surrender did not take place, however, until after the capture of the +rebel President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of +first disbanding most of his army and permitting an indiscriminate +plunder of public property. + +Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against the +government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico, carrying with them +arms rightfully belonging to the United States, which had been +surrendered to us by agreement among them some of the leaders who had +surrendered in person and the disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio +Grande, the orders for troops to proceed to Texas were not changed. + +There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and movements to +defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most of them reflecting +great credit on our arms, and which contributed greatly to our final +triumph, that I have not mentioned. Many of these will be found clearly +set forth in the reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and +brief dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have not +as yet been officially reported. + +For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would respectfully +refer to the reports of the commanders of departments in which they have +occurred. + +It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and the East +fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there is no difference +in their fighting qualities. All that it was possible for men to do in +battle they have done. The Western armies commenced their battles in +the Mississippi Valley, and received the final surrender of the remnant +of the principal army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of +the East commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the +Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of their old +antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The splendid +achievements of each have nationalized our victories removed all +sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately experienced too +much), and the cause of crimination and recrimination that might have +followed had either section failed in its duty. All have a proud +record, and all sections can well congratulate themselves and each other +for having done their full share in restoring the supremacy of law over +every foot of territory belonging to the United States. Let them hope +for perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, however +mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of valor. + +I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. +GRANT, Lieutenant-General. + +THE END + + +__________ +FOOTNOTES + +(*1) Afterwards General Gardner, C.S.A. + + +(*2) General Garland expressed a wish to get a message back to +General Twiggs, his division commander, or General Taylor, to +the effect that he was nearly out of ammunition and must have +more sent to him, or otherwise be reinforced. Deeming the +return dangerous he did not like to order any one to carry it, +so he called for a volunteer. Lieutenant Grant offered his +services, which were accepted.--PUBLISHERS. + + +(*3) Mentioned in the reports of Major Lee, Colonel Garland and +General Worth.--PUBLISHERS. + + +(*4) NOTE.--It had been a favorite idea with General Scott for a +great many years before the Mexican war to have established in +the United States a soldiers' home, patterned after something of +the kind abroad, particularly, I believe, in France. He +recommended this uniformly, or at least frequently, in his +annual reports to the Secretary of War, but never got any +hearing. Now, as he had conquered the state, he made +assessments upon the different large towns and cities occupied +by our troops, in proportion to their capacity to pay, and +appointed officers to receive the money. In addition to the sum +thus realized he had derived, through capture at Cerro Gordo, +sales of captured government tobacco, etc., sums which swelled +the fund to a total of about $220,000. Portions of this fund +were distributed among the rank and file, given to the wounded +in hospital, or applied in other ways, leaving a balance of some +$118,000 remaining unapplied at the close of the war. After the +war was over and the troops all home, General Scott applied to +have this money, which had never been turned into the Treasury +of the United States, expended in establishing such homes as he +had previously recommended. This fund was the foundation of the +Soldiers' Home at Washington City, and also one at Harrodsburgh, +Kentucky. + +The latter went into disuse many years ago. In fact it never +had many soldiers in it, and was, I believe, finally sold. + + +(*5) The Mexican war made three presidential candidates, Scott, +Taylor and Pierce--and any number of aspirants for that high +office. It made also governors of States, members of the +cabinet, foreign ministers and other officers of high rank both +in state and nation. The rebellion, which contained more war in +a single day, at some critical periods, than the whole Mexican +war in two years, has not been so fruitful of political results +to those engaged on the Union side. On the other side, the side +of the South, nearly every man who holds office of any sort +whatever, either in the state or in the nation, was a +Confederate soldier, but this is easily accounted for from the +fact that the South was a military camp, and there were very few +people of a suitable age to be in the army who were not in it. + + +(*6) C. B. Lagow, the others not yet having joined me. + + +(*7) NOTE.--Since writing this chapter I have received from Mrs. +W. H. L. Wallace, widow of the gallant general who was killed in +the first day's fight on the field of Shiloh, a letter from +General Lew. Wallace to him dated the morning of the 5th. At +the date of this letter it was well known that the Confederates +had troops out along the Mobile & Ohio railroad west of Crump's +landing and Pittsburg landing, and were also collecting near +Shiloh. This letter shows that at that time General Lew. +Wallace was making preparations for the emergency that might +happen for the passing of reinforcements between Shiloh and his +position, extending from Crump's landing westward, and he sends +it over the road running from Adamsville to the Pittsburg +landing and Purdy road. These two roads intersect nearly a mile +west of the crossing of the latter over Owl Creek, where our +right rested. In this letter General Lew. Wallace advises +General W. H. L. Wallace that he will send "to-morrow" (and his +letter also says "April 5th," which is the same day the letter +was dated and which, therefore, must have been written on the +4th) some cavalry to report to him at his headquarters, and +suggesting the propriety of General W. H. L. Wallace's sending a +company back with them for the purpose of having the cavalry at +the two landings familiarize themselves with the road so that +they could "act promptly in case of emergency as guides to and +from the different camps." + +This modifies very materially what I have said, and what has +been said by others, of the conduct of General Lew. Wallace at +the battle of Shiloh. It shows that he naturally, with no more +experience than he had at the time in the profession of arms, +would take the particular road that he did start upon in the +absence of orders to move by a different road. + +The mistake he made, and which probably caused his apparent +dilatoriness, was that of advancing some distance after he found +that the firing, which would be at first directly to his front +and then off to the left, had fallen back until it had got very +much in rear of the position of his advance. This falling back +had taken place before I sent General Wallace orders to move up +to Pittsburg landing and, naturally, my order was to follow the +road nearest the river. But my order was verbal, and to a staff +officer who was to deliver it to General Wallace, so that I am +not competent to say just what order the General actually +received. + +General Wallace's division was stationed, the First brigade at +Crump's landing, the Second out two miles, and the Third two and +a half miles out. Hearing the sounds of battle General Wallace +early ordered his First and Third brigades to concentrate on the +Second. If the position of our front had not changed, the road +which Wallace took would have been somewhat shorter to our right +than the River road. + +U. S. GRANT. + +MOUNT MACGREGOR, NEW YORK, June 21, 1885. + + +(*8) NOTE: In an article on the battle of Shiloh which I wrote +for the Century Magazine, I stated that General A. McD. McCook, +who commanded a division of Buell's army, expressed some +unwillingness to pursue the enemy on Monday, April 7th, because +of the condition of his troops. General Badeau, in his history, +also makes the same statement, on my authority. Out of justice +to General McCook and his command, I must say that they left a +point twenty-two miles east of Savannah on the morning of the +6th. From the heavy rains of a few days previous and the +passage of trains and artillery, the roads were necessarily deep +in mud, which made marching slow. The division had not only +marched through this mud the day before, but it had been in the +rain all night without rest. It was engaged in the battle of +the second day and did as good service as its position +allowed. In fact an opportunity occurred for it to perform a +conspicuous act of gallantry which elicited the highest +commendation from division commanders in the Army of the +Tennessee. General Sherman both in his memoirs and report makes +mention of this fact. General McCook himself belongs to a family +which furnished many volunteers to the army. I refer to these +circumstances with minuteness because I did General McCook +injustice in my article in the Century, though not to the extent +one would suppose from the public press. I am not willing to do +any one an injustice, and if convinced that I have done one, I +am always willing to make the fullest admission. + + +(*9) NOTE.--For gallantry in the various engagements, from the +time I was left in command down to 26th of October and on my +recommendation, Generals McPherson and C. S. Hamilton were +promoted to be Major-Generals, and Colonels C. C. Marsh, 20th +Illinois, M. M. Crocker, 13th Iowa J. A. Mower, 11th Missouri, +M. D. Leggett, 78th Ohio, J. D. Stevenson, 7th Missouri, and +John E. Smith, 45th Illinois, to be Brigadiers. + + +(*10) Colonel Ellet reported having attacked a Confederate +battery on the Red River two days before with one of his boats, +the De Soto. Running aground, he was obliged to abandon his +vessel. However, he reported that he set fire to her and blew +her up. Twenty of his men fell into the hands of the enemy. +With the balance he escaped on the small captured steamer, the +New Era, and succeeded in passing the batteries at Grand Gulf +and reaching the vicinity of Vicksburg. + + +(*11) One of Colonel Ellet's vessels which had run the blockade +on February the 2d and been sunk in the Red River. + + +(*12) NOTE.--On this occasion Governor Richard Yates, of +Illinois, happened to be on a visit to the army and accompanied +me to Carthage. I furnished an ambulance for his use and that +of some of the State officers who accompanied him. + + +(*13) NOTE.--When General Sherman first learned of the move I +proposed to make, he called to see me about it. I recollect +that I had transferred my headquarters from a boat in the river +to a house a short distance back from the levee. I was seated +on the piazza engaged in conversation with my staff when Sherman +came up. After a few moments' conversation he said that he would +like to see me alone. We passed into the house together and shut +the door after us. Sherman then expressed his alarm at the move +I had ordered, saying that I was putting myself in a position +voluntarily which an enemy would be glad to manoeuvre a year--or +a long time--to get me in. I was going into the enemy's country, +with a large river behind me and the enemy holding points +strongly fortified above and below. He said that it was an +axiom in war that when any great body of troops moved against an +enemy they should do so from a base of supplies, which they would +guard as they would the apple of the eye, etc. He pointed out +all the difficulties that might be encountered in the campaign +proposed, and stated in turn what would be the true campaign to +make. This was, in substance, to go back until high ground +could be reached on the east bank of the river; fortify there +and establish a depot of supplies, and move from there, being +always prepared to fall back upon it in case of disaster. I +said this would take us back to Memphis. Sherman then said that +was the very place he would go to, and would move by railroad +from Memphis to Grenada, repairing the road as we advanced. To +this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the +lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election +went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary +enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and +conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far +as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of +supplies would be of no use: neither men to hold them nor +supplies to put in them would be furnished. The problem for us +was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was +lost. No progress was being made in any other field, and we had +to go on. + +Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J. A. Rawlins, +embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and +asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals +upon the subject. Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I +did not see any reason for changing my plans. The letter was +not answered and the subject was not subsequently mentioned +between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I +remember of. I did not regard the letter as official, and +consequently did not preserve it. General Sherman furnished a +copy himself to General Badeau, who printed it in his history of +my campaigns. I did not regard either the conversation between +us or the letter to my adjutant-general as protests, but simply +friendly advice which the relations between us fully +justified. Sherman gave the same energy to make the campaign a +success that he would or could have done if it had been ordered +by himself. I make this statement here to correct an impression +which was circulated at the close of the war to Sherman's +prejudice, and for which there was no fair foundation. + + +(*14) Meant Edward's Station. + +(*15) CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN: + +Enclosed herewith I send you copy of instructions to +Major-General Thomas. You having been over the ground in +person, and having heard the whole matter discussed, further +instructions will not be necessary for you. It is particularly +desirable that a force should be got through to the railroad +between Cleveland and Dalton, and Longstreet thus cut off from +communication with the South, but being confronted by a large +force here, strongly located, it is not easy to tell how this is +to be effected until the result of our first effort is known. + +I will add, however, what is not shown in my instructions to +Thomas, that a brigade of cavalry has been ordered here which, +if it arrives in time, will be thrown across the Tennessee above +Chickamauga, and may be able to make the trip to Cleveland or +thereabouts. + +U. S. GRANT +Maj.-Gen'l. + + +CHATTANOOGA, November 18, 1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEO. H. THOMAS, +Chattanooga: + +All preparations should be made for attacking the enemy's +position on Missionary Ridge by Saturday at daylight. Not being +provided with a map giving names of roads, spurs of the +mountains, and other places, such definite instructions cannot +be given as might be desirable. However, the general plan, you +understand, is for Sherman, with the force brought with him +strengthened by a division from your command, to effect a +crossing of the Tennessee River just below the mouth of +Chickamauga; his crossing to be protected by artillery from the +heights on the north bank of the river (to be located by your +chief of artillery), and to secure the heights on the northern +extremity to about the railroad tunnel before the enemy can +concentrate against him. You will co-operate with Sherman. The +troops in Chattanooga Valley should be well concentrated on your +left flank, leaving only the necessary force to defend +fortifications on the right and centre, and a movable column of +one division in readiness to move wherever ordered. This +division should show itself as threateningly as possible on the +most practicable line for making an attack up the valley. Your +effort then will be to form a junction with Sherman, making your +advance well towards the northern end of Missionary Ridge, and +moving as near simultaneously with him as possible. The +junction once formed and the ridge carried, communications will +be at once established between the two armies by roads on the +south bank of the river. Further movements will then depend on +those of the enemy. Lookout Valley, I think, will be easily +held by Geary's division and what troops you may still have +there belonging to the old Army of the Cumberland. Howard's +corps can then be held in readiness to act either with you at +Chattanooga or with Sherman. It should be marched on Friday +night to a position on the north side of the river, not lower +down than the first pontoon-bridge, and there held in readiness +for such orders as may become necessary. All these troops will +be provided with two days' cooked rations in haversacks, and one +hundred rounds of ammunition on the person of each infantry +soldier. Special care should be taken by all officers to see +that ammunition is not wasted or unnecessarily fired away. You +will call on the engineer department for such preparations as +you may deem necessary for carrying your infantry and artillery +over the creek. + +U. S. GRANT, +Major-General. + + +(*16) In this order authority was given for the troops to reform +after taking the first line of rifle-pits preparatory to carrying +the ridge. + +(*17) CHATTANOOGA, November 24,1863. + +MAJOR-GENERAL. CEO. H. THOMAS, +Chattanooga + +General Sherman carried Missionary Ridge as far as the tunnel +with only slight skirmishing. His right now rests at the tunnel +and on top of the hill, his left at Chickamauga Creek. I have +instructed General Sherman to advance as soon as it is light in +the morning, and your attack, which will be simultaneous, will +be in cooperation. Your command will either carry the +rifle-pits and ridge directly in front of them, or move to the +left, as the presence of the enemy may require. If Hooker's +position on the mountain [cannot be maintained] with a small +force, and it is found impracticable to carry the top from where +he is, it would be advisable for him to move up the valley with +all the force he can spare, and ascend by the first practicable +road. + +U. S. GRANT, + +Major-General. + + +(*18) WASHINGTON, D. C., +December 8, 1863, 10.2 A.M. + +MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +Understanding that your lodgment at Knoxville and at Chattanooga +is now secure, I wish to tender you, and all under your command, +my more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude for the skill, +courage, and perseverance with which you and they, over so great +difficulties, have effected that important object. God bless you +all, + +A. LINCOLN, + +President U. S. + + +(*19) General John G. Foster. + + +(*20) During this winter the citizens of Jo Davies County, Ill., +subscribed for and had a diamond-hilled sword made for General +Grant, which was always known as the Chattanooga sword. The +scabbard was of gold, and was ornamented with a scroll running +nearly its entire length, displaying in engraved letters the +names of the battles in which General Grant had participated. + +Congress also gave him a vote of thanks for the victories at +Chattanooga, and voted him a gold medal for Vicksburg and +Chattanooga. All such things are now in the possession of the +government at Washington. + + +(*21) WASHINGTON, D. C. +December 29, 1863. + +MAJ.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT: + +General Foster has asked to be relieved from his command on +account of disability from old wounds. Should his request be +granted, who would you like as his successor? It is possible +that Schofield will be sent to your command. + +H. W. HALLECK +General-in-Chief. +(OFFICIAL.) + + +(*22) See letter to Banks, in General Grant's report, Appendix. + + +(*23) [PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.] + +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., +April 4, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, +Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi. + +GENERAL:--It is my design, if the enemy keep quiet and allow me +to take the initiative in the spring campaign, to work all parts +of the army together, and somewhat towards a common centre. For +your information I now write you my programme, as at present +determined upon. + +I have sent orders to Banks, by private messenger, to finish up +his present expedition against Shreveport with all dispatch; to +turn over the defence of Red River to General Steele and the +navy and to return your troops to you and his own to New +Orleans; to abandon all of Texas, except the Rio Grande, and to +hold that with not to exceed four thousand men; to reduce the +number of troops on the Mississippi to the lowest number +necessary to hold it, and to collect from his command not less +than twenty-five thousand men. To this I will add five thousand +men from Missouri. With this force he is to commence operations +against Mobile as soon as he can. It will be impossible for him +to commence too early. + +Gillmore joins Butler with ten thousand men, and the two operate +against Richmond from the south side of the James River. This +will give Butler thirty-three thousand men to operate with, W. +F. Smith commanding the right wing of his forces and Gillmore +the left wing. I will stay with the Army of the Potomac, +increased by Burnside's corps of not less than twenty-five +thousand effective men, and operate directly against Lee's army, +wherever it may be found. + +Sigel collects all his available force in two columns, one, +under Ord and Averell, to start from Beverly, Virginia, and the +other, under Crook, to start from Charleston on the Kanawha, to +move against the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. + +Crook will have all cavalry, and will endeavor to get in about +Saltville, and move east from there to join Ord. His force will +be all cavalry, while Ord will have from ten to twelve thousand +men of all arms. + +You I propose to move against Johnston's army, to break it up +and to get into the interior of the enemy's country as far as +you can, inflicting all the damage you can against their war +resources. + +I do not propose to lay down for you a plan of campaign, but +simply lay down the work it is desirable to have done and leave +you free to execute it in your own way. Submit to me, however, +as early as you can, your plan of operations. + +As stated, Banks is ordered to commence operations as soon as he +can. Gillmore is ordered to report at Fortress Monroe by the +18th inst., or as soon thereafter as practicable. Sigel is +concentrating now. None will move from their places of +rendezvous until I direct, except Banks. I want to be ready to +move by the 25th inst., if possible. But all I can now direct +is that you get ready as soon as possible. I know you will have +difficulties to encounter in getting through the mountains to +where supplies are abundant, but I believe you will accomplish +it. + +From the expedition from the Department of West Virginia I do +not calculate on very great results; but it is the only way I +can take troops from there. With the long line of railroad +Sigel has to protect, he can spare no troops except to move +directly to his front. In this way he must get through to +inflict great damage on the enemy, or the enemy must detach from +one of his armies a large force to prevent it. In other words, +if Sigel can't skin himself he can hold a leg while some one +else skins. + +I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +(*24) See instructions to Butler, in General Grant's report, +Appendix. + + +(*25) IN FIELD, CULPEPER C. H., VA., +April 9, 1864. + +MAJ.-GENERAL GEO. G. MEADE +Com'd'g Army of the Potomac. + +For information and as instruction to govern your preparations +for the coming campaign, the following is communicated +confidentially for your own perusal alone. + +So far as practicable all the armies are to move together, and +towards one common centre. Banks has been instructed to turn +over the guarding of the Red River to General Steele and the +navy, to abandon Texas with the exception of the Rio Grande, and +to concentrate all the force he can, not less than 25,000 men, to +move on Mobile. This he is to do without reference to other +movements. From the scattered condition of his command, +however, he cannot possibly get it together to leave New Orleans +before the 1st of May, if so soon. Sherman will move at the same +time you do, or two or three days in advance, Jo. Johnston's army +being his objective point, and the heart of Georgia his ultimate +aim. If successful he will secure the line from Chattanooga to +Mobile with the aid of Banks. + +Sigel cannot spare troops from his army to reinforce either of +the great armies, but he can aid them by moving directly to his +front. This he has been directed to do, and is now making +preparations for it. Two columns of his command will make south +at the same time with the general move; one from Beverly, from +ten to twelve thousand strong, under Major-General Ord; the +other from Charleston, Va., principally cavalry, under +Brig.-General Crook. The former of these will endeavor to reach +the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, about south of Covington, +and if found practicable will work eastward to Lynchburg and +return to its base by way of the Shenandoah Valley, or join +you. The other will strike at Saltville, Va., and come eastward +to join Ord. The cavalry from Ord's command will try tributaries +would furnish us an easy line over which to bring all supplies to +within easy hauling distance of every position the army could +occupy from the Rapidan to the James River. But Lee could, if +he chose, detach or move his whole army north on a line rather +interior to the one I would have to take in following. A +movement by his left--our right--would obviate this; but all +that was done would have to be done with the supplies and +ammunition we started with. All idea of adopting this latter +plan was abandoned when the limited quantity of supplies +possible to take with us was considered. The country over which +we would have to pass was so exhausted of all food or forage that +we would be obliged to carry everything with us. + +While these preparations were going on the enemy was not +entirely idle. In the West Forrest made a raid in West +Tennessee up to the northern border, capturing the garrison of +four or five hundred men at Union City, and followed it up by an +attack on Paducah, Kentucky, on the banks of the Ohio. While he +was able to enter the city he failed to capture the forts or any +part of the garrison. On the first intelligence of Forrest's +raid I telegraphed Sherman to send all his cavalry against him, +and not to let him get out of the trap he had put himself +into. Sherman had anticipated me by sending troops against him +before he got my order. + +Forrest, however, fell back rapidly, and attacked the troops at +Fort Pillow, a station for the protection of the navigation of +the Mississippi River. The garrison to force a passage +southward, if they are successful in reaching the Virginia and +Tennessee Railroad, to cut the main lines of the road connecting +Richmond with all the South and South-west. + +Gillmore will join Butler with about 10,000 men from South +Carolina. Butler can reduce his garrison so as to take 23,000 +men into the field directly to his front. The force will be +commanded by Maj.-General W. F. Smith. With Smith and Gillmore, +Butler will seize City Point, and operate against Richmond from +the south side of the river. His movement will be simultaneous +with yours. + +Lee's army will be your objective point. Wherever Lee goes, +there you will go also. The only point upon which I am now in +doubt is, whether it will be better to cross the Rapidan above +or below him. Each plan presents great advantages over the +other with corresponding objections. By crossing above, Lee is +cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond and going north on +a raid. But if we take this route, all we do must be done +whilst the rations we start with hold out. We separate from +Butler so that he cannot be directed how to co-operate. By the +other route Brandy Station can be used as a base of supplies +until another is secured on the York or James rivers. + +These advantages and objections I will talk over with you more +fully than I can write them. + +Burnside with a force of probably 25,000 men will reinforce +you. Immediately upon his arrival, which will be shortly after +the 20th inst., I will give him the defence of the road from +Bull Run as far south as we wish to hold it. This will enable +you to collect all your strength about Brandy Station and to the +front. + +There will be naval co-operation on the James River, and +transports and ferries will be provided so that should Lee fall +back into his intrenchments at Richmond, Butler's force and +yours will be a unit, or at least can be made to act as such. +What I would direct then, is that you commence at once reducing +baggage to the very lowest possible standard. Two wagons to a +regiment of five hundred men is the greatest number that should +be allowed, for all baggage, exclusive of subsistence stores and +ordnance stores. One wagon to brigade and one to division +headquarters is sufficient and about two to corps headquarters. + +Should by Lee's right flank be our route, you will want to make +arrangements for having supplies of all sorts promptly forwarded +to White House on the Pamunkey. Your estimates for this +contingency should be made at once. If not wanted there, there +is every probability they will be wanted on the James River or +elsewhere. + +If Lee's left is turned, large provision will have to be made +for ordnance stores. I would say not much short of five hundred +rounds of infantry ammunition would do. By the other, half the +amount would be sufficient. + +U. S. GRANT, + +Lieutenant-General. + +(*26) General John A. Logan, upon whom devolved the command of +the Army of the Tennessee during this battle, in his report gave +our total loss in killed, wounded and missing at 3,521; and +estimated that of the enemy to be not less than 10,000: and +General G. M. Dodge, graphically describing to General Sherman +the enemy's attack, the full weight of which fell first upon and +was broken by his depleted command, remarks: "The disparity of +forces can be seen from the fact that in the charge made by my +two brigades under Fuller and Mersy they took 351 prisoners, +representing forty-nine different regiments, eight brigades and +three divisions; and brought back eight battle flags from the +enemy." + + +(*27) +UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864. + +[COMPILED.] + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + +MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow. + First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles. + Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth. + Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank. + Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen. + Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll. + + Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays. + + Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott. + First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister. + Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball. + + +MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres. + Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson. + First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter. + Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford. + First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless. + Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler. + Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice. + Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone + + Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright. + + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright. + First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown. + Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton. + Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins + + +MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer. + Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin. + Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson. + First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman. + + +MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson. + First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth. + Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter. + First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss. + Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox. + First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft. + Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero. + First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried. + Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas. + + Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall. + + +BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery. + + Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton. + First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching. + Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins. + First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson. + Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom. + Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh. + + +GENERAL HEADQUARTERS....... + Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick. + Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham. + + + +CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by +GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834. + + First Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a) + Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's " + " Eppa Hunton's " + " Wm. R. Terry's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b) + Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade + " E. M. Law's (c) " + " John Bratton's " + +MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d) + Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade + " B. G. Humphreys' " + " Goode Bryan's " + " Kershaw's (Old) " + + + Second Army Corps: MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e) + " John Pegram 's " (f) + " Gordon's " (g) + Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's " + +MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division. + Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h) + Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h) + " Geo H. Stewart's " (h) + " L. A. Stafford's " (e) + +MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division. + Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i) + " Geo. Dole's " (k) + " S. D. Ramseur's Brigade. + " C. A. Battle's " + " R. D. Johnston's " (f) + + + Third Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l) + Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade. + Mahone's " + Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's " (m) + " A. R. Wright's " + " Joseph Finegan's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n) + " James H. Lane's " + " Sam'l McCowan's " + " Alfred M. Scale's " + +MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o) + Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade. + " John R. Cooke's " + " D. McRae's " + " J. J. Archer's " + " H. H. Walker's " + + _unattached_: 5th Alabama Battalion. + + + Cavalry Corps: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p) + +MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division + Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade + " L. L. Lomax's " + +MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade. + " P. M. B. Young's " + " Thomas L. Rosser's " + +MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade. + " J. R. Chambliss's " + + + Artillery Reserve: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding. + +BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.* + Cabell's Battalion. + Manly's Battery. + 1st Co. Richmond Howitzers. + Carleton's Battery. + Calloway's Battery. + + Haskell's Battalion. + Branch's Battery. + Nelson's " + Garden's " + Rowan " + + Huger's Battalion. + Smith's Battery. + Moody " + Woolfolk " + Parker's " + Taylor's " + Fickling's " + Martin's " + + Gibb's Battalion. + Davidson's Battery. + Dickenson's " + Otey's " + + +BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION. + + Braxton's Battalion. + Lee Battery. + 1st Md. Artillery. + Stafford " + Alleghany " + + Cutshaw's Battalion. + Charlotteville Artillery. + Staunton " + Courtney " + + Carter's Battalion. + Morris Artillery. + Orange " + King William Artillery. + Jeff Davis " + + Nelson's Battalion. + Amherst Artillery. + Milledge " + Fluvauna " + + Brown's Battalion. + Powhatan Artillery. + 2d Richmond Howitzers. + 3d " " + Rockbridge Artillery. + Salem Flying Artillery. + + +COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION. + + Cutt's Battalion. + Ross's Battery. + Patterson's Battery. + Irwin Artillery. + + Richardson's Battalion. + Lewis Artillery. + Donaldsonville Artillery. + Norfolk Light " + Huger " + + Mclntosh 's Battalion. + Johnson's Battery. + Hardaway Artillery. + Danville " + 2d Rockbridge Artillery. + + Pegram's Battalion. + Peedee Artillery. + Fredericksburg Artillery. + Letcher " + Purcell Battery. + Crenshaw's Battery. + + Poague's Battalion. + Madison Artillery. + Albemarle " + Brooke " + Charlotte " + + +NOTE. +(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at +above date. +(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also +contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by +Colonel P. D. Bowles. +(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not +indicated. + +Organization of the Army of the Valley District. +(e) Constituting York's Brigade. +(f) In Ramseur's Division. +(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and +containing 12th Georgia Battalion. +(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's +Division. +(i) Grimes' Brigade. +(k) Cook's " + +(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty; +name not indicated. +(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding. +(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four +brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not +indicated. +(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's, +Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade. + +*But one general officer reported present for duty in the +artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original. + + +(*28) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S., +May II, 1864.--3 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +Commanding Army of the Potomac. + +Move three divisions of the 2d corps by the rear of the 5th and +6th corps, under cover of night, so as to join the 9th corps in +a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock A.M. to-morrow. +will send one or two staff officers over to-night to stay with +Burnside, and impress him with the importance of a prompt and +vigorous attack. Warren and Wright should hold their corps as +close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage of any +diversion caused by this attack, and to push in if any +opportunity presents itself. There is but little doubt in my +mind that the assault last evening would have proved entirely +successful if it had commenced one hour earlier and had been +heartily entered into by Mott's division and the 9th corps. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*29) HEADQUARTERS, ARMIES U. S., +May 11, 1864.-4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE, +Commanding 9th Army Corps. + +Major-General Hancock has been ordered to move his corps under +cover of night to join you in a vigorous attack against the +enemy at 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow. You will move against the +enemy with your entire force promptly and with all possible +vigor at precisely 4 o'clock A.M. to-morrow the 12th inst. Let +your preparations for this attack be conducted with the utmost +secrecy and veiled entirely from the enemy. + +I send two of my staff officers, Colonels Comstock and Babcock, +in whom I have great confidence and who are acquainted with the +direction the attack is to be made from here, to remain with you +and General Hancock with instructions to render you every +assistance in their power. Generals Warren and Wright will hold +their corps as close to the enemy as possible, to take advantage +of any diversion caused by yours and Hancock's attack, and will +push in their whole force if any opportunity presents itself. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*30) HEADQUARTERS ARMIES U. S., +May 12, 1864, 6.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +Washington, D. C. + +The eighth day of the battle closes, leaving between three and +four thousand prisoners in our hands for the day's work, +including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of +artillery. The enemy are obstinate, and seem to have found the +last ditch. We have lost no organizations, not even that of a +company, whilst we have destroyed and captured one division +(Johnson's), one brigade (Doles'), and one regiment entire from +the enemy. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*31) SPOTTSYLVANIA C. H., May 13, 1864. + +HON E. M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR, +Washington, D. C. + +I beg leave to recommend the following promotions be made for +gallant and distinguished services in the last eight days' +battles, to wit: Brigadier-General H. G. Wright and +Brigadier-General John Gibbon to be Major-Generals; Colonel S. +S. Carroll, 8th Ohio Volunteers Colonel E. Upton, 121st New York +Volunteers; Colonel William McCandless, 2d Pennsylvania Reserves, +to be Brigadier-Generals. I would also recommend Major-General W. +S. Hancock for Brigadier-General in the regular army. His +services and qualifications are eminently deserving of this +recognition. In making these recommendations I do not wish the +claims of General G. M. Dodge for promotion forgotten, but +recommend his name to be sent in at the same time. I would also +ask to have General Wright assigned to the command of the Sixth +Army Corps. I would further ask the confirmation of General +Humphreys to the rank of Major-General. + +General Meade has more than met my most sanguine expectations. +He and Sherman are the fittest officers for large commands I +have come in contact with. If their services can be rewarded by +promotion to the rank of Major-Generals in the regular army the +honor would be worthily bestowed, and I would feel personally +gratified. I would not like to see one of these promotions at +this time without seeing both. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*32) QUARLES' MILLS, VA., May 26, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, +Washington, D. C. + +The relative position of the two armies is now as follows: Lee's +right rests on a swamp east of the Richmond and Fredericksburg +road and south of the North Anna, his centre on the river at Ox +Ford, and his left at Little River with the crossings of Little +River guarded as far up as we have gone. Hancock with his corps +and one division of the 9th corps crossed at Chesterfield Ford +and covers the right wing of Lee's army. One division of the 9th +corps is on the north bank of the Anna at Ox Ford, with bridges +above and below at points nearest to it where both banks are +held by us, so that it could reinforce either wing of our army +with equal facility. The 5th and 6th corps with one division of +the 9th corps run from the south bank of the Anna from a short +distance above Ox Ford to Little River, and parallel with and +near to the enemy. + +To make a direct attack from either wing would cause a slaughter +of our men that even success would not justify. To turn the +enemy by his right, between the two Annas is impossible on +account of the swamp upon which his right rests. To turn him by +the left leaves Little River, New Found River and South Anna +River, all of them streams presenting considerable obstacles to +the movement of our army, to be crossed. I have determined +therefore to turn the enemy's right by crossing at or near +Hanover Town. This crosses all three streams at once, and +leaves us still where we can draw supplies. + +During the last night the teams and artillery not in position, +belonging to the right wing of our army, and one division of +that wing were quietly withdrawn to the north bank of the river +and moved down to the rear of the left. As soon as it is dark +this division with most of the cavalry will commence a forced +march for Hanover Town to seize and hold the crossings. The +balance of the right wing will withdraw at the same hour, and +follow as rapidly as possible. The left wing will also withdraw +from the south bank of the river to-night and follow in rear of +the right wing. Lee's army is really whipped. The prisoners we +now take show it, and the action of his army shows it +unmistakably. A battle with them outside of intrenchments +cannot be had. Our men feel that they have gained the MORALE +over the enemy, and attack him with confidence. I may be +mistaken, but I feel that our success over Lee's army is already +assured. The promptness and rapidity with which you have +forwarded reinforcements has contributed largely to the feeling +of confidence inspired in our men, and to break down that of the +enemy. + +We are destroying all the rails we can on the Central and +Fredericksburg roads. I want to leave a gap on the roads north +of Richmond so big that to get a single track they will have to +import rail from elsewhere. Even if a crossing is not effected +at Hanover Town it will probably be necessary for us to move on +down the Pamunkey until a crossing is effected. I think it +advisable therefore to change our base of supplies from Port +Royal to the White House. I wish you would direct this change +at once, and also direct Smith to put the railroad bridge there +in condition for crossing troops and artillery and leave men to +hold it. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*33) NEAR COLD HARBOR, June 3, 1864, 7 A.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +Commanding A. P. + +The moment it becomes certain that an assault cannot succeed, +suspend the offensive; but when one does succeed, push it +vigorously and if necessary pile in troops at the successful +point from wherever they can be taken. I shall go to where you +are in the course of an hour. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*34) COLD HARBOR, June 5,1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK, Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, +D. C. + +A full survey of all the ground satisfies me that it would be +impracticable to hold a line north-east of Richmond that would +protect the Fredericksburg Railroad to enable us to use that +road for supplying the army. To do so would give us a long +vulnerable line of road to protect, exhausting much of our +strength to guard it, and would leave open to the enemy all of +his lines of communication on the south side of the James. My +idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible +north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of +communication on the north side of the James River to transfer +the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or +follow him south if he should retreat. + +I now find, after over thirty days of trial, the enemy deems it +of the first importance to run no risks with the armies they now +have. They act purely on the defensive behind breastworks, or +feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and where +in case of repulse they can instantly retire behind them. +Without a greater sacrifice of human life than I am willing to +make all cannot be accomplished that I had designed outside of +the city. I have therefore resolved upon the following plan: + +I will continue to hold substantially the ground now occupied by +the Army of the Potomac, taking advantage of any favorable +circumstance that may present itself until the cavalry can be +sent west to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad from about +Beaver Dam for some twenty-five or thirty miles west. When this +is effected I will move the army to the south side of the James +River, either by crossing the Chickahominy and marching near to +City Point, or by going to the mouth of the Chickahominy on +north side and crossing there. To provide for this last and +most possible contingency, several ferry-boats of the largest +class ought to be immediately provided. + +Once on the south side of the James River, I can cut off all +sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the +canal. If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be +lost to him also. Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make +the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south +side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they +can. + +The feeling of the two armies now seems to be that the rebels +can protect themselves only by strong intrenchments, whilst our +army is not only confident of protecting itself without +intrenchments, but that it can beat and drive the enemy wherever +and whenever he can be found without this protection. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +(*35) COLD HARBOR, VA., June 6, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER + +Commanding Dept. W. Va. + +General Sheridan leaves here to-morrow morning, with +instructions to proceed to Charlottesville, Va., and to commence +there the destruction of the Va. Cen. R. R., destroying this way +as much as possible. The complete destruction of this road and +of the canal on James River is of great importance to us. +According to the instructions I sent to General Halleck for your +guidance, you were to proceed to Lynchburg and commence there. It +would be of great value to us to get possession of Lynchburg for +a single day. But that point is of so much importance to the +enemy, that in attempting to get it such resistance may be met +as to defeat your getting onto the road or canal at all. I see, +in looking over the letter to General Halleck on the subject of +your instructions, that it rather indicates that your route +should be from Staunton via Charlottesville. If you have so +understood it, you will be doing just what I want. The +direction I would now give is, that if this letter reaches you +in the valley between Staunton and Lynchburg, you immediately +turn east by the most practicable road. From thence move +eastward along the line of the road, destroying it completely +and thoroughly, until you join General Sheridan. After the work +laid out for General Sheridan and yourself is thoroughly done, +proceed to join the Army of the Potomac by the route laid out in +General Sheridan's instructions. + +If any portion of your force, especially your cavalry, is needed +back in your Department, you are authorized to send it back. + +If on receipt of this you should be near to Lynchburg and deem +it practicable to detach a cavalry force to destroy the canal. +Lose no opportunity to destroy the canal. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*36) FROM A STATEMENT OF LOSSES COMPILED IN THE +ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. + +FIELD OF ACTION AND DATE. | KILLED. | WOUNDED. | MISSING. | +AGGREGATE. | + + +Wilderness, May 5th to 7th | 2,261 | 8,785 | 2,902 |13,948 | +Spottsylvania, May 8th to 21st | 2,271 | 9,360 | 1,970 | 13,601| +North Anna, May 23d to 27th | 186 | 792 | 165 | 1,143 | +Totopotomoy, May 27th to 31st | 99 | 358 | 52 | 509 | Cold +Harbor, May 31st to June 12th | 1,769 | 6,752 | 1,537 |10,058 | +Total ................ | 6,586 | 26,047 | 6,626 | 39,259 | + + +(*37) CITY POINT, VA., June 17, 1864. 11 A.M. + +MAJOR-GEN. HALLECK, +Washington, D. C. + + * * * * * * * + +The enemy in their endeavor to reinforce Petersburg abandoned +their intrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred. They no doubt +expected troops from north of the James River to take their +place before we discovered it. General Butler took advantage of +this and moved a force at once upon the railroad and plank road +between Richmond and Petersburg, which I hope to retain +possession of. + +Too much credit cannot be given to the troops and their +commanders for the energy and fortitude displayed during the +last five days. Day and night has been all the same, no delays +being allowed on any account. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieut.-General. + + +(*38) CITY POINT, VA., July 24, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, +Commanding, etc. + +The engineer officers who made a survey of the front from +Bermuda Hundred report against the probability of success from +an attack there. The chances they think will be better on +Burnside's front. If this is attempted it will be necessary to +concentrate all the force possible at the point in the enemy's +line we expect to penetrate. All officers should be fully +impressed with the absolute necessity of pushing entirely beyond +the enemy's present line, if they should succeed in penetrating +it, and of getting back to their present line promptly if they +should not succeed in breaking through. + +To the right and left of the point of assault all the artillery +possible should be brought to play upon the enemy in front +during the assault. Their lines would be sufficient for the +support of the artillery, and all the reserves could be brought +on the flanks of their commands nearest to the point of assault, +ready to follow in if successful. The field artillery and +infantry held in the lines during the first assault should be in +readiness to move at a moment's notice either to their front or +to follow the main assault, as they should receive orders. One +thing, however, should be impressed on corps commanders. If +they see the enemy giving away on their front or moving from it +to reinforce a heavily assaulted portion of their line, they +should take advantage of such knowledge and act promptly without +waiting for orders from army commanders. General Ord can +co-operate with his corps in this movement, and about five +thousand troops from Bermuda Hundred can be sent to reinforce +you or can be used to threaten an assault between the Appomattox +and James rivers, as may be deemed best. + +This should be done by Tuesday morning, if done at all. If not +attempted, we will then start at the date indicated to destroy +the railroad as far as Hicksford at least, and to Weldon if +possible. + + * * * * * * * + +Whether we send an expedition on the road or assault at +Petersburg, Burnside's mine will be blown up.... + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +(*39) See letter, August 5th, Appendix. + + +(*40) See Appendix, letters of Oct. 11th. + + +(*41) CITY POINT, VA., December 2,1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville Tenn. + +If Hood is permitted to remain quietly about Nashville, you will +lose all the road back to Chattanooga and possibly have to +abandon the line of the Tennessee. Should he attack you it is +all well, but if he does not you should attack him before he +fortifies. Arm and put in the trenches your quartermaster +employees, citizens, etc. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VA., December 2, 1864.--1.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +With your citizen employees armed, you can move out of Nashville +with all your army and force the enemy to retire or fight upon +ground of your own choosing. After the repulse of Hood at +Franklin, it looks to me that instead of falling back to +Nashville we should have taken the offensive against the enemy +where he was. At this distance, however, I may err as to the +best method of dealing with the enemy. You will now suffer +incalculable injury upon your railroads if Hood is not speedily +disposed of. Put forth therefore every possible exertion to +attain this end. Should you get him to retreating give him no +peace. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VA., December 5, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +Is there not danger of Forrest moving down the Cumberland to +where he can cross it? It seems to me whilst you should be +getting up your cavalry as rapidly as possible to look after +Forrest, Hood should be attacked where he is. Time strengthens +him in all possibility as much as it does you. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VA., December 6, 1864--4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +Attack Hood at once and wait no longer for a remnant of your +cavalry. There is great danger of delay resulting in a campaign +back to the Ohio River. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VA., December 8, 1864.--8.30 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +Your dispatch of yesterday received. It looks to me evident the +enemy are trying to cross the Cumberland River, and are +scattered. Why not attack at once? By all means avoid the +contingency of a foot race to see which, you or Hood, can beat +to the Ohio. If you think necessary call on the governors of +States to send a force into Louisville to meet the enemy if he +should cross the river. You clearly never should cross except +in rear of the enemy. Now is one of the finest opportunities +ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the +enemy. If destroyed he never can replace it. Use the means at +your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing that +will resound from one end of the land to the other. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +CITY POINT, VA., December 11, 1864.--4 P.M. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +If you delay attack longer the mortifying spectacle will be +witnessed of a rebel army moving for the Ohio River, and you +will be forced to act, accepting such weather as you find. Let +there be no further delay. Hood cannot even stand a drawn +battle so far from his supplies of ordnance stores. If he +retreats and you follow, he must lose his material and much of +his army. I am in hopes of receiving a dispatch from you to-day +announcing that you have moved. Delay no longer for weather or +reinforcements. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +WASHINGTON, D. C., December 15, 1864. + +MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, +Nashville, Tenn. + +I was just on my way to Nashville, but receiving a dispatch from +Van Duzer detailing your splendid success of to-day, I shall go +no further. Push the enemy now and give him no rest until he is +entirely destroyed. Your army will cheerfully suffer many +privations to break up Hood's army and render it useless for +future operations. Do not stop for trains or supplies, but take +them from the country as the enemy have done. Much is now +expected. + +U. S. GRANT, +Lieutenant-General. + + +(*42) See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, +March 24th, Appendix. + + +(*43) See Appendix. + + +(*44) NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender +inserted at this place, was copied from the original document +furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S. +Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time +of the surrender. + +Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold +order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations +and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of +General Grant. After such alteration it was handed to General +Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to +General Grant. The original was then transcribed by General +Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General +Lee. + +The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the +original document and all interlineations and erasures. + +There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and +Lee each signed the articles of surrender. The document in the +form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor +of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and +General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and +handed it to General Grant. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. +Grant, Part 6., by Ulysses S. 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GRANT, Illustrated, V6</h2> +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg EBook Memoirs of General Grant, Illustrated, v6 +#9 in our series by Ulysses S. Grant + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + +Title: The Memoirs of General Ulysses S. Grant, Illustrated, Volume 6. + +Author: Ulysses S. Grant + + +Release Date: June, 2004 [Etext #5865] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on September 15, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT, V6 *** + + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net] + +</pre> +<br><hr> +<br><br><br><br><br><br> + + +<center><h1>PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF U. S. GRANT</h1></center> + +<center><h3>by Ulysses S. Grant</h3></center> + +<br><br> + + <center><h3>Volume 6.</h3></center> + +<br><br> + +<center><img alt="bookcover.jpg (180K)" src="bookcover.jpg" height="918" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><img alt="spines.jpg (117K)" src="spines.jpg" height="1477" width="637"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><img alt="titlepage.jpg (21K)" src="titlepage.jpg" height="977" width="617"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<center><a name="dedication"></a><img alt="dedication.jpg (20K)" src="dedication.jpg" height="516" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><h2>CONTENTS</h2></center> + +<center><h3>Volume 6.</h3></center> +<br> + +<blockquote> + +<p><a href="#ch62">CHAPTER LXII.</a> +SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY +ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND +THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE +CAROLINAS.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch63">CHAPTER LXIII.</a> +ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE +COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE +PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE +PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK +ROAD.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch64">CHAPTER LXIV.</a> +INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE +FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE +PETERSBURG.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch65">CHAPTER LXV.</a> +THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN +PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY--VISIT +TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch66">CHAPTER LXVI.</a> +BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT +FARMVILLE--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS +THE ENEMY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch67">CHAPTER LXVII.</a> +NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S +HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH +LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch68">CHAPTER LXVIII.</a> +MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND +SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT +WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT +JOHNSON'S POLICY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch69">CHAPTER LXIX.</a> +SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE +OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON +DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.</p> + +<p><a href="#ch70">CHAPTER LXX.</a> +THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S +ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF +LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.</p> + +<p><a href="#conclusion">CONCLUSION</a></p> + +<p><a href="#appendix">APPENDIX</a></p> + + + + + + +</blockquote> +<br><br><br><br> + +<center><h2>MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS</h2></center> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +<a href="#b407">MAP OF SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH</a> +<a href="#b441">MAP OF PETERSBURG AND FIVE FORKS</a> +<a href="#b457">MAP OF THE APPOMATTOX CAMPAIGN</a> +<a href="#b471">MAP OF JETERSVILLE AND SAILOR'S CREEK</a> +<a href="#b475">MAP OF HIGH BRIDGE AND FARMVILLE</a> +<a href="#b487">MAP OF APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE</a> + +<a href="#b489">ETCHING OF MCLEAN'S HOUSE AT APPOMATTOX WHERE + GENERAL LEE'S SURRENDER TOOK PLACE</a> + +<a href="#b497a">FAC-SIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL TERMS OF LEE'S SURRENDER + AS WRITTEN BY GENERAL GRANT</a> + +<a href="#b520">MAP OF THE DEFENCES OF THE CITY OF MOBILE</a> +<a href="#b632">MAP OF THE SEAT OF WAR-1861 TO 1865</a> + +</pre> +</blockquote> + + + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch62"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>SHERMAN'S MARCH NORTH--SHERIDAN ORDERED TO LYNCHBURG--CANBY +ORDERED TO MOVE AGAINST MOBILE--MOVEMENTS OF SCHOFIELD AND +THOMAS--CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA--SHERMAN IN THE +CAROLINAS.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>When news of Sherman being in possession of Savannah reached the +North, distinguished statesmen and visitors began to pour in to +see him. Among others who went was the Secretary of War, who +seemed much pleased at the result of his campaign. Mr. Draper, +the collector of customs of New York, who was with Mr. Stanton's +party, was put in charge of the public property that had been +abandoned and captured. Savannah was then turned over to +General Foster's command to hold, so that Sherman might have his +own entire army free to operate as might be decided upon in the +future. I sent the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac +(General Barnard) with letters to General Sherman. He remained +some time with the general, and when he returned brought back +letters, one of which contained suggestions from Sherman as to +what ought to be done in co-operation with him, when he should +have started upon his march northward.</p> + +<p>I must not neglect to state here the fact that I had no idea +originally of having Sherman march from Savannah to Richmond, or +even to North Carolina. The season was bad, the roads impassable +for anything except such an army as he had, and I should not have +thought of ordering such a move. I had, therefore, made +preparations to collect transports to carry Sherman and his army +around to the James River by water, and so informed him. On +receiving this letter he went to work immediately to prepare for +the move, but seeing that it would require a long time to collect +the transports, he suggested the idea then of marching up north +through the Carolinas. I was only too happy to approve this; +for if successful, it promised every advantage. His march +through Georgia had thoroughly destroyed all lines of +transportation in that State, and had completely cut the enemy +off from all sources of supply to the west of it. If North and +South Carolina were rendered helpless so far as capacity for +feeding Lee's army was concerned, the Confederate garrison at +Richmond would be reduced in territory, from which to draw +supplies, to very narrow limits in the State of Virginia; and, +although that section of the country was fertile, it was already +well exhausted of both forage and food. I approved Sherman's +suggestion therefore at once.</p> + +<p>The work of preparation was tedious, because supplies, to load +the wagons for the march, had to be brought from a long +distance. Sherman would now have to march through a country +furnishing fewer provisions than that he had previously been +operating in during his march to the sea. Besides, he was +confronting, or marching toward, a force of the enemy vastly +superior to any his troops had encountered on their previous +march; and the territory through which he had to pass had now +become of such vast importance to the very existence of the +Confederate army, that the most desperate efforts were to be +expected in order to save it.</p> + +<p>Sherman, therefore, while collecting the necessary supplies to +start with, made arrangements with Admiral Dahlgren, who +commanded that part of the navy on the South Carolina and +Georgia coast, and General Foster, commanding the troops, to +take positions, and hold a few points on the sea coast, which he +(Sherman) designated, in the neighborhood of Charleston.</p> + +<p>This provision was made to enable him to fall back upon the sea +coast, in case he should encounter a force sufficient to stop +his onward progress. He also wrote me a letter, making +suggestions as to what he would like to have done in support of +his movement farther north. This letter was brought to City +Point by General Barnard at a time when I happened to be going +to Washington City, where I arrived on the 21st of January. I +cannot tell the provision I had already made to co-operate with +Sherman, in anticipation of his expected movement, better than +by giving my reply to this letter.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., +<br>Jan. 21, 1865.</p> + +<p>MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, +<br>Commanding Mill Div. of the Mississippi.</p> + +<p>GENERAL:--Your letters brought by General Barnard were received +at City Point, and read with interest. Not having them with me, +however, I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you +on all points of recommendation. As I arrived here at one P.M., +and must leave at six P.M., having in the meantime spent over +three hours with the Secretary and General Halleck, I must be +brief. Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign +into the heart of Alabama, I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis, +Md., with his corps. The advance (six thousand) will reach the +seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as +railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The +corps numbers over twenty-one thousand men. I was induced to do +this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off +before spring. His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness +that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your +campaigns. The command of the advance of the pursuit was left +to subordinates, whilst Thomas followed far behind. When Hood +had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it, +Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from +whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He +is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness and honesty, +but he is not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops +fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up. This report and +a determination to give the enemy no rest determined me to use +his surplus troops elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Thomas is still left with a sufficient force surplus to go to +Selma under an energetic leader. He has been telegraphed to, to +know whether he could go, and, if so, which of the several routes +he would select. No reply is yet received. Canby has been +ordered to act offensively from the sea-coast to the interior, +towards Montgomery and Selma. Thomas's forces will move from +the north at an early day, or some of his troops will be sent to +Canby. Without further reinforcements Canby will have a moving +column of twenty thousand men.</p> + +<p>Fort Fisher, you are aware, has been captured. We have a force +there of eight thousand effective. At New Bern about half the +number. It is rumored, through deserters, that Wilmington also +has fallen. I am inclined to believe the rumor, because on the +17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort +Caswell, and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington.</p> + +<p>If Wilmington is captured, Schofield will go there. If not, he +will be sent to New Bern. In either event, all the surplus +forces at the two points will move to the interior toward +Goldsboro' in co-operation with your movements. From either +point, railroad communications can be run out, there being here +abundance of rolling-stock suited to the gauge of those roads.</p> + +<p>There have been about sixteen thousand men sent from Lee's army +south. Of these, you will have fourteen thousand against you, +if Wilmington is not held by the enemy, casualties at Fort +Fisher having overtaken about two thousand.</p> + +<p>All these troops are subject to your orders as you come in +communication with them. They will be so instructed. From +about Richmond I will watch Lee closely, and if he detaches much +more, or attempts to evacuate, will pitch in. In the meantime, +should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps +of thirty thousand effective men to your support, from the +troops about Richmond.</p> + +<p>To resume: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the +Gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it +doubtful. A force of twenty-eight or thirty thousand will +co-operate with you from New Bern or Wilmington, or both. You +can call for reinforcements.</p> + +<p>This will be handed you by Captain Hudson, of my staff, who will +return with any message you may have for me. If there is +anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on +ship-board, at any point on the sea-coast, ready for you, let me +know it.</p> + +<p>Yours truly, +<br>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +I had written on the 18th of January to General Sherman, giving +him the news of the battle of Nashville. He was much pleased at +the result, although, like myself, he had been very much +disappointed at Thomas for permitting Hood to cross the +Tennessee River and nearly the whole State of Tennessee, and +come to Nashville to be attacked there. He, however, as I had +done, sent Thomas a warm congratulatory letter.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of January, 1865, the resolutions of thanks to +Sherman and his army passed by Congress were approved.</p> + +<p>Sherman, after the capture, at once had the debris cleared up, +commencing the work by removing the piling and torpedoes from +the river, and taking up all obstructions. He had then +intrenched the city, so that it could be held by a small +garrison. By the middle of January all his work was done, +except the accumulation of supplies to commence his movement +with.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b407"></a><img alt="b407.jpg (149K)" src="b407.jpg" height="388" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b407.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>He proposed to move in two columns, one from Savannah, going +along by the river of the same name, and the other by roads +farther east, threatening Charleston. He commenced the advance +by moving his right wing to Beaufort, South Carolina, then to +Pocotaligo by water. This column, in moving north, threatened +Charleston, and, indeed, it was not determined at first that +they would have a force visit Charleston. South Carolina had +done so much to prepare the public mind of the South for +secession, and had been so active in precipitating the decision +of the question before the South was fully prepared to meet it, +that there was, at that time, a feeling throughout the North and +also largely entertained by people of the South, that the State +of South Carolina, and Charleston, the hot-bed of secession in +particular, ought to have a heavy hand laid upon them. In fact, +nothing but the decisive results that followed, deterred the +radical portion of the people from condemning the movement, +because Charleston had been left out. To pass into the interior +would, however, be to insure the evacuation of the city, and its +possession by the navy and Foster's troops. It is so situated +between two formidable rivers that a small garrison could have +held it against all odds as long as their supplies would hold +out. Sherman therefore passed it by.</p> + +<p>By the first of February all preparations were completed for the +final march, Columbia, South Carolina, being the first objective; +Fayetteville, North Carolina, the second; and Goldsboro, or +neighborhood, the final one, unless something further should be +determined upon. The right wing went from Pocotaligo, and the +left from about Hardeeville on the Savannah River, both columns +taking a pretty direct route for Columbia. The cavalry, +however, were to threaten Charleston on the right, and Augusta +on the left.</p> + +<p>On the 15th of January Fort Fisher had fallen, news of which +Sherman had received before starting out on his march. We +already had New Bern and had soon Wilmington, whose fall +followed that of Fort Fisher; as did other points on the sea +coast, where the National troops were now in readiness to +co-operate with Sherman's advance when he had passed +Fayetteville.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of January I ordered Canby, in command at New +Orleans, to move against Mobile, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, +for the purpose of destroying roads, machine shops, etc. On the +8th of February I ordered Sheridan, who was in the Valley of +Virginia, to push forward as soon as the weather would permit +and strike the canal west of Richmond at or about Lynchburg; and +on the 20th I made the order to go to Lynchburg as soon as the +roads would permit, saying: "As soon as it is possible to +travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching +Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone. From there you could +destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be +of no further use to the rebellion. * * * This additional raid, +with one starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering +about four or five thousand cavalry; one from Eastport, +Mississippi, ten thousand cavalry; Canby, from Mobile Bay, with +about eighteen thousand mixed troops--these three latter pushing +for Tuscaloosa, Selma and Montgomery; and Sherman with a large +army eating out the vitals of South Carolina--is all that will +be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I +would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish +this. Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday last."</p> + +<p>On the 27th of February, more than a month after Canby had +received his orders, I again wrote to him, saying that I was +extremely anxious to hear of his being in Alabama. I notified +him, also, that I had sent Grierson to take command of his +cavalry, he being a very efficient officer. I further suggested +that Forrest was probably in Mississippi, and if he was there, he +would find him an officer of great courage and capacity whom it +would be difficult to get by. I still further informed him that +Thomas had been ordered to start a cavalry force into Mississippi +on the 20th of February, or as soon as possible thereafter. This +force did not get off however.</p> + +<p>All these movements were designed to be in support of Sherman's +march, the object being to keep the Confederate troops in the +West from leaving there. But neither Canby nor Thomas could be +got off in time. I had some time before depleted Thomas's army +to reinforce Canby, for the reason that Thomas had failed to +start an expedition which he had been ordered to send out, and +to have the troops where they might do something. Canby seemed +to be equally deliberate in all of his movements. I ordered him +to go in person; but he prepared to send a detachment under +another officer. General Granger had got down to New Orleans, +in some way or other, and I wrote Canby that he must not put him +in command of troops. In spite of this he asked the War +Department to assign Granger to the command of a corps.</p> + +<p>Almost in despair of having adequate service rendered to the +cause in that quarter, I said to Canby: "I am in receipt of a +dispatch * * * informing me that you have made requisitions for +a construction corps and material to build seventy miles of +railroad. I have directed that none be sent. Thomas's army has +been depleted to send a force to you that they might be where +they could act in winter, and at least detain the force the +enemy had in the West. If there had been any idea of repairing +railroads, it could have been done much better from the North, +where we already had the troops. I expected your movements to +be co-operative with Sherman's last. This has now entirely +failed. I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly +and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine +shops, etc., not to build them. Take Mobile and hold it, and +push your forces to the interior--to Montgomery and to Selma. +Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for +carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such +positions as can be supplied by water. By this means alone you +can occupy positions from which the enemy's roads in the +interior can be kept broken."</p> + +<p>Most of these expeditions got off finally, but too late to +render any service in the direction for which they were designed.</p> + +<p>The enemy, ready to intercept his advance, consisted of Hardee's +troops and Wheeler's cavalry, perhaps less than fifteen thousand +men in all; but frantic efforts were being made in Richmond, as +I was sure would be the case, to retard Sherman's movements. +Everything possible was being done to raise troops in the +South. Lee dispatched against Sherman the troops which had been +sent to relieve Fort Fisher, which, including those of the other +defences of the harbor and its neighborhood, amounted, after +deducting the two thousand killed, wounded and captured, to +fourteen thousand men. After Thomas's victory at Nashville what +remained, of Hood's army were gathered together and forwarded as +rapidly as possible to the east to co-operate with these forces; +and, finally, General Joseph E. Johnston, one of the ablest +commanders of the South though not in favor with the +administration (or at least with Mr. Davis), was put in command +of all the troops in North and South Carolina.</p> + +<p>Schofield arrived at Annapolis in the latter part of January, +but before sending his troops to North Carolina I went with him +down the coast to see the situation of affairs, as I could give +fuller directions after being on the ground than I could very +well have given without. We soon returned, and the troops were +sent by sea to Cape Fear River. Both New Bern and Wilmington +are connected with Raleigh by railroads which unite at +Goldsboro. Schofield was to land troops at Smithville, near the +mouth of the Cape Fear River on the west side, and move up to +secure the Wilmington and Charlotteville Railroad. This column +took their pontoon bridges with them, to enable them to cross +over to the island south of the city of Wilmington. A large +body was sent by the north side to co-operate with them. They +succeeded in taking the city on the 22d of February. I took the +precaution to provide for Sherman's army, in case he should be +forced to turn in toward the sea coast before reaching North +Carolina, by forwarding supplies to every place where he was +liable to have to make such a deflection from his projected +march. I also sent railroad rolling stock, of which we had a +great abundance, now that we were not operating the roads in +Virginia. The gauge of the North Carolina railroads being the +same as the Virginia railroads had been altered too; these cars +and locomotives were ready for use there without any change.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of January I countermanded the orders given to +Thomas to move south to Alabama and Georgia. (I had previously +reduced his force by sending a portion of it to Terry.) I +directed in lieu of this movement, that he should send Stoneman +through East Tennessee, and push him well down toward Columbia, +South Carolina, in support of Sherman. Thomas did not get +Stoneman off in time, but, on the contrary, when I had supposed +he was on his march in support of Sherman I heard of his being +in Louisville, Kentucky. I immediately changed the order, and +directed Thomas to send him toward Lynchburg. Finally, however, +on the 12th of March, he did push down through the north-western +end of South Carolina, creating some consternation. I also +ordered Thomas to send the 4th corps (Stanley's) to Bull Gap and +to destroy no more roads east of that. I also directed him to +concentrate supplies at Knoxville, with a view to a probable +movement of his army through that way toward Lynchburg.</p> + +<p>Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles from Savannah. +Sherman's march was without much incident until he entered +Columbia, on the 17th of February. He was detained in his +progress by having to repair and corduroy the roads, and rebuild +the bridges. There was constant skirmishing and fighting between +the cavalry of the two armies, but this did not retard the +advance of the infantry. Four days, also, were lost in making +complete the destruction of the most important railroads south +of Columbia; there was also some delay caused by the high water, +and the destruction of the bridges on the line of the road. A +formidable river had to be crossed near Columbia, and that in +the face of a small garrison under General Wade Hampton. There +was but little delay, however, further than that caused by high +water in the stream. Hampton left as Sherman approached, and +the city was found to be on fire.</p> + +<p>There has since been a great deal of acrimony displayed in +discussions of the question as to who set Columbia on fire. +Sherman denies it on the part of his troops, and Hampton denies +it on the part of the Confederates. One thing is certain: as +soon as our troops took possession, they at once proceeded to +extinguish the flames to the best of their ability with the +limited means at hand. In any case, the example set by the +Confederates in burning the village of Chambersburg, Pa., a town +which was not garrisoned, would seem to make a defence of the act +of firing the seat of government of the State most responsible +for the conflict then raging, not imperative.</p> + +<p>The Confederate troops having vacated the city, the mayor took +possession, and sallied forth to meet the commander of the +National forces for the purpose of surrendering the town, making +terms for the protection of property, etc. Sherman paid no +attention at all to the overture, but pushed forward and took +the town without making any conditions whatever with its +citizens. He then, however, co-operated with the mayor in +extinguishing the flames and providing for the people who were +rendered destitute by this destruction of their homes. When he +left there he even gave the mayor five hundred head of cattle to +be distributed among the citizens, to tide them over until some +arrangement could be made for their future supplies. He +remained in Columbia until the roads, public buildings, +workshops and everything that could be useful to the enemy were +destroyed. While at Columbia, Sherman learned for the first +time that what remained of Hood's army was confronting him, +under the command of General Beauregard.</p> + +<p>Charleston was evacuated on the 18th of February, and Foster +garrisoned the place. Wilmington was captured on the 22d. +Columbia and Cheraw farther north, were regarded as so secure +from invasion that the wealthy people of Charleston and Augusta +had sent much of their valuable property to these two points to +be stored. Among the goods sent there were valuable carpets, +tons of old Madeira, silverware, and furniture. I am afraid +much of these goods fell into the hands of our troops. There +was found at Columbia a large amount of powder, some artillery, +small-arms and fixed ammunition. These, of course were among +the articles destroyed. While here, Sherman also learned of +Johnston's restoration to command. The latter was given, as +already stated, all troops in North and South Carolina. After +the completion of the destruction of public property about +Columbia, Sherman proceeded on his march and reached Cheraw +without any special opposition and without incident to relate. +The railroads, of course, were thoroughly destroyed on the +way. Sherman remained a day or two at Cheraw; and, finally, on +the 6th of March crossed his troops over the Pedee and advanced +straight for Fayetteville. Hardee and Hampton were there, and +barely escaped. Sherman reached Fayetteville on the 11th of +March. He had dispatched scouts from Cheraw with letters to +General Terry, at Wilmington, asking him to send a steamer with +some supplies of bread, clothing and other articles which he +enumerated. The scouts got through successfully, and a boat was +sent with the mail and such articles for which Sherman had asked +as were in store at Wilmington; unfortunately, however, those +stores did not contain clothing.</p> + +<p>Four days later, on the 15th, Sherman left Fayetteville for +Goldsboro. The march, now, had to be made with great caution, +for he was approaching Lee's army and nearing the country that +still remained open to the enemy. Besides, he was confronting +all that he had had to confront in his previous march up to that +point, reinforced by the garrisons along the road and by what +remained of Hood's army. Frantic appeals were made to the +people to come in voluntarily and swell the ranks of our foe. I +presume, however, that Johnston did not have in all over 35,000 +or 40,000 men. The people had grown tired of the war, and +desertions from the Confederate army were much more numerous +than the voluntary accessions.</p> + +<p>There was some fighting at Averysboro on the 16th between +Johnston's troops and Sherman's, with some loss; and at +Bentonville on the 19th and 21st of March, but Johnston withdrew +from the contest before the morning of the 22d. Sherman's loss +in these last engagements in killed, wounded, and missing, was +about sixteen hundred. Sherman's troops at last reached +Goldsboro on the 23d of the month and went into bivouac; and +there his men were destined to have a long rest. Schofield was +there to meet him with the troops which had been sent to +Wilmington.</p> + +<p>Sherman was no longer in danger. He had Johnston confronting +him; but with an army much inferior to his own, both in numbers +and morale. He had Lee to the north of him with a force largely +superior; but I was holding Lee with a still greater force, and +had he made his escape and gotten down to reinforce Johnston, +Sherman, with the reinforcements he now had from Schofield and +Terry, would have been able to hold the Confederates at bay for +an indefinite period. He was near the sea-shore with his back +to it, and our navy occupied the harbors. He had a railroad to +both Wilmington and New Bern, and his flanks were thoroughly +protected by streams, which intersect that part of the country +and deepen as they approach the sea. Then, too, Sherman knew +that if Lee should escape me I would be on his heels, and he and +Johnson together would be crushed in one blow if they attempted +to make a stand. With the loss of their capital, it is doubtful +whether Lee's army would have amounted to much as an army when it +reached North Carolina. Johnston's army was demoralized by +constant defeat and would hardly have made an offensive +movement, even if they could have been induced to remain on +duty. The men of both Lee's and Johnston's armies were, like +their brethren of the North, as brave as men can be; but no man +is so brave that he may not meet such defeats and disasters as +to discourage him and dampen his ardor for any cause, no matter +how just he deems it.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch63"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>ARRIVAL OF THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS--LINCOLN AND THE PEACE +COMMISSIONERS--AN ANECDOTE OF LINCOLN--THE WINTER BEFORE +PETERSBURG--SHERIDAN DESTROYS THE RAILROAD--GORDON CARRIES THE +PICKET LINE--PARKE RECAPTURES THE LINE--THE LINE OF BATTLE OF +WHITE OAK ROAD.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>On the last of January, 1865, peace commissioners from the +so-called Confederate States presented themselves on our lines +around Petersburg, and were immediately conducted to my +headquarters at City Point. They proved to be Alexander H. +Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, Judge Campbell, +Assistant-Secretary of War, and R. M. T. Hunt, formerly United +States Senator and then a member of the Confederate Senate.</p> + +<p>It was about dark when they reached my headquarters, and I at +once conducted them to the steam Mary Martin, a Hudson River +boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of +passengers. I at once communicated by telegraph with Washington +and informed the Secretary of War and the President of the +arrival of these commissioners and that their object was to +negotiate terms of peace between he United States and, as they +termed it, the Confederate Government. I was instructed to +retain them at City Point, until the President, or some one whom +he would designate, should come to meet them. They remained +several days as guests on board the boat. I saw them quite +frequently, though I have no recollection of having had any +conversation whatever with them on the subject of their +mission. It was something I had nothing to do with, and I +therefore did not wish to express any views on the subject. For +my own part I never had admitted, and never was ready to admit, +that they were the representatives of a GOVERNMENT. There had +been too great a waste of blood and treasure to concede anything +of the kind. As long as they remained there, however, our +relations were pleasant and I found them all very agreeable +gentlemen. I directed the captain to furnish them with the best +the boat afforded, and to administer to their comfort in every +way possible. No guard was placed over them and no restriction +was put upon their movements; nor was there any pledge asked +that they would not abuse the privileges extended to them. They +were permitted to leave the boat when they felt like it, and did +so, coming up on the bank and visiting me at my headquarters.</p> + +<p>I had never met either of these gentlemen before the war, but +knew them well by reputation and through their public services, +and I had been a particular admirer of Mr. Stephens. I had +always supposed that he was a very small man, but when I saw him +in the dusk of the evening I was very much surprised to find so +large a man as he seemed to be. When he got down on to the boat +I found that he was wearing a coarse gray woollen overcoat, a +manufacture that had been introduced into the South during the +rebellion. The cloth was thicker than anything of the kind I +had ever seen, even in Canada. The overcoat extended nearly to +his feet, and was so large that it gave him the appearance of +being an average-sized man. He took this off when he reached +the cabin of the boat, and I was struck with the apparent change +in size, in the coat and out of it.</p> + +<p>After a few days, about the 2d of February, I received a +dispatch from Washington, directing me to send the commissioners +to Hampton Roads to meet the President and a member of the +cabinet. Mr. Lincoln met them there and had an interview of +short duration. It was not a great while after they met that +the President visited me at City Point. He spoke of his having +met the commissioners, and said he had told them that there +would be no use in entering into any negotiations unless they +would recognize, first: that the Union as a whole must be +forever preserved, and second: that slavery must be abolished. +If they were willing to concede these two points, then he was +ready to enter into negotiations and was almost willing to hand +them a blank sheet of paper with his signature attached for them +to fill in the terms upon which they were willing to live with us +in the Union and be one people. He always showed a generous and +kindly spirit toward the Southern people, and I never heard him +abuse an enemy. Some of the cruel things said about President +Lincoln, particularly in the North, used to pierce him to the +heart; but never in my presence did he evince a revengeful +disposition and I saw a great deal of him at City Point, for he +seemed glad to get away from the cares and anxieties of the +capital.</p> + +<p>Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. It was on +the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the +peace commissioners at Hampton Roads. After a little +conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of +Stephens's. I replied that I had. "Well," said he, "did you +see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," said he, "didn't you +think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that ever you +did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate +General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. He +repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens +laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln.</p> + +<p>The rest of the winter, after the departure of the peace +commissioners, passed off quietly and uneventfully, except for +two or three little incidents. On one occasion during this +period, while I was visiting Washington City for the purpose of +conferring with the administration, the enemy's cavalry under +General Wade Hampton, passing our extreme left and then going to +the south, got in east of us. Before their presence was known, +they had driven off a large number of beef cattle that were +grazing in that section. It was a fair capture, and they were +sufficiently needed by the Confederates. It was only +retaliating for what we had done, sometimes for many weeks at a +time, when out of supplies taking what the Confederate army +otherwise would have gotten. As appears in this book, on one +single occasion we captured five thousand head of cattle which +were crossing the Mississippi River near Port Hudson on their +way from Texas to supply the Confederate army in the East.</p> + +<p>One of the most anxious periods of my experience during the +rebellion was the last few weeks before Petersburg. I felt that +the situation of the Confederate army was such that they would +try to make an escape at the earliest practicable moment, and I +was afraid, every morning, that I would awake from my sleep to +hear that Lee had gone, and that nothing was left but a picket +line. He had his railroad by the way of Danville south, and I +was afraid that he was running off his men and all stores and +ordnance except such as it would be necessary to carry with him +for his immediate defence. I knew he could move much more +lightly and more rapidly than I, and that, if he got the start, +he would leave me behind so that we would have the same army to +fight again farther south and the war might be prolonged another +year.</p> + +<p>I was led to this fear by the fact that I could not see how it +was possible for the Confederates to hold out much longer where +they were. There is no doubt that Richmond would have been +evacuated much sooner than it was, if it had not been that it +was the capital of the so-called Confederacy, and the fact of +evacuating the capital would, of course, have had a very +demoralizing effect upon the Confederate army. When it was +evacuated (as we shall see further on), the Confederacy at once +began to crumble and fade away. Then, too, desertions were +taking place, not only among those who were with General Lee in +the neighborhood of their capital, but throughout the whole +Confederacy. I remember that in a conversation with me on one +occasion long prior to this, General Butler remarked that the +Confederates would find great difficulty in getting more men for +their army; possibly adding, though I am not certain as to this, +"unless they should arm the slave."</p> + +<p>The South, as we all knew, were conscripting every able-bodied +man between the ages of eighteen and forty-five; and now they +had passed a law for the further conscription of boys from +fourteen to eighteen, calling them the junior reserves, and men +from forty-five to sixty to be called the senior reserves. The +latter were to hold the necessary points not in immediate +danger, and especially those in the rear. General Butler, in +alluding to this conscription, remarked that they were thus +"robbing both the cradle and the grave," an expression which I +afterwards used in writing a letter to Mr. Washburn.</p> + +<p>It was my belief that while the enemy could get no more recruits +they were losing at least a regiment a day, taking it throughout +the entire army, by desertions alone. Then by casualties of +war, sickness, and other natural causes, their losses were much +heavier. It was a mere question of arithmetic to calculate how +long they could hold out while that rate of depletion was going +on. Of course long before their army would be thus reduced to +nothing the army which we had in the field would have been able +to capture theirs. Then too I knew from the great number of +desertions, that the men who had fought so bravely, so gallantly +and so long for the cause which they believed in--and as +earnestly, I take it, as our men believed in the cause for which +they were fighting--had lost hope and become despondent. Many of +them were making application to be sent North where they might +get employment until the war was over, when they could return to +their Southern homes.</p> + +<p>For these and other reasons I was naturally very impatient for +the time to come when I could commence the spring campaign, +which I thoroughly believed would close the war.</p> + +<p>There were two considerations I had to observe, however, and +which detained me. One was the fact that the winter had been +one of heavy rains, and the roads were impassable for artillery +and teams. It was necessary to wait until they had dried +sufficiently to enable us to move the wagon trains and artillery +necessary to the efficiency of an army operating in the enemy's +country. The other consideration was that General Sheridan with +the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac was operating on the north +side of the James River, having come down from the Shenandoah. It +was necessary that I should have his cavalry with me, and I was +therefore obliged to wait until he could join me south of the +James River.</p> + +<p>Let us now take account of what he was doing.</p> + +<p>On the 5th of March I had heard from Sheridan. He had met Early +between Staunton and Charlottesville and defeated him, capturing +nearly his entire command. Early and some of his officers +escaped by finding refuge in the neighboring houses or in the +woods.</p> + +<p>On the 12th I heard from him again. He had turned east, to come +to White House. He could not go to Lynchburg as ordered, because +the rains had been so very heavy and the streams were so very +much swollen. He had a pontoon train with him, but it would not +reach half way across some of the streams, at their then stage of +water, which he would have to get over in going south as first +ordered.</p> + +<p>I had supplies sent around to White House for him, and kept the +depot there open until he arrived. We had intended to abandon +it because the James River had now become our base of supplies.</p> + +<p>Sheridan had about ten thousand cavalry with him, divided into +two divisions commanded respectively by Custer and Devin. +General Merritt was acting as chief of cavalry. Sheridan moved +very light, carrying only four days' provisions with him, with a +larger supply of coffee, salt and other small rations, and a very +little else besides ammunition. They stopped at Charlottesville +and commenced tearing up the railroad back toward Lynchburg. He +also sent a division along the James River Canal to destroy +locks, culverts etc. All mills and factories along the lines of +march of his troops were destroyed also.</p> + +<p>Sheridan had in this way consumed so much time that his making a +march to White House was now somewhat hazardous. He determined +therefore to fight his way along the railroad and canal till he +was as near to Richmond as it was possible to get, or until +attacked. He did this, destroying the canal as far as +Goochland, and the railroad to a point as near Richmond as he +could get. On the 10th he was at Columbia. Negroes had joined +his column to the number of two thousand or more, and they +assisted considerably in the work of destroying the railroads +and the canal. His cavalry was in as fine a condition as when +he started, because he had been able to find plenty of forage. +He had captured most of Early's horses and picked up a good many +others on the road. When he reached Ashland he was assailed by +the enemy in force. He resisted their assault with part of his +command, moved quickly across the South and North Anna, going +north, and reached White House safely on the 19th.</p> + +<p>The time for Sherman to move had to be fixed with reference to +the time he could get away from Goldsboro where he then was. +Supplies had to be got up to him which would last him through a +long march, as there would probably not be much to be obtained +in the country through which he would pass. I had to arrange, +therefore, that he should start from where he was, in the +neighborhood of Goldsboro on the 18th of April, the earliest day +at which he supposed he could be ready.</p> + +<p>Sherman was anxious that I should wait where I was until he +could come up, and make a sure thing of it; but I had determined +to move as soon as the roads and weather would admit of my doing +so. I had been tied down somewhat in the matter of fixing any +time at my pleasure for starting, until Sheridan, who was on his +way from the Shenandoah Valley to join me, should arrive, as both +his presence and that of his cavalry were necessary to the +execution of the plans which I had in mind. However, having +arrived at White House on the 19th of March, I was enabled to +make my plans.</p> + +<p>Prompted by my anxiety lest Lee should get away some night +before I was aware of it, and having the lead of me, push into +North Carolina to join with Johnston in attempting to crush out +Sherman, I had, as early as the 1st of the month of March, given +instructions to the troops around Petersburg to keep a sharp +lookout to see that such a movement should not escape their +notice, and to be ready strike at once if it was undertaken.</p> + +<p>It is now known that early in the month of March Mr. Davis and +General Lee had a consultation about the situation of affairs in +and about and Petersburg, and they both agreed places were no +longer tenable for them, and that they must get away as soon as +possible. They, too, were waiting for dry roads, or a condition +of the roads which would make it possible to move.</p> + +<p>General Lee, in aid of his plan of escape, and to secure a wider +opening to enable them to reach the Danville Road with greater +security than he would have in the way the two armies were +situated, determined upon an assault upon the right of our lines +around Petersburg. The night of the 24th of March was fixed upon +for this assault, and General Gordon was assigned to the +execution of the plan. The point between Fort Stedman and +Battery No. 10, where our lines were closest together, was +selected as the point of his attack. The attack was to be made +at night, and the troops were to get possession of the higher +ground in the rear where they supposed we had intrenchments, +then sweep to the right and left, create a panic in the lines of +our army, and force me to contract my lines. Lee hoped this +would detain me a few days longer and give him an opportunity of +escape. The plan was well conceived and the execution of it very +well done indeed, up to the point of carrying a portion of our +line.</p> + +<p>Gordon assembled his troops under the cover of night, at the +point at which they were to make their charge, and got +possession of our picket-line, entirely without the knowledge of +the troops inside of our main line of intrenchments; this reduced +the distance he would have to charge over to not much more than +fifty yards. For some time before the deserters had been coming +in with great frequency, often bringing their arms with them, and +this the Confederate general knew. Taking advantage of this +knowledge he sent his pickets, with their arms, creeping through +to ours as if to desert. When they got to our lines they at once +took possession and sent our pickets to the rear as prisoners. In +the main line our men were sleeping serenely, as if in great +security. This plan was to have been executed and much damage +done before daylight; but the troops that were to reinforce +Gordon had to be brought from the north side of the James River +and, by some accident on the railroad on their way over, they +were detained for a considerable time; so that it got to be +nearly daylight before they were ready to make the charge.</p> + +<p>The charge, however, was successful and almost without loss, the +enemy passing through our lines between Fort Stedman and Battery +No. 10. Then turning to the right and left they captured the +fort and the battery, with all the arms and troops in them. +Continuing the charge, they also carried batteries Eleven and +Twelve to our left, which they turned toward City Point.</p> + +<p>Meade happened to be at City Point that night, and this break in +his line cut him off from all communication with his +headquarters. Parke, however, commanding the 9th corps when +this breach took place, telegraphed the facts to Meade's +headquarters, and learning that the general was away, assumed +command himself and with commendable promptitude made all +preparations to drive the enemy back. General Tidball gathered +a large number of pieces of artillery and planted them in rear +of the captured works so as to sweep the narrow space of ground +between the lines very thoroughly. Hartranft was soon out with +his division, as also was Willcox. Hartranft to the right of +the breach headed the rebels off in that direction and rapidly +drove them back into Fort Stedman. On the other side they were +driven back into the intrenchments which they had captured, and +batteries eleven and twelve were retaken by Willcox early in the +morning.</p> + +<p>Parke then threw a line around outside of the captured fort and +batteries, and communication was once more established. The +artillery fire was kept up so continuously that it was +impossible for the Confederates to retreat, and equally +impossible for reinforcements to join them. They all, +therefore, fell captives into our hands. This effort of Lee's +cost him about four thousand men, and resulted in their killing, +wounding and capturing about two thousand of ours.</p> + +<p>After the recapture of the batteries taken by the Confederates, +our troops made a charge and carried the enemy's intrenched +picket line, which they strengthened and held. This, in turn, +gave us but a short distance to charge over when our attack came +to be made a few days later.</p> + +<p>The day that Gordon was making dispositions for this attack +(24th of March) I issued my orders for the movement to commence +on the 29th. Ord, with three divisions of infantry and +Mackenzie's cavalry, was to move in advance on the night of the +27th, from the north side of the James River and take his place +on our extreme left, thirty miles away. He left Weitzel with +the rest of the Army of the James to hold Bermuda Hundred and +the north of the James River. The engineer brigade was to be +left at City Point, and Parke's corps in the lines about +Petersburg. [See orders to Major-General Meade, Ord, and Sheridan, +March 24th, Appendix.]</p> + +<p>Ord was at his place promptly. Humphreys and Warren were then +on our extreme left with the 2d and 5th corps. They were +directed on the arrival of Ord, and on his getting into position +in their places, to cross Hatcher's Run and extend out west +toward Five Forks, the object being to get into a position from +which we could strike the South Side Railroad and ultimately the +Danville Railroad. There was considerable fighting in taking up +these new positions for the 2d and 5th corps, in which the Army +of the James had also to participate somewhat, and the losses +were quite severe.</p> + +<p>This was what was known as the Battle of White Oak Road.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch64"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIV.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>INTERVIEW WITH SHERIDAN--GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY OF THE +POTOMAC--SHERIDAN'S ADVANCE ON FIVE FORKS--BATTLE OF FIVE +FORKS--PARKE AND WRIGHT STORM THE ENEMY'S LINE--BATTLES BEFORE +PETERSBURG.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>Sheridan reached City Point on the 26th day of March. His +horses, of course, were jaded and many of them had lost their +shoes. A few days of rest were necessary to recuperate the +animals and also to have them shod and put in condition for +moving. Immediately on General Sheridan's arrival at City Point +I prepared his instructions for the move which I had decided +upon. The movement was to commence on the 29th of the month.</p> + +<p>After reading the instructions I had given him, Sheridan walked +out of my tent, and I followed to have some conversation with +him by himself--not in the presence of anybody else, even of a +member of my staff. In preparing his instructions I +contemplated just what took place; that is to say, capturing +Five Forks, driving the enemy from Petersburg and Richmond and +terminating the contest before separating from the enemy. But +the Nation had already become restless and discouraged at the +prolongation of the war, and many believed that it would never +terminate except by compromise. Knowing that unless my plan +proved an entire success it would be interpreted as a disastrous +defeat, I provided in these instructions that in a certain event +he was to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac and his base of +supplies, and living upon the country proceed south by the way of +the Danville Railroad, or near it, across the Roanoke, get in the +rear of Johnston, who was guarding that road, and cooperate with +Sherman in destroying Johnston; then with these combined forces +to help carry out the instructions which Sherman already had +received, to act in cooperation with the armies around +Petersburg and Richmond.</p> + +<p>I saw that after Sheridan had read his instructions he seemed +somewhat disappointed at the idea, possibly, of having to cut +loose again from the Army of the Potomac, and place himself +between the two main armies of the enemy. I said to him: +"General, this portion of your instructions I have put in merely +as a blind;" and gave him the reason for doing so, heretofore +described. I told him that, as a matter of fact, I intended to +close the war right here, with this movement, and that he should +go no farther. His face at once brightened up, and slapping his +hand on his leg he said: "I am glad to hear it, and we can do +it."</p> + +<p>Sheridan was not however to make his movement against Five Forks +until he got further instructions from me.</p> + +<p>One day, after the movement I am about to describe had +commenced, and when his cavalry was on our extreme left and far +to the rear, south, Sheridan rode up to where my headquarters +were then established, at Dabney's Mills. He met some of my +staff officers outside, and was highly jubilant over the +prospects of success, giving reasons why he believed this would +prove the final and successful effort. Although my +chief-of-staff had urged very strongly that we return to our +position about City Point and in the lines around Petersburg, he +asked Sheridan to come in to see me and say to me what he had +been saying to them. Sheridan felt a little modest about giving +his advice where it had not been asked; so one of my staff came +in and told me that Sheridan had what they considered important +news, and suggested that I send for him. I did so, and was glad +to see the spirit of confidence with which he was imbued. Knowing +as I did from experience, of what great value that feeling of +confidence by a commander was, I determined to make a movement +at once, although on account of the rains which had fallen after +I had started out the roads were still very heavy. Orders were +given accordingly.</p> + +<p>Finally the 29th of March came, and fortunately there having +been a few days free from rain, the surface of the ground was +dry, giving indications that the time had come when we could +move. On that date I moved out with all the army available +after leaving sufficient force to hold the line about +Petersburg. It soon set in raining again however, and in a very +short time the roads became practically impassable for teams, and +almost so for cavalry. Sometimes a horse or mule would be +standing apparently on firm ground, when all at once one foot +would sink, and as he commenced scrambling to catch himself all +his feet would sink and he would have to be drawn by hand out of +the quicksands so common in that part of Virginia and other +southern States. It became necessary therefore to build +corduroy roads every foot of the way as we advanced, to move our +artillery upon. The army had become so accustomed to this kind +of work, and were so well prepared for it, that it was done very +rapidly. The next day, March 30th, we had made sufficient +progress to the south-west to warrant me in starting Sheridan +with his cavalry over by Dinwiddie with instructions to then +come up by the road leading north-west to Five Forks, thus +menacing the right of Lee's line.</p> + +<p>This movement was made for the purpose of extending our lines to +the west as far as practicable towards the enemy's extreme right, +or Five Forks. The column moving detached from the army still in +the trenches was, excluding the cavalry, very small. The forces +in the trenches were themselves extending to the left flank. +Warren was on the extreme left when the extension began, but +Humphreys was marched around later and thrown into line between +him and Five Forks.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b441"></a><img alt="b441.jpg (171K)" src="b441.jpg" height="394" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b441.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>My hope was that Sheridan would be able to carry Five Forks, get +on the enemy's right flank and rear, and force them to weaken +their centre to protect their right so that an assault in the +centre might be successfully made. General Wright's corps had +been designated to make this assault, which I intended to order +as soon as information reached me of Sheridan's success. He was +to move under cover as close to the enemy as he could get.</p> + +<p>It is natural to suppose that Lee would understand my design to +be to get up to the South Side and ultimately to the Danville +Railroad, as soon as he had heard of the movement commenced on +the 29th. These roads were so important to his very existence +while he remained in Richmond and Petersburg, and of such vital +importance to him even in case of retreat, that naturally he +would make most strenuous efforts to defend them. He did on the +30th send Pickett with five brigades to reinforce Five Forks. He +also sent around to the right of his army some two or three other +divisions, besides directing that other troops be held in +readiness on the north side of the James River to come over on +call. He came over himself to superintend in person the defence +of his right flank.</p> + +<p>Sheridan moved back to Dinwiddie Court-House on the night of the +30th, and then took a road leading north-west to Five Forks. He +had only his cavalry with him. Soon encountering the rebel +cavalry he met with a very stout resistance. He gradually drove +them back however until in the neighborhood of Five Forks. Here +he had to encounter other troops besides those he had been +contending with, and was forced to give way.</p> + +<p>In this condition of affairs he notified me of what had taken +place and stated that he was falling back toward Dinwiddie +gradually and slowly, and asked me to send Wright's corps to his +assistance. I replied to him that it was impossible to send +Wright's corps because that corps was already in line close up +to the enemy, where we should want to assault when the proper +time came, and was besides a long distance from him; but the 2d +(Humphreys's) and 5th (Warren's) corps were on our extreme left +and a little to the rear of it in a position to threaten the +left flank of the enemy at Five Forks, and that I would send +Warren.</p> + +<p>Accordingly orders were sent to Warren to move at once that +night (the 31st) to Dinwiddie Court House and put himself in +communication with Sheridan as soon as possible, and report to +him. He was very slow in moving, some of his troops not +starting until after 5 o'clock next morning. When he did move +it was done very deliberately, and on arriving at Gravelly Run +he found the stream swollen from the recent rains so that he +regarded it as not fordable. Sheridan of course knew of his +coming, and being impatient to get the troops up as soon as +possible, sent orders to him to hasten. He was also hastened or +at least ordered to move up rapidly by General Meade. He now +felt that he could not cross that creek without bridges, and his +orders were changed to move so as to strike the pursuing enemy in +flank or get in their rear; but he was so late in getting up that +Sheridan determined to move forward without him. However, +Ayres's division of Warren's corps reached him in time to be in +the fight all day, most of the time separated from the remainder +of the 5th corps and fighting directly under Sheridan.</p> + +<p>Warren reported to Sheridan about 11 o'clock on the 1st, but the +whole of his troops were not up so as to be much engaged until +late in the afternoon. Griffin's division in backing to get out +of the way of a severe cross fire of the enemy was found marching +away from the fighting. This did not continue long, however; the +division was brought back and with Ayres's division did most +excellent service during the day. Crawford's division of the +same corps had backed still farther off, and although orders +were sent repeatedly to bring it up, it was late before it +finally got to where it could be of material assistance. Once +there it did very excellent service.</p> + +<p>Sheridan succeeded by the middle of the afternoon or a little +later, in advancing up to the point from which to make his +designed assault upon Five Forks itself. He was very impatient +to make the assault and have it all over before night, because +the ground he occupied would be untenable for him in bivouac +during the night. Unless the assault was made and was +successful, he would be obliged to return to Dinwiddie +Court-House, or even further than that for the night.</p> + +<p>It was at this junction of affairs that Sheridan wanted to get +Crawford's division in hand, and he also wanted Warren. He sent +staff officer after staff officer in search of Warren, directing +that general to report to him, but they were unable to find +him. At all events Sheridan was unable to get that officer to +him. Finally he went himself. He issued an order relieving +Warren and assigning Griffin to the command of the 5th corps. +The troops were then brought up and the assault successfully +made.</p> + +<p>I was so much dissatisfied with Warren's dilatory movements in +the battle of White Oak Road and in his failure to reach +Sheridan in time, that I was very much afraid that at the last +moment he would fail Sheridan. He was a man of fine +intelligence, great earnestness, quick perception, and could +make his dispositions as quickly as any officer, under +difficulties where he was forced to act. But I had before +discovered a defect which was beyond his control, that was very +prejudicial to his usefulness in emergencies like the one just +before us. He could see every danger at a glance before he had +encountered it. He would not only make preparations to meet the +danger which might occur, but he would inform his commanding +officer what others should do while he was executing his move.</p> + +<p>I had sent a staff officer to General Sheridan to call his +attention to these defects, and to say that as much as I liked +General Warren, now was not a time when we could let our +personal feelings for any one stand in the way of success; and +if his removal was necessary to success, not to hesitate. It +was upon that authorization that Sheridan removed Warren. I was +very sorry that it had been done, and regretted still more that I +had not long before taken occasion to assign him to another field +of duty.</p> + +<p>It was dusk when our troops under Sheridan went over the +parapets of the enemy. The two armies were mingled together +there for a time in such manner that it was almost a question +which one was going to demand the surrender of the other. Soon, +however, the enemy broke and ran in every direction; some six +thousand prisoners, besides artillery and small-arms in large +quantities, falling into our hands. The flying troops were +pursued in different directions, the cavalry and 5th corps under +Sheridan pursuing the larger body which moved north-west.</p> + +<p>This pursuit continued until about nine o'clock at night, when +Sheridan halted his troops, and knowing the importance to him of +the part of the enemy's line which had been captured, returned, +sending the 5th corps across Hatcher's Run to just south-west of +Petersburg, and facing them toward it. Merritt, with the +cavalry, stopped and bivouacked west of Five Forks.</p> + +<p>This was the condition which affairs were in on the night of the +1st of April. I then issued orders for an assault by Wright and +Parke at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d. I also ordered +the 2d corps, General Humphreys, and General Ord with the Army +of the James, on the left, to hold themselves in readiness to +take any advantage that could be taken from weakening in their +front.</p> + +<p>I notified Mr. Lincoln at City Point of the success of the day; +in fact I had reported to him during the day and evening as I +got news, because he was so much interested in the movements +taking place that I wanted to relieve his mind as much as I +could. I notified Weitzel on the north side of the James River, +directing him, also, to keep close up to the enemy, and take +advantage of the withdrawal of troops from there to promptly +enter the city of Richmond.</p> + +<p>I was afraid that Lee would regard the possession of Five Forks +as of so much importance that he would make a last desperate +effort to retake it, risking everything upon the cast of a +single die. It was for this reason that I had ordered the +assault to take place at once, as soon as I had received the +news of the capture of Five Forks. The corps commanders, +however, reported that it was so dark that the men could not see +to move, and it would be impossible to make the assault then. But +we kept up a continuous artillery fire upon the enemy around the +whole line including that north of the James River, until it was +light enough to move, which was about a quarter to five in the +morning.</p> + +<p>At that hour Parke's and Wright's corps moved out as directed, +brushed the abatis from their front as they advanced under a +heavy fire of musketry and artillery, and went without flinching +directly on till they mounted the parapets and threw themselves +inside of the enemy's line. Parke, who was on the right, swept +down to the right and captured a very considerable length of +line in that direction, but at that point the outer was so near +the inner line which closely enveloped the city of Petersburg +that he could make no advance forward and, in fact, had a very +serious task to turn the lines which he had captured to the +defence of his own troops and to hold them; but he succeeded in +this.</p> + +<p>Wright swung around to his left and moved to Hatcher's Run, +sweeping everything before him. The enemy had traverses in rear +of his captured line, under cover of which he made something of a +stand, from one to another, as Wright moved on; but the latter +met no serious obstacle. As you proceed to the left the outer +line becomes gradually much farther from the inner one, and +along about Hatcher's Run they must be nearly two miles apart. +Both Parke and Wright captured a considerable amount of +artillery and some prisoners--Wright about three thousand of +them.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Ord and Humphreys, in obedience to the +instructions they had received, had succeeded by daylight, or +very early in the morning, in capturing the intrenched +picket-lines in their front; and before Wright got up to that +point, Ord had also succeeded in getting inside of the enemy's +intrenchments. The second corps soon followed; and the outer +works of Petersburg were in the hands of the National troops, +never to be wrenched from them again. When Wright reached +Hatcher's Run, he sent a regiment to destroy the South Side +Railroad just outside of the city.</p> + +<p>My headquarters were still at Dabney's saw-mills. As soon as I +received the news of Wright's success, I sent dispatches +announcing the fact to all points around the line, including the +troops at Bermuda Hundred and those on the north side of the +James, and to the President at City Point. Further dispatches +kept coming in, and as they did I sent the additional news to +these points. Finding at length that they were all in, I +mounted my horse to join the troops who were inside the works. +When I arrived there I rode my horse over the parapet just as +Wright's three thousand prisoners were coming out. I was soon +joined inside by General Meade and his staff.</p> + +<p>Lee made frantic efforts to recover at least part of the lost +ground. Parke on our right was repeatedly assaulted, but +repulsed every effort. Before noon Longstreet was ordered up +from the north side of the James River thus bringing the bulk of +Lee's army around to the support of his extreme right. As soon +as I learned this I notified Weitzel and directed him to keep up +close to the enemy and to have Hartsuff, commanding the Bermuda +Hundred front, to do the same thing, and if they found any break +to go in; Hartsuff especially should do so, for this would +separate Richmond and Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Sheridan, after he had returned to Five Forks, swept down to +Petersburg, coming in on our left. This gave us a continuous +line from the Appomattox River below the city to the same river +above. At eleven o'clock, not having heard from Sheridan, I +reinforced Parke with two brigades from City Point. With this +additional force he completed his captured works for better +defence, and built back from his right, so as to protect his +flank. He also carried in and made an abatis between himself +and the enemy. Lee brought additional troops and artillery +against Parke even after this was done, and made several +assaults with very heavy losses.</p> + +<p>The enemy had in addition to their intrenched line close up to +Petersburg, two enclosed works outside of it, Fort Gregg and +Fort Whitworth. We thought it had now become necessary to carry +them by assault. About one o'clock in the day, Fort Gregg was +assaulted by Foster's division of the 24th corps (Gibbon's), +supported by two brigades from Ord's command. The battle was +desperate and the National troops were repulsed several times; +but it was finally carried, and immediately the troops in Fort +Whitworth evacuated the place. The guns of Fort Gregg were +turned upon the retreating enemy, and the commanding officer +with some sixty of the men of Fort Whitworth surrendered.</p> + +<p>I had ordered Miles in the morning to report to Sheridan. In +moving to execute this order he came upon the enemy at the +intersection of the White Oak Road and the Claiborne Road. The +enemy fell back to Sutherland Station on the South Side Road and +were followed by Miles. This position, naturally a strong and +defensible one, was also strongly intrenched. Sheridan now came +up and Miles asked permission from him to make the assault, which +Sheridan gave. By this time Humphreys had got through the outer +works in his front, and came up also and assumed command over +Miles, who commanded a division in his corps. I had sent an +order to Humphreys to turn to his right and move towards +Petersburg. This order he now got, and started off, thus +leaving Miles alone. The latter made two assaults, both of +which failed, and he had to fall back a few hundred yards.</p> + +<p>Hearing that Miles had been left in this position, I directed +Humphreys to send a division back to his relief. He went +himself.</p> + +<p>Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent +Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate +cavalry that had assembled there. Merritt drove them north to +the Appomattox River. Sheridan then took the enemy at +Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and +the two together captured the place, with a large number of +prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder, +portions of three Confederate corps, to flight. Sheridan +followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was +stopped. Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he +with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault. I cannot +explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to +City Point that evening:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +BOYDTON ROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG, +<br>April 2, 1865.--4.40 P.M.</p> + +<p>COLONEL T. S. BOWERS, +<br>City Point.</p> + +<p>We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few +hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to +the river above. Heth's and Wilcox's divisions, such part of +them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either +designedly on their part or because they could not help it. +Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them. Miles's +division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to +Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met +them, and at last accounts was engaged with them. Not knowing +whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was +sent with another division from here. The whole captures since +the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve +thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery. I do not +know the number of men and guns accurately however. * * * I +think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the +river above to the river below. I ordered a bombardment to be +commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an +assault at six o'clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early +in the morning.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch65"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXV.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>THE CAPTURE OF PETERSBURG--MEETING PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN +PETERSBURG--THE CAPTURE OF RICHMOND--PURSUING THE ENEMY-- +VISIT TO SHERIDAN AND MEADE.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d +and took a position under cover of a house which protected us +from the enemy's musketry which was flying thick and fast +there. As we would occasionally look around the corner we could +see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the +bridge, packed with the Confederate army. I did not have +artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make +his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit. At all +events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass +of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.</p> + +<p>Soon after the enemy had entirely evacuated Petersburg, a man +came in who represented himself to be an engineer of the Army of +Northern Virginia. He said that Lee had for some time been at +work preparing a strong enclosed intrenchment, into which he +would throw himself when forced out of Petersburg, and fight his +final battle there; that he was actually at that time drawing his +troops from Richmond, and falling back into this prepared work. +This statement was made to General Meade and myself when we were +together. I had already given orders for the movement up the +south side of the Appomattox for the purpose of heading off Lee; +but Meade was so much impressed by this man's story that he +thought we ought to cross the Appomattox there at once and move +against Lee in his new position. I knew that Lee was no fool, +as he would have been to have put himself and his army between +two formidable streams like the James and Appomattox rivers, and +between two such armies as those of the Potomac and the James. +Then these streams coming together as they did to the east of +him, it would be only necessary to close up in the west to have +him thoroughly cut off from all supplies or possibility of +reinforcement. It would only have been a question of days, and +not many of them, if he had taken the position assigned to him +by the so-called engineer, when he would have been obliged to +surrender his army. Such is one of the ruses resorted to in war +to deceive your antagonist. My judgment was that Lee would +necessarily have to evacuate Richmond, and that the only course +for him to pursue would be to follow the Danville Road. +Accordingly my object was to secure a point on that road south +of Lee, and I told Meade this. He suggested that if Lee was +going that way we would follow him. My reply was that we did +not want to follow him; we wanted to get ahead of him and cut +him off, and if he would only stay in the position he (Meade) +believed him to be in at that time, I wanted nothing better; +that when we got in possession of the Danville Railroad, at its +crossing of the Appomattox River, if we still found him between +the two rivers, all we had to do was to move eastward and close +him up. That we would then have all the advantage we could +possibly have by moving directly against him from Petersburg, +even if he remained in the position assigned him by the engineer +officer.</p> + +<p>I had held most of the command aloof from the intrenchments, so +as to start them out on the Danville Road early in the morning, +supposing that Lee would be gone during the night. During the +night I strengthened Sheridan by sending him Humphreys's corps.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b457"></a><img alt="b457.jpg (133K)" src="b457.jpg" height="391" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b457.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>Lee, as we now know, had advised the authorities at Richmond, +during the day, of the condition of affairs, and told them it +would be impossible for him to hold out longer than night, if he +could hold out that long. Davis was at church when he received +Lee's dispatch. The congregation was dismissed with the notice +that there would be no evening service. The rebel government +left Richmond about two o'clock in the afternoon of the 2d.</p> + +<p>At night Lee ordered his troops to assemble at Amelia Court +House, his object being to get away, join Johnston if possible, +and to try to crush Sherman before I could get there. As soon +as I was sure of this I notified Sheridan and directed him to +move out on the Danville Railroad to the south side of the +Appomattox River as speedily as possible. He replied that he +already had some of his command nine miles out. I then ordered +the rest of the Army of the Potomac under Meade to follow the +same road in the morning. Parke's corps followed by the same +road, and the Army of the James was directed to follow the road +which ran alongside of the South Side Railroad to Burke's +Station, and to repair the railroad and telegraph as they +proceeded. That road was a 5 feet gauge, while our rolling +stock was all of the 4 feet 8 1/2 inches gauge; consequently the +rail on one side of the track had to be taken up throughout the +whole length and relaid so as to conform to the gauge of our +cars and locomotives.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was at City Point at the time, and had been for some +days. I would have let him know what I contemplated doing, only +while I felt a strong conviction that the move was going to be +successful, yet it might not prove so; and then I would have +only added another to the many disappointments he had been +suffering for the past three years. But when we started out he +saw that we were moving for a purpose, and bidding us Godspeed, +remained there to hear the result.</p> + +<p>The next morning after the capture of Petersburg, I telegraphed +Mr. Lincoln asking him to ride out there and see me, while I +would await his arrival. I had started all the troops out early +in the morning, so that after the National army left Petersburg +there was not a soul to be seen, not even an animal in the +streets. There was absolutely no one there, except my staff +officers and, possibly, a small escort of cavalry. We had +selected the piazza of a deserted house, and occupied it until +the President arrived.</p> + +<p>About the first thing that Mr. Lincoln said to me, after warm +congratulations for the victory, and thanks both to myself and +to the army which had accomplished it, was: "Do you know, +general, that I have had a sort of a sneaking idea for some days +that you intended to do something like this." Our movements +having been successful up to this point, I no longer had any +object in concealing from the President all my movements, and +the objects I had in view. He remained for some days near City +Point, and I communicated with him frequently and fully by +telegraph.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln knew that it had been arranged for Sherman to join +me at a fixed time, to co-operate in the destruction of Lee's +army. I told him that I had been very anxious to have the +Eastern armies vanquish their old enemy who had so long resisted +all their repeated and gallant attempts to subdue them or drive +them from their capital. The Western armies had been in the +main successful until they had conquered all the territory from +the Mississippi River to the State of North Carolina, and were +now almost ready to knock at the back door of Richmond, asking +admittance. I said to him that if the Western armies should be +even upon the field, operating against Richmond and Lee, the +credit would be given to them for the capture, by politicians +and non-combatants from the section of country which those +troops hailed from. It might lead to disagreeable bickerings +between members of Congress of the East and those of the West in +some of their debates. Western members might be throwing it up +to the members of the East that in the suppression of the +rebellion they were not able to capture an army, or to +accomplish much in the way of contributing toward that end, but +had to wait until the Western armies had conquered all the +territory south and west of them, and then come on to help them +capture the only army they had been engaged with.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln said he saw that now, but had never thought of it +before, because his anxiety was so great that he did not care +where the aid came from so the work was done.</p> + +<p>The Army of the Potomac has every reason to be proud of its four +years' record in the suppression of the rebellion. The army it +had to fight was the protection to the capital of a people which +was attempting to found a nation upon the territory of the United +States. Its loss would be the loss of the cause. Every energy, +therefore, was put forth by the Confederacy to protect and +maintain their capital. Everything else would go if it went. +Lee's army had to be strengthened to enable it to maintain its +position, no matter what territory was wrested from the South in +another quarter.</p> + +<p>I never expected any such bickering as I have indicated, between +the soldiers of the two sections; and, fortunately, there has +been none between the politicians. Possibly I am the only one +who thought of the liability of such a state of things in +advance.</p> + +<p>When our conversation was at an end Mr. Lincoln mounted his +horse and started on his return to City Point, while I and my +staff started to join the army, now a good many miles in +advance. Up to this time I had not received the report of the +capture of Richmond.</p> + +<p>Soon after I left President Lincoln I received a dispatch from +General Weitzel which notified me that he had taken possession +of Richmond at about 8.15 o'clock in the morning of that day, +the 3d, and that he had found the city on fire in two places. +The city was in the most utter confusion. The authorities had +taken the precaution to empty all the liquor into the gutter, +and to throw out the provisions which the Confederate government +had left, for the people to gather up. The city had been +deserted by the authorities, civil and military, without any +notice whatever that they were about to leave. In fact, up to +the very hour of the evacuation the people had been led to +believe that Lee had gained an important victory somewhere +around Petersburg.</p> + +<p>Weitzel's command found evidence of great demoralization in +Lee's army, there being still a great many men and even officers +in the town. The city was on fire. Our troops were directed to +extinguish the flames, which they finally succeeded in doing. +The fire had been started by some one connected with the +retreating army. All authorities deny that it was authorized, +and I presume it was the work of excited men who were leaving +what they regarded as their capital and may have felt that it +was better to destroy it than have it fall into the hands of +their enemy. Be that as it may, the National troops found the +city in flames, and used every effort to extinguish them.</p> + +<p>The troops that had formed Lee's right, a great many of them, +were cut off from getting back into Petersburg, and were pursued +by our cavalry so hotly and closely that they threw away +caissons, ammunition, clothing, and almost everything to lighten +their loads, and pushed along up the Appomattox River until +finally they took water and crossed over.</p> + +<p>I left Mr. Lincoln and started, as I have already said, to join +the command, which halted at Sutherland Station, about nine +miles out. We had still time to march as much farther, and time +was an object; but the roads were bad and the trains belonging to +the advance corps had blocked up the road so that it was +impossible to get on. Then, again, our cavalry had struck some +of the enemy and were pursuing them; and the orders were that +the roads should be given up to the cavalry whenever they +appeared. This caused further delay.</p> + +<p>General Wright, who was in command of one of the corps which +were left back, thought to gain time by letting his men go into +bivouac and trying to get up some rations for them, and clearing +out the road, so that when they did start they would be +uninterrupted. Humphreys, who was far ahead, was also out of +rations. They did not succeed in getting them up through the +night; but the Army of the Potomac, officers and men, were so +elated by the reflection that at last they were following up a +victory to its end, that they preferred marching without rations +to running a possible risk of letting the enemy elude them. So +the march was resumed at three o'clock in the morning.</p> + +<p>Merritt's cavalry had struck the enemy at Deep Creek, and driven +them north to the Appomattox, where, I presume, most of them were +forced to cross.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 4th I learned that Lee had ordered rations +up from Danville for his famishing army, and that they were to +meet him at Farmville. This showed that Lee had already +abandoned the idea of following the railroad down to Danville, +but had determined to go farther west, by the way of +Farmville. I notified Sheridan of this and directed him to get +possession of the road before the supplies could reach Lee. He +responded that he had already sent Crook's division to get upon +the road between Burkesville and Jetersville, then to face north +and march along the road upon the latter place; and he thought +Crook must be there now. The bulk of the army moved directly +for Jetersville by two roads.</p> + +<p>After I had received the dispatch from Sheridan saying that +Crook was on the Danville Road, I immediately ordered Meade to +make a forced march with the Army of the Potomac, and to send +Parke's corps across from the road they were on to the South +Side Railroad, to fall in the rear of the Army of the James and +to protect the railroad which that army was repairing as it went +along.</p> + +<p>Our troops took possession of Jetersville and in the telegraph +office, they found a dispatch from Lee, ordering two hundred +thousand rations from Danville. The dispatch had not been sent, +but Sheridan sent a special messenger with it to Burkesville and +had it forwarded from there. In the meantime, however, +dispatches from other sources had reached Danville, and they +knew there that our army was on the line of the road; so that +they sent no further supplies from that quarter.</p> + +<p>At this time Merritt and Mackenzie, with the cavalry, were off +between the road which the Army of the Potomac was marching on +and the Appomattox River, and were attacking the enemy in +flank. They picked up a great many prisoners and forced the +abandonment of some property.</p> + +<p>Lee intrenched himself at Amelia Court House, and also his +advance north of Jetersville, and sent his troops out to collect +forage. The country was very poor and afforded but very +little. His foragers scattered a great deal; many of them were +picked up by our men, and many others never returned to the Army +of Northern Virginia.</p> + +<p>Griffin's corps was intrenched across the railroad south of +Jetersville, and Sheridan notified me of the situation. I again +ordered Meade up with all dispatch, Sheridan having but the one +corps of infantry with a little cavalry confronting Lee's entire +army. Meade, always prompt in obeying orders, now pushed forward +with great energy, although he was himself sick and hardly able +to be out of bed. Humphreys moved at two, and Wright at three +o'clock in the morning, without rations, as I have said, the +wagons being far in the rear.</p> + +<p>I stayed that night at Wilson's Station on the South Side +Railroad. On the morning of the 5th I sent word to Sheridan of +the progress Meade was making, and suggested that he might now +attack Lee. We had now no other objective than the Confederate +armies, and I was anxious to close the thing up at once.</p> + +<p>On the 5th I marched again with Ord's command until within about +ten miles of Burkesville, where I stopped to let his army pass. I +then received from Sheridan the following dispatch:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p>"The whole of Lee's army is at or near Amelia Court House, and +on this side of it. General Davies, whom I sent out to +Painesville on their right flank, has just captured six pieces +of artillery and some wagons. We can capture the Army of +Northern Virginia if force enough can be thrown to this point, +and then advance upon it. My cavalry was at Burkesville +yesterday, and six miles beyond, on the Danville Road, last +night. General Lee is at Amelia Court House in person. They +are out of rations, or nearly so. They were advancing up the +railroad towards Burkesville yesterday, when we intercepted them +at this point."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>It now became a life and death struggle with Lee to get south to +his provisions.</p> + +<p>Sheridan, thinking the enemy might turn off immediately towards +Farmville, moved Davies's brigade of cavalry out to watch him. +Davies found the movement had already commenced. He attacked +and drove away their cavalry which was escorting wagons to the +west, capturing and burning 180 wagons. He also captured five +pieces of artillery. The Confederate infantry then moved +against him and probably would have handled him very roughly, +but Sheridan had sent two more brigades of cavalry to follow +Davies, and they came to his relief in time. A sharp engagement +took place between these three brigades of cavalry and the +enemy's infantry, but the latter was repulsed.</p> + +<p>Meade himself reached Jetersville about two o'clock in the +afternoon, but in advance of all his troops. The head of +Humphreys's corps followed in about an hour afterwards. Sheridan +stationed the troops as they came up, at Meade's request, the +latter still being very sick. He extended two divisions of this +corps off to the west of the road to the left of Griffin's corps, +and one division to the right. The cavalry by this time had also +come up, and they were put still farther off to the left, +Sheridan feeling certain that there lay the route by which the +enemy intended to escape. He wanted to attack, feeling that if +time was given, the enemy would get away; but Meade prevented +this, preferring to wait till his troops were all up.</p> + +<p>At this juncture Sheridan sent me a letter which had been handed +to him by a colored man, with a note from himself saying that he +wished I was there myself. The letter was dated Amelia Court +House, April 5th, and signed by Colonel Taylor. It was to his +mother, and showed the demoralization of the Confederate army. +Sheridan's note also gave me the information as here related of +the movements of that day. I received a second message from +Sheridan on the 5th, in which he urged more emphatically the +importance of my presence. This was brought to me by a scout in +gray uniform. It was written on tissue paper, and wrapped up in +tin-foil such as chewing tobacco is folded in. This was a +precaution taken so that if the scout should be captured he +could take this tin-foil out of his pocket and putting it into +his mouth, chew it. It would cause no surprise at all to see a +Confederate soldier chewing tobacco. It was nearly night when +this letter was received. I gave Ord directions to continue his +march to Burkesville and there intrench himself for the night, +and in the morning to move west to cut off all the roads between +there and Farmville.</p> + +<p>I then started with a few of my staff and a very small escort of +cavalry, going directly through the woods, to join Meade's +army. The distance was about sixteen miles; but the night being +dark our progress was slow through the woods in the absence of +direct roads. However, we got to the outposts about ten o'clock +in the evening, and after some little parley convinced the +sentinels of our identity and were conducted in to where +Sheridan was bivouacked. We talked over the situation for some +little time, Sheridan explaining to me what he thought Lee was +trying to do, and that Meade's orders, if carried out, moving to +the right flank, would give him the coveted opportunity of +escaping us and putting us in rear of him.</p> + +<p>We then together visited Meade, reaching his headquarters about +midnight. I explained to Meade that we did not want to follow +the enemy; we wanted to get ahead of him, and that his orders +would allow the enemy to escape, and besides that, I had no +doubt that Lee was moving right then. Meade changed his orders +at once. They were now given for an advance on Amelia Court +House, at an early hour in the morning, as the army then lay; +that is, the infantry being across the railroad, most of it to +the west of the road, with the cavalry swung out still farther +to the left.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch66"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVI.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>BATTLE OF SAILOR'S CREEK--ENGAGEMENT AT FARMVILLE +--CORRESPONDENCE WITH GENERAL LEE--SHERIDAN INTERCEPTS THE ENEMY.></h3></center> +<br> + +<p>The Appomattox, going westward, takes a long sweep to the +south-west from the neighborhood of the Richmond and Danville +Railroad bridge, and then trends north-westerly. Sailor's +Creek, an insignificant stream, running northward, empties into +the Appomattox between the High Bridge and Jetersville. Near +the High Bridge the stage road from Petersburg to Lynchburg +crosses the Appomattox River, also on a bridge. The railroad +runs on the north side of the river to Farmville, a few miles +west, and from there, recrossing, continues on the south side of +it. The roads coming up from the south-east to Farmville cross +the Appomattox River there on a bridge and run on the north +side, leaving the Lynchburg and Petersburg Railroad well to the +left.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b471"></a><img alt="b471.jpg (144K)" src="b471.jpg" height="390" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b471.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>Lee, in pushing out from Amelia Court House, availed himself of +all the roads between the Danville Road and Appomattox River to +move upon, and never permitted the head of his columns to stop +because of any fighting that might be going on in his rear. In +this way he came very near succeeding in getting to his +provision trains and eluding us with at least part of his army.</p> + +<p>As expected, Lee's troops had moved during the night before, and +our army in moving upon Amelia Court House soon encountered +them. There was a good deal of fighting before Sailor's Creek +was reached. Our cavalry charged in upon a body of theirs which +was escorting a wagon train in order to get it past our left. A +severe engagement ensued, in which we captured many prisoners, +and many men also were killed and wounded. There was as much +gallantry displayed by some of the Confederates in these little +engagements as was displayed at any time during the war, +notwithstanding the sad defeats of the past week.</p> + +<p>The armies finally met on Sailor's Creek, when a heavy +engagement took place, in which infantry, artillery and cavalry +were all brought into action. Our men on the right, as they +were brought in against the enemy, came in on higher ground, and +upon his flank, giving us every advantage to be derived from the +lay of the country. Our firing was also very much more rapid, +because the enemy commenced his retreat westward and in firing +as he retreated had to turn around every time he fired. The +enemy's loss was very heavy, as well in killed and wounded as in +captures. Some six general officers fell into our hands in this +engagement, and seven thousand men were made prisoners. This +engagement was commenced in the middle of the afternoon of the +6th, and the retreat and pursuit were continued until nightfall, +when the armies bivouacked upon the ground where the night had +overtaken them.</p> + +<p>When the move towards Amelia Court House had commenced that +morning, I ordered Wright's corps, which was on the extreme +right, to be moved to the left past the whole army, to take the +place of Griffin's, and ordered the latter at the same time to +move by and place itself on the right. The object of this +movement was to get the 6th corps, Wright's, next to the +cavalry, with which they had formerly served so harmoniously and +so efficiently in the valley of Virginia.</p> + +<p>The 6th corps now remained with the cavalry and under Sheridan's +direct command until after the surrender.</p> + +<p>Ord had been directed to take possession of all the roads +southward between Burkesville and the High Bridge. On the +morning of the 6th he sent Colonel Washburn with two infantry +regiments with instructions to destroy High Bridge and to return +rapidly to Burkesville Station; and he prepared himself to resist +the enemy there. Soon after Washburn had started Ord became a +little alarmed as to his safety and sent Colonel Read, of his +staff, with about eighty cavalrymen, to overtake him and bring +him back. Very shortly after this he heard that the head of +Lee's column had got up to the road between him and where +Washburn now was, and attempted to send reinforcements, but the +reinforcements could not get through. Read, however, had got +through ahead of the enemy. He rode on to Farmville and was on +his way back again when he found his return cut off, and +Washburn confronting apparently the advance of Lee's army. Read +drew his men up into line of battle, his force now consisting of +less than six hundred men, infantry and cavalry, and rode along +their front, making a speech to his men to inspire them with the +same enthusiasm that he himself felt. He then gave the order to +charge. This little band made several charges, of course +unsuccessful ones, but inflicted a loss upon the enemy more than +equal to their own entire number. Colonel Read fell mortally +wounded, and then Washburn; and at the close of the conflict +nearly every officer of the command and most of the rank and +file had been either killed or wounded. The remainder then +surrendered. The Confederates took this to be only the advance +of a larger column which had headed them off, and so stopped to +intrench; so that this gallant band of six hundred had checked +the progress of a strong detachment of the Confederate army.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b475"></a><img alt="b475.jpg (119K)" src="b475.jpg" height="389" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b475.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>This stoppage of Lee's column no doubt saved to us the trains +following. Lee himself pushed on and crossed the wagon road +bridge near the High Bridge, and attempted to destroy it. He +did set fire to it, but the flames had made but little headway +when Humphreys came up with his corps and drove away the +rear-guard which had been left to protect it while it was being +burned up. Humphreys forced his way across with some loss, and +followed Lee to the intersection of the road crossing at +Farmville with the one from Petersburg. Here Lee held a +position which was very strong, naturally, besides being +intrenched. Humphreys was alone, confronting him all through +the day, and in a very hazardous position. He put on a bold +face, however, and assaulted with some loss, but was not +assaulted in return.</p> + +<p>Our cavalry had gone farther south by the way of Prince Edward's +Court House, along with the 5th corps (Griffin's), Ord falling in +between Griffin and the Appomattox. Crook's division of cavalry +and Wright's corps pushed on west of Farmville. When the +cavalry reached Farmville they found that some of the +Confederates were in ahead of them, and had already got their +trains of provisions back to that point; but our troops were in +time to prevent them from securing anything to eat, although +they succeeded in again running the trains off, so that we did +not get them for some time. These troops retreated to the north +side of the Appomattox to join Lee, and succeeded in destroying +the bridge after them. Considerable fighting ensued there +between Wright's corps and a portion of our cavalry and the +Confederates, but finally the cavalry forded the stream and +drove them away. Wright built a foot-bridge for his men to +march over on and then marched out to the junction of the roads +to relieve Humphreys, arriving there that night. I had stopped +the night before at Burkesville Junction. Our troops were then +pretty much all out of the place, but we had a field hospital +there, and Ord's command was extended from that point towards +Farmville.</p> + +<p>Here I met Dr. Smith, a Virginian and an officer of the regular +army, who told me that in a conversation with General Ewell, one +of the prisoners and a relative of his, Ewell had said that when +we had got across the James River he knew their cause was lost, +and it was the duty of their authorities to make the best terms +they could while they still had a right to claim concessions. +The authorities thought differently, however. Now the cause was +lost and they had no right to claim anything. He said further, +that for every man that was killed after this in the war +somebody is responsible, and it would be but very little better +than murder. He was not sure that Lee would consent to +surrender his army without being able to consult with the +President, but he hoped he would.</p> + +<p>I rode in to Farmville on the 7th, arriving there early in the +day. Sheridan and Ord were pushing through, away to the +south. Meade was back towards the High Bridge, and Humphreys +confronting Lee as before stated. After having gone into +bivouac at Prince Edward's Court House, Sheridan learned that +seven trains of provisions and forage were at Appomattox, and +determined to start at once and capture them; and a forced march +was necessary in order to get there before Lee's army could +secure them. He wrote me a note telling me this. This fact, +together with the incident related the night before by Dr. +Smith, gave me the idea of opening correspondence with General +Lee on the subject of the surrender of his army. I therefore +wrote to him on this day, as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., +<br>5 P.M., April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Lee replied on the evening of the same day as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL: I have received your note of this day. 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.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, +<br>General.</p> + +<p>LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, +<br>Commanding Armies of the U. S.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +This was not satisfactory, but I regarded it as deserving +another letter and wrote him as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Lee's army was rapidly crumbling. Many of his soldiers had +enlisted from that part of the State where they now were, and +were continually dropping out of the ranks and going to their +homes. I know that I occupied a hotel almost destitute of +furniture at Farmville, which had probably been used as a +Confederate hospital. The next morning when I came out I found +a Confederate colonel there, who reported to me and said that he +was the proprietor of that house, and that he was a colonel of a +regiment that had been raised in that neighborhood. He said +that when he came along past home, he found that he was the only +man of the regiment remaining with Lee's army, so he just dropped +out, and now wanted to surrender himself. I told him to stay +there and he would not be molested. That was one regiment which +had been eliminated from Lee's force by this crumbling process.</p> + +<p>Although Sheridan had been marching all day, his troops moved +with alacrity and without any straggling. They began to see the +end of what they had been fighting four years for. Nothing +seemed to fatigue them. They were ready to move without rations +and travel without rest until the end. Straggling had entirely +ceased, and every man was now a rival for the front. The +infantry marched about as rapidly as the cavalry could.</p> + +<p>Sheridan sent Custer with his division to move south of +Appomattox Station, which is about five miles south-west of the +Court House, to get west of the trains and destroy the roads to +the rear. They got there the night of the 8th, and succeeded +partially; but some of the train men had just discovered the +movement of our troops and succeeded in running off three of the +trains. The other four were held by Custer.</p> + +<p>The head of Lee's column came marching up there on the morning +of the 9th, not dreaming, I suppose, that there were any Union +soldiers near. The Confederates were surprised to find our +cavalry had possession of the trains. However, they were +desperate and at once assaulted, hoping to recover them. In the +melee that ensued they succeeded in burning one of the trains, +but not in getting anything from it. Custer then ordered the +other trains run back on the road towards Farmville, and the +fight continued.</p> + +<p>So far, only our cavalry and the advance of Lee's army were +engaged. Soon, however, Lee's men were brought up from the +rear, no doubt expecting they had nothing to meet but our +cavalry. But our infantry had pushed forward so rapidly that by +the time the enemy got up they found Griffin's corps and the Army +of the James confronting them. A sharp engagement ensued, but +Lee quickly set up a white flag.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch67"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>NEGOTIATIONS AT APPOMATTOX--INTERVIEW WITH LEE AT MCLEAN'S +HOUSE--THE TERMS OF SURRENDER--LEE'S SURRENDER--INTERVIEW WITH +LEE AFTER THE SURRENDER.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>On the 8th I had followed the Army of the Potomac in rear of +Lee. I was suffering very severely with a sick headache, +[The old name for what we now call a Migraine Headache. D.W.] +and stopped at a farmhouse on the road some distance in rear of the +main body of the army. I spent the night in bathing my feet in +hot water and mustard, and putting mustard plasters on my wrists +and the back part of my neck, hoping to be cured by morning. +During the night I received Lee's answer to my letter of the +8th, inviting an interview between the lines on the following +morning. [See Appendix.] But it was for a different purpose from that of +surrendering his army, and I answered him as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE U. S., +<br>April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. A.</p> + +<p>Your note of yesterday is received. As I have no authority to +treat on the subject of peace, the meeting proposed for ten A.M. +to-day could lead to no good. I will state, however, General, +that I am equally anxious for peace with yourself, and the whole +North entertains the same feeling. The terms upon which peace +can be had are well understood. By the South laying down their +arms they will hasten that most desirable event, save thousands +of human lives and hundreds of millions of property not yet +destroyed. Sincerely hoping that all our difficulties may be +settled without the loss of another life, I subscribe myself, +etc.,</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +I proceeded at an early hour in the morning, still suffering +with the headache, to get to the head of the column. I was not +more than two or three miles from Appomattox Court House at the +time, but to go direct I would have to pass through Lee's army, +or a portion of it. I had therefore to move south in order to +get upon a road coming up from another direction.</p> + +<p>When the white flag was put out by Lee, as already described, I +was in this way moving towards Appomattox Court House, and +consequently could not be communicated with immediately, and be +informed of what Lee had done. Lee, therefore, sent a flag to +the rear to advise Meade and one to the front to Sheridan, +saying that he had sent a message to me for the purpose of +having a meeting to consult about the surrender of his army, and +asked for a suspension of hostilities until I could be +communicated with. As they had heard nothing of this until the +fighting had got to be severe and all going against Lee, both of +these commanders hesitated very considerably about suspending +hostilities at all. They were afraid it was not in good faith, +and we had the Army of Northern Virginia where it could not +escape except by some deception. They, however, finally +consented to a suspension of hostilities for two hours to give +an opportunity of communicating with me in that time, if +possible. It was found that, from the route I had taken, they +would probably not be able to communicate with me and get an +answer back within the time fixed unless the messenger should +pass through the rebel lines.</p> + +<p>Lee, therefore, sent an escort with the officer bearing this +message through his lines to me.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL: I received your note of this morning on the +picket-line whither I had come to meet you and ascertain +definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of +yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now +request an interview in accordance with the offer contained in +your letter of yesterday for that purpose.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, General.</p> + +<p>LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT +<br>Commanding U. S. Armies.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When the officer reached me I was still suffering with the sick +headache, but the instant I saw the contents of the note I was +cured. I wrote the following note in reply and hastened on:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL R. E. LEE, +<br>Commanding C. S. Armies.</p> + +<p>Your note of this date is but this moment (11.50 A.M.) received, +in consequence of my having passed from the Richmond and +Lynchburg road to the Farmville and Lynchburg road. I am at +this writing about four miles west of Walker's Church and will +push forward to the front for the purpose of meeting you. Notice +sent to me on this road where you wish the interview to take +place will meet me.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieutenant-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b487"></a><img alt="b487.jpg (124K)" src="b487.jpg" height="1054" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<br><br> + +<p> +I was conducted at once to where Sheridan was located with his +troops drawn up in line of battle facing the Confederate army +near by. They were very much excited, and expressed their view +that this was all a ruse employed to enable the Confederates to +get away. They said they believed that Johnston was marching up +from North Carolina now, and Lee was moving to join him; and they +would whip the rebels where they now were in five minutes if I +would only let them go in. But I had no doubt about the good +faith of Lee, and pretty soon was conducted to where he was. I +found him at the house of a Mr. McLean, at Appomattox Court +House, with Colonel Marshall, one of his staff officers, +awaiting my arrival. The head of his column was occupying a +hill, on a portion of which was an apple orchard, beyond a +little valley which separated it from that on the crest of which +Sheridan's forces were drawn up in line of battle to the south.</p> + +<p>Before stating what took place between General Lee and myself, I +will give all there is of the story of the famous apple tree.</p> + +<p>Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told +until they are believed to be true. The war of the rebellion +was no exception to this rule, and the story of the apple tree +is one of those fictions based on a slight foundation of fact. +As I have said, there was an apple orchard on the side of the +hill occupied by the Confederate forces. Running diagonally up +the hill was a wagon road, which, at one point, ran very near +one of the trees, so that the wheels of vehicles had, on that +side, cut off the roots of this tree, leaving a little +embankment. General Babcock, of my staff, reported to me that +when he first met General Lee he was sitting upon this +embankment with his feet in the road below and his back resting +against the tree. The story had no other foundation than +that. Like many other stories, it would be very good if it was +only true.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b489"></a><img alt="b489.jpg (61K)" src="b489.jpg" height="574" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b489.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>I had known General Lee in the old army, and had served with him +in the Mexican War; but did not suppose, owing to the difference +in our age and rank, that he would remember me, while I would +more naturally remember him distinctly, because he was the chief +of staff of General Scott in the Mexican War.</p> + +<p>When I had left camp that morning I had not expected so soon the +result that was then taking place, and consequently was in rough +garb. I was without a sword, as I usually was when on horseback +on the field, and wore a soldier's blouse for a coat, with the +shoulder straps of my rank to indicate to the army who I was. +When I went into the house I found General Lee. We greeted each +other, and after shaking hands took our seats. I had my staff +with me, a good portion of whom were in the room during the +whole of the interview.</p> + +<p>What General Lee's feelings were I do not know. As he was a man +of much dignity, with an impassible face, it was impossible to +say whether he felt inwardly glad that the end had finally come, +or felt sad over the result, and was too manly to show it. +Whatever his feelings, they were entirely concealed from my +observation; but my own feelings, which had been quite jubilant +on the receipt of his letter, were sad and depressed. I felt +like anything rather than rejoicing at the downfall of a foe who +had fought so long and valiantly, and had suffered so much for a +cause, though that cause was, I believe, one of the worst for +which a people ever fought, and one for which there was the +least excuse. I do not question, however, the sincerity of the +great mass of those who were opposed to us.</p> + +<p>General Lee was dressed in a full uniform which was entirely +new, and was wearing a sword of considerable value, very likely +the sword which had been presented by the State of Virginia; at +all events, it was an entirely different sword from the one that +would ordinarily be worn in the field. In my rough traveling +suit, the uniform of a private with the straps of a +lieutenant-general, I must have contrasted very strangely with a +man so handsomely dressed, six feet high and of faultless form. +But this was not a matter that I thought of until afterwards.</p> + +<p>We soon fell into a conversation about old army times. He +remarked that he remembered me very well in the old army; and I +told him that as a matter of course I remembered him perfectly, +but from the difference in our rank and years (there being about +sixteen years' difference in our ages), I had thought it very +likely that I had not attracted his attention sufficiently to be +remembered by him after such a long interval. Our conversation +grew so pleasant that I almost forgot the object of our +meeting. After the conversation had run on in this style for +some time, General Lee called my attention to the object of our +meeting, and said that he had asked for this interview for the +purpose of getting from me the terms I proposed to give his +army. I said that I meant merely that his army should lay down +their arms, not to take them up again during the continuance of +the war unless duly and properly exchanged. He said that he had +so understood my letter.</p> + +<p>Then we gradually fell off again into conversation about matters +foreign to the subject which had brought us together. This +continued for some little time, when General Lee again +interrupted the course of the conversation by suggesting that +the terms I proposed to give his army ought to be written out. I +called to General Parker, secretary on my staff, for writing +materials, and commenced writing out the following terms:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +APPOMATTOX C. H., VA.,</p> + +<p>Ap 19th, 1865.</p> + +<p>GEN. R. E. LEE, +<br>Comd'g C. S. A.</p> + +<p>GEN: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you of +the 8th inst., I propose to receive the surrender of the Army of +N. Va. on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers +and men to be made in duplicate. One copy to be given to an +officer designated by me, the other to be retained by such +officer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give +their individual paroles not to take up arms against the +Government of the United States until properly exchanged, and +each company or regimental commander sign a like parole for the +men of their commands. The arms, artillery and public property +to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officer +appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the +side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or +baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to +return to their homes, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in +force where they may reside.</p> + +<p>Very respectfully, +<br><br>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lt. Gen.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When I put my pen to the paper I did not know the first word +that I should make use of in writing the terms. I only knew +what was in my mind, and I wished to express it clearly, so that +there could be no mistaking it. As I wrote on, the thought +occurred to me that the officers had their own private horses +and effects, which were important to them, but of no value to +us; also that it would be an unnecessary humiliation to call +upon them to deliver their side arms.</p> + +<p>No conversation, not one word, passed between General Lee and +myself, either about private property, side arms, or kindred +subjects. He appeared to have no objections to the terms first +proposed; or if he had a point to make against them he wished to +wait until they were in writing to make it. When he read over +that part of the terms about side arms, horses and private +property of the officers, he remarked, with some feeling, I +thought, that this would have a happy effect upon his army.</p> + +<p>Then, after a little further conversation, General Lee remarked +to me again that their army was organized a little differently +from the army of the United States (still maintaining by +implication that we were two countries); that in their army the +cavalrymen and artillerists owned their own horses; and he asked +if he was to understand that the men who so owned their horses +were to be permitted to retain them. I told him that as the +terms were written they would not; that only the officers were +permitted to take their private property. He then, after +reading over the terms a second time, remarked that that was +clear.</p> + +<p>I then said to him that I thought this would be about the last +battle of the war--I sincerely hoped so; and I said further I +took it that most of the men in the ranks were small farmers. +The whole country had been so raided by the two armies that it +was doubtful whether they would be able to put in a crop to +carry themselves and their families through the next winter +without the aid of the horses they were then riding. The United +States did not want them and I would, therefore, instruct the +officers I left behind to receive the paroles of his troops to +let every man of the Confederate army who claimed to own a horse +or mule take the animal to his home. Lee remarked again that +this would have a happy effect.</p> + +<p>He then sat down and wrote out the following letter:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, +<br>April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>GENERAL:--I received your letter of this date containing the +terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as +proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those +expressed in your letter of the 8th inst., they are accepted. I +will proceed to designate the proper officers to carry the +stipulations into effect.</p> + +<p>R. E. LEE, General. +<br>LIEUT.-GENERAL U. S. GRANT.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +While duplicates of the two letters were being made, the Union +generals present were severally presented to General Lee.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b497a"></a><img alt="b497a.jpg (107K)" src="b497a.jpg" height="844" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b497a.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br> + +<center><a name="b497b"></a><img alt="b497b.jpg (125K)" src="b497b.jpg" height="833" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b497b.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<br>[NOTE.--The fac-simile of the terms of Lee's surrender +inserted at this place, was copied from the original document +furnished the publishers through the courtesy of General Ely S. +Parker, Military Secretary on General Grant's staff at the time +of the surrender. + +<br><br>Three pages of paper were prepared in General Grant's manifold +order book on which he wrote the terms, and the interlineations +and erasures were added by General Parker at the suggestion of +General Grant. After such alteration it was handed to General +Lee, who put on his glasses, read it, and handed it back to +General Grant. The original was then transcribed by General +Parker upon official headed paper and a copy furnished General +Lee. + +<br><br>The fac-simile herewith shows the color of the paper of the +original document and all interlineations and erasures. + +<br><br>There is a popular error to the effect that Generals Grant and +Lee each signed the articles of surrender. The document in the +form of a letter was signed only by General Grant, in the parlor +of McLean's house while General Lee was sitting in the room, and +General Lee immediately wrote a letter accepting the terms and +handed it to General Grant.] +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p>The much talked of surrendering of Lee's sword and my handing it +back, this and much more that has been said about it is the +purest romance. The word sword or side arms was not mentioned +by either of us until I wrote it in the terms. There was no +premeditation, and it did not occur to me until the moment I +wrote it down. If I had happened to omit it, and General Lee +had called my attention to it, I should have put it in the terms +precisely as I acceded to the provision about the soldiers +retaining their horses.</p> + +<p>General Lee, after all was completed and before taking his +leave, remarked that his army was in a very bad condition for +want of food, and that they were without forage; that his men +had been living for some days on parched corn exclusively, and +that he would have to ask me for rations and forage. I told him +"certainly," and asked for how many men he wanted rations. His +answer was "about twenty-five thousand;" and I authorized him to +send his own commissary and quartermaster to Appomattox Station, +two or three miles away, where he could have, out of the trains +we had stopped, all the provisions wanted. As for forage, we +had ourselves depended almost entirely upon the country for that.</p> + +<p>Generals Gibbon, Griffin and Merritt were designated by me to +carry into effect the paroling of Lee's troops before they +should start for their homes--General Lee leaving Generals +Longstreet, Gordon and Pendleton for them to confer with in +order to facilitate this work. Lee and I then separated as +cordially as we had met, he returning to his own lines, and all +went into bivouac for the night at Appomattox.</p> + +<p>Soon after Lee's departure I telegraphed to Washington as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +HEADQUARTERS APPOMATTOX C. H., VA., +<br>April 9th, 1865, 4.30 P.M.</p> + +<p>HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, +<br>Washington.</p> + +<p>General Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia this +afternoon on terms proposed by myself. The accompanying +additional correspondence will show the conditions fully.</p> + +<p>U. S. GRANT, +<br>Lieut.-General.</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +When news of the surrender first reached our lines our men +commenced firing a salute of a hundred guns in honor of the +victory. I at once sent word, however, to have it stopped. The +Confederates were now our prisoners, and we did not want to exult +over their downfall.</p> + +<p>I determined to return to Washington at once, with a view to +putting a stop to the purchase of supplies, and what I now +deemed other useless outlay of money. Before leaving, however, +I thought I would like to see General Lee again; so next +morning I rode out beyond our lines towards his headquarters, +preceded by a bugler and a staff-officer carrying a white flag.</p> + +<p>Lee soon mounted his horse, seeing who it was, and met me. We +had there between the lines, sitting on horseback, a very +pleasant conversation of over half an hour, in the course of +which Lee said to me that the South was a big country and that +we might have to march over it three or four times before the +war entirely ended, but that we would now be able to do it as +they could no longer resist us. He expressed it as his earnest +hope, however, that we would not be called upon to cause more +loss and sacrifice of life; but he could not foretell the +result. I then suggested to General Lee that there was not a +man in the Confederacy whose influence with the soldiery and the +whole people was as great as his, and that if he would now advise +the surrender of all the armies I had no doubt his advice would +be followed with alacrity. But Lee said, that he could not do +that without consulting the President first. I knew there was +no use to urge him to do anything against his ideas of what was +right.</p> + +<p>I was accompanied by my staff and other officers, some of whom +seemed to have a great desire to go inside the Confederate +lines. They finally asked permission of Lee to do so for the +purpose of seeing some of their old army friends, and the +permission was granted. They went over, had a very pleasant +time with their old friends, and brought some of them back with +them when they returned.</p> + +<p>When Lee and I separated he went back to his lines and I +returned to the house of Mr. McLean. Here the officers of both +armies came in great numbers, and seemed to enjoy the meeting as +much as though they had been friends separated for a long time +while fighting battles under the same flag. For the time being +it looked very much as if all thought of the war had escaped +their minds. After an hour pleasantly passed in this way I set +out on horseback, accompanied by my staff and a small escort, +for Burkesville Junction, up to which point the railroad had by +this time been repaired.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch68"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXVIII.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>MORALE OF THE TWO ARMIES--RELATIVE CONDITIONS OF THE NORTH AND +SOUTH--PRESIDENT LINCOLN VISITS RICHMOND--ARRIVAL AT +WASHINGTON--PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION--PRESIDENT +JOHNSON'S POLICY.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>After the fall of Petersburg, and when the armies of the Potomac +and the James were in motion to head off Lee's army, the morale +of the National troops had greatly improved. There was no more +straggling, no more rear guards. The men who in former times +had been falling back, were now, as I have already stated, +striving to get to the front. For the first time in four weary +years they felt that they were now nearing the time when they +could return to their homes with their country saved. On the +other hand, the Confederates were more than correspondingly +depressed. Their despondency increased with each returning day, +and especially after the battle of Sailor's Creek. They threw +away their arms in constantly increasing numbers, dropping out +of the ranks and betaking themselves to the woods in the hope of +reaching their homes. I have already instanced the case of the +entire disintegration of a regiment whose colonel I met at +Farmville. As a result of these and other influences, when Lee +finally surrendered at Appomattox, there were only 28,356 +officers and men left to be paroled, and many of these were +without arms. It was probably this latter fact which gave rise +to the statement sometimes made, North and South, that Lee +surrendered a smaller number of men than what the official +figures show. As a matter of official record, and in addition +to the number paroled as given above, we captured between March +29th and the date of surrender 19,132 Confederates, to say +nothing of Lee's other losses, killed, wounded and missing, +during the series of desperate conflicts which marked his +headlong and determined flight. The same record shows the +number of cannon, including those at Appomattox, to have been +689 between the dates named.</p> + +<p>There has always been a great conflict of opinion as to the +number of troops engaged in every battle, or all important +battles, fought between the sections, the South magnifying the +number of Union troops engaged and belittling their own. +Northern writers have fallen, in many instances, into the same +error. I have often heard gentlemen, who were thoroughly loyal +to the Union, speak of what a splendid fight the South had made +and successfully continued for four years before yielding, with +their twelve million of people against our twenty, and of the +twelve four being colored slaves, non-combatants. I will add to +their argument. We had many regiments of brave and loyal men who +volunteered under great difficulty from the twelve million +belonging to the South.</p> + +<p>But the South had rebelled against the National government. It +was not bound by any constitutional restrictions. The whole +South was a military camp. The occupation of the colored people +was to furnish supplies for the army. Conscription was resorted +to early, and embraced every male from the age of eighteen to +forty-five, excluding only those physically unfit to serve in +the field, and the necessary number of civil officers of State +and intended National government. The old and physically +disabled furnished a good portion of these. The slaves, the +non-combatants, one-third of the whole, were required to work in +the field without regard to sex, and almost without regard to +age. Children from the age of eight years could and did handle +the hoe; they were not much older when they began to hold the +plough. The four million of colored non-combatants were equal +to more than three times their number in the North, age for age +and sex for sex, in supplying food from the soil to support +armies. Women did not work in the fields in the North, and +children attended school.</p> + +<p>The arts of peace were carried on in the North. Towns and +cities grew during the war. Inventions were made in all kinds +of machinery to increase the products of a day's labor in the +shop, and in the field. In the South no opposition was allowed +to the government which had been set up and which would have +become real and respected if the rebellion had been +successful. No rear had to be protected. All the troops in +service could be brought to the front to contest every inch of +ground threatened with invasion. The press of the South, like +the people who remained at home, were loyal to the Southern +cause.</p> + +<p>In the North, the country, the towns and the cities presented +about the same appearance they do in time of peace. The furnace +was in blast, the shops were filled with workmen, the fields were +cultivated, not only to supply the population of the North and +the troops invading the South, but to ship abroad to pay a part +of the expense of the war. In the North the press was free up +to the point of open treason. The citizen could entertain his +views and express them. Troops were necessary in the Northern +States to prevent prisoners from the Southern army being +released by outside force, armed and set at large to destroy by +fire our Northern cities. Plans were formed by Northern and +Southern citizens to burn our cities, to poison the water +supplying them, to spread infection by importing clothing from +infected regions, to blow up our river and lake steamers +--regardless of the destruction of innocent lives. The +copperhead disreputable portion of the press magnified rebel +successes, and belittled those of the Union army. It was, with +a large following, an auxiliary to the Confederate army. The +North would have been much stronger with a hundred thousand of +these men in the Confederate ranks and the rest of their kind +thoroughly subdued, as the Union sentiment was in the South, +than we were as the battle was fought.</p> + +<p>As I have said, the whole South was a military camp. The +colored people, four million in number, were submissive, and +worked in the field and took care of the families while the +able-bodied white men were at the front fighting for a cause +destined to defeat. The cause was popular, and was +enthusiastically supported by the young men. The conscription +took all of them. Before the war was over, further +conscriptions took those between fourteen and eighteen years of +age as junior reserves, and those between forty-five and sixty +as senior reserves. It would have been an offence, directly +after the war, and perhaps it would be now, to ask any +able-bodied man in the South, who was between the ages of +fourteen and sixty at any time during the war, whether he had +been in the Confederate army. He would assert that he had, or +account for his absence from the ranks. Under such +circumstances it is hard to conceive how the North showed such a +superiority of force in every battle fought. I know they did +not.</p> + +<p>During 1862 and '3, John H. Morgan, a partisan officer, of no +military education, but possessed of courage and endurance, +operated in the rear of the Army of the Ohio in Kentucky and +Tennessee. He had no base of supplies to protect, but was at +home wherever he went. The army operating against the South, on +the contrary, had to protect its lines of communication with the +North, from which all supplies had to come to the front. Every +foot of road had to be guarded by troops stationed at convenient +distances apart. These guards could not render assistance beyond +the points where stationed. Morgan Was foot-loose and could +operate where, his information--always correct--led him to +believe he could do the greatest damage. During the time he was +operating in this way he killed, wounded and captured several +times the number he ever had under his command at any one +time. He destroyed many millions of property in addition. +Places he did not attack had to be guarded as if threatened by +him. Forrest, an abler soldier, operated farther west, and held +from the National front quite as many men as could be spared for +offensive operations. It is safe to say that more than half the +National army was engaged in guarding lines of supplies, or were +on leave, sick in hospital or on detail which prevented their +bearing arms. Then, again, large forces were employed where no +Confederate army confronted them. I deem it safe to say that +there were no large engagements where the National numbers +compensated for the advantage of position and intrenchment +occupied by the enemy.</p> + +<p>While I was in pursuit of General Lee, the President went to +Richmond in company with Admiral Porter, and on board his +flagship. He found the people of that city in great +consternation. The leading citizens among the people who had +remained at home surrounded him, anxious that something should +be done to relieve them from suspense. General Weitzel was not +then in the city, having taken offices in one of the neighboring +villages after his troops had succeeded in subduing the +conflagration which they had found in progress on entering the +Confederate capital. The President sent for him, and, on his +arrival, a short interview was had on board the vessel, Admiral +Porter and a leading citizen of Virginia being also present. +After this interview the President wrote an order in about these +words, which I quote from memory: "General Weitzel is authorized +to permit the body calling itself the Legislature of Virginia to +meet for the purpose of recalling the Virginia troops from the +Confederate armies."</p> + +<p>Immediately some of the gentlemen composing that body wrote out +a call for a meeting and had it published in their papers. This +call, however, went very much further than Mr. Lincoln had +contemplated, as he did not say the "Legislature of Virginia" +but "the body which called itself the Legislature of Virginia." +Mr. Stanton saw the call as published in the Northern papers the +very next issue and took the liberty of countermanding the order +authorizing any meeting of the Legislature, or any other body, +and this notwithstanding the fact that the President was nearer +the spot than he was.</p> + +<p>This was characteristic of Mr. Stanton. He was a man who never +questioned his own authority, and who always did in war time +what he wanted to do. He was an able constitutional lawyer and +jurist; but the Constitution was not an impediment to him while +the war lasted. In this latter particular I entirely agree with +the view he evidently held. The Constitution was not framed with +a view to any such rebellion as that of 1861-5. While it did not +authorize rebellion it made no provision against it. Yet the +right to resist or suppress rebellion is as inherent as the +right of self-defence, and as natural as the right of an +individual to preserve his life when in jeopardy. The +Constitution was therefore in abeyance for the time being, so +far as it in any way affected the progress and termination of +the war.</p> + +<p>Those in rebellion against the government of the United States +were not restricted by constitutional provisions, or any other, +except the acts of their Congress, which was loyal and devoted +to the cause for which the South was then fighting. It would be +a hard case when one-third of a nation, united in rebellion +against the national authority, is entirely untrammeled, that +the other two-thirds, in their efforts to maintain the Union +intact, should be restrained by a Constitution prepared by our +ancestors for the express purpose of insuring the permanency of +the confederation of the States.</p> + +<p>After I left General Lee at Appomattox Station, I went with my +staff and a few others directly to Burkesville Station on my way +to Washington. The road from Burkesville back having been newly +repaired and the ground being soft, the train got off the track +frequently, and, as a result, it was after midnight of the +second day when I reached City Point. As soon as possible I +took a dispatch-boat thence to Washington City.</p> + +<p>While in Washington I was very busy for a time in preparing the +necessary orders for the new state of affairs; communicating +with my different commanders of separate departments, bodies of +troops, etc. But by the 14th I was pretty well through with +this work, so as to be able to visit my children, who were then +in Burlington, New Jersey, attending school. Mrs. Grant was +with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by +President and Mrs. Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on +the evening of that day. I replied to the President's verbal +invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would +take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very +anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get +through my work during the day I should do so. I did get +through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending +Mr. Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.</p> + +<p>At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on +Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the +Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they +took the cars again. When I reached the ferry, on the east side +of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival +there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of +the President and Mr. Seward, and of the probable assassination +of the Vice President, Mr. Johnson, and requesting my immediate +return.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that +overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially +the assassination of the President. I knew his goodness of +heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to +have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the +people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges +of citizenship with equality among all. I knew also the feeling +that Mr. Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation +against the Southern people, and I feared that his course +towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling +citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a +long while. I felt that reconstruction had been set back, no +telling how far.</p> + +<p>I immediately arranged for getting a train to take me back to +Washington City; but Mrs. Grant was with me; it was after +midnight and Burlington was but an hour away. Finding that I +could accompany her to our house and return about as soon as +they would be ready to take me from the Philadelphia station, I +went up with her and returned immediately by the same special +train. The joy that I had witnessed among the people in the +street and in public places in Washington when I left there, had +been turned to grief; the city was in reality a city of +mourning. I have stated what I believed then the effect of this +would be, and my judgment now is that I was right. I believe the +South would have been saved from very much of the hardness of +feeling that was engendered by Mr. Johnson's course towards them +during the first few months of his administration. Be this as it +may, Mr. Lincoln's assassination was particularly unfortunate for +the entire nation.</p> + +<p>Mr. Johnson's course towards the South did engender bitterness +of feeling. His denunciations of treason and his ever-ready +remark, "Treason is a crime and must be made odious," was +repeated to all those men of the South who came to him to get +some assurances of safety so that they might go to work at +something with the feeling that what they obtained would be +secure to them. He uttered his denunciations with great +vehemence, and as they were accompanied with no assurances of +safety, many Southerners were driven to a point almost beyond +endurance.</p> + +<p>The President of the United States is, in a large degree, or +ought to be, a representative of the feeling, wishes and +judgment of those over whom he presides; and the Southerners who +read the denunciations of themselves and their people must have +come to the conclusion that he uttered the sentiments of the +Northern people; whereas, as a matter of fact, but for the +assassination of Mr. Lincoln, I believe the great majority of +the Northern people, and the soldiers unanimously, would have +been in favor of a speedy reconstruction on terms that would be +the least humiliating to the people who had rebelled against +their government. They believed, I have no doubt, as I did, +that besides being the mildest, it was also the wisest, policy.</p> + +<p>The people who had been in rebellion must necessarily come back +into the Union, and be incorporated as an integral part of the +nation. Naturally the nearer they were placed to an equality +with the people who had not rebelled, the more reconciled they +would feel with their old antagonists, and the better citizens +they would be from the beginning. They surely would not make +good citizens if they felt that they had a yoke around their +necks.</p> + +<p>I do not believe that the majority of the Northern people at +that time were in favor of negro suffrage. They supposed that +it would naturally follow the freedom of the negro, but that +there would be a time of probation, in which the ex-slaves could +prepare themselves for the privileges of citizenship before the +full right would be conferred; but Mr. Johnson, after a complete +revolution of sentiment, seemed to regard the South not only as +an oppressed people, but as the people best entitled to +consideration of any of our citizens. This was more than the +people who had secured to us the perpetuation of the Union were +prepared for, and they became more radical in their views. The +Southerners had the most power in the executive branch, Mr. +Johnson having gone to their side; and with a compact South, and +such sympathy and support as they could get from the North, they +felt that they would be able to control the nation at once, and +already many of them acted as if they thought they were entitled +to do so.</p> + +<p>Thus Mr. Johnson, fighting Congress on the one hand, and +receiving the support of the South on the other, drove Congress, +which was overwhelmingly republican, to the passing of first one +measure and then another to restrict his power. There being a +solid South on one side that was in accord with the political +party in the North which had sympathized with the rebellion, it +finally, in the judgment of Congress and of the majority of the +legislatures of the States, became necessary to enfranchise the +negro, in all his ignorance. In this work, I shall not discuss +the question of how far the policy of Congress in this +particular proved a wise one. It became an absolute necessity, +however, because of the foolhardiness of the President and the +blindness of the Southern people to their own interest. As to +myself, while strongly favoring the course that would be the +least humiliating to the people who had been in rebellion, I +gradually worked up to the point where, with the majority of the +people, I favored immediate enfranchisement.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch69"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXIX.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>SHERMAN AND JOHNSTON--JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER TO SHERMAN--CAPTURE +OF MOBILE--WILSON'S EXPEDITION--CAPTURE OF JEFFERSON +DAVIS--GENERAL THOMAS'S QUALITIES--ESTIMATE OF GENERAL CANBY.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>When I left Appomattox I ordered General Meade to proceed +leisurely back to Burkesville Station with the Army of the +Potomac and the Army of the James, and to go into camp there +until further orders from me. General Johnston, as has been +stated before, was in North Carolina confronting General +Sherman. It could not be known positively, of course, whether +Johnston would surrender on the news of Lee's surrender, though +I supposed he would; and if he did not, Burkesville Station was +the natural point from which to move to attack him. The army +which I could have sent against him was superior to his, and +that with which Sherman confronted him was also superior; and +between the two he would necessarily have been crushed, or +driven away. With the loss of their capital and the Army of +Northern Virginia it was doubtful whether Johnston's men would +have the spirit to stand. My belief was that he would make no +such attempt; but I adopted this course as a precaution against +what might happen, however improbable.</p> + +<p>Simultaneously with my starting from City Point, I sent a +messenger to North Carolina by boat with dispatches to General +Sherman, informing him of the surrender of Lee and his army; +also of the terms which I had given him; and I authorized +Sherman to give the same terms to Johnston if the latter chose +to accept them. The country is familiar with the terms that +Sherman agreed to CONDITIONALLY, because they embraced a +political question as well as a military one and he would +therefore have to confer with the government before agreeing to +them definitely.</p> + +<p>General Sherman had met Mr. Lincoln at City Point while visiting +there to confer with me about our final movement, and knew what +Mr. Lincoln had said to the peace commissioners when he met them +at Hampton Roads, viz.: that before he could enter into +negotiations with them they would have to agree to two points: +one being that the Union should be preserved, and the other that +slavery should be abolished; and if they were ready to concede +these two points he was almost ready to sign his name to a blank +piece of paper and permit them to fill out the balance of the +terms upon which we would live together. He had also seen +notices in the newspapers of Mr. Lincoln's visit to Richmond, +and had read in the same papers that while there he had +authorized the convening of the Legislature of Virginia.</p> + +<p>Sherman thought, no doubt, in adding to the terms that I had +made with general Lee, that he was but carrying out the wishes +of the President of the United States. But seeing that he was +going beyond his authority, he made it a point that the terms +were only conditional. They signed them with this +understanding, and agreed to a truce until the terms could be +sent to Washington for approval; if approved by the proper +authorities there, they would then be final; if not approved, +then he would give due notice, before resuming hostilities. As +the world knows, Sherman, from being one of the most popular +generals of the land (Congress having even gone so far as to +propose a bill providing for a second lieutenant-general for the +purpose of advancing him to that grade), was denounced by the +President and Secretary of War in very bitter terms. Some +people went so far as to denounce him as a traitor--a most +preposterous term to apply to a man who had rendered so much +service as he had, even supposing he had made a mistake in +granting such terms as he did to Johnston and his army. If +Sherman had taken authority to send Johnston with his army home, +with their arms to be put in the arsenals of their own States, +without submitting the question to the authorities at +Washington, the suspicions against him might have some +foundation. But the feeling against Sherman died out very +rapidly, and it was not many weeks before he was restored to the +fullest confidence of the American people.</p> + +<p>When, some days after my return to Washington, President Johnson +and the Secretary of war received the terms which General Sherman +had forwarded for approval, a cabinet meeting was immediately +called and I was sent for. There seemed to be the greatest +consternation, lest Sherman would commit the government to terms +which they were not willing to accede to and which he had no +right to grant. A message went out directing the troops in the +South not to obey General Sherman. I was ordered to proceed at +once to North Carolina and take charge of matter there myself. +Of course I started without delay, and reached there as soon as +possible. I repaired to Raleigh, where Sherman was, as quietly +as possible, hoping to see him without even his army learning of +my presence.</p> + +<p>When I arrived I went to Sherman's headquarters, and we were at +once closeted together. I showed him the instruction and orders +under which I visited him. I told him that I wanted him to +notify General Johnston that the terms which they had +conditionally agreed upon had not been approved in Washington, +and that he was authorized to offer the same terms I had given +General Lee. I sent Sherman to do this himself. I did not wish +the knowledge of my presence to be known to the army generally; so +I left it to Sherman to negotiate the terms of the surrender +solely by himself, and without the enemy knowing that I was +anywhere near the field. As soon as possible I started to get +away, to leave Sherman quite free and untrammelled.</p> + +<p>At Goldsboro', on my way back, I met a mail, containing the last +newspapers, and I found in them indications of great excitement +in the North over the terms Sherman had given Johnston; and +harsh orders that had been promulgated by the President and +Secretary of War. I knew that Sherman must see these papers, +and I fully realized what great indignation they would cause +him, though I do not think his feelings could have been more +excited than were my own. But like the true and loyal soldier +that he was, he carried out the instructions I had given him, +obtained the surrender of Johnston's army, and settled down in +his camp about Raleigh, to await final orders.</p> + +<p>There were still a few expeditions out in the South that could +not be communicated with, and had to be left to act according to +the judgment of their respective commanders. With these it was +impossible to tell how the news of the surrender of Lee and +Johnston, of which they must have heard, might affect their +judgment as to what was best to do.</p> + +<p>The three expeditions which I had tried so hard to get off from +the commands of Thomas and Canby did finally get off: one under +Canby himself, against Mobile, late in March; that under Stoneman +from East Tennessee on the 20th; and the one under Wilson, +starting from Eastport, Mississippi, on the 22d of March. They +were all eminently successful, but without any good result. +Indeed much valuable property was destroyed and many lives lost +at a time when we would have liked to spare them. The war was +practically over before their victories were gained. They were +so late in commencing operations, that they did not hold any +troops away that otherwise would have been operating against the +armies which were gradually forcing the Confederate armies to a +surrender. The only possible good that we may have experienced +from these raids was by Stoneman's getting near Lynchburg about +the time the armies of the Potomac and the James were closing in +on Lee at Appomattox.</p> + +<p>Stoneman entered North Carolina and then pushed north to strike +the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. He got upon that road, +destroyed its bridges at different places and rendered the road +useless to the enemy up to within a few miles of Lynchburg. His +approach caused the evacuation of that city about the time we +were at Appomattox, and was the cause of a commotion we heard of +there. He then pushed south, and was operating in the rear of +Johnston's army about the time the negotiations were going on +between Sherman and Johnston for the latter's surrender. In +this raid Stoneman captured and destroyed a large amount of +stores, while fourteen guns and nearly two thousand prisoners +were the trophies of his success.</p> + +<p>Canby appeared before Mobile on the 27th of March. The city of +Mobile was protected by two forts, besides other +intrenchments--Spanish Fort, on the east side of the bay, and +Fort Blakely, north of the city. These forts were invested. On +the night of the 8th of April, the National troops having carried +the enemy's works at one point, Spanish Fort was evacuated; and +on the 9th, the very day of Lee's surrender, Blakely was carried +by assault, with a considerable loss to us. On the 11th the city +was evacuated.</p> + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b520"></a><img alt="b520.jpg (98K)" src="b520.jpg" height="467" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b520.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> + +<p>I had tried for more than two years to have an expedition sent +against Mobile when its possession by us would have been of +great advantage. It finally cost lives to take it when its +possession was of no importance, and when, if left alone, it +would within a few days have fallen into our hands without any +bloodshed whatever.</p> + +<p>Wilson moved out with full 12,000 men, well equipped and well +armed. He was an energetic officer and accomplished his work +rapidly. Forrest was in his front, but with neither his +old-time army nor his old-time prestige. He now had principally +conscripts. His conscripts were generally old men and boys. He +had a few thousand regular cavalry left, but not enough to even +retard materially the progress of Wilson's cavalry. Selma fell +on the 2d of April, with a large number of prisoners and a large +quantity of war material, machine shops, etc., to be disposed of +by the victors. Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and West Point fell in +quick succession. These were all important points to the enemy +by reason of their railroad connections, as depots of supplies, +and because of their manufactories of war material. They were +fortified or intrenched, and there was considerable fighting +before they were captured. Macon surrendered on the 21st of +April. Here news was received of the negotiations for the +surrender of Johnston's army. Wilson belonged to the military +division commanded by Sherman, and of course was bound by his +terms. This stopped all fighting.</p> + +<p>General Richard Taylor had now become the senior Confederate +officer still at liberty east of the Mississippi River, and on +the 4th of May he surrendered everything within the limits of +this extensive command. General E. Kirby Smith surrendered the +trans-Mississippi department on the 26th of May, leaving no +other Confederate army at liberty to continue the war.</p> + +<p>Wilson's raid resulted in the capture of the fugitive president +of the defunct confederacy before he got out of the country. +This occurred at Irwinsville, Georgia, on the 11th of May. For +myself, and I believe Mr. Lincoln shared the feeling, I would +have been very glad to have seen Mr. Davis succeed in escaping, +but for one reason: I feared that if not captured, he might get +into the trans-Mississippi region and there set up a more +contracted confederacy. The young men now out of homes and out +of employment might have rallied under his standard and +protracted the war yet another year. The Northern people were +tired of the war, they were tired of piling up a debt which +would be a further mortgage upon their homes.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln, I believe, wanted Mr. Davis to escape, because he +did not wish to deal with the matter of his punishment. He knew +there would be people clamoring for the punishment of the +ex-Confederate president, for high treason. He thought blood +enough had already been spilled to atone for our wickedness as a +nation. At all events he did not wish to be the judge to decide +whether more should be shed or not. But his own life was +sacrificed at the hands of an assassin before the ex-president +of the Confederacy was a prisoner in the hands of the government +which he had lent all his talent and all his energies to destroy.</p> + +<p>All things are said to be wisely directed, and for the best +interest of all concerned. This reflection does not, however, +abate in the slightest our sense of bereavement in the untimely +loss of so good and great a man as Abraham Lincoln.</p> + +<p>He would have proven the best friend the South could have had, +and saved much of the wrangling and bitterness of feeling +brought out by reconstruction under a President who at first +wished to revenge himself upon Southern men of better social +standing than himself, but who still sought their recognition, +and in a short time conceived the idea and advanced the +proposition to become their Moses to lead them triumphantly out +of all their difficulties.</p> + +<p>The story of the legislation enacted during the reconstruction +period to stay the hands of the President is too fresh in the +minds of the people to be told now. Much of it, no doubt, was +unconstitutional; but it was hoped that the laws enacted would +serve their purpose before the question of constitutionality +could be submitted to the judiciary and a decision obtained. +These laws did serve their purpose, and now remain "a dead +letter" upon the statute books of the United States, no one +taking interest enough in them to give them a passing thought.</p> + +<p>Much was said at the time about the garb Mr. Davis was wearing +when he was captured. I cannot settle this question from +personal knowledge of the facts; but I have been under the +belief, from information given to me by General Wilson shortly +after the event, that when Mr. Davis learned that he was +surrounded by our cavalry he was in his tent dressed in a +gentleman's dressing gown. Naturally enough, Mr. Davis wanted +to escape, and would not reflect much how this should be +accomplished provided it might be done successfully. If +captured, he would be no ordinary prisoner. He represented all +there was of that hostility to the government which had caused +four years of the bloodiest war--and the most costly in other +respects of which history makes any record. Every one supposed +he would be tried for treason if captured, and that he would be +executed. Had he succeeded in making his escape in any disguise +it would have been adjudged a good thing afterwards by his +admirers.</p> + +<p>As my official letters on file in the War Department, as well as +my remarks in this book, reflect upon General Thomas by dwelling +somewhat upon his tardiness, it is due to myself, as well as to +him, that I give my estimate of him as a soldier. The same +remark will apply also in the case of General Canby. I had been +at West Point with Thomas one year, and had known him later in +the old army. He was a man of commanding appearance, slow and +deliberate in speech and action; sensible, honest and brave. He +possessed valuable soldierly qualities in an eminent degree. He +gained the confidence of all who served under him, and almost +their love. This implies a very valuable quality. It is a +quality which calls out the most efficient services of the +troops serving under the commander possessing it.</p> + +<p>Thomas's dispositions were deliberately made, and always good. +He could not be driven from a point he was given to hold. He +was not as good, however, in pursuit as he was in action. I do +not believe that he could ever have conducted Sherman's army +from Chattanooga to Atlanta against the defences and the +commander guarding that line in 1864. On the other hand, if it +had been given him to hold the line which Johnston tried to +hold, neither that general nor Sherman, nor any other officer +could have done it better.</p> + +<p>Thomas was a valuable officer, who richly deserved, as he has +received, the plaudits of his countrymen for the part he played +in the great tragedy of 1861-5.</p> + +<p>General Canby was an officer of great merit. He was naturally +studious, and inclined to the law. There have been in the army +but very few, if any, officers who took as much interest in +reading and digesting every act of Congress and every regulation +for the government of the army as he. His knowledge gained in +this way made him a most valuable staff officer, a capacity in +which almost all his army services were rendered up to the time +of his being assigned to the Military Division of the Gulf. He +was an exceedingly modest officer, though of great talent and +learning. I presume his feelings when first called upon to +command a large army against a fortified city, were somewhat +like my own when marching a regiment against General Thomas +Harris in Missouri in 1861. Neither of us would have felt the +slightest trepidation in going into battle with some one else +commanding. Had Canby been in other engagements afterwards, he +would, I have no doubt, have advanced without any fear arising +from a sense of the responsibility. He was afterwards killed in +the lava beds of Southern Oregon, while in pursuit of the hostile +Modoc Indians. His character was as pure as his talent and +learning were great. His services were valuable during the war, +but principally as a bureau officer. I have no idea that it was +from choice that his services were rendered in an office, but +because of his superior efficiency there.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="ch70"></a><center><h2>CHAPTER LXX.</h2></center> + +<center><h3>THE END OF THE WAR--THE MARCH TO WASHINGTON--ONE OF LINCOLN'S +ANECDOTES--GRAND REVIEW AT WASHINGTON--CHARACTERISTICS OF +LINCOLN AND STANTON--ESTIMATE OF THE DIFFERENT CORPS COMMANDERS.</h3></center> +<br> + +<p>Things began to quiet down, and as the certainty that there +would be no more armed resistance became clearer, the troops in +North Carolina and Virginia were ordered to march immediately to +the capital, and go into camp there until mustered out. Suitable +garrisons were left at the prominent places throughout the South +to insure obedience to the laws that might be enacted for the +government of the several States, and to insure security to the +lives and property of all classes. I do not know how far this +was necessary, but I deemed it necessary, at that time, that +such a course should be pursued. I think now that these +garrisons were continued after they ceased to be absolutely +required; but it is not to be expected that such a rebellion as +was fought between the sections from 1861 to 1865 could +terminate without leaving many serious apprehensions in the mind +of the people as to what should be done.</p> + +<p>Sherman marched his troops from Goldsboro, up to Manchester, on +the south side of the James River, opposite Richmond, and there +put them in camp, while he went back to Savannah to see what the +situation was there.</p> + +<p>It was during this trip that the last outrage was committed upon +him. Halleck had been sent to Richmond to command Virginia, and +had issued orders prohibiting even Sherman's own troops from +obeying his, Sherman's, orders. Sherman met the papers on his +return, containing this order of Halleck, and very justly felt +indignant at the outrage. On his arrival at Fortress Monroe +returning from Savannah, Sherman received an invitation from +Halleck to come to Richmond and be his guest. This he +indignantly refused, and informed Halleck, furthermore, that he +had seen his order. He also stated that he was coming up to +take command of his troops, and as he marched through it would +probably be as well for Halleck not to show himself, because he +(Sherman) would not be responsible for what some rash person +might do through indignation for the treatment he had +received. Very soon after that, Sherman received orders from me +to proceed to Washington City, and to go into camp on the south +side of the city pending the mustering-out of the troops.</p> + +<p>There was no incident worth noting in the march northward from +Goldsboro, to Richmond, or in that from Richmond to Washington +City. The army, however, commanded by Sherman, which had been +engaged in all the battles of the West and had marched from the +Mississippi through the Southern States to the sea, from there +to Goldsboro, and thence to Washington City, had passed over +many of the battle-fields of the Army of the Potomac, thus +having seen, to a greater extent than any other body of troops, +the entire theatre of the four years' war for the preservation +of the Union.</p> + +<p>The march of Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea and north to +Goldsboro, while it was not accompanied with the danger that was +anticipated, yet was magnificent in its results, and equally +magnificent in the way it was conducted. It had an important +bearing, in various ways, upon the great object we had in view, +that of closing the war. All the States east of the Mississippi +River up to the State of Georgia, had felt the hardships of the +war. Georgia, and South Carolina, and almost all of North +Carolina, up to this time, had been exempt from invasion by the +Northern armies, except upon their immediate sea coasts. Their +newspapers had given such an account of Confederate success, +that the people who remained at home had been convinced that the +Yankees had been whipped from first to last, and driven from +pillar to post, and that now they could hardly be holding out +for any other purpose than to find a way out of the war with +honor to themselves.</p> + +<p>Even during this march of Sherman's the newspapers in his front +were proclaiming daily that his army was nothing better than a +mob of men who were frightened out of their wits and hastening, +panic-stricken, to try to get under the cover of our navy for +protection against the Southern people. As the army was seen +marching on triumphantly, however, the minds of the people +became disabused and they saw the true state of affairs. In +turn they became disheartened, and would have been glad to +submit without compromise.</p> + +<p>Another great advantage resulting from this march, and which was +calculated to hasten the end, was the fact that the great +storehouse of Georgia was entirely cut off from the Confederate +armies. As the troops advanced north from Savannah, the +destruction of the railroads in South Carolina and the southern +part of North Carolina, further cut off their resources and left +the armies still in Virginia and North Carolina dependent for +supplies upon a very small area of country, already very much +exhausted of food and forage.</p> + +<p>In due time the two armies, one from Burkesville Junction and +the other from the neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina, +arrived and went into camp near the Capital, as directed. The +troops were hardy, being inured to fatigue, and they appeared in +their respective camps as ready and fit for duty as they had ever +been in their lives. I doubt whether an equal body of men of any +nation, take them man for man, officer for officer, was ever +gotten together that would have proved their equal in a great +battle.</p> + +<p>The armies of Europe are machines; the men are brave and the +officers capable; but the majority of the soldiers in most of +the nations of Europe are taken from a class of people who are +not very intelligent and who have very little interest in the +contest in which they are called upon to take part. Our armies +were composed of men who were able to read, men who knew what +they were fighting for, and could not be induced to serve as +soldiers, except in an emergency when the safety of the nation +was involved, and so necessarily must have been more than equal +to men who fought merely because they were brave and because +they were thoroughly drilled and inured to hardships.</p> + +<p>There was nothing of particular importance occurred during the +time these troops were in camp before starting North.</p> + +<p>I remember one little incident which I will relate as an +anecdote characteristic of Mr. Lincoln. It occurred a day after +I reached Washington, and about the time General Meade reached +Burkesville with the army. Governor Smith of Virginia had left +Richmond with the Confederate States government, and had gone to +Danville. Supposing I was necessarily with the army at +Burkesville, he addressed a letter to me there informing me +that, as governor of the Commonwealth of the State of Virginia, +he had temporarily removed the State capital from Richmond to +Danville, and asking if he would be permitted to perform the +functions of his office there without molestation by the Federal +authorities. I give this letter only in substance. He also +inquired of me whether in case he was not allowed to perform the +duties of his office, he with a few others might not be permitted +to leave the country and go abroad without interference. General +Meade being informed that a flag of truce was outside his pickets +with a letter to me, at once sent out and had the letter brought +in without informing the officer who brought it that I was not +present. He read the letter and telegraphed me its contents. +Meeting Mr. Lincoln shortly after receiving this dispatch, I +repeated its contents to him. Mr. Lincoln, supposing I was +asking for instructions, said, in reply to that part of Governor +Smith's letter which inquired whether he with a few friends would +be permitted to leave the country unmolested, that his position +was like that of a certain Irishman (giving the name) he knew in +Springfield who was very popular with the people, a man of +considerable promise, and very much liked. Unfortunately he had +acquired the habit of drinking, and his friends could see that +the habit was growing on him. These friends determined to make +an effort to save him, and to do this they drew up a pledge to +abstain from all alcoholic drinks. They asked Pat to join them +in signing the pledge, and he consented. He had been so long +out of the habit of using plain water as a beverage that he +resorted to soda-water as a substitute. After a few days this +began to grow distasteful to him. So holding the glass behind +him, he said: "Doctor, couldn't you drop a bit of brandy in +that unbeknownst to myself."</p> + +<p>I do not remember what the instructions were the President gave +me, but I know that Governor Smith was not permitted to perform +the duties of his office. I also know that if Mr. Lincoln had +been spared, there would have been no efforts made to prevent +any one from leaving the country who desired to do so. He would +have been equally willing to permit the return of the same +expatriated citizens after they had time to repent of their +choice.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of May orders were issued by the adjutant-general +for a grand review by the President and his cabinet of Sherman's +and Meade's armies. The review commenced on the 23d and lasted +two days. Meade's army occupied over six hours of the first day +in passing the grand stand which had been erected in front of the +President's house. Sherman witnessed this review from the grand +stand which was occupied by the President and his cabinet. Here +he showed his resentment for the cruel and harsh treatment that +had unnecessarily been inflicted upon him by the Secretary of +War, by refusing to take his extended hand.</p> + +<p>Sherman's troops had been in camp on the south side of the +Potomac. During the night of the 23d he crossed over and +bivouacked not far from the Capitol. Promptly at ten o'clock on +the morning of the 24th, his troops commenced to pass in +review. Sherman's army made a different appearance from that of +the Army of the Potomac. The latter had been operating where +they received directly from the North full supplies of food and +clothing regularly: the review of this army therefore was the +review of a body of 65,000 well-drilled, well-disciplined and +orderly soldiers inured to hardship and fit for any duty, but +without the experience of gathering their own food and supplies +in an enemy's country, and of being ever on the watch. Sherman's +army was not so well-dressed as the Army of the Potomac, but +their marching could not be excelled; they gave the appearance +of men who had been thoroughly drilled to endure hardships, +either by long and continuous marches or through exposure to any +climate, without the ordinary shelter of a camp. They exhibited +also some of the order of march through Georgia where the "sweet +potatoes sprung up from the ground" as Sherman's army went +marching through. In the rear of a company there would be a +captured horse or mule loaded with small cooking utensils, +captured chickens and other food picked up for the use of the +men. Negro families who had followed the army would sometimes +come along in the rear of a company, with three or four children +packed upon a single mule, and the mother leading it.</p> + +<p>The sight was varied and grand: nearly all day for two +successive days, from the Capitol to the Treasury Building, +could be seen a mass of orderly soldiers marching in columns of +companies. The National flag was flying from almost every house +and store; the windows were filled with spectators; the +door-steps and side-walks were crowded with colored people and +poor whites who did not succeed in securing better quarters from +which to get a view of the grand armies. The city was about as +full of strangers who had come to see the sights as it usually +is on inauguration day when a new President takes his seat.</p> + +<p>It may not be out of place to again allude to President Lincoln +and the Secretary of War, Mr. Stanton, who were the great +conspicuous figures in the executive branch of the government. +There is no great difference of opinion now, in the public mind, +as to the characteristics of the President. With Mr. Stanton the +case is different. They were the very opposite of each other in +almost every particular, except that each possessed great +ability. Mr. Lincoln gained influence over men by making them +feel that it was a pleasure to serve him. He preferred yielding +his own wish to gratify others, rather than to insist upon having +his own way. It distressed him to disappoint others. In matters +of public duty, however, he had what he wished, but in the least +offensive way. Mr. Stanton never questioned his own authority +to command, unless resisted. He cared nothing for the feeling +of others. In fact it seemed to be pleasanter to him to +disappoint than to gratify. He felt no hesitation in assuming +the functions of the executive, or in acting without advising +with him. If his act was not sustained, he would change it--if +he saw the matter would be followed up until he did so.</p> + +<p>It was generally supposed that these two officials formed the +complement of each other. The Secretary was required to prevent +the President's being imposed upon. The President was required +in the more responsible place of seeing that injustice was not +done to others. I do not know that this view of these two men +is still entertained by the majority of the people. It is not a +correct view, however, in my estimation. Mr. Lincoln did not +require a guardian to aid him in the fulfilment of a public +trust.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lincoln was not timid, and he was willing to trust his +generals in making and executing their plans. The Secretary was +very timid, and it was impossible for him to avoid interfering +with the armies covering the capital when it was sought to +defend it by an offensive movement against the army guarding the +Confederate capital. He could see our weakness, but he could not +see that the enemy was in danger. The enemy would not have been +in danger if Mr. Stanton had been in the field. These +characteristics of the two officials were clearly shown shortly +after Early came so near getting into the capital.</p> + +<p>Among the army and corps commanders who served with me during +the war between the States, and who attracted much public +attention, but of whose ability as soldiers I have not yet given +any estimate, are Meade, Hancock, Sedgwick, Burnside, Terry and +Hooker. There were others of great merit, such as Griffin, +Humphreys, Wright and Mackenzie. Of those first named, Burnside +at one time had command of the Army of the Potomac, and later of +the Army of the Ohio. Hooker also commanded the Army of the +Potomac for a short time.</p> + +<p>General Meade was an officer of great merit, with drawbacks to +his usefulness that were beyond his control. He had been an +officer of the engineer corps before the war, and consequently +had never served with troops until he was over forty-six years +of age. He never had, I believe, a command of less than a +brigade. He saw clearly and distinctly the position of the +enemy, and the topography of the country in front of his own +position. His first idea was to take advantage of the lay of +the ground, sometimes without reference to the direction we +wanted to move afterwards. He was subordinate to his superiors +in rank to the extent that he could execute an order which +changed his own plans with the same zeal he would have displayed +if the plan had been his own. He was brave and conscientious, +and commanded the respect of all who knew him. He was +unfortunately of a temper that would get beyond his control, at +times, and make him speak to officers of high rank in the most +offensive manner. No one saw this fault more plainly than he +himself, and no one regretted it more. This made it unpleasant +at times, even in battle, for those around him to approach him +even with information. In spite of this defect he was a most +valuable officer and deserves a high place in the annals of his +country.</p> + +<p>General Burnside was an officer who was generally liked and +respected. He was not, however, fitted to command an army. No +one knew this better than himself. He always admitted his +blunders, and extenuated those of officers under him beyond what +they were entitled to. It was hardly his fault that he was ever +assigned to a separate command.</p> + +<p>Of Hooker I saw but little during the war. I had known him very +well before, however. Where I did see him, at Chattanooga, his +achievement in bringing his command around the point of Lookout +Mountain and into Chattanooga Valley was brilliant. I +nevertheless regarded him as a dangerous man. He was not +subordinate to his superiors. He was ambitious to the extent of +caring nothing for the rights of others. His disposition was, +when engaged in battle, to get detached from the main body of +the army and exercise a separate command, gathering to his +standard all he could of his juniors.</p> + +<p>Hancock stands the most conspicuous figure of all the general +officers who did not exercise a separate command. He commanded +a corps longer than any other one, and his name was never +mentioned as having committed in battle a blunder for which he +was responsible. He was a man of very conspicuous personal +appearance. Tall, well-formed and, at the time of which I now +write, young and fresh-looking, he presented an appearance that +would attract the attention of an army as he passed. His genial +disposition made him friends, and his personal courage and his +presence with his command in the thickest of the fight won for +him the confidence of troops serving under him. No matter how +hard the fight, the 2d corps always felt that their commander +was looking after them.</p> + +<p>Sedgwick was killed at Spottsylvania before I had an opportunity +of forming an estimate of his qualifications as a soldier from +personal observation. I had known him in Mexico when both of us +were lieutenants, and when our service gave no indication that +either of us would ever be equal to the command of a brigade. He +stood very high in the army, however, as an officer and a man. +He was brave and conscientious. His ambition was not great, and +he seemed to dread responsibility. He was willing to do any +amount of battling, but always wanted some one else to direct. +He declined the command of the Army of the Potomac once, if not +oftener.</p> + +<p>General Alfred H. Terry came into the army as a volunteer +without a military education. His way was won without political +influence up to an important separate command--the expedition +against Fort Fisher, in January, 1865. His success there was +most brilliant, and won for him the rank of brigadier-general in +the regular army and of major-general of volunteers. He is a man +who makes friends of those under him by his consideration of +their wants and their dues. As a commander, he won their +confidence by his coolness in action and by his clearness of +perception in taking in the situation under which he was placed +at any given time.</p> + +<p>Griffin, Humphreys, and Mackenzie were good corps commanders, +but came into that position so near to the close of the war as +not to attract public attention. All three served as such, in +the last campaign of the armies of the Potomac and the James, +which culminated at Appomattox Court House, on the 9th of April, +1865. The sudden collapse of the rebellion monopolized attention +to the exclusion of almost everything else. I regarded Mackenzie +as the most promising young officer in the army. Graduating at +West Point, as he did, during the second year of the war, he had +won his way up to the command of a corps before its close. This +he did upon his own merit and without influence.</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="conclusion"></a><center><h2>CONCLUSION.</h2></center> +<br><br> + +<p>The cause of the great War of the Rebellion against the United +Status will have to be attributed to slavery. For some years +before the war began it was a trite saying among some +politicians that "A state half slave and half free cannot +exist." All must become slave or all free, or the state will go +down. I took no part myself in any such view of the case at the +time, but since the war is over, reviewing the whole question, I +have come to the conclusion that the saying is quite true.</p> + +<p>Slavery was an institution that required unusual guarantees for +its security wherever it existed; and in a country like ours +where the larger portion of it was free territory inhabited by +an intelligent and well-to-do population, the people would +naturally have but little sympathy with demands upon them for +its protection. Hence the people of the South were dependent +upon keeping control of the general government to secure the +perpetuation of their favorite institution. They were enabled +to maintain this control long after the States where slavery +existed had ceased to have the controlling power, through the +assistance they received from odd men here and there throughout +the Northern States. They saw their power waning, and this led +them to encroach upon the prerogatives and independence of the +Northern States by enacting such laws as the Fugitive Slave +Law. By this law every Northern man was obliged, when properly +summoned, to turn out and help apprehend the runaway slave of a +Southern man. Northern marshals became slave-catchers, and +Northern courts had to contribute to the support and protection +of the institution.</p> + +<p>This was a degradation which the North would not permit any +longer than until they could get the power to expunge such laws +from the statute books. Prior to the time of these +encroachments the great majority of the people of the North had +no particular quarrel with slavery, so long as they were not +forced to have it themselves. But they were not willing to play +the role of police for the South in the protection of this +particular institution.</p> + +<p>In the early days of the country, before we had railroads, +telegraphs and steamboats--in a word, rapid transit of any +sort--the States were each almost a separate nationality. At +that time the subject of slavery caused but little or no +disturbance to the public mind. But the country grew, rapid +transit was established, and trade and commerce between the +States got to be so much greater than before, that the power of +the National government became more felt and recognized and, +therefore, had to be enlisted in the cause of this institution.</p> + +<p>It is probably well that we had the war when we did. We are +better off now than we would have been without it, and have made +more rapid progress than we otherwise should have made. The +civilized nations of Europe have been stimulated into unusual +activity, so that commerce, trade, travel, and thorough +acquaintance among people of different nationalities, has become +common; whereas, before, it was but the few who had ever had the +privilege of going beyond the limits of their own country or who +knew anything about other people. Then, too, our republican +institutions were regarded as experiments up to the breaking out +of the rebellion, and monarchical Europe generally believed that +our republic was a rope of sand that would part the moment the +slightest strain was brought upon it. Now it has shown itself +capable of dealing with one of the greatest wars that was ever +made, and our people have proven themselves to be the most +formidable in war of any nationality.</p> + +<p>But this war was a fearful lesson, and should teach us the +necessity of avoiding wars in the future.</p> + +<p>The conduct of some of the European states during our troubles +shows the lack of conscience of communities where the +responsibility does not come upon a single individual. Seeing a +nation that extended from ocean to ocean, embracing the better +part of a continent, growing as we were growing in population, +wealth and intelligence, the European nations thought it would +be well to give us a check. We might, possibly, after a while +threaten their peace, or, at least, the perpetuity of their +institutions. Hence, England was constantly finding fault with +the administration at Washington because we were not able to +keep up an effective blockade. She also joined, at first, with +France and Spain in setting up an Austrian prince upon the +throne in Mexico, totally disregarding any rights or claims that +Mexico had of being treated as an independent power. It is true +they trumped up grievances as a pretext, but they were only +pretexts which can always be found when wanted.</p> + +<p>Mexico, in her various revolutions, had been unable to give that +protection to the subjects of foreign nations which she would +have liked to give, and some of her revolutionary leaders had +forced loans from them. Under pretence of protecting their +citizens, these nations seized upon Mexico as a foothold for +establishing a European monarchy upon our continent, thus +threatening our peace at home. I, myself, regarded this as a +direct act of war against the United States by the powers +engaged, and supposed as a matter of course that the United +States would treat it as such when their hands were free to +strike. I often spoke of the matter to Mr. Lincoln and the +Secretary of War, but never heard any special views from them to +enable me to judge what they thought or felt about it. I +inferred that they felt a good deal as I did, but were unwilling +to commit themselves while we had our own troubles upon our +hands.</p> + +<p>All of the powers except France very soon withdrew from the +armed intervention for the establishment of an Austrian prince +upon the throne of Mexico; but the governing people of these +countries continued to the close of the war to throw obstacles +in our way. After the surrender of Lee, therefore, entertaining +the opinion here expressed, I sent Sheridan with a corps to the +Rio Grande to have him where he might aid Juarez in expelling +the French from Mexico. These troops got off before they could +be stopped; and went to the Rio Grande, where Sheridan +distributed them up and down the river, much to the +consternation of the troops in the quarter of Mexico bordering +on that stream. This soon led to a request from France that we +should withdraw our troops from the Rio Grande and to +negotiations for the withdrawal of theirs. Finally Bazaine was +withdrawn from Mexico by order of the French Government. From +that day the empire began to totter. Mexico was then able to +maintain her independence without aid from us.</p> + +<p>France is the traditional ally and friend of the United +States. I did not blame France for her part in the scheme to +erect a monarchy upon the ruins of the Mexican Republic. That +was the scheme of one man, an imitator without genius or +merit. He had succeeded in stealing the government of his +country, and made a change in its form against the wishes and +instincts of his people. He tried to play the part of the first +Napoleon, without the ability to sustain that role. He sought by +new conquests to add to his empire and his glory; but the signal +failure of his scheme of conquest was the precursor of his own +overthrow.</p> + +<p>Like our own war between the States, the Franco-Prussian war was +an expensive one; but it was worth to France all it cost her +people. It was the completion of the downfall of Napoleon +III. The beginning was when he landed troops on this +continent. Failing here, the prestige of his name--all the +prestige he ever had--was gone. He must achieve a success or +fall. He tried to strike down his neighbor, Prussia--and fell.</p> + +<p>I never admired the character of the first Napoleon; but I +recognize his great genius. His work, too, has left its impress +for good on the face of Europe. The third Napoleon could have no +claim to having done a good or just act.</p> + +<p>To maintain peace in the future it is necessary to be prepared +for war. There can scarcely be a possible chance of a conflict, +such as the last one, occurring among our own people again; but, +growing as we are, in population, wealth and military power, we +may become the envy of nations which led us in all these +particulars only a few years ago; and unless we are prepared for +it we may be in danger of a combined movement being some day made +to crush us out. Now, scarcely twenty years after the war, we +seem to have forgotten the lessons it taught, and are going on +as if in the greatest security, without the power to resist an +invasion by the fleets of fourth-rate European powers for a time +until we could prepare for them.</p> + +<p>We should have a good navy, and our sea-coast defences should be +put in the finest possible condition. Neither of these cost much +when it is considered where the money goes, and what we get in +return. Money expended in a fine navy, not only adds to our +security and tends to prevent war in the future, but is very +material aid to our commerce with foreign nations in the +meantime. Money spent upon sea-coast defences is spent among +our own people, and all goes back again among the people. The +work accomplished, too, like that of the navy, gives us a +feeling of security.</p> + +<p>England's course towards the United States during the rebellion +exasperated the people of this country very much against the +mother country. I regretted it. England and the United States +are natural allies, and should be the best of friends. They +speak one language, and are related by blood and other ties. We +together, or even either separately, are better qualified than +any other people to establish commerce between all the +nationalities of the world.</p> + +<p>England governs her own colonies, and particularly those +embracing the people of different races from her own, better +than any other nation. She is just to the conquered, but +rigid. She makes them self-supporting, but gives the benefit of +labor to the laborer. She does not seem to look upon the +colonies as outside possessions which she is at liberty to work +for the support and aggrandizement of the home government.</p> + +<p>The hostility of England to the United States during our +rebellion was not so much real as it was apparent. It was the +hostility of the leaders of one political party. I am told that +there was no time during the civil war when they were able to get +up in England a demonstration in favor of secession, while these +were constantly being gotten up in favor of the Union, or, as +they called it, in favor of the North. Even in Manchester, +which suffered so fearfully by having the cotton cut off from +her mills, they had a monster demonstration in favor of the +North at the very time when their workmen were almost famishing.</p> + +<p>It is possible that the question of a conflict between races may +come up in the future, as did that between freedom and slavery +before. The condition of the colored man within our borders may +become a source of anxiety, to say the least. But he was brought +to our shores by compulsion, and he now should be considered as +having as good a right to remain here as any other class of our +citizens. It was looking to a settlement of this question that +led me to urge the annexation of Santo Domingo during the time I +was President of the United States.</p> + +<p>Santo Domingo was freely offered to us, not only by the +administration, but by all the people, almost without price. The +island is upon our shores, is very fertile, and is capable of +supporting fifteen millions of people. The products of the soil +are so valuable that labor in her fields would be so compensated +as to enable those who wished to go there to quickly repay the +cost of their passage. I took it that the colored people would +go there in great numbers, so as to have independent states +governed by their own race. They would still be States of the +Union, and under the protection of the General Government; but +the citizens would be almost wholly colored.</p> + +<p>By the war with Mexico, we had acquired, as we have seen, +territory almost equal in extent to that we already possessed. +It was seen that the volunteers of the Mexican war largely +composed the pioneers to settle up the Pacific coast country. +Their numbers, however, were scarcely sufficient to be a nucleus +for the population of the important points of the territory +acquired by that war. After our rebellion, when so many young +men were at liberty to return to their homes, they found they +were not satisfied with the farm, the store, or the work-shop of +the villages, but wanted larger fields. The mines of the +mountains first attracted them; but afterwards they found that +rich valleys and productive grazing and farming lands were +there. This territory, the geography of which was not known to +us at the close of the rebellion, is now as well mapped as any +portion of our country. Railroads traverse it in every +direction, north, south, east, and west. The mines are +worked. The high lands are used for grazing purposes, and rich +agricultural lands are found in many of the valleys. This is +the work of the volunteer. It is probable that the Indians +would have had control of these lands for a century yet but for +the war. We must conclude, therefore, that wars are not always +evils unmixed with some good.</p> + +<p>Prior to the rebellion the great mass of the people were +satisfied to remain near the scenes of their birth. In fact an +immense majority of the whole people did not feel secure against +coming to want should they move among entire strangers. So much +was the country divided into small communities that localized +idioms had grown up, so that you could almost tell what section +a person was from by hearing him speak. Before, new territories +were settled by a "class"; people who shunned contact with +others; people who, when the country began to settle up around +them, would push out farther from civilization. Their guns +furnished meat, and the cultivation of a very limited amount of +the soil, their bread and vegetables. All the streams abounded +with fish. Trapping would furnish pelts to be brought into the +States once a year, to pay for necessary articles which they +could not raise--powder, lead, whiskey, tobacco and some store +goods. Occasionally some little articles of luxury would enter +into these purchases--a quarter of a pound of tea, two or three +pounds of coffee, more of sugar, some playing cards, and if +anything was left over of the proceeds of the sale, more whiskey.</p> + +<p>Little was known of the topography of the country beyond the +settlements of these frontiersmen. This is all changed now. The +war begot a spirit of independence and enterprise. The feeling +now is, that a youth must cut loose from his old surroundings to +enable him to get up in the world. There is now such a +commingling of the people that particular idioms and +pronunciation are no longer localized to any great extent; the +country has filled up "from the centre all around to the sea"; +railroads connect the two oceans and all parts of the interior; +maps, nearly perfect, of every part of the country are now +furnished the student of geography.</p> + +<p>The war has made us a nation of great power and intelligence. We +have but little to do to preserve peace, happiness and prosperity +at home, and the respect of other nations. Our experience ought +to teach us the necessity of the first; our power secures the +latter.</p> + +<p>I feel that we are on the eve of a new era, when there is to be +great harmony between the Federal and Confederate. I cannot +stay to be a living witness to the correctness of this prophecy; +but I feel it within me that it is to be so. The universally +kind feeling expressed for me at a time when it was supposed +that each day would prove my last, seemed to me the beginning of +the answer to "Let us have peace."</p> + +<p>The expression of these kindly feelings were not restricted to a +section of the country, nor to a division of the people. They +came from individual citizens of all nationalities; from all +denominations--the Protestant, the Catholic, and the Jew; and +from the various societies of the land--scientific, educational, +religious or otherwise. Politics did not enter into the matter +at all.</p> + +<p>I am not egotist enough to suppose all this significance should +be given because I was the object of it. But the war between +the States was a very bloody and a very costly war. One side or +the other had to yield principles they deemed dearer than life +before it could be brought to an end. I commanded the whole of +the mighty host engaged on the victorious side. I was, no +matter whether deservedly so or not, a representative of that +side of the controversy. It is a significant and gratifying +fact that Confederates should have joined heartily in this +spontaneous move. I hope the good feeling inaugurated may +continue to the end.</p> + + + +<br><br><br><br> +<a name="appendix"></a><center><h2>APPENDIX</h2></center> +<br><br> + +<center><h3>REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, OF THE UNITED STATES +ARMIES 1864-65.</h3></center> +<br><br><br> +<p>HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C., +<br>July 22, 1865.</p> + +<p>HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the +operations of the Armies of the United States from the date of +my appointment to command the same.</p> + +<p>From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with +the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops +that could be brought into the field, regardless of season and +weather, were necessary to a speedy termination of the war. The +resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far +inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast +territory, with a population hostile to the government, to +garrison, and long lines of river and railroad communications to +protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies.</p> + +<p>The armies in the East and West acted independently and without +concert, like a balky team, no two ever pulling together, +enabling the enemy to use to great advantage his interior lines +of communication for transporting troops from East to West, +reinforcing the army most vigorously pressed, and to furlough +large numbers, during seasons of inactivity on our part, to go +to their homes and do the work of producing, for the support of +their armies. It was a question whether our numerical strength +and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages +and the enemy's superior position.</p> + +<p>From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could +be had that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the +people, both North and South, until the military power of the +rebellion was entirely broken.</p> + +<p>I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of +troops practicable against the armed force of the enemy; +preventing him from using the same force at different seasons +against first one and then another of our armies, and the +possibility of repose for refitting and producing necessary +supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, to hammer +continuously against the armed force of the enemy and his +resources, until by mere attrition, if in no other way, there +should be nothing left to him but an equal submission with the +loyal section of our common country to the constitution and laws +of the land.</p> + +<p>These views have been kept constantly in mind, and orders given +and campaigns made to carry them out. Whether they might have +been better in conception and execution is for the people, who +mourn the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the +pecuniary cost, to say. All I can say is, that what I have done +has been done conscientiously, to the best of my ability, and in +what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole +country.</p> + +<p>At the date when this report begins, the situation of the +contending forces was about as follows: The Mississippi River +was strongly garrisoned by Federal troops, from St. Louis, +Missouri, to its mouth. The line of the Arkansas was also held, +thus giving us armed possession of all west of the Mississippi, +north of that stream. A few points in Southern Louisiana, not +remote from the river, were held by us, together with a small +garrison at and near the mouth of the Rio Grande. All the +balance of the vast territory of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas +was in the almost undisputed possession of the enemy, with an +army of probably not less than eighty thousand effective men, +that could have been brought into the field had there been +sufficient opposition to have brought them out. The let-alone +policy had demoralized this force so that probably but little +more than one-half of it was ever present in garrison at any one +time. But the one-half, or forty thousand men, with the bands of +guerillas scattered through Missouri, Arkansas, and along the +Mississippi River, and the disloyal character of much of the +population, compelled the use of a large number of troops to +keep navigation open on the river, and to protect the loyal +people to the west of it. To the east of the Mississippi we +held substantially with the line of the Tennessee and Holston +rivers, running eastward to include nearly all of the State of +Tennessee. South of Chattanooga, a small foothold had been +obtained in Georgia, sufficient to protect East Tennessee from +incursions from the enemy's force at Dalton, Georgia. West +Virginia was substantially within our lines. Virginia, with the +exception of the northern border, the Potomac River, a small area +about the mouth of James River, covered by the troops at Norfolk +and Fort Monroe, and the territory covered by the Army of the +Potomac lying along the Rapidan, was in the possession of the +enemy. Along the sea-coast footholds had been obtained at +Plymouth, Washington, and New Bern, in North Carolina; Beaufort, +Folly and Morris Islands, Hilton Head, Fort Pulaski, and Port +Royal, in South Carolina; Fernandina and St. Augustine, in +Florida. Key West and Pensacola were also in our possession, +while all the important ports were blockaded by the navy. The +accompanying map, a copy of which was sent to General Sherman +and other commanders in March, 1864, shows by red lines the +territory occupied by us at the beginning of the rebellion, and +at the opening of the campaign of 1864, while those in blue are +the lines which it was proposed to occupy.</p> + +<p>Behind the Union lines there were many bands of guerillas and a +large population disloyal to the government, making it necessary +to guard every foot of road or river used in supplying our +armies. In the South, a reign of military despotism prevailed, +which made every man and boy capable of bearing arms a soldier; +and those who could not bear arms in the field acted as provosts +for collecting deserters and returning them. This enabled the +enemy to bring almost his entire strength into the field.</p> + +<p>The enemy had concentrated the bulk of his forces east of the +Mississippi into two armies, commanded by Generals R. E. Lee and +J. E. Johnston, his ablest and best generals. The army commanded +by Lee occupied the south bank of the Rapidan, extending from +Mine Run westward, strongly intrenched, covering and defending +Richmond, the rebel capital, against the Army of the Potomac. +The army under Johnston occupied a strongly intrenched position +at Dalton, Georgia, covering and defending Atlanta, Georgia, a +place of great importance as a railroad centre, against the +armies under Major-General W. T. Sherman. In addition to these +armies he had a large cavalry force under Forrest, in North-east +Mississippi; a considerable force, of all arms, in the Shenandoah +Valley, and in the western part of Virginia and extreme eastern +part of Tennessee; and also confronting our sea-coast garrisons, +and holding blockaded ports where we had no foothold upon land.</p> + +<p>These two armies, and the cities covered and defended by them, +were the main objective points of the campaign.</p> + +<p>Major-General W. T. Sherman, who was appointed to the command of +the Military Division of the Mississippi, embracing all the +armies and territory east of the Mississippi River to the +Alleghanies and the Department of Arkansas, west of the +Mississippi, had the immediate command of the armies operating +against Johnston.</p> + +<p>Major-General George G. Meade had the immediate command of the +Army of the Potomac, from where I exercised general supervision +of the movements of all our armies.</p> + +<p>General Sherman was instructed to move against Johnston's army, +to break it up, and to go into the interior of the enemy's +country as far as he could, inflicting all the damage he could +upon their war resources. If the enemy in his front showed +signs of joining Lee, to follow him up to the full extent of his +ability, while I would prevent the concentration of Lee upon him, +if it was in the power of the Army of the Potomac to do so. More +specific written instructions were not given, for the reason that +I had talked over with him the plans of the campaign, and was +satisfied that he understood them and would execute them to the +fullest extent possible.</p> + +<p>Major-General N. P. Banks, then on an expedition up Red River +against Shreveport, Louisiana (which had been organized previous +to my appointment to command), was notified by me on the 15th of +March, of the importance it was that Shreveport should be taken +at the earliest possible day, and that if he found that the +taking of it would occupy from ten to fifteen days' more time +than General Sherman had given his troops to be absent from +their command, he would send them back at the time specified by +General Sherman, even if it led to the abandonment of the main +object of the Red River expedition, for this force was necessary +to movements east of the Mississippi; that should his expedition +prove successful, he would hold Shreveport and the Red River +with such force as he might deem necessary, and return the +balance of his troops to the neighborhood of New Orleans, +commencing no move for the further acquisition of territory, +unless it was to make that then held by him more easily held; +that it might be a part of the spring campaign to move against +Mobile; that it certainly would be, if troops enough could be +obtained to make it without embarrassing other movements; that +New Orleans would be the point of departure for such an +expedition; also, that I had directed General Steele to make a +real move from Arkansas, as suggested by him (General Banks), +instead of a demonstration, as Steele thought advisable.</p> + +<p>On the 31st of March, in addition to the foregoing notification +and directions, he was instructed as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"1st. If successful in your expedition against Shreveport, that +you turn over the defence of the Red River to General Steele and +the navy.</p> + +<p>"2d. That you abandon Texas entirely, with the exception of +your hold upon the Rio Grande. This can be held with four +thousand men, if they will turn their attention immediately to +fortifying their positions. At least one-half of the force +required for this service might be taken from the colored troops.</p> + +<p>"3d. By properly fortifying on the Mississippi River, the force +to guard it from Port Hudson to New Orleans can be reduced to ten +thousand men, if not to a less number. Six thousand more would +then hold all the rest of the territory necessary to hold until +active operations can again be resumed west of the river. +According to your last return, this would give you a force of +over thirty thousand effective men with which to move against +Mobile. To this I expect to add five thousand men from +Missouri. If however, you think the force here stated too small +to hold the territory regarded as necessary to hold possession +of, I would say concentrate at least twenty-five thousand men of +your present command for operations against Mobile. With these +and such additions as I can give you from elsewhere, lose no +time in making a demonstration, to be followed by an attack upon +Mobile. Two or more iron-clads will be ordered to report to +Admiral Farragut. This gives him a strong naval fleet with +which to co-operate. You can make your own arrangements with +the admiral for his co-operation, and select your own line of +approach. My own idea of the matter is that Pascagoula should +be your base; but, from your long service in the Gulf +Department, you will know best about the matter. It is intended +that your movements shall be co-operative with movements +elsewhere, and you cannot now start too soon. All I would now +add is, that you commence the concentration of your forces at +once. Preserve a profound secrecy of what you intend doing, and +start at the earliest possible moment.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL N. P. BANKS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Major-General Meade was instructed that Lee's army would be his +objective point; that wherever Lee went he would go also. For +his movement two plans presented themselves: One to cross the +Rapidan below Lee, moving by his right flank; the other above, +moving by his left. Each presented advantages over the other, +with corresponding objections. By crossing above, Lee would be +cut off from all chance of ignoring Richmond or going north on a +raid. But if we took this route, all we did would have to be +done whilst the rations we started with held out; besides, it +separated us from Butler, so that he could not be directed how +to cooperate. If we took the other route, Brandy Station could +be used as a base of supplies until another was secured on the +York or James rivers. Of these, however, it was decided to take +the lower route.</p> + +<p>The following letter of instruction was addressed to +Major-General B. F. Butler:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA, April 2, 1864.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:-In the spring campaign, which it is desirable shall +commence at as early a day as practicable, it is proposed to +have cooperative action of all the armies in the field, as far +as this object can be accomplished.</p> + +<p>"It will not be possible to unite our armies into two or three +large ones to act as so many units, owing to the absolute +necessity of holding on to the territory already taken from the +enemy. But, generally speaking, concentration can be +practically effected by armies moving to the interior of the +enemy's country from the territory they have to guard. By such +movement, they interpose themselves between the enemy and the +country to be guarded, thereby reducing the number necessary to +guard important points, or at least occupy the attention of a +part of the enemy's force, if no greater object is gained. Lee's +army and Richmond being the greater objects towards which our +attention must be directed in the next campaign, it is desirable +to unite all the force we can against them. The necessity of +covering Washington with the Army of the Potomac, and of +covering your department with your army, makes it impossible to +unite these forces at the beginning of any move. I propose, +therefore, what comes nearest this of anything that seems +practicable: The Army of the Potomac will act from its present +base, Lee's army being the objective point. You will collect +all the forces from your command that can be spared from +garrison duty--I should say not less than twenty thousand +effective men--to operate on the south side of James River, +Richmond being your objective point. To the force you already +have will be added about ten thousand men from South Carolina, +under Major-General Gillmore, who will command them in person. +Major-General W. F. Smith is ordered to report to you, to +command the troops sent into the field from your own department.</p> + +<p>"General Gillmore will be ordered to report to you at Fortress +Monroe, with all the troops on transports, by the 18th instant, +or as soon thereafter as practicable. Should you not receive +notice by that time to move, you will make such disposition of +them and your other forces as you may deem best calculated to +deceive the enemy as to the real move to be made.</p> + +<p>"When you are notified to move, take City Point with as much +force as possible. Fortify, or rather intrench, at once, and +concentrate all your troops for the field there as rapidly as +you can. From City Point directions cannot be given at this +time for your further movements.</p> + +<p>"The fact that has already been stated--that is, that Richmond +is to be your objective point, and that there is to be +co-operation between your force and the Army of the +Potomac--must be your guide. This indicates the necessity of +your holding close to the south bank of the James River as you +advance. Then, should the enemy be forced into his +intrenchments in Richmond, the Army of the Potomac would follow, +and by means of transports the two armies would become a unit.</p> + +<p>"All the minor details of your advance are left entirely to your +direction. If, however, you think it practicable to use your +cavalry south of you, so as to cut the railroad about Hicksford, +about the time of the general advance, it would be of immense +advantage.</p> + +<p>"You will please forward for my information, at the earliest +practicable day, all orders, details, and instructions you may +give for the execution of this order.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 16th these instructions were substantially reiterated. On +the 19th, in order to secure full co-operation between his army +and that of General Meade, he was informed that I expected him +to move from Fort Monroe the same day that General Meade moved +from Culpeper. The exact time I was to telegraph him as soon as +it was fixed, and that it would not be earlier than the 27th of +April; that it was my intention to fight Lee between Culpeper +and Richmond, if he would stand. Should he, however, fall back +into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his +(General Butler's) army on the James River; that, could I be +certain he would be able to invest Richmond on the south side, +so as to have his left resting on the James, above the city, I +would form the junction there; that circumstances might make +this course advisable anyhow; that he should use every exertion +to secure footing as far up the south side of the river as he +could, and as soon as possible after the receipt of orders to +move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at least +detain as large a force there as possible.</p> + +<p>In co-operation with the main movements against Lee and +Johnston, I was desirous of using all other troops necessarily +kept in departments remote from the fields of immediate +operations, and also those kept in the background for the +protection of our extended lines between the loyal States and +the armies operating against them.</p> + +<p>A very considerable force, under command of Major-General Sigel, +was so held for the protection of West Virginia, and the +frontiers of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Whilst these troops +could not be withdrawn to distant fields without exposing the +North to invasion by comparatively small bodies of the enemy, +they could act directly to their front, and give better +protection than if lying idle in garrison. By such a movement +they would either compel the enemy to detach largely for the +protection of his supplies and lines of communication, or he +would lose them. General Sigel was therefore directed to +organize all his available force into two expeditions, to move +from Beverly and Charleston, under command of Generals Ord and +Crook, against the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad. +Subsequently, General Ord having been relieved at his own +request, General Sigel was instructed at his own suggestion, to +give up the expedition by Beverly, and to form two columns, one +under General Crook, on the Kanawha, numbering about ten +thousand men, and one on the Shenandoah, numbering about seven +thousand men. The one on the Shenandoah to assemble between +Cumberland and the Shenandoah, and the infantry and artillery +advanced to Cedar Creek with such cavalry as could be made +available at the moment, to threaten the enemy in the Shenandoah +Valley, and advance as far as possible; while General Crook would +take possession of Lewisburg with part of his force and move down +the Tennessee Railroad, doing as much damage as he could, +destroying the New River Bridge and the salt-works, at +Saltville, Va.</p> + +<p>Owing to the weather and bad condition of the roads, operations +were delayed until the 1st of May, when, everything being in +readiness and the roads favorable, orders were given for a +general movement of all the armies not later than the 4th of May.</p> + +<p>My first object being to break the military power of the +rebellion, and capture the enemy's important strongholds, made +me desirous that General Butler should succeed in his movement +against Richmond, as that would tend more than anything else, +unless it were the capture of Lee's army, to accomplish this +desired result in the East. If he failed, it was my +determination, by hard fighting, either to compel Lee to +retreat, or to so cripple him that he could not detach a large +force to go north, and still retain enough for the defence of +Richmond. It was well understood, by both Generals Butler and +Meade, before starting on the campaign, that it was my intention +to put both their armies south of the James River, in case of +failure to destroy Lee without it.</p> + +<p>Before giving General Butler his instructions, I visited him at +Fort Monroe, and in conversation pointed out the apparent +importance of getting possession of Petersburg, and destroying +railroad communication as far south as possible. Believing, +however, in the practicability of capturing Richmond unless it +was reinforced, I made that the objective point of his +operations. As the Army of the Potomac was to move +simultaneously with him, Lee could not detach from his army with +safety, and the enemy did not have troops elsewhere to bring to +the defence of the city in time to meet a rapid movement from +the north of James River.</p> + +<p>I may here state that, commanding all the armies as I did, I +tried, as far as possible, to leave General Meade in independent +command of the Army of the Potomac. My instructions for that +army were all through him, and were general in their nature, +leaving all the details and the execution to him. The campaigns +that followed proved him to be the right man in the right +place. His commanding always in the presence of an officer +superior to him in rank, has drawn from him much of that public +attention that his zeal and ability entitle him to, and which he +would otherwise have received.</p> + +<p>The movement of the Army of the Potomac commenced early on the +morning of the 4th of May, under the immediate direction and +orders of Major-General Meade, pursuant to instructions. Before +night, the whole army was across the Rapidan (the fifth and sixth +corps crossing at Germania Ford, and the second corps at Ely's +Ford, the cavalry, under Major-General Sheridan, moving in +advance,) with the greater part of its trains, numbering about +four thousand wagons, meeting with but slight opposition. The +average distance travelled by the troops that day was about +twelve miles. This I regarded as a great success, and it +removed from my mind the most serious apprehensions I had +entertained, that of crossing the river in the face of an +active, large, well-appointed, and ably commanded army, and how +so large a train was to be carried through a hostile country, +and protected. Early on the 5th, the advance corps (the fifth, +Major-General G. K. Warren commanding) met and engaged the enemy +outside his intrenchments near Mine Run. The battle raged +furiously all day, the whole army being brought into the fight +as fast as the corps could be got upon the field, which, +considering the density of the forest and narrowness of the +roads, was done with commendable promptness.</p> + +<p>General Burnside, with the ninth corps, was, at the time the +Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at +the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, +holding the road back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move +until he received notice that a crossing of the Rapidan was +secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was +received. This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of +the 4th. By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th he was +leading his corps into action near the Wilderness Tavern, some +of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles, +crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Considering +that a large proportion, probably two-thirds of his command, was +composed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches, and carrying the +accoutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march.</p> + +<p>The battle of the Wilderness was renewed by us at five o'clock +on the morning of the 6th, and continued with unabated fury +until darkness set in, each army holding substantially the same +position that they had on the evening of the 5th. After dark, +the enemy made a feeble attempt to turn our right flank, +capturing several hundred prisoners and creating considerable +confusion. But the promptness of General Sedgwick, who was +personally present and commanded that part of our line, soon +reformed it and restored order. On the morning of the 7th, +reconnoissances showed that the enemy had fallen behind his +intrenched lines, with pickets to the front, covering a part of +the battle-field. From this it was evident to my mind that the +two days' fighting had satisfied him of his inability to further +maintain the contest in the open field, notwithstanding his +advantage of position, and that he would wait an attack behind +his works. I therefore determined to push on and put my whole +force between him and Richmond; and orders were at once issued +for a movement by his right flank. On the night of the 7th, the +march was commenced towards Spottsylvania Court House, the fifth +corps moving on the most direct road. But the enemy having +become apprised of our movement, and having the shorter line, +was enabled to reach there first. On the 8th, General Warren +met a force of the enemy, which had been sent out to oppose and +delay his advance, to gain time to fortify the line taken up at +Spottsylvania. This force was steadily driven back on the main +force, within the recently constructed works, after considerable +fighting, resulting in severe loss to both sides. On the morning +of the 9th, General Sheridan started on a raid against the +enemy's lines of communication with Richmond. The 9th, 10th, +and 11th were spent in manoeuvring and fighting, without +decisive results. Among the killed on the 9th was that able and +distinguished soldier Major-General John Sedgwick, commanding the +sixth army corps. Major-General H. G. Wright succeeded him in +command. Early on the morning of the 12th a general attack was +made on the enemy in position. The second corps, Major-General +Hancock commanding, carried a salient of his line, capturing +most of Johnson's division of Ewell's corps and twenty pieces of +artillery. But the resistance was so obstinate that the +advantage gained did not prove decisive. The 13th, 14th, 15th, +16th, 17th, and 18th, were consumed in manoeuvring and awaiting +the arrival of reinforcements from Washington. Deeming it +impracticable to make any further attack upon the enemy at +Spottsylvania Court House, orders were issued on the 15th with a +view to a movement to the North Anna, to commence at twelve +o'clock on the night of the 19th. Late in the afternoon of the +19th, Ewell's corps came out of its works on our extreme right +flank; but the attack was promptly repulsed, with heavy loss. +This delayed the movement to the North Anna until the night of +the 21st, when it was commenced. But the enemy again, having +the shorter line, and being in possession of the main roads, was +enabled to reach the North Anna in advance of us, and took +position behind it. The fifth corps reached the North Anna on +the afternoon of the 23d, closely followed by the sixth corps. +The second and ninth corps got up about the same time, the +second holding the railroad bridge, and the ninth lying between +that and Jericho Ford. General Warren effected a crossing the +same afternoon, and got a position without much opposition. Soon +after getting into position he was violently attacked, but +repulsed the enemy with great slaughter. On the 25th, General +Sheridan rejoined the Army of the Potomac from the raid on which +he started from Spottsylvania, having destroyed the depots at +Beaver Dam and Ashland stations, four trains of cars, large +supplies of rations, and many miles of railroad-track; +recaptured about four hundred of our men on their way to +Richmond as prisoners of war; met and defeated the enemy's +cavalry at Yellow Tavern; carried the first line of works around +Richmond (but finding the second line too strong to be carried by +assault), recrossed to the north bank of the Chickahominy at +Meadow Bridge under heavy fire, and moved by a detour to +Haxall's Landing, on the James River, where he communicated with +General Butler. This raid had the effect of drawing off the +whole of the enemy's cavalry force, making it comparatively easy +to guard our trains.</p> + +<p>General Butler moved his main force up the James River, in +pursuance of instructions, on the 4th of May, General Gillmore +having joined him with the tenth corps. At the same time he +sent a force of one thousand eight hundred cavalry, by way of +West Point, to form a junction with him wherever he might get a +foothold, and a force of three thousand cavalry, under General +Kautz, from Suffolk, to operate against the road south of +Petersburg and Richmond. On the 5th, he occupied, without +opposition, both City Point and Bermuda Hundred, his movement +being a complete surprise. On the 6th, he was in position with +his main army, and commenced intrenching. On the 7th he made a +reconnoissance against the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad, +destroying a portion of it after some fighting. On the 9th he +telegraphed as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"HEADQUARTERS, NEAR BERMUDA LANDING, +<br>May 9, 1864.</p> + +<p>"HON. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War.</p> + +<p>"Our operations may be summed up in a few words. With one +thousand seven hundred cavalry we have advanced up the +Peninsula, forced the Chickahominy, and have safely, brought +them to their present position. These were colored cavalry, and +are now holding our advance pickets towards Richmond.</p> + +<p>"General Kautz, with three thousand cavalry from Suffolk, on the +same day with our movement up James River, forced the Black +Water, burned the railroad bridge at Stony Creek, below +Petersburg, cutting into Beauregard's force at that point.</p> + +<p>"We have landed here, intrenched ourselves, destroyed many miles +of railroad, and got a position which, with proper supplies, we +can hold out against the whole of Lee's army. I have ordered up +the supplies.</p> + +<p>"Beauregard, with a large portion of his force, was left south +by the cutting of the railroads by Kautz. That portion which +reached Petersburg under Hill I have whipped to-day, killing and +wounding many, and taking many prisoners, after a severe and +well-contested fight.</p> + +<p>"General Grant will not be troubled with any further +reinforcements to Lee from Beauregard's force.</p> + +<p>"BENJ. F. BUTLER, Major-General."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the evening of the 13th and morning of the 14th he carried a +portion of the enemy's first line of defences at Drury's Bluff, +or Fort Darling, with small loss. The time thus consumed from +the 6th lost to us the benefit of the surprise and capture of +Richmond and Petersburg, enabling, as it did, Beauregard to +collect his loose forces in North and South Carolina, and bring +them to the defence of those places. On the 16th, the enemy +attacked General Butler in his position in front of Drury's +Bluff. He was forced back, or drew back, into his intrenchments +between the forks of the James and Appomattox rivers, the enemy +intrenching strongly in his front, thus covering his railroads, +the city, and all that was valuable to him. His army, +therefore, though in a position of great security, was as +completely shut off from further operations directly against +Richmond as if it had been in a bottle strongly corked. It +required but a comparatively small force of the enemy to hold it +there.</p> + +<p>On the 12th, General Kautz, with his cavalry, was started on a +raid against the Danville Railroad, which he struck at +Coalfield, Powhatan, and Chula Stations, destroying them, the +railroad-track, two freight trains, and one locomotive, together +with large quantities of commissary and other stores; thence, +crossing to the South Side Road, struck it at Wilson's, +Wellsville, and Black's and White's Stations, destroying the +road and station-houses; thence he proceeded to City Point, +which he reached on the 18th.</p> + +<p>On the 19th of April, and prior to the movement of General +Butler, the enemy, with a land force under General Hoke and an +iron-clad ram, attacked Plymouth, N. C., commanded by General H. +W. Wessells, and our gunboats there, and, after severe fighting, +the place was carried by assault, and the entire garrison and +armament captured. The gunboat Smithfield was sunk, and the +Miami disabled.</p> + +<p>The army sent to operate against Richmond having hermetically +sealed itself up at Bermuda Hundred, the enemy was enabled to +bring the most, if not all, the reinforcements brought from the +south by Beauregard against the Army of the Potomac. In addition +to this reinforcement, a very considerable one, probably not less +than fifteen thousand men, was obtained by calling in the +scattered troops under Breckinridge from the western part of +Virginia.</p> + +<p>The position of Bermuda Hundred was as easy to defend as it was +difficult to operate from against the enemy. I determined, +therefore, to bring from it all available forces, leaving enough +only to secure what had been gained; and accordingly, on the 22d, +I directed that they be sent forward, under command of +Major-General W. F. Smith, to join the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of May, the 9th army corps, commanded by +Major-General A. E. Burnside, was assigned to the Army of the +Potomac, and from this time forward constituted a portion of +Major-General Meade's command.</p> + +<p>Finding the enemy's position on the North Anna stronger than +either of his previous ones, I withdrew on the night of the 26th +to the north bank of the North Anna, and moved via Hanover Town +to turn the enemy's position by his right.</p> + +<p>Generals Torbert's and Merritt's divisions of cavalry, under +Sheridan, and the 6th corps, led the advance, crossed the +Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, after considerable fighting, and +on the 28th the two divisions of cavalry had a severe, but +successful engagement with the enemy at Hawes's Shop. On the +29th and 30th we advanced, with heavy skirmishing, to the +Hanover Court House and Cold Harbor Road, and developed the +enemy's position north of the Chickahominy. Late on the evening +of the last day the enemy came out and attacked our left, but was +repulsed with very considerable loss. An attack was immediately +ordered by General Meade, along his whole line, which resulted +in driving the enemy from a part of his intrenched skirmish line.</p> + +<p>On the 31st, General Wilson's division of cavalry destroyed the +railroad bridges over the South Anna River, after defeating the +enemy's cavalry. General Sheridan, on the same day, reached +Cold Harbor, and held it until relieved by the 6th corps and +General Smith's command, which had just arrived, via White +House, from General Butler's army.</p> + +<p>On the 1st day of June an attack was made at five P.M. by the +6th corps and the troops under General Smith, the other corps +being held in readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. +This resulted in our carrying and holding the enemy's first line +of works in front of the right of the 6th corps, and in front of +General Smith. During the attack the enemy made repeated +assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack, +but was repulsed with heavy loss in every instance. That night +he made several assaults to regain what he had lost in the day, +but failed. The 2d was spent in getting troops into position +for an attack on the 3d. On the 3d of June we again assaulted +the enemy's works, in the hope of driving him from his +position. In this attempt our loss was heavy, while that of the +enemy, I have reason to believe, was comparatively light. It was +the only general attack made from the Rapidan to the James which +did not inflict upon the enemy losses to compensate for our own +losses. I would not be understood as saying that all previous +attacks resulted in victories to our arms, or accomplished as +much as I had hoped from them; but they inflicted upon the enemy +severe losses, which tended, in the end, to the complete +overthrow of the rebellion.</p> + +<p>From the proximity of the enemy to his defences around Richmond, +it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between +him and the city. I was still in a condition to either move by +his left flank, and invest Richmond from the north side, or +continue my move by his right flank to the south side of the +James. While the former might have been better as a covering +for Washington, yet a full survey of all the ground satisfied me +that it would be impracticable to hold a line north and east of +Richmond that would protect the Fredericksburg Railroad, a long, +vulnerable line, which would exhaust much of our strength to +guard, and that would have to be protected to supply the army, +and would leave open to the enemy all his lines of communication +on the south side of the James. My idea, from the start, had +been to beat Lee's army north of Richmond, if possible. Then, +after destroying his lines of communication north of the James +River, to transfer the army to the south side, and besiege Lee +in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. After +the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that the enemy +deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army +he then had. He acted purely on the defensive, behind +breastworks, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of +them, and where, in case of repulse, he could easily retire +behind them. Without a greater sacrifice of life than I was +willing to make, all could not be accomplished that I had +designed north of Richmond. I therefore determined to continue +to hold substantially the ground we then occupied, taking +advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present +themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville +and Gordonsville to effectually break up the railroad connection +between Richmond and the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg; and +when the cavalry got well off, to move the army to the south +side of the James River, by the enemy's right flank, where I +felt I could cut off all his sources of supply, except by the +canal.</p> + +<p>On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry, under General Sheridan, +got off on the expedition against the Virginia Central Railroad, +with instructions to Hunter, whom I hoped he would meet near +Charlottesville, to join his forces to Sheridan's, and after the +work laid out for them was thoroughly done, to join the Army of +the Potomac by the route laid down in Sheridan's instructions.</p> + +<p>On the 10th of June, General Butler sent a force of infantry, +under General Gillmore, and of cavalry under General Kautz, to +capture Petersburg, if possible, and destroy the railroad and +common bridges across the Appomattox. The cavalry carried the +works on the south side, and penetrated well in towards the +town, but were forced to retire. General Gillmore, finding the +works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault +impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting +one.</p> + +<p>Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, I +sent back to Bermuda Hundred and City Point, General Smith's +command by water, via the White House, to reach there in advance +of the Army of the Potomac. This was for the express purpose of +securing Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of our +intention, could reinforce the place.</p> + +<p>The movement from Cold Harbor commenced after dark on the +evening of the 12th. One division of cavalry, under General +Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long +Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossings +of the other corps. The advance corps reached James River, at +Wilcox's Landing and Charles City Court House, on the night of +the 13th.</p> + +<p>During three long years the Armies of the Potomac and Northern +Virginia had been confronting each other. In that time they had +fought more desperate battles than it probably ever before fell +to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing +the vantage ground of either. The Southern press and people, +with more shrewdness than was displayed in the North, finding +that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New +York, as they had boasted they would do, assumed that they only +defended their Capital and Southern territory. Hence, Antietam, +Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were +by them set down as failures on our part, and victories for +them. Their army believed this. It produced a morale which +could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard +fighting. The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North +Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our +side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled him +as to make him wary ever after of taking the offensive. His +losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that +we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking +party; and when he did attack, it was in the open field. The +details of these battles, which for endurance and bravery on the +part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are given in +the report of Major-General Meade, and the subordinate reports +accompanying it.</p> + +<p>During the campaign of forty-three days, from the Rapidan to the +James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting +base, by wagons, over narrow roads, through a densely wooded +country, with a lack of wharves at each new base from which to +conveniently discharge vessels. Too much credit cannot, +therefore, be awarded to the quartermaster and commissary +departments for the zeal and efficiency displayed by them. Under +the general supervision of the chief quartermaster, +Brigadier-General R. Ingalls, the trains were made to occupy all +the available roads between the army and our water-base, and but +little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.</p> + +<p>The movement in the Kanawha and Shenandoah valleys, under +General Sigel, commenced on the 1st of May. General Crook, who +had the immediate command of the Kanawha expedition, divided his +forces into two columns, giving one, composed of cavalry, to +General Averell. They crossed the mountains by separate routes. +Averell struck the Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, near +Wytheville, on the 10th, and proceeding to New River and +Christiansburg, destroyed the road, several important bridges +and depots, including New River Bridge, forming a junction with +Crook at Union on the 15th. General Sigel moved up the +Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy at New Market on the 15th, and, +after a severe engagement, was defeated with heavy loss, and +retired behind Cedar Creek. Not regarding the operations of +General Sigel as satisfactory, I asked his removal from command, +and Major-General Hunter appointed to supersede him. His +instructions were embraced in the following dispatches to +Major-General H. W. Halleck, chief of staff of the army:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE, VA. +<br>"May 20, 1864.</p> +<br> +<br>***************************************** +<br> +<p> "The enemy are evidently relying for supplies greatly on such as +are brought over the branch road running through Staunton. On +the whole, therefore, I think it would be better for General +Hunter to move in that direction; reach Staunton and +Gordonsville or Charlottesville, if he does not meet too much +opposition. If he can hold at bay a force equal to his own, he +will be doing good service. * * *</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<p> +"JERICHO FORD, VA., May 25, 1864.</p> + +<p>"If Hunter can possibly get to Charlottesville and Lynchburg, he +should do so, living on the country. The railroads and canal +should be destroyed beyond possibility of repairs for weeks. +Completing this, he could find his way back to his original +base, or from about Gordonsville join this army.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL H. W. HALLECK."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +General Hunter immediately took up the offensive, and, moving up +the Shenandoah Valley, met the enemy on the 5th of June at +Piedmont, and, after a battle of ten hours, routed and defeated +him, capturing on the field of battle one thousand five hundred +men, three pieces of artillery, and three hundred stand of small +arms. On the 8th of the same month he formed a junction with +Crook and Averell at Staunton, from which place he moved direct +on Lynchburg, via Lexington, which place he reached and invested +on the 16th day of June. Up to this time he was very successful; +and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance +stores over so long a march, through a hostile country, he would, +no doubt, have captured that, to the enemy important, point. The +destruction of the enemy's supplies and manufactories was very +great. To meet this movement under General Hunter, General Lee +sent a force, perhaps equal to a corps, a part of which reached +Lynchburg a short time before Hunter. After some skirmishing on +the 17th and 18th, General Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition +to give battle, retired from before the place. Unfortunately, +this want of ammunition left him no choice of route for his +return but by way of Kanawha. This lost to us the use of his +troops for several weeks from the defence of the North.</p> + +<p>Had General Hunter moved by way of Charlottesville, instead of +Lexington, as his instructions contemplated, he would have been +in a position to have covered the Shenandoah Valley against the +enemy, should the force he met have seemed to endanger it. If +it did not, he would have been within easy distance of the James +River Canal, on the main line of communication between Lynchburg +and the force sent for its defence. I have never taken +exception to the operations of General Hunter, and am not now +disposed to find fault with him, for I have no doubt he acted +within what he conceived to be the spirit of his instructions +and the interests of the service. The promptitude of his +movements and his gallantry should entitle him to the +commendation of his country.</p> + +<p>To return to the Army of the Potomac: The 2d corps commenced +crossing the James River on the morning of the 14th by +ferry-boats at Wilcox's Landing. The laying of the pontoon- +bridge was completed about midnight of the 14th, and the +crossing of the balance of the army was rapidly pushed forward +by both bridge and ferry.</p> + +<p>After the crossing had commenced, I proceeded by steamer to +Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the immediate +capture of Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him +to send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the +troops he could give him without sacrificing the position he +then held. I told him that I would return at once to the Army +of the Potomac, hasten its crossing and throw it forward to +Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be done, that we +could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the enemy +could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as +directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg +before daylight next morning, but for some reason that I have +never been able to satisfactorily understand, did not get ready +to assault his main lines until near sundown. Then, with a part +of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the lines +north-east of Petersburg from the Appomattox River, for a +distance of over two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces +of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about seven +P.M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there were no +other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had +reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The +night was clear the moon shining brightly and favorable to +further operations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the +2d corps, reached General Smith just after dark, and offered the +service of these troops as he (Smith) might wish, waiving rank to +the named commander, who he naturally supposed knew best the +position of affairs, and what to do with the troops. But +instead of taking these troops and pushing at once into +Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of +his line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.</p> + +<p>By the time I arrived the next morning the enemy was in force. +An attack was ordered to be made at six o'clock that evening by +the troops under Smith and the 2d and 9th corps. It required +until that time for the 9th corps to get up and into position. +The attack was made as ordered, and the fighting continued with +but little intermission until six o'clock the next morning, and +resulted in our carrying the advance and some of the main works +of the enemy to the right (our left) of those previously +captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and over +four hundred prisoners.</p> + +<p>The 5th corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and +persisted in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only +resulted in forcing the enemy into an interior line, from which +he could not be dislodged. The advantages of position gained by +us were very great. The army then proceeded to envelop +Petersburg towards the South Side Railroad as far as possible +without attacking fortifications.</p> + +<p>On the 16th the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a +part of his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting, +no doubt, to get troops from north of the James to take the place +of those withdrawn before we could discover it. General Butler, +taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad +between Petersburg and Richmond. As soon as I was apprised of +the advantage thus gained, to retain it I ordered two divisions +of the 6th corps, General Wright commanding, that were embarking +at Wilcox's Landing, under orders for City Point, to report to +General Butler at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler was +notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of +his present line urged upon him.</p> + +<p>About two o'clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced +back to the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. +General Wright, with his two divisions, joined General Butler on +the forenoon of the 17th, the latter still holding with a strong +picket-line the enemy's works. But instead of putting these +divisions into the enemy's works to hold them, he permitted them +to halt and rest some distance in the rear of his own line. +Between four and five o'clock in the afternoon the enemy +attacked and drove in his pickets and re-occupied his old line.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 20th and morning of the 21st a lodgment was +effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the +north bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected by +pontoon-bridge with Bermuda Hundred.</p> + +<p>On the 19th, General Sheridan, on his return from his expedition +against the Virginia Central Railroad, arrived at the White House +just as the enemy's cavalry was about to attack it, and compelled +it to retire. The result of this expedition was, that General +Sheridan met the enemy's cavalry near Trevilian Station, on the +morning of the 11th of June, whom he attacked, and after an +obstinate contest drove from the field in complete rout. He +left his dead and nearly all his wounded in our hands, and about +four hundred prisoners and several hundred horses. On the 12th +he destroyed the railroad from Trevilian Station to Louisa Court +House. This occupied until three o'clock P.M., when he advanced +in the direction of Gordonsville. He found the enemy reinforced +by infantry, behind well-constructed rifle-pits, about five miles +from the latter place and too strong to successfully assault. On +the extreme right, however, his reserve brigade carried the +enemy's works twice, and was twice driven therefrom by +infantry. Night closed the contest. Not having sufficient +ammunition to continue the engagement, and his animals being +without forage (the country furnishing but inferior grazing), +and hearing nothing from General Hunter, he withdrew his command +to the north side of the North Anna, and commenced his return +march, reaching White House at the time before stated. After +breaking up the depot at that place, he moved to the James +River, which he reached safely after heavy fighting. He +commenced crossing on the 25th, near Fort Powhatan, without +further molestation, and rejoined the Army of the Potomac.</p> + +<p>On the 22d, General Wilson, with his own division of cavalry of +the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz's division of cavalry +of the Army of the James moved against the enemy's railroads +south of Richmond. Striking the Weldon Railroad at Reams's +Station, destroying the depot and several miles of the road, and +the South Side road about fifteen miles from Petersburg, to near +Nottoway Station, where he met and defeated a force of the +enemy's cavalry. He reached Burkesville Station on the +afternoon of the 23d, and from there destroyed the Danville +Railroad to Roanoke Bridge, a distance of twenty-five miles, +where he found the enemy in force, and in a position from which +he could not dislodge him. He then commenced his return march, +and on the 28th met the enemy's cavalry in force at the Weldon +Railroad crossing of Stony Creek, where he had a severe but not +decisive engagement. Thence he made a detour from his left with +a view of reaching Reams's Station (supposing it to be in our +possession). At this place he was met by the enemy's cavalry, +supported by infantry, and forced to retire, with the loss of +his artillery and trains. In this last encounter, General +Kautz, with a part of his command, became separated, and made +his way into our lines. General Wilson, with the remainder of +his force, succeeded in crossing the Nottoway River and coming +in safely on our left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this +expedition more than compensated for the losses we sustained. It +severed all connection by railroad with Richmond for several +weeks.</p> + +<p>With a view of cutting the enemy's railroad from near Richmond +to the Anna rivers, and making him wary of the situation of his +army in the Shenandoah, and, in the event of failure in this, to +take advantage of his necessary withdrawal of troops from +Petersburg, to explode a mine that had been prepared in front of +the 9th corps and assault the enemy's lines at that place, on the +night of the 26th of July the 2d corps and two divisions of the +cavalry corps and Kautz's cavalry were crossed to the north bank +of the James River and joined the force General Butler had +there. On the 27th the enemy was driven from his intrenched +position, with the loss of four pieces of artillery. On the +28th our lines were extended from Deep Bottom to New Market +Road, but in getting this position were attacked by the enemy in +heavy force. The fighting lasted for several hours, resulting in +considerable loss to both sides. The first object of this move +having failed, by reason of the very large force thrown there by +the enemy, I determined to take advantage of the diversion made, +by assaulting Petersburg before he could get his force back +there. One division of the 2d corps was withdrawn on the night +of the 28th, and moved during the night to the rear of the 18th +corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that it might be +foot-loose in the assault to be made. The other two divisions +of the 2d corps and Sheridan's cavalry were crossed over on the +night of the 29th and moved in front of Petersburg. On the +morning of the 30th, between four and five o'clock, the mine was +sprung, blowing up a battery and most of a regiment, and the +advance of the assaulting column, formed of the 9th corps, +immediately took possession of the crater made by the explosion, +and the line for some distance to the right and left of it, and a +detached line in front of it, but for some cause failed to +advance promptly to the ridge beyond. Had they done this, I +have every reason to believe that Petersburg would have +fallen. Other troops were immediately pushed forward, but the +time consumed in getting them up enabled the enemy to rally from +his surprise (which had been complete), and get forces to this +point for its defence. The captured line thus held being +untenable, and of no advantage to us, the troops were withdrawn, +but not without heavy loss. Thus terminated in disaster what +promised to be the most successful assault of the campaign.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon the enemy's ascertaining that General Hunter +was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus +laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raid into Maryland and +Pennsylvania, he returned northward and moved down that +valley. As soon as this movement of the enemy was ascertained, +General Hunter, who had reached the Kanawha River, was directed +to move his troops without delay, by river and railroad, to +Harper's Ferry; but owing to the difficulty of navigation by +reason of low water and breaks in the railroad, great delay was +experienced in getting there. It became necessary, therefore, +to find other troops to check this movement of the enemy. For +this purpose the 6th corps was taken from the armies operating +against Richmond, to which was added the 19th corps, then +fortunately beginning to arrive in Hampton Roads from the Gulf +Department, under orders issued immediately after the +ascertainment of the result of the Red River expedition. The +garrisons of Baltimore and Washington were at this time made up +of heavy-artillery regiments, hundred days' men, and detachments +from the invalid corps. One division under command of General +Ricketts, of the 6th corps, was sent to Baltimore, and the +remaining two divisions of the 6th corps, under General Wright, +were subsequently sent to Washington. On the 3d of July the +enemy approached Martinsburg. General Sigel, who was in command +of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac at +Shepherdtown; and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry, +crossed the occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column towards +Frederick City. General Wallace, with Rickett's division and +his own command, the latter mostly new and undisciplined troops, +pushed out from Baltimore with great promptness, and met the +enemy in force on the Monocacy, near the crossing of the +railroad bridge. His force was not sufficient to insure +success, but he fought the enemy nevertheless, and although it +resulted in a defeat to our arms, yet it detained the enemy, and +thereby served to enable General Wright to reach Washington with +two division of the 6th corps, and the advance of the 19th +corps, before him. From Monocacy the enemy moved on Washington, +his cavalry advance reaching Rockville on the evening of the +10th. On the 12th a reconnoissance was thrown out in front of +Fort Stevens, to ascertain the enemy's position and force. A +severe skirmish ensued, in which we lost about two hundred and +eighty in killed and wounded. The enemy's loss was probably +greater. He commenced retreating during the night. Learning +the exact condition of affairs at Washington, I requested by +telegraph, at forty-five minutes past eleven P.M., on the 12th, +the assignment of Major-General H. G. Wright to the command of +all the troops that could be made available to operate in the +field against the enemy, and directed that he should get outside +of the trenches with all the force he could, and push Early to +the last moment. General Wright commenced the pursuit on the +13th; on the 18th the enemy was overtaken at Snicker's Ferry, on +the Shenandoah, when a sharp skirmish occurred; and on the 20th, +General Averell encountered and defeated a portion of the rebel +army at Winchester, capturing four pieces of artillery and +several hundred prisoners.</p> + +<p>Learning that Early was retreating south towards Lynchburg or +Richmond, I directed that the 6th and 19th corps be got back to +the armies operating against Richmond, so that they might be +used in a movement against Lee before the return of the troops +sent by him into the valley; and that Hunter should remain in +the Shenandoah Valley, keeping between any force of the enemy +and Washington, acting on the defensive as much as possible. I +felt that if the enemy had any notion of returning, the fact +would be developed before the 6th and 19th corps could leave +Washington. Subsequently, the 19th corps was excepted form the +order to return to the James.</p> + +<p>About the 25th it became evident that the enemy was again +advancing upon Maryland and Pennsylvania, and the 6th corps, +then at Washington, was ordered back to the vicinity of Harper's +Ferry. The rebel force moved down the valley, and sent a raiding +party into Pennsylvania which on the 30th burned Chambersburg, +and then retreated, pursued by our cavalry, towards +Cumberland. They were met and defeated by General Kelley, and +with diminished numbers escaped into the mountains of West +Virginia. From the time of the first raid the telegraph wires +were frequently down between Washington and City Point, making +it necessary to transmit messages a part of the way by boat. It +took from twenty-four to thirty-six hours to get dispatches +through and return answers would be received showing a +different state of facts from those on which they were based, +causing confusion and apparent contradiction of orders that must +have considerably embarrassed those who had to execute them, and +rendered operations against the enemy less effective than they +otherwise would have been. To remedy this evil, it was evident +to my mind that some person should have the supreme command of +all the forces in the Department of West Virginia, Washington, +Susquehanna, and the Middle Department, and I so recommended.</p> + +<p>On the 2d of August, I ordered General Sheridan to report in +person to Major-General Halleck, chief of staff, at Washington, +with a view to his assignment to the command of all the forces +against Early. At this time the enemy was concentrated in the +neighborhood of Winchester, while our forces, under General +Hunter, were concentrated on the Monocacy, at the crossing of +the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, leaving open to the enemy +Western Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania. From where I was, I +hesitated to give positive orders for the movement of our forces +at Monocacy, lest by so doing I should expose Washington. +Therefore, on the 4th, I left City Point to visit Hunter's +command, and determine for myself what was best to be done. On +arrival there, and after consultation with General Hunter, I +issued to him the following instructions:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"MONOCACY BRIDGE, MARYLAND, +<br>August 5, 1864--8 P.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--Concentrate all your available force without delay in +the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, leaving only such railroad guards +and garrisons for public property as may be necessary. Use, in +this concentrating, the railroad, if by so doing time can be +saved. From Harper's Ferry, if it is found that the enemy has +moved north of the Potomac in large force, push north, following +him and attacking him wherever found; follow him, if driven south +of the Potomac, as long as it is safe to do so. If it is +ascertained that the enemy has but a small force north of the +Potomac, then push south with the main force, detaching under a +competent commander, a sufficient force to look after the +raiders, and drive them to their homes. In detaching such a +force, the brigade of the cavalry now en route from Washington +via Rockville may be taken into account.</p> + +<p>"There are now on their way to join you three other brigades of +the best cavalry, numbering at least five thousand men and +horses. These will be instructed, in the absence of further +orders, to join you by the south side of the Potomac. One +brigade will probably start to-morrow. In pushing up the +Shenandoah Valley, where it is expected you will have to go +first or last, it is desirable that nothing should be left to +invite the enemy to return. Take all provisions, forage, and +stock wanted for the use of your command; such as cannot be +consumed, destroy. It is not desirable that the buildings +should be destroyed--they should rather be protected; but the +people should be informed that, so long as an army can subsist +among them, recurrence of theses raids must be expected, and we +are determined to stop them at all hazards.</p> + +<p>"Bear in mind, the object is to drive the enemy south; and to do +this you want to keep him always in sight. Be guided in your +course by the course he takes.</p> + +<p>"Make your own arrangements for supplies of all kinds, giving +regular vouchers for such as may be taken from loyal citizens in +the country through which you march.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL D. HUNTER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The troops were immediately put in motion, and the advance +reached Halltown that night.</p> + +<p>General Hunter having, in our conversation, expressed a +willingness to be relieved from command, I telegraphed to have +General Sheridan, then at Washington, sent to Harper's Ferry by +the morning train, with orders to take general command of all +the troops in the field, and to call on General Hunter at +Monocacy, who would turn over to him my letter of +instructions. I remained at Monocacy until General Sheridan +arrived, on the morning of the 6th, and, after a conference with +him in relation to military affairs in that vicinity, I returned +to City Point by way of Washington.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of August, the Middle Department, and the Departments +of West Virginia, Washington, and Susquehanna, were constituted +into the "Middle Military Division," and Major-General Sheridan +was assigned to temporary command of the same.</p> + +<p>Two divisions of cavalry, commanded by Generals Torbert and +Wilson, were sent to Sheridan from the Army of the Potomac. The +first reached him at Harper's Ferry about the 11th of August.</p> + +<p>His operations during the month of August and the fore part of +September were both of an offensive and defensive character, +resulting in many severe skirmishes, principally by the cavalry, +in which we were generally successful, but no general engagement +took place. The two armies lay in such a position--the enemy on +the west bank of the Opequon Creek covering Winchester, and our +forces in front of Berryville--that either could bring on a +battle at any time. Defeat to us would lay open to the enemy +the States of Maryland and Pennsylvania for long distances +before another army could be interposed to check him. Under +these circumstances I hesitated about allowing the initiative to +be taken. Finally, the use of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, +and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which were both obstructed by +the enemy, became so indispensably necessary to us, and the +importance of relieving Pennsylvania and Maryland from +continuously threatened invasion so great, that I determined the +risk should be taken. But fearing to telegraph the order for an +attack without knowing more than I did of General Sheridan's +feelings as to what would be the probable result, I left City +Point on the 15th of September to visit him at his headquarters, +to decide, after conference with him, what should be done. I met +him at Charlestown, and he pointed out so distinctly how each +army lay; what he could do the moment he was authorized, and +expressed such confidence of success, that I saw there were but +two words of instructions necessary--Go in! For the +conveniences of forage, the teams for supplying the army were +kept at Harper's Ferry. I asked him if he could get out his +teams and supplies in time to make an attack on the ensuing +Tuesday morning. His reply was, that he could before daylight +on Monday. He was off promptly to time, and I may here add, +that the result was such that I have never since deemed it +necessary to visit General Sheridan before giving him orders.</p> + +<p>Early on the morning of the 19th, General Sheridan attacked +General Early at the crossing on the Opequon Creek, and after a +most sanguinary and bloody battle, lasting until five o'clock in +the evening, defeated him with heavy loss, carrying his entire +position from Opequon Creek to Winchester, capturing several +thousand prisoners and five pieces of artillery. The enemy +rallied, and made a stand in a strong position at Fisher's Hill, +where he was attacked, and again defeated with heavy loss on the +20th [22d]. Sheridan pursued him with great energy through +Harrisonburg, Staunton, and the gaps of the Blue Ridge. After +stripping the upper valley of most of the supplies and +provisions for the rebel army, he returned to Strasburg, and +took position on the north side of Cedar Creek.</p> + +<p>Having received considerable reinforcements, General Early again +returned to the valley, and, on the 9th of October, his cavalry +encountered ours near Strasburg, where the rebels were defeated, +with the loss of eleven pieces of artillery and three hundred and +fifty prisoners. On the night of the 18th, the enemy crossed the +mountains which separate the branches of the Shenandoah, forded +the North Fork, and early on the morning of the 19th, under +cover of the darkness and the fog, surprised and turned our left +flank, and captured the batteries which enfiladed our whole +line. Our troops fell back with heavy loss and in much +confusion, but were finally rallied between Middletown and +Newtown. At this juncture, General Sheridan, who was at +Winchester when the battle commenced arrived on the field, +arranged his lines just in time to repulse a heavy attack of the +enemy, and immediately assuming the offensive, he attacked in +turn with great vigor. The enemy was defeated with great +slaughter, and the loss of most of his artillery and trains, and +the trophies he had captured in the morning. The wreck of his +army escaped during the night, and fled in the direction of +Staunton and Lynchburg. Pursuit was made to Mount Jackson. Thus +ended this, the enemy's last attempt to invade the North via the +Shenandoah Valley. I was now enabled to return the 6th corps to +the Army of the Potomac, and to send one division from Sheridan's +army to the Army of the James, and another to Savannah, Georgia, +to hold Sherman's new acquisitions on the sea-coast, and thus +enable him to move without detaching from his force for that +purpose.</p> + +<p>Reports from various sources led me to believe that the enemy +had detached three divisions from Petersburg to reinforce Early +in the Shenandoah Valley. I therefore sent the 2d corps and +Gregg's division of cavalry, of the Army of the Potomac, and a +force of General Butler's army, on the night of the 13th of +August, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James, +to prevent him from sending troops away, and, if possible, to +draw back those sent. In this move we captured six pieces of +artillery and several hundred prisoners, detained troops that +were under marching orders, and ascertained that but one +division (Kershaw's), of the three reputed detached, had gone.</p> + +<p>The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Petersburg to resist +this movement, the 5th corps, General Warren commanding, was +moved out on the 18th, and took possession of the Weldon +Railroad. During the day he had considerable fighting. To +regain possession of the road, the enemy made repeated and +desperate assaults, but was each time repulsed with great +loss. On the night of the 20th, the troops on the north side of +the James were withdrawn, and Hancock and Gregg returned to the +front at Petersburg. On the 25th, the 2d corps and Gregg's +division of cavalry, while at Reams's Station destroying the +railroad, were attacked, and after desperate fighting, a part of +our line gave way, and five pieces of artillery fell into the +hands of the enemy.</p> + +<p>By the 12th of September, a branch railroad was completed from +the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, +enabling us to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, the +army in front of Petersburg.</p> + +<p>The extension of our lines across the Weldon Railroad compelled +the enemy to so extend his, that it seemed he could have but few +troops north of the James for the defence of Richmond. On the +night of the 28th, the 10th corps, Major-General Birney, and the +18th corps, Major-General Ord commanding, of General Butler's +army, were crossed to the north side of the James, and advanced +on the morning of the 29th, carrying the very strong +fortifications and intrenchments below Chaffin's Farm, known as +Fort Harrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery, and the +New Market Road and intrenchments. This success was followed up +by a gallant assault upon Fort Gilmer, immediately in front of +the Chaffin Farm fortifications, in which we were repulsed with +heavy loss. Kautz's cavalry was pushed forward on the road to +the right of this, supported by infantry, and reached the +enemy's inner line, but was unable to get further. The position +captured from the enemy was so threatening to Richmond, that I +determined to hold it. The enemy made several desperate +attempts to dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, and for +which he paid dearly. On the morning of the 30th, General Meade +sent out a reconnoissance with a view to attacking the enemy's +line, if it was found sufficiently weakened by withdrawal of +troops to the north side. In this reconnoissance we captured +and held the enemy's works near Poplar Spring Church. In the +afternoon, troops moving to get to the left of the point gained +were attacked by the enemy in heavy force, and compelled to fall +back until supported by the forces holding the captured works. +Our cavalry under Gregg was also attacked, but repulsed the +enemy with great loss.</p> + +<p>On the 7th of October, the enemy attacked Kautz's cavalry north +of the James, and drove it back with heavy loss in killed, +wounded, and prisoners, and the loss of all the artillery eight +or nine pieces. This he followed up by an attack on our +intrenched infantry line, but was repulsed with severe +slaughter. On the 13th, a reconnoissance was sent out by +General Butler, with a view to drive the enemy from some new +works he was constructing, which resulted in very heavy loss to +us.</p> + +<p>On the 27th, the Army of the Potomac, leaving only sufficient +men to hold its fortified line, moved by the enemy's right +flank. The 2d corps, followed by two divisions of the 5th +corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering our left flank, +forced a passage of Hatcher's Run, and moved up the south side +of it towards the South Side Railroad, until the 2d corps and +part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it +crosses Hatcher's Run. At this point we were six miles distant +from the South Side Railroad, which I had hoped by this movement +to reach and hold. But finding that we had not reached the end +of the enemy's fortifications, and no place presenting itself +for a successful assault by which he might be doubled up and +shortened, I determined to withdraw to within our fortified +line. Orders were given accordingly. Immediately upon +receiving a report that General Warren had connected with +General Hancock, I returned to my headquarters. Soon after I +left the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, in the gap +between Generals Hancock and Warren, which was not closed as +reported, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right +and rear. General Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet +it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works, +and withdrew that night to his old position.</p> + +<p>In support of this movement, General Butler made a demonstration +on the north side of the James, and attacked the enemy on the +Williamsburg Road, and also on the York River Railroad. In the +former he was unsuccessful; in the latter he succeeded in +carrying a work which was afterwards abandoned, and his forces +withdrawn to their former positions.</p> + +<p>From this time forward the operations in front of Petersburg and +Richmond, until the spring campaign of 1865, were confined to the +defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements +for crippling the enemy's lines of communication, and to prevent +his detaching any considerable force to send south. By the 7th +of February, our lines were extended to Hatcher's Run, and the +Weldon Railroad had been destroyed to Hicksford.</p> + +<p>General Sherman moved from Chattanooga on the 6th of May, with +the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio, commanded, +respectively, by Generals Thomas McPherson, and Schofield, upon +Johnston's army at Dalton; but finding the enemy's position at +Buzzard's Roost, covering Dalton, too strong to be assaulted, +General McPherson was sent through Snake Gap to turn it, while +Generals Thomas and Schofield threatened it in front and on the +north. This movement was successful. Johnston, finding his +retreat likely to be cut off, fell back to his fortified +position at Resaca, where he was attacked on the afternoon of +May 15th. A heavy battle ensued. During the night the enemy +retreated south. Late on the 17th, his rear-guard was overtaken +near Adairsville, and heavy skirmishing followed. The next +morning, however, he had again disappeared. He was vigorously +pursued, and was overtaken at Cassville on the 19th, but during +the ensuing night retreated across the Etowah. While these +operations were going on, General Jefferson C. Davis's division +of Thomas's army was sent to Rome, capturing it with its forts +and artillery, and its valuable mills and foundries. General +Sherman, having give his army a few days' rest at this point, +again put it in motion on the 23d, for Dallas, with a view of +turning the difficult pass at Allatoona. On the afternoon of +the 25th, the advance, under General Hooker, had a severe battle +with the enemy, driving him back to New Hope Church, near +Dallas. Several sharp encounters occurred at this point. The +most important was on the 28th, when the enemy assaulted General +McPherson at Dallas, but received a terrible and bloody repulse.</p> + +<p>On the 4th of June, Johnston abandoned his intrenched position +at New Hope Church, and retreated to the strong positions of +Kenesaw, Pine, and Lost mountains. He was forced to yield the +two last-named places, and concentrate his army on Kenesaw, +where, on the 27th, Generals Thomas and McPherson made a +determined but unsuccessful assault. On the night of the 2d of +July, Sherman commenced moving his army by the right flank, and +on the morning of the 3d, found that the enemy, in consequence +of this movement, had abandoned Kenesaw and retreated across the +Chattahoochee.</p> + +<p>General Sherman remained on the Chattahoochee to give his men +rest and get up stores until the 17th of July, when he resumed +his operations, crossed the Chattahoochee, destroyed a large +portion of the railroad to Augusta, and drove the enemy back to +Atlanta. At this place General Hood succeeded General Johnston +in command of the rebel army, and assuming the +offensive-defensive policy, made several severe attacks upon +Sherman in the vicinity of Atlanta, the most desperate and +determined of which was on the 22d of July. About one P.M. of +this day the brave, accomplished, and noble-hearted McPherson +was killed. General Logan succeeded him, and commanded the Army +of the Tennessee through this desperate battle, and until he was +superseded by Major-General Howard, on the 26th, with the same +success and ability that had characterized him in the command of +a corps or division.</p> + +<p>In all these attacks the enemy was repulsed with great loss. +Finding it impossible to entirely invest the place, General +Sherman, after securing his line of communications across the +Chattahoochee, moved his main force round by the enemy's left +flank upon the Montgomery and Macon roads, to draw the enemy +from his fortifications. In this he succeeded, and after +defeating the enemy near Rough-and-Ready, Jonesboro, and +Lovejoy's, forcing him to retreat to the south, on the 2d of +September occupied Atlanta, the objective point of his campaign.</p> + +<p>About the time of this move, the rebel cavalry, under Wheeler, +attempted to cut his communications in the rear, but was +repulsed at Dalton, and driven into East Tennessee, whence it +proceeded west to McMinnville, Murfreesboro, and Franklin, and +was finally driven south of the Tennessee. The damage done by +this raid was repaired in a few days.</p> + +<p>During the partial investment of Atlanta, General Rousseau +joined General Sherman with a force of cavalry from Decatur, +having made a successful raid upon the Atlanta and Montgomery +Railroad, and its branches near Opelika. Cavalry raids were also +made by Generals McCook, Garrard, and Stoneman, to cut the +remaining Railroad communication with Atlanta. The first two +were successful the latter, disastrous.</p> + +<p>General Sherman's movement from Chattanooga to Atlanta was +prompt, skilful, and brilliant. The history of his flank +movements and battles during that memorable campaign will ever +be read with an interest unsurpassed by anything in history.</p> + +<p>His own report, and those of his subordinate commanders, +accompanying it, give the details of that most successful +campaign.</p> + +<p>He was dependent for the supply of his armies upon a +single-track railroad from Nashville to the point where he was +operating. This passed the entire distance through a hostile +country, and every foot of it had to be protected by troops. The +cavalry force of the enemy under Forrest, in Northern +Mississippi, was evidently waiting for Sherman to advance far +enough into the mountains of Georgia, to make a retreat +disastrous, to get upon this line and destroy it beyond the +possibility of further use. To guard against this danger, +Sherman left what he supposed to be a sufficient force to +operate against Forrest in West Tennessee. He directed General +Washburn, who commanded there, to send Brigadier-General S. D. +Sturgis in command of this force to attack him. On the morning +of the 10th of June, General Sturgis met the enemy near Guntown, +Mississippi, was badly beaten, and driven back in utter rout and +confusion to Memphis, a distance of about one hundred miles, +hotly pursued by the enemy. By this, however, the enemy was +defeated in his designs upon Sherman's line of communications. +The persistency with which he followed up this success exhausted +him, and made a season for rest and repairs necessary. In the +meantime, Major-General A. J. Smith, with the troops of the Army +of the Tennessee that had been sent by General Sherman to General +Banks, arrived at Memphis on their return from Red River, where +they had done most excellent service. He was directed by +General Sherman to immediately take the offensive against +Forrest. This he did with the promptness and effect which has +characterized his whole military career. On the 14th of July, +he met the enemy at Tupelo, Mississippi, and whipped him +badly. The fighting continued through three days. Our loss was +small compared with that of the enemy. Having accomplished the +object of his expedition, General Smith returned to Memphis.</p> + +<p>During the months of March and April this same force under +Forrest annoyed us considerably. On the 24th of March it +captured Union City, Kentucky, and its garrison, and on the 24th +attacked Paducah, commanded by Colonel S. G. Hicks, 40th Illinois +Volunteers. Colonel H., having but a small force, withdrew to +the forts near the river, from where he repulsed the enemy and +drove him from the place.</p> + +<p>On the 13th of April, part of this force, under the rebel +General Buford, summoned the garrison of Columbus, Kentucky, to +surrender, but received for reply from Colonel Lawrence, 34th +New Jersey Volunteers, that being placed there by his Government +with adequate force to hold his post and repel all enemies from +it, surrender was out of the question.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the same day Forrest attacked Fort Pillow, +Tennessee, garrisoned by a detachment of Tennessee cavalry and +the 1st Regiment Alabama colored troops, commanded by Major +Booth. The garrison fought bravely until about three o'clock in +the afternoon, when the enemy carried the works by assault; and, +after our men threw down their arms, proceeded to an inhuman and +merciless massacre of the garrison.</p> + +<p>On the 14th, General Buford, having failed at Columbus, appeared +before Paducah, but was again driven off.</p> + +<p>Guerillas and raiders, seemingly emboldened by Forrest's +operations, were also very active in Kentucky. The most noted +of these was Morgan. With a force of from two to three thousand +cavalry, he entered the State through Pound Gap in the latter +part of May. On the 11th of June they attacked and captured +Cynthiana, with its entire garrison. On the 12th he was +overtaken by General Burbridge, and completely routed with heavy +loss, and was finally driven out of the State. This notorious +guerilla was afterwards surprised and killed near Greenville, +Tennessee, and his command captured and dispersed by General +Gillem.</p> + +<p>In the absence of official reports of the commencement of the +Red River expedition, except so far as relates to the movements +of the troops sent by General Sherman under General A. J. Smith, +I am unable to give the date of its starting. The troops under +General Smith, comprising two divisions of the 16th and a +detachment of the 17th army corps, left Vicksburg on the 10th of +March, and reached the designated point on Red River one day +earlier than that appointed by General Banks. The rebel forces +at Fort de Russy, thinking to defeat him, left the fort on the +14th to give him battle in the open field; but, while occupying +the enemy with skirmishing and demonstrations, Smith pushed +forward to Fort de Russy, which had been left with a weak +garrison, and captured it with its garrison about three hundred +and fifty men, eleven pieces of artillery, and many +small-arms. Our loss was but slight. On the 15th he pushed +forward to Alexandria, which place he reached on the 18th. On +the 21st he had an engagement with the enemy at Henderson's +Hill, in which he defeated him, capturing two hundred and ten +prisoners and four pieces of artillery.</p> + +<p>On the 28th, he again attacked and defeated the enemy under the +rebel General Taylor, at Cane River. By the 26th, General Banks +had assembled his whole army at Alexandria, and pushed forward to +Grand Ecore. On the morning of April 6th he moved from Grand +Ecore. On the afternoon of the 7th, he advanced and met the +enemy near Pleasant Hill, and drove him from the field. On the +same afternoon the enemy made a stand eight miles beyond +Pleasant Hill, but was again compelled to retreat. On the 8th, +at Sabine Cross Roads and Peach Hill, the enemy attacked and +defeated his advance, capturing nineteen pieces of artillery and +an immense amount of transportation and stores. During the +night, General Banks fell back to Pleasant Hill, where another +battle was fought on the 9th, and the enemy repulsed with great +loss. During the night, General Banks continued his retrograde +movement to Grand Ecore, and thence to Alexandria, which he +reached on the 27th of April. Here a serious difficulty arose +in getting Admiral Porter's fleet which accompanied the +expedition, over the rapids, the water having fallen so much +since they passed up as to prevent their return. At the +suggestion of Colonel (now Brigadier-General) Bailey, and under +his superintendence, wing-dams were constructed, by which the +channel was contracted so that the fleet passed down the rapids +in safety.</p> + +<p>The army evacuated Alexandria on the 14th of May, after +considerable skirmishing with the enemy's advance, and reached +Morganzia and Point Coupee near the end of the month. The +disastrous termination of this expedition, and the lateness of +the season, rendered impracticable the carrying out of my plans +of a movement in force sufficient to insure the capture of +Mobile.</p> + +<p>On the 23d of March, Major-General Steele left Little Rock with +the 7th army corps, to cooperate with General Banks's +expedition on the Red River, and reached Arkadelphia on the +28th. On the 16th of April, after driving the enemy before him, +he was joined, near Elkin's Ferry, in Washita County, by General +Thayer, who had marched from Fort Smith. After several severe +skirmishes, in which the enemy was defeated, General Steele +reached Camden, which he occupied about the middle of April.</p> + +<p>On learning the defeat and consequent retreat of General Banks +on Red River, and the loss of one of his own trains at Mark's +Mill, in Dallas County, General Steele determined to fall back +to the Arkansas River. He left Camden on the 26th of April, and +reached Little Rock on the 2d of May. On the 30th of April, the +enemy attacked him while crossing Saline River at Jenkins's +Ferry, but was repulsed with considerable loss. Our loss was +about six hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners.</p> + +<p>Major-General Canby, who had been assigned to the command of the +"Military Division of the West Mississippi," was therefore +directed to send the 19th army corps to join the armies +operating against Richmond, and to limit the remainder of his +command to such operations as might be necessary to hold the +positions and lines of communications he then occupied.</p> + +<p>Before starting General A. J. Smith's troops back to Sherman, +General Canby sent a part of it to disperse a force of the enemy +that was collecting near the Mississippi River. General Smith +met and defeated this force near Lake Chicot on the 5th of +June. Our loss was about forty killed and seventy wounded.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of July, General Canby sent Major-General +Gordon Granger, with such forces as he could collect, to +co-operate with Admiral Farragut against the defences of Mobile +Bay. On the 8th of August, Fort Gaines surrendered to the +combined naval and land forces. Fort Powell was blown up and +abandoned.</p> + +<p>On the 9th, Fort Morgan was invested, and, after a severe +bombardment, surrendered on the 23d. The total captures +amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty-four prisoners, +and one hundred and four pieces of artillery.</p> + +<p>About the last of August, it being reported that the rebel +General Price, with a force of about ten thousand men, had +reached Jacksonport, on his way to invade Missouri, General A. +J. Smith's command, then en route from Memphis to join Sherman, +was ordered to Missouri. A cavalry force was also, at the same +time, sent from Memphis, under command of Colonel Winslow. This +made General Rosecrans's forces superior to those of Price, and +no doubt was entertained he would be able to check Price and +drive him back; while the forces under General Steele, in +Arkansas, would cut off his retreat. On the 26th day of +September, Price attacked Pilot Knob and forced the garrison to +retreat, and thence moved north to the Missouri River, and +continued up that river towards Kansas. General Curtis, +commanding Department of Kansas, immediately collected such +forces as he could to repel the invasion of Kansas, while +General Rosecrans's cavalry was operating in his rear.</p> + +<p>The enemy was brought to battle on the Big Blue and defeated, +with the loss of nearly all his artillery and trains and a large +number of prisoners. He made a precipitate retreat to Northern +Arkansas. The impunity with which Price was enabled to roam +over the State of Missouri for a long time, and the incalculable +mischief done by him, show to how little purpose a superior force +may be used. There is no reason why General Rosecrans should not +have concentrated his forces, and beaten and driven Price before +the latter reached Pilot Knob.</p> + +<p>September 20th, the enemy's cavalry, under Forrest, crossed the +Tennessee near Waterloo, Alabama, and on the 23d attacked the +garrison at Athens, consisting of six hundred men, which +capitulated on the 24th. Soon after the surrender two regiments +of reinforcements arrived, and after a severe fight were +compelled to surrender. Forrest destroyed the railroad +westward, captured the garrison at Sulphur Branch trestle, +skirmished with the garrison at Pulaski on the 27th, and on the +same day cut the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad near +Tullahoma and Dechard. On the morning of the 30th, one column +of Forrest's command, under Buford, appeared before Huntsville, +and summoned the surrender of the garrison. Receiving an answer +in the negative, he remained in the vicinity of the place until +next morning, when he again summoned its surrender, and received +the same reply as on the night before. He withdrew in the +direction of Athens which place had been regarrisoned, and +attacked it on the afternoon of the 1st of October, but without +success. On the morning of the 2d he renewed his attack, but +was handsomely repulsed.</p> + +<p>Another column under Forrest appeared before Columbia on the +morning of the 1st, but did not make an attack. On the morning +of the 3d he moved towards Mount Pleasant. While these +operations were going on, every exertion was made by General +Thomas to destroy the forces under Forrest before he could +recross the Tennessee, but was unable to prevent his escape to +Corinth, Mississippi.</p> + +<p>In September, an expedition under General Burbridge was sent to +destroy the saltworks at Saltville, Virginia. He met the enemy +on the 2d of October, about three miles and a half from +Saltville, and drove him into his strongly intrenched position +around the salt-works, from which he was unable to dislodge +him. During the night he withdrew his command and returned to +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>General Sherman, immediately after the fall of Atlanta, put his +armies in camp in and about the place, and made all preparations +for refitting and supplying them for future service. The great +length of road from Atlanta to the Cumberland River, however, +which had to be guarded, allowed the troops but little rest.</p> + +<p>During this time Jefferson Davis made a speech in Macon, +Georgia, which was reported in the papers of the South, and soon +became known to the whole country, disclosing the plans of the +enemy, thus enabling General Sherman to fully meet them. He +exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been +beaten and fearfully decimated in a vain attempt at the +defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against +the army that had so often defeated it.</p> + +<p>In execution of this plan, Hood, with this army, was soon +reported to the south-west of Atlanta. Moving far to Sherman's +right, he succeeded in reaching the railroad about Big Shanty, +and moved north on it.</p> + +<p>General Sherman, leaving a force to hold Atlanta, with the +remainder of his army fell upon him and drove him to Gadsden, +Alabama. Seeing the constant annoyance he would have with the +roads to his rear if he attempted to hold Atlanta, General +Sherman proposed the abandonment and destruction of that place, +with all the railroads leading to it, and telegraphed me as +follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CENTREVILLE, GEORGIA +<br>"October 10--noon.</p> + +<p>"Dispatch about Wilson just received. Hood is now crossing +Coosa River, twelve miles below Rome, bound west. If he passes +over the Mobile and Ohio road, had I not better execute the plan +of my letter sent by Colonel Porter, and leave General Thomas +with the troops now in Tennessee to defend the State? He will +have an ample force when the reinforcements ordered reach +Nashville.</p> + +<p>"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +For a full understanding of the plan referred to in this +dispatch, I quote from the letter sent by Colonel Porter:</p> + +<p>"I will therefore give my opinion, that your army and Canby's +should be reinforced to the maximum; that after you get +Wilmington, you strike for Savannah and the river; that Canby be +instructed to hold the Mississippi River, and send a force to get +Columbus, Georgia, either by the way of the Alabama or the +Appalachicola, and that I keep Hood employed and put my army in +final order for a march on Augusta, Columbia, and Charleston, to +be ready as soon as Wilmington is sealed as to commerce and the +city of Savannah is in our possession." This was in reply to a +letter of mine of date September 12th, in answer to a dispatch +of his containing substantially the same proposition, and in +which I informed him of a proposed movement against Wilmington, +and of the situation in Virginia, etc.</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA,</p> + +<p>"October 11, 1864--11 A.M.</p> + +<p>"Your dispatch of October 10th received. Does it not look as if +Hood was going to attempt the invasion of Middle Tennessee, using +the Mobile and Ohio and Memphis and Charleston roads to supply +his base on the Tennessee River, about Florence or Decatur? If +he does this, he ought to be met and prevented from getting +north of the Tennessee River. If you were to cut loose, I do +not believe you would meet Hood's army, but would be bushwhacked +by all the old men and little boys, and such railroad guards as +are still left at home. Hood would probably strike for +Nashville, thinking that by going north he could inflict greater +damage upon us than we could upon the rebels by going south. If +there is any way of getting at Hood's army, I would prefer that, +but I must trust to your own judgment. I find I shall not be +able to send a force from here to act with you on Savannah. Your +movements, therefore, will be independent of mine; at least until +the fall of Richmond takes place. I am afraid Thomas, with such +lines of road as he has to protect, could not prevent Hood from +going north. With Wilson turned loose, with all your cavalry, +you will find the rebels put much more on the defensive than +heretofore.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"KINGSTON, GEORGIA, +<br>"October 11--11 A.M.</p> + +<p>"Hood moved his army from Palmetto Station across by Dallas and +Cedartown, and is now on the Coosa River, south of Rome. He +threw one corps on my road at Acworth, and I was forced to +follow. I hold Atlanta with the 20th corps, and have strong +detachments along my line. This reduces my active force to a +comparatively small army. We cannot remain here on the +defensive. With the twenty-five thousand men, and the bold +cavalry he has, he can constantly break my roads. I would +infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road, and of the +country from Chattanooga to Atlanta including the latter city +send back all my wounded and worthless, and with my effective +army, move through Georgia, smashing things, to the sea. Hood +may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky, but I believe he will be +forced to follow me. Instead of my being on the defensive, I +would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means +to do, he would have to guess at my plans. The difference in +war is full twenty-five per cent. I can make Savannah, +Charleston, or the mouth of the Chattahoochee.</p> + +<p>"Answer quick, as I know we will not have the telegraph long.</p> + +<p>"W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<br><br><br><br> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>"October 11,1864--11.30 P.M.</p> + +<p>"Your dispatch of to-day received. If you are satisfied the +trip to the sea-coast can be made, holding the line of the +Tennessee River firmly, you may make it, destroying all the +railroad south of Dalton or Chattanooga, as you think best.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +It was the original design to hold Atlanta, and by getting +through to the coast, with a garrison left on the southern +railroads, leading east and west, through Georgia, to +effectually sever the east from the west. In other words, cut +the would-be Confederacy in two again, as it had been cut once +by our gaining possession of the Mississippi River. General +Sherman's plan virtually effected this object.</p> + +<p>General Sherman commenced at once his preparations for his +proposed movement, keeping his army in position in the meantime +to watch Hood. Becoming satisfied that Hood had moved westward +from Gadsden across Sand Mountain, General Sherman sent the 4th +corps, Major-General Stanley commanding, and the 23d corps, +Major-General Schofield commanding, back to Chattanooga to +report to Major-General Thomas, at Nashville, whom he had placed +in command of all the troops of his military division, save the +four army corps and cavalry division he designed to move with +through Georgia. With the troops thus left at his disposal, +there was little doubt that General Thomas could hold the line +of the Tennessee, or, in the event Hood should force it, would +be able to concentrate and beat him in battle. It was therefore +readily consented to that Sherman should start for the sea-coast.</p> + +<p>Having concentrated his troops at Atlanta by the 14th of +November, he commenced his march, threatening both Augusta and +Macon. His coming-out point could not be definitely fixed. +Having to gather his subsistence as he marched through the +country, it was not impossible that a force inferior to his own +might compel him to head for such point as he could reach, +instead of such as he might prefer. The blindness of the enemy, +however, in ignoring his movement, and sending Hood's army, the +only considerable force he had west of Richmond and east of the +Mississippi River, northward on an offensive campaign, left the +whole country open, and Sherman's route to his own choice.</p> + +<p>How that campaign was conducted, how little opposition was met +with, the condition of the country through which the armies +passed, the capture of Fort McAllister, on the Savannah River, +and the occupation of Savannah on the 21st of December, are all +clearly set forth in General Sherman's admirable report.</p> + +<p>Soon after General Sherman commenced his march from Atlanta, two +expeditions, one from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and one from +Vicksburg, Mississippi, were started by General Canby to cut the +enemy's lines of communication with Mobile and detain troops in +that field. General Foster, commanding Department of the South, +also sent an expedition, via Broad River, to destroy the railroad +between Charleston and Savannah. The expedition from Vicksburg, +under command of Brevet Brigadier-General E. D. Osband (colonel +3d United States colored cavalry), captured, on the 27th of +November, and destroyed the Mississippi Central Railroad bridge +and trestle-work over Big Black River, near Canton, thirty miles +of the road, and two locomotives, besides large amounts of +stores. The expedition from Baton Rouge was without favorable +results. The expedition from the Department of the South, under +the immediate command of Brigadier-General John P. Hatch, +consisting of about five thousand men of all arms, including a +brigade from the navy, proceeded up Broad River and debarked at +Boyd's Neck on the 29th of November, from where it moved to +strike the railroad at Grahamsville. At Honey Hill, about three +miles from Grahamsville, the enemy was found and attacked in a +strongly fortified position, which resulted, after severe +fighting, in our repulse with a loss of seven hundred and +forty-six in killed, wounded, and missing. During the night +General Hatch withdrew. On the 6th of December General Foster +obtained a position covering the Charleston and Savannah +Railroad, between the Coosawhatchie and Tulifinny rivers.</p> + +<p>Hood, instead of following Sherman, continued his move +northward, which seemed to me to be leading to his certain +doom. At all events, had I had the power to command both +armies, I should not have changed the orders under which he +seemed to be acting. On the 26th of October, the advance of +Hood's army attacked the garrison at Decatur, Alabama, but +failing to carry the place, withdrew towards Courtland, and +succeeded, in the face of our cavalry, in effecting a lodgment +on the north side of the Tennessee River, near Florence. On the +28th, Forrest reached the Tennessee, at Fort Heiman, and captured +a gunboat and three transports. On the 2d of November he planted +batteries above and below Johnsonville, on the opposite side of +the river, isolating three gunboats and eight transports. On +the 4th the enemy opened his batteries upon the place, and was +replied to from the gunboats and the garrison. The gunboats +becoming disabled were set on fire, as also were the transports, +to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. About a +million and a half dollars' worth of store and property on the +levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire. On the 5th the +enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee +River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and +subsequently joined Hood. On the night of the 5th, General +Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached +Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to +Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with +instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his +advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival +of General A. J. Smith's command from Missouri, and until +General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.</p> + +<p>On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance. General +Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards +Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and +gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements. The enemy +coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield, +at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during +the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance +repulsed. His loss in this battle was one thousand seven +hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and +three thousand eight hundred wounded. Among his losses were six +general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured. Our +entire loss was two thousand three hundred. This was the first +serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was +the fatal blow to all his expectations. During the night, +General Schofield fell back towards Nashville. This left the +field to the enemy--not lost by battle, but voluntarily +abandoned--so that General Thomas's whole force might be brought +together. The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment +of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the +Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, +General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the +troops of General A. J. Smith's command, and such other troops +as he could spare. The advance of this reinforcement reached +Nashville on the 30th of November.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked +Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated +and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in +our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners, +including four general officers.</p> + +<p>Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it +appeared to me, the unnecessary delay. This impatience was +increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of +cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky. I feared Hood +would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there. +After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately +assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters +there in person. Reaching Washington City, I received General +Thomas's dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the +result as far as the battle had progressed. I was delighted. +All fears and apprehensions were dispelled. I am not yet +satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the +appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to +fortify, should have moved out with his whole force and given +him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which +delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it +impracticable to attack earlier than he did. But his final +defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a +vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.</p> + +<p>After Hood's defeat at Nashville he retreated, closely pursued +by cavalry and infantry, to the Tennessee River, being forced to +abandon many pieces of artillery and most of his +transportation. On the 28th of December our advanced forces +ascertained that he had made good his escape to the south side +of the river.</p> + +<p>About this time, the rains having set in heavily in Tennessee +and North Alabama, making it difficult to move army +transportation and artillery, General Thomas stopped the pursuit +by his main force at the Tennessee River. A small force of +cavalry, under Colonel W. J. Palmer, 15th Pennsylvania +Volunteers, continued to follow Hood for some distance, +capturing considerable transportation and all the enemy's +pontoon-bridge. The details of these operations will be found +clearly set forth in General Thomas's report.</p> + +<p>A cavalry expedition, under Brevet Major-General Grierson, +started from Memphis on the 21st of December. On the 25th he +surprised and captured Forrest's dismounted camp at Verona, +Mississippi, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, destroyed the +railroad, sixteen cars loaded with wagons and pontoons for +Hood's army, four thousand new English carbines, and large +amounts of public stores. On the morning of the 28th he +attacked and captured a force of the enemy at Egypt, and +destroyed a train of fourteen cars; thence turning to the +south-west, he struck the Mississippi Central Railroad at +Winona, destroyed the factories and large amounts of stores at +Bankston, and the machine-shops and public property at Grenada, +arriving at Vicksburg January 5th.</p> + +<p>During the operations in Middle Tennessee, the enemy, with a +force under General Breckinridge, entered East Tennessee. On +the 13th of November he attacked General Gillem, near +Morristown, capturing his artillery and several hundred +prisoners. Gillem, with what was left of his command, retreated +to Knoxville. Following up his success, Breckinridge moved to +near Knoxville, but withdrew on the 18th, followed by General +Ammen. Under the directions of General Thomas, General Stoneman +concentrated the commands of Generals Burbridge and Gillem near +Bean's Station to operate against Breckinridge, and destroy or +drive him into Virginia--destroy the salt-works at Saltville, +and the railroad into Virginia as far as he could go without +endangering his command. On the 12th of December he commenced +his movement, capturing and dispersing the enemy's forces +wherever he met them. On the 16th he struck the enemy, under +Vaughn, at Marion, completely routing and pursuing him to +Wytheville, capturing all his artillery, trains, and one hundred +and ninety-eight prisoners; and destroyed Wytheville, with its +stores and supplies, and the extensive lead-works near there. +Returning to Marion, he met a force under Breckinridge, +consisting, among other troops, of the garrison of Saltville, +that had started in pursuit. He at once made arrangements to +attack it the next morning; but morning found Breckinridge +gone. He then moved directly to Saltville, and destroyed the +extensive salt-works at that place, a large amount of stores, +and captured eight pieces of artillery. Having thus +successfully executed his instructions, he returned General +Burbridge to Lexington and General Gillem to Knoxville.</p> + +<p>Wilmington, North Carolina, was the most important sea-coast +port left to the enemy through which to get supplies from +abroad, and send cotton and other products out by +blockade-runners, besides being a place of great strategic +value. The navy had been making strenuous exertions to seal the +harbor of Wilmington, but with only partial effect. The nature +of the outlet of Cape Fear River was such, that it required +watching for so great a distance that, without possession of the +land north of New Inlet, or Fort Fisher, it was impossible for +the navy to entirely close the harbor against the entrance of +blockade-runners.</p> + +<p>To secure the possession of this land required the co-operation +of a land force, which I agreed to furnish. Immediately +commenced the assemblage in Hampton Roads, under Admiral D. D. +Porter, of the most formidable armada ever collected for +concentration upon one given point. This necessarily attracted +the attention of the enemy, as well as that of the loyal North; +and through the imprudence of the public press, and very likely +of officers of both branches of service, the exact object of the +expedition became a subject of common discussion in the +newspapers both North and South. The enemy, thus warned, +prepared to meet it. This caused a postponement of the +expedition until the later part of November, when, being again +called upon by Hon. G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, +I agreed to furnish the men required at once, and went myself, +in company with Major-General Butler, to Hampton Roads, where we +had a conference with Admiral Porter as to the force required and +the time of starting. A force of six thousand five hundred men +was regarded as sufficient. The time of starting was not +definitely arranged, but it was thought all would be ready by +the 6th of December, if not before. Learning, on the 30th of +November, that Bragg had gone to Georgia, taking with him most +of the forces about Wilmington, I deemed it of the utmost +importance that the expedition should reach its destination +before the return of Bragg, and directed General Butler to make +all arrangements for the departure of Major-General Weitzel, who +had been designated to command the land forces, so that the navy +might not be detained one moment.</p> + +<p>On the 6th of December, the following instructions were given:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: The first object of the expedition under General +Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If +successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington +itself. There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if +advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the +enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The +directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the +expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of +where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be +taken. The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting +a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the +Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river. Should such +landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and +the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the +troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the +navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in +our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of +Wilmington would be sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point of +land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops +immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to +capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise. If time is +consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the +second will become a matter of after consideration.</p> + +<p>"The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer +immediately in command of the troops.</p> + +<p>"Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a +landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the +armies operating against Richmond without delay.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +General Butler commanding the army from which the troops were +taken for this enterprise, and the territory within which they +were to operate, military courtesy required that all orders and +instructions should go through him. They were so sent, but +General Weitzel has since officially informed me that he never +received the foregoing instructions, nor was he aware of their +existence, until he read General Butler's published official +report of the Fort Fisher failure, with my indorsement and +papers accompanying it. I had no idea of General Butler's +accompanying the expedition until the evening before it got off +from Bermuda Hundred, and then did not dream but that General +Weitzel had received all the instructions, and would be in +command. I rather formed the idea that General Butler was +actuated by a desire to witness the effect of the explosion of +the powder-boat. The expedition was detained several days at +Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading of the powder-boat.</p> + +<p>The importance of getting the Wilmington expedition off without +any delay, with or without the powder-boat, had been urged upon +General Butler, and he advised to so notify Admiral Porter.</p> + +<p>The expedition finally got off on the 13th of December, and +arrived at the place of rendezvous, off New Inlet, near Fort +Fisher, on the evening of the 15th. Admiral Porter arrived on +the evening of the 18th, having put in at Beaufort to get +ammunition for the monitors. The sea becoming rough, making it +difficult to land troops, and the supply of water and coal being +about exhausted, the transport fleet put back to Beaufort to +replenish; this, with the state of the weather, delayed the +return to the place of rendezvous until the 24th. The +powder-boat was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the +return of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from +the notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that the +enemy were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion +until they were informed by the Northern press.</p> + +<p>On the 25th a landing was effected without opposition, and a +reconnoissance, under Brevet Brigadier-General Curtis, pushed up +towards the fort. But before receiving a full report of the +result of this reconnoissance, General Butler, in direct +violation of the instructions given, ordered the re-embarkation +of the troops and the return of the expedition. The +re-embarkation was accomplished by the morning of the 27th.</p> + +<p>On the return of the expedition officers and men among them +Brevet Major-General (then Brevet Brigadier-General) N. M. +Curtis, First-Lieutenant G. W. Ross, 117th Regiment New York +Volunteers, First-Lieutenant William H. Walling, and +Second-Lieutenant George Simpson, 142d New York Volunteers +voluntarily reported to me that when recalled they were nearly +into the fort, and, in their opinion, it could have been taken +without much loss.</p> + +<p>Soon after the return of the expedition, I received a dispatch +from the Secretary of the Navy, and a letter from Admiral +Porter, informing me that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, +and expressing the conviction that, under a proper leader, the +place could be taken. The natural supposition with me was, that +when the troops abandoned the expedition, the navy would do so +also. Finding it had not, however, I answered on the 30th of +December, advising Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would +send a force and make another attempt to take the place. This +time I selected Brevet Major-General (now Major-General) A. H. +Terry to command the expedition. The troops composing it +consisted of the same that composed the former, with the +addition of a small brigade, numbering about one thousand five +hundred, and a small siege train. The latter it was never found +necessary to land. I communicated direct to the commander of the +expedition the following instructions:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: The expedition intrusted to your command has been +fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N. C., +and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then +proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet +lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself +and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic +Blockading Squadron.</p> + +<p>"It is exceedingly desirable that the most complete +understanding should exist between yourself and the naval +commander. I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral +Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each +branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of +action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid down +in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that +you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he +proposes. I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is +consistent with your own responsibilities. The first object to +be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on +which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against +that fort. You want to look to the practicability of receiving +your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces +sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If +such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will +not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another +plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.</p> + +<p>"My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought +to run a portion of their fleet into Cape Fear River, while the +balance of it operates on the outside. Land forces cannot +invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or +reinforcements, while the river is in possession of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort +Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required. All other +supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.</p> + +<p>"Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is +assured. When you find they can be spared, order them back, or +such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for +orders.</p> + +<p>"In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back +to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further +instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.</p> + +<p>"General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops +to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops +will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels +until you are heard from. Should you require them, they will be +sent to you.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Comstock, aide-de-camp (now brevet +brigadier-general), who accompanied the former expedition, was +assigned, in orders, as chief-engineer to this.</p> + +<p>It will be seen that these instructions did not differ +materially from those given for the first expedition, and that +in neither instance was there an order to assault Fort Fisher. +This was a matter left entirely to the discretion of the +commanding officer.</p> + +<p>The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the +6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, +where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until +the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its +destination that evening. Under cover of the fleet, the +disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the +13th, and by three o'clock P.M. was completed without loss. On +the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred +yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession +of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that +might be made from the fort. This reconnoissance disclosed the +fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by +the navy fire. In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was +assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with +its entire garrison and armament. Thus was secured, by the +combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important +successes of the war. Our loss was: killed, one hundred and +ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six. On the 16th and the +17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works +on Smith's Island, which were immediately occupied by us. This +gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.</p> + +<p>At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and +Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of +Virginia and North Carolina.</p> + +<p>The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the +force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now +threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation +for General Thomas's surplus troops--fields from which they +would co-operate with other movements. General Thomas was +therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold +his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders. On the +7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of +the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General +Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as +possible. This direction was promptly complied with, and the +advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same +month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern. On the +26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith's command and a +division of cavalry to report to General Canby. By the 7th of +February the whole force was en route for its destination.</p> + +<p>The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military +department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and +placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman. The following +instructions were given him:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:-- ******** Your movements are intended as +co-operative with Sherman's through the States of South and +North Carolina. The first point to be attained is to secure +Wilmington. Goldsboro' will then be your objective point, +moving either from Wilmington or New Bern, or both, as you deem +best. Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro', you will +advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place +with the sea-coast--as near to it as you can, building the road +behind you. The enterprise under you has two objects: the +first is to give General Sherman material aid, if needed, in his +march north; the second, to open a base of supplies for him on +his line of march. As soon, therefore, as you can determine +which of the two points, Wilmington or New Bern, you can best +use for throwing supplies from, to the interior, you will +commence the accumulation of twenty days' rations and forage for +sixty thousand men and twenty thousand animals. You will get of +these as many as you can house and protect to such point in the +interior as you may be able to occupy. I believe General Palmer +has received some instructions direct from General Sherman on the +subject of securing supplies for his army. You will learn what +steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions +accordingly. A supply of ordnance stores will also be necessary.</p> + +<p>"Make all requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective +departments in the field with me at City Point. Communicate +with me by every opportunity, and should you deem it necessary +at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which +point you can communicate by telegraph.</p> + +<p>"The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of +those required for your own command.</p> + +<p>"The movements of the enemy may justify, or even make it your +imperative duty, to cut loose from your base, and strike for the +interior to aid Sherman. In such case you will act on your own +judgment without waiting for instructions. You will report, +however, what you purpose doing. The details for carrying out +these instructions are necessarily left to you. I would urge, +however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to +the importance of it, prompt action. Sherman may be looked for +in the neighborhood of Goldsboro' any time from the 22d to the +28th of February; this limits your time very materially.</p> + +<p>"If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, +it can be supplied from Washington. A large force of railroad +men have already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will +go to Fort Fisher in a day or two. On this point I have informed +you by telegraph.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL J. M. SCHOFIELD."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Previous to giving these instructions I had visited Fort Fisher, +accompanied by General Schofield, for the purpose of seeing for +myself the condition of things, and personally conferring with +General Terry and Admiral Porter as to what was best to be done.</p> + +<p>Anticipating the arrival of General Sherman at Savannah his army +entirely foot-loose, Hood being then before Nashville, Tennessee, +the Southern railroads destroyed, so that it would take several +months to re-establish a through line from west to east, and +regarding the capture of Lee's army as the most important +operation towards closing the rebellion--I sent orders to +General Sherman on the 6th of December, that after establishing +a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison, to include all +his artillery and cavalry, to come by water to City Point with +the balance of his command.</p> + +<p>On the 18th of December, having received information of the +defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by General Thomas, and +that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean +transportation, it would take over two months to transport +Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as +much towards the desired result by operating from where he was, +I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to +what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a +communication from General Sherman, of date 16th December, +acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing +me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he +could get transportation. Also that he had expected, upon +reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South +Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but +that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of +Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the +middle of January. The confidence he manifested in this letter +of being able to march up and join me pleased me, and, without +waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on +the 28th of December, to make preparations to start as he +proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and +South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond +as soon as he could.</p> + +<p>On the 21st of January I informed General Sherman that I had +ordered the 23d corps, Major-General Schofield commanding, +east; that it numbered about twenty-one thousand men; that we +had at Fort Fisher, about eight thousand men; at New Bern, about +four thousand; that if Wilmington was captured, General Schofield +would go there; if not, he would be sent to New Bern; that, in +either event, all the surplus force at both points would move to +the interior towards Goldsboro', in co-operation with his +movement; that from either point railroad communication could be +run out; and that all these troops would be subject to his orders +as he came into communication with them.</p> + +<p>In obedience to his instructions, General Schofield proceeded to +reduce Wilmington, North Carolina, in co-operation with the navy +under Admiral Porter, moving his forces up both sides of the +Cape Fear River. Fort Anderson, the enemy's main defence on the +west bank of the river, was occupied on the morning of the 19th, +the enemy having evacuated it after our appearance before it.</p> + +<p>After fighting on 20th and 21st, our troops entered Wilmington +on the morning of the 22d, the enemy having retreated towards +Goldsboro' during the night. Preparations were at once made for +a movement on Goldsboro' in two columns--one from Wilmington, and +the other from New Bern--and to repair the railroad leading there +from each place, as well as to supply General Sherman by Cape +Fear River, towards Fayetteville, if it became necessary. The +column from New Bern was attacked on the 8th of March, at Wise's +Forks, and driven back with the loss of several hundred +prisoners. On the 11th the enemy renewed his attack upon our +intrenched position, but was repulsed with severe loss, and fell +back during the night. On the 14th the Neuse River was crossed +and Kinston occupied, and on the 21st Goldsboro' was entered. +The column from Wilmington reached Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse +River, ten miles above Goldsboro', on the 22d.</p> + +<p>By the 1st of February, General Sherman's whole army was in +motion from Savannah. He captured Columbia, South Carolina, on +the 17th; thence moved on Goldsboro', North Carolina, via +Fayetteville, reaching the latter place on the 12th of March, +opening up communication with General Schofield by way of Cape +Fear River. On the 15th he resumed his march on Goldsboro'. He +met a force of the enemy at Averysboro', and after a severe fight +defeated and compelled it to retreat. Our loss in this +engagement was about six hundred. The enemy's loss was much +greater. On the 18th the combined forces of the enemy, under +Joe Johnston, attacked his advance at Bentonville, capturing +three guns and driving it back upon the main body. General +Slocum, who was in the advance ascertaining that the whole of +Johnston's army was in the front, arranged his troops on the +defensive, intrenched himself and awaited reinforcements, which +were pushed forward. On the night of the 21st the enemy +retreated to Smithfield, leaving his dead and wounded in our +hands. From there Sherman continued to Goldsboro', which place +had been occupied by General Schofield on the 21st (crossing the +Neuse River ten miles above there, at Cox's Bridge, where General +Terry had got possession and thrown a pontoon-bridge on the 22d), +thus forming a junction with the columns from New Bern and +Wilmington.</p> + +<p>Among the important fruits of this campaign was the fall of +Charleston, South Carolina. It was evacuated by the enemy on the +night of the 17th of February, and occupied by our forces on the +18th.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 31st of January, General Thomas was +directed to send a cavalry expedition, under General Stoneman, +from East Tennessee, to penetrate South Carolina well down +towards Columbia, to destroy the railroads and military +resources of the country, and return, if he was able, to East +Tennessee by way of Salisbury, North Carolina, releasing our +prisoners there, if possible. Of the feasibility of this +latter, however, General Stoneman was to judge. Sherman's +movements, I had no doubt, would attract the attention of all +the force the enemy could collect, and facilitate the execution +of this. General Stoneman was so late in making his start on +this expedition (and Sherman having passed out of the State of +South Carolina), on the 27th of February I directed General +Thomas to change his course, and order him to repeat his raid of +last fall, destroying the railroad towards Lynchburg as far as he +could. This would keep him between our garrisons in East +Tennessee and the enemy. I regarded it not impossible that in +the event of the enemy being driven from Richmond, he might fall +back to Lynchburg and attempt a raid north through East +Tennessee. On the 14th of February the following communication +was sent to General Thomas:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 14, 1865.</p> + +<p>"General Canby is preparing a movement from Mobile Bay against +Mobile and the interior of Alabama. His force will consist of +about twenty thousand men, besides A. J. Smith's command. The +cavalry you have sent to Canby will be debarked at Vicksburg. +It, with the available cavalry already in that section, will +move from there eastward, in co-operation. Hood's army has been +terribly reduced by the severe punishment you gave it in +Tennessee, by desertion consequent upon their defeat, and now by +the withdrawal of many of them to oppose Sherman. (I take it a +large portion of the infantry has been so withdrawn. It is so +asserted in the Richmond papers, and a member of the rebel +Congress said a few days since in a speech, that one-half of it +had been brought to South Carolina to oppose Sherman.) This +being true, or even if it is not true, Canby's movement will +attract all the attention of the enemy, and leave the advance +from your standpoint easy. I think it advisable, therefore, +that you prepare as much of a cavalry force as you can spare, +and hold it in readiness to go south. The object would be +threefold: first, to attract as much of the enemy's force as +possible, to insure success to Canby; second, to destroy the +enemy's line of communications and military resources; third, to +destroy or capture their forces brought into the field. +Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably be the points to direct the +expedition against. This, however, would not be so important as +the mere fact of penetrating deep into Alabama. Discretion +should be left to the officer commanding the expedition to go +where, according to the information he may receive, he will best +secure the objects named above.</p> + +<p>"Now that your force has been so much depleted, I do not know +what number of men you can put into the field. If not more than +five thousand men, however, all cavalry, I think it will be +sufficient. It is not desirable that you should start this +expedition until the one leaving Vicksburg has been three or +four days out, or even a week. I do not know when it will +start, but will inform you by telegraph as soon as I learn. If +you should hear through other sources before hearing from me, +you can act on the information received.</p> + +<p>"To insure success your cavalry should go with as little +wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for +supplies. I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery, +or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns +taken. No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight +horses.</p> + +<p>"Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force +you think you will be able to send under these directions.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon +after the 20th as he could get it off.</p> + +<p>I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement +of the armies operating against Richmond, that all +communications with the city, north of James River, should be +cut off. The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from +the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent +from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable, +whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the +enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which, +if successful. would accomplish the first at least, and possibly +the latter of the objects. I therefore telegraphed General +Sheridan as follows:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865--1 P.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will +have no difficulty about reaching Lychburg with a cavalry force +alone. From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in +every direction, so as to be of no further use to the +rebellion. Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look +after Mosby's gang. From Lynchburg, if information you might +get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the +streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and +join General Sherman. This additional raid, with one now about +starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or +give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or +eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then +thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight +thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, +Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out +the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to +leave mothing for the rebellion to stand upon. I would advise +you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this. Charleston +was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, +inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him +definite information as to the points he might be expected to +move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina. In answer, the +following telegram was sent him:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--Sherman's movements will depend on the amount of +opposition he meets with from the enemy. If strongly opposed, +he may possibly have to fall back to Georgetown, S. C., and fit +out for a new start. I think, however, all danger for the +necessity of going to that point has passed. I believe he has +passed Charlotte. He may take Fayetteville on his way to +Goldsboro'. If you reach Lynchburg, you will have to be guided +in your after movements by the information you obtain. Before +you could possibly reach Sherman, I think you would find him +moving from Goldsboro' towards Raleigh, or engaging the enemy +strongly posted at one or the other of these places, with +railroad communications opened from his army to Wilmington or +New Bern.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + + +<p> +General Sheridan moved from Winchester on the 27th of February, +with two divisions of cavalry, numbering about five thousand +each. On the 1st of March he secured the bridge, which the +enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the +Shenandoah, at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d, +the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro'. Thence he pushed on +to Waynesboro', where he found the enemy in force in an +intrenched position, under General Early. Without stopping to +make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was made, the +position was carried, and sixteen hundred prisoners, eleven +pieces of artillery, with horses and caissons complete, two +hundred wagons and teams loaded with subsistence, and seventeen +battle-flags, were captured. The prisoners, under an escort of +fifteen hundred men, were sent back to Winchester. Thence he +marched on Charlottesville, destroying effectually the railroad +and bridges as he went, which place he reached on the 3d. Here +he remained two days, destroying the railroad towards Richmond +and Lynchburg, including the large iron bridges over the north +and south forks of the Rivanna River and awaited the arrival of +his trains. This necessary delay caused him to abandon the idea +of capturing Lynchburg. On the morning of the 6th, dividing his +force into two columns, he sent one to Scottsville, whence it +marched up the James River Canal to New Market, destroying every +lock, and in many places the bank of the canal. From here a +force was pushed out from this column to Duiguidsville, to +obtain possession of the bridge across the James River at that +place, but failed. The enemy burned it on our approach. The +enemy also burned the bridge across the river at +Hardwicksville. The other column moved down the railroad +towards Lynchburg, destroying it as far as Amherst Court House, +sixteen miles from Lynchburg; thence across the country, uniting +with the column at New Market. The river being very high, his +pontoons would not reach across it; and the enemy having +destroyed the bridges by which he had hoped to cross the river +and get on the South Side Railroad about Farmville, and destroy +it to Appomattox Court House, the only thing left for him was to +return to Winchester or strike a base at the White House. +Fortunately, he chose the latter. From New Market he took up +his line of march, following the canal towards Richmond, +destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever +practicable, to a point eight miles east of Goochland, +concentrating the whole force at Columbia on the 10th. Here he +rested one day, and sent through by scouts information of his +whereabouts and purposes, and a request for supplies to meet him +at White House, which reached me on the night of the 12th. An +infantry force was immediately sent to get possession of White +House, and supplies were forwarded. Moving from Columbia in a +direction to threaten Richmond, to near Ashland Station, he +crossed the Annas, and after having destroyed all the bridges +and many miles of the railroad, proceeded down the north bank of +the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th.</p> + +<p>Previous to this the following communication was sent to General +Thomas:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>March 7, 1865--9.30 A.M.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--I think it will be advisable now for you to repair +the railroad in East Tennessee, and throw a good force up to +Bull's Gap and fortify there. Supplies at Knoxville could +always be got forward as required. With Bull's Gap fortified, +you can occupy as outposts about all of East Tennessee, and be +prepared, if it should be required of you in the spring, to make +a campaign towards Lynchburg, or into North Carolina. I do not +think Stoneman should break the road until he gets into +Virginia, unless it should be to cut off rolling-stock that may +be caught west of that.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Thus it will be seen that in March, 1865, General Canby was +moving an adequate force against Mobile and the army defending +it under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was pushing out two large +and well-appointed cavalry expeditions--one from Middle +Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy's +vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee, under +Major-General Stoneman, towards Lynchburg--and assembling the +remainder of his available forces, preparatory to commence +offensive operations from East Tennessee; General Sheridan's +cavalry was at White House; the armies of the Potomac and James +were confronting the enemy, under Lee, in his defences of +Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies, +reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro'; +General Pope was making preparations for a spring campaign +against the enemy under Kirby Smith and Price, west of the +Mississippi; and General Hancock was concentrating a force in +the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard against invasion +or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.</p> + +<p>After the long march by General Sheridan's cavalry over winter +roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at White House. At +this time the greatest source of uneasiness to me was the fear +that the enemy would leave his strong lines about Petersburg and +Richmond for the purpose of uniting with Johnston, and before he +was driven from them by battle, or I was prepared to make an +effectual pursuit. On the 24th of March, General Sheridan moved +from White House, crossed the James River at Jones's Landing, and +formed a junction with the Army of the Potomac in front of +Petersburg on the 27th. During this move, General Ord sent +forces to cover the crossings of the Chickahominy.</p> + +<p>On the 24th of March the following instructions for a general +movement of the armies operating against Richmond were issued:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, +<br>March 24, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: On the 29th instant the armies operating against +Richmond will be moved by our left, for the double purpose of +turning the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, +and to insure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan, +which will start at the same time, in its efforts to reach and +destroy the South Side and Danville railroads. Two corps of the +Army of the Potomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking +the two roads crossing Hatcher's Run, nearest where the present +line held by us strikes that stream, both moving towards +Dinwiddie Court House.</p> + +<p>"The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the division now +under General Davies, will move at the same time by the Weldon +Road and the Jerusalem Plank Road, turning west from the latter +before crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column +before reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move +independently, under other instructions which will be given +him. All dismounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the +Potomac, and the dismounted cavalry from the Middle Military +Division not required for guarding property belonging to their +arm of service, will report to Brigadier-General Benham, to be +added to the defences of City Point. Major-General Parke will +be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines +about Petersburg and City Point, subject of course to orders +from the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The 9th army +corps will be left intact, to hold the present line of works so +long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, however, +the troops to the left of the 9th corps are withdrawn, then the +left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the +position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon +Road. All troops to the left of the 9th corps will be held in +readiness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be +designated when the order is given.</p> + +<p>"General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one +colored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present +lines, and march for the present left of the Army of the +Potomac. In the absence of further orders, or until further +orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left +column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the +right column. During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be +left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army +of the James.</p> + +<p>"The movement of troops from the Army of the James will commence +on the night of the 27th instant. General Ord will leave behind +the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the +absence of the main army. A cavalry expedition, from General +Ord's command, will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there +on Saturday, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the +purpose of cutting the railroad about Hicksford. This, if +accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from +three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They should, +however, be supported by all the infantry that can be spared +from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry +crosses the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at +Uniten. Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon +Road, he will be instructed to do all the damage possible to the +triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The +railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the passage of +carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumulation +of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke. +All the troops will move with four days' rations in haversacks +and eight days' in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as +possible, and to give the Army of the James the same number of +days' supplies with the Army of the Potomac, General Ord will +direct his commissary and quartermaster to have sufficient +supplies delivered at the terminus of the road to fill up in +passing. Sixty rounds of ammunition per man will be taken in +wagons, and as much grain as the transportation on hand will +carry, after taking the specified amount of other supplies. The +densely wooded country in which the army has to operate making +the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount taken with +the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each division, +at the option of the army commanders.</p> + +<p>"All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into +operation may be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th +corps should be massed as much as possible. While I would not +now order an unconditional attack on the enemy's line by them, +they should be ready and should make the attack if the enemy +weakens his line in their front, without waiting for orders. In +case they carry the line, then the whole of the 9th corps could +follow up so as to join or co-operate with the balance of the +army. To prepare for this, the 9th corps will have rations +issued to them, same as the balance of the army. General +Weitzel will keep vigilant watch upon his front, and if found at +all practicable to break through at any point, he will do so. A +success north of the James should be followed up with great +promptness. An attack will not be feasible unless it is found +that the enemy has detached largely. In that case it may be +regarded as evident that the enemy are relying upon their local +reserves principally for the defence of Richmond. Preparations +may be made for abandoning all the line north of the James, +except inclosed works only to be abandoned, however, after a +break is made in the lines of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"By these instructions a large part of the armies operating +against Richmond is left behind. The enemy, knowing this, may, +as an only chance, strip their lines to the merest skeleton, in +the hope of advantage not being taken of it, while they hurl +everything against the moving column, and return. It cannot be +impressed too strongly upon commanders of troops left in the +trenches not to allow this to occur without taking advantage of +it. The very fact of the enemy coming out to attack, if he does +so, might be regarded as almost conclusive evidence of such a +weakening of his lines. I would have it particularly enjoined +upon corps commanders that, in case of an attack from the enemy, +those not attacked are not to wait for orders from the commanding +officer of the army to which they belong, but that they will move +promptly, and notify the commander of their action. I would also +enjoin the same action on the part of division commanders when +other parts of their corps are engaged. In like manner, I would +urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERALS MEADE, ORD, AND SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 25th the enemy assaulted our lines +in front of the 9th corps (which held from the Appomattox River +towards our left), and carried Fort Stedman, and a part of the +line to the right and left of it, established themselves and +turned the guns of the fort against us, but our troops on either +flank held their ground until the reserves were brought up, when +the enemy was driven back with a heavy loss in killed and +wounded, and one thousand nine hundred prisoners. Our loss was +sixty-eight killed, three hundred and thirty-seven wounded, and +five hundred and six missing. General Meade at once ordered the +other corps to advance and feel the enemy in their respective +fronts. Pushing forward, they captured and held the enemy's +strongly intrenched picket-line in front of the 2d and 6th +corps, and eight hundred and thirty-four prisoners. The enemy +made desperate attempts to retake this line, but without +success. Our loss in front of these was fifty-two killed, eight +hundred and sixty-four wounded, and two hundred and seven +missing. The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was far greater.</p> + +<p>General Sherman having got his troops all quietly in camp about +Goldsboro', and his preparations for furnishing supplies to them +perfected, visited me at City Point on the 27th of March, and +stated that he would be ready to move, as he had previously +written me, by the 10th of April, fully equipped and rationed +for twenty days, if it should become necessary to bring his +command to bear against Lee's army, in co-operation with our +forces in front of Richmond and Petersburg. General Sherman +proposed in this movement to threaten Raleigh, and then, by +turning suddenly to the right, reach the Roanoke at Gaston or +thereabouts, whence he could move on to the Richmond and +Danville Railroad, striking it in the vicinity of Burkesville, +or join the armies operating against Richmond, as might be +deemed best. This plan he was directed to carry into execution, +if he received no further directions in the meantime. I +explained to him the movement I had ordered to commence on the +29th of March. That if it should not prove as entirely +successful as I hoped, I would cut the cavalry loose to destroy +the Danville and South Side railroads, and thus deprive the +enemy of further supplies, and also to prevent the rapid +concentration of Lee's and Johnston's armies.</p> + +<p>I had spent days of anxiety lest each morning should bring the +report that the enemy had retreated the night before. I was +firmly convinced that Sherman's crossing the Roanoke would be +the signal for Lee to leave. With Johnston and him combined, a +long, tedious, and expensive campaign, consuming most of the +summer, might become necessary. By moving out I would put the +army in better condition for pursuit, and would at least, by the +destruction of the Danville Road, retard the concentration of the +two armies of Lee and Johnston, and cause the enemy to abandon +much material that he might otherwise save. I therefore +determined not to delay the movement ordered.</p> + +<p>On the night of the 27th, Major-General Ord, with two divisions +of the 24th corps, Major-General Gibbon commanding, and one +division of the 25th corps, Brigadier-General Birney commanding, +and MacKenzie's cavalry, took up his line of march in pursuance +of the foregoing instructions, and reached the position assigned +him near Hatcher's Run on the morning of the 29th. On the 28th +the following instructions were given to General Sheridan:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"CITY POINT, VA., March 28, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--The 5th army corps will move by the Vaughn Road at +three A.M. to-morrow morning. The 2d moves at about nine A.M., +having but about three miles to march to reach the point +designated for it to take on the right of the 5th corps, after +the latter reaching Dinwiddie Court House. Move your cavalry at +as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any +particular road or roads. You may go out by the nearest roads +in rear of the 5th corps, pass by its left, and passing near to +or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as +soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in +his intrenched position, but to force him out, if possible. +Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be +attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and +with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow, as +circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will +probably be able to communicate with you. Should I not do so, +and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched +line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville Road. If you +find it practicable, I would like you to cross the South Side +Road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some +extent. I would not advise much detention, however, until you +reach the Danville Road, which I would like you to strike as +near to the Appomattox as possible. Make your destruction on +that road as complete as possible. You can then pass on to the +South Side Road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like +manner.</p> + +<p>"After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, +which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may +return to this army, selecting your road further south, or you +may go on into North Carolina and join General Sherman. Should +you select the latter course, get the information to me as early +as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the morning of the 29th the movement commenced. At night the +cavalry was at Dinwiddie Court House, and the left of our +infantry line extended to the Quaker Road, near its intersection +with the Boydton Plank Road. The position of the troops from +left to right was as follows: Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys, Ord, +Wright, Parke.</p> + +<p>Everything looked favorable to the defeat of the enemy and the +capture of Petersburg and Richmond, if the proper effort was +made. I therefore addressed the following communication to +General Sheridan, having previously informed him verbally not to +cut loose for the raid contemplated in his orders until he +received notice from me to do so:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"GRAVELLY CREEK, March 29, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to +Dinwiddie. We are all ready, however, to give up all, from the +Jerusalem Plank Road to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can +be used advantageously. After getting into line south of +Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position. +General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker Road +intersects the Boydton Road, but repulsed it easily, capturing +about one hundred men. Humphreys reached Dabney's Mill, and was +pushing on when last heard from.</p> + +<p>"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 towards Petersburg, +taking forty minutes to pass.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain +fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled +vehicle, except as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. +During the 30th, Sheridan advanced from Dinwiddie Court House +towards Five Forks, where he found the enemy in full force. +General Warren advanced and extended his line across the Boydton +Plank Road to near the White Oak Road, with a view of getting +across the latter; but, finding the enemy strong in his front +and extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he +was, and fortify. General Humphreys drove the enemy from his +front into his main line on the Hatcher, near Burgess's Mills. +Generals Ord, Wright, and Parke made examinations in their +fronts to determine the feasibility of an assault on the enemy's +lines. The two latter reported favorably. The enemy confronting +us as he did, at every point from Richmond to our extreme left, I +conceived his lines must be weakly held, and could be penetrated +if my estimate of his forces was correct. I determined, +therefore, to extend our line no farther, but to reinforce +General Sheridan with a corps of infantry, and thus enable him +to cut loose and turn the enemy's right flank, and with the +other corps assault the enemy's lines. The result of the +offensive effort of the enemy the week before, when he assaulted +Fort Stedman, particularly favored this. The enemy's +intrenched picket-line captured by us at that time threw the +lines occupied by the belligerents so close together at some +points that it was but a moment's run from one to the other. +Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphreys's +corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the +roads prevented immediate movement. On the morning of the 31st, +General Warren reported favorably to getting possession of the +White Oak Road, and was directed to do so. To accomplish this, +he moved with one division, instead of his whole corps, which +was attacked by the enemy in superior force and driven back on +the 2d division before it had time to form, and it, in turn, +forced back upon the 3d division, when the enemy was checked. A +division of the 2d corps was immediately sent to his support, the +enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the White +Oak Road gained. Sheridan advanced, and with a portion of his +cavalry got possession of the Five Forks; but the enemy, after +the affair with the 5th corps, reinforced the rebel cavalry, +defending that point with infantry, and forced him back towards +Dinwiddie Court House. Here General Sheridan displayed great +generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command on +the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, +he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men enough +to take charge of the horses. This compelled the enemy to +deploy over a vast extent of wooded and broken country, and made +his progress slow. At this juncture he dispatched to me what had +taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie +Court House. General Mackenzie's cavalry and one division of +the 5th corps were immediately ordered to his assistance. Soon +after receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could +hold our position on the Boydton Road, and that the other two +divisions of the 5th corps could go to Sheridan, they were so +ordered at once. Thus the operations of the day necessitated +the sending of Warren, because of his accessibility, instead of +Humphreys, as was intended, and precipitated intended +movements. On the morning of the 1st of April, General +Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on +Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried +his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and +between five and six thousand prisoners.</p> + +<p>About the close of this battle, Brevet Major-General Charles +Griffin relieved Major-General Warren in command of the 5th +corps. The report of this reached me after nightfall. Some +apprehensions filled my mind lest the enemy might desert his +lines during the night, and by falling upon General Sheridan +before assistance could reach him, drive him from his position +and open the way for retreat. To guard against this, General +Miles's division of Humphreys's corps was sent to reinforce him, +and a bombardment was commenced and kept up until four o'clock in +the morning (April 2), when an assault was ordered on the enemy's +lines. General Wright penetrated the lines with his whole corps, +sweeping everything before him, and to his left towards Hatcher's +Run, capturing many guns and several thousand prisoners. He was +closely followed by two divisions of General Ord's command, +until he met the other division of General Ord's that had +succeeded in forcing the enemy's lines near Hatcher's Run. +Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and +closed all of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, +while General Humphreys pushed forward with two divisions and +joined General Wright on the left. General Parke succeeded in +carrying the enemy's main line, capturing guns and prisoners, +but was unable to carry his inner line. General Sheridan being +advised of the condition of affairs, returned General Miles to +his proper command. On reaching the enemy's lines immediately +surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon's corps, by +a most gallant charge, captured two strong inclosed works--the +most salient and commanding south of Petersburg--thus materially +shortening the line of investment necessary for taking in the +city. The enemy south of Hatcher's Run retreated westward to +Sutherland's Station, where they were overtaken by Miles's +division. A severe engagement ensued, and lasted until both his +right and left flanks were threatened by the approach of General +Sheridan, who was moving from Ford's Station towards Petersburg, +and a division sent by General Meade from the front of +Petersburg, when he broke in the utmost confusion, leaving in +our hands his guns and many prisoners. This force retreated by +the main road along the Appomattox River. During the night of +the 2d the enemy evacuated Petersburg and Richmond, and +retreated towards Danville. On the morning of the 3d pursuit +was commenced. General Sheridan pushed for the Danville Road, +keeping near the Appomattox, followed by General Meade with the +2d and 6th corps, while General Ord moved for Burkesville, along +the South Side Road; the 9th corps stretched along that road +behind him. On the 4th, General Sheridan struck the Danville +Road near Jetersville, where he learned that Lee was at Amelia +Court House. He immediately intrenched himself and awaited the +arrival of General Meade, who reached there the next day. +General Ord reached Burkesville on the evening of the 5th.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 5th, I addressed Major-General Sherman the +following communication:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: All indications now are that Lee will attempt to +reach Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was +up with him last night, reports all that is left, horse, foot, +and dragoons, at twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to +reduce this number one-half. I shall push on to Burkesville, +and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a very few days go +there. If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are, +and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and +Johnston's armies. Whether it will be better for you to strike +for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able +to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only +strategic points to strike at.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On the morning of the 6th, it was found that General Lee was +moving west of Jetersville, towards Danville. General Sheridan +moved with his cavalry (the 5th corps having been returned to +General Meade on his reaching Jetersville) to strike his flank, +followed by the 6th corps, while the 2d and 5th corps pressed +hard after, forcing him to abandon several hundred wagons and +several pieces of artillery. General Ord advanced from +Burkesville towards Farmville, sending two regiments of infantry +and a squadron of cavalry, under Brevet Brigadier-General +Theodore Read, to reach and destroy the bridges. This advance +met the head of Lee's column near Farmville, which it heroically +attacked and detained until General Read was killed and his small +force overpowered. This caused a delay in the enemy's movements, +and enabled General Ord to get well up with the remainder of his +force, on meeting which, the enemy immediately intrenched +himself. In the afternoon, General Sheridan struck the enemy +south of Sailors' Creek, captured sixteen pieces of artillery +and about four hundred wagons, and detained him until the 6th +corps got up, when a general attack of infantry and cavalry was +made, which resulted in the capture of six or seven thousand +prisoners, among whom were many general officers. The movements +of the 2d corps and General Ord's command contributed greatly to +the day's success.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 7th the pursuit was renewed, the cavalry, +except one division, and the 5th corps moving by Prince Edward's +Court House; the 6th corps, General Ord's command, and one +division of cavalry, on Farmville; and the 2d corps by the High +Bridge Road. It was soon found that the enemy had crossed to +the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit, +that the 2d corps got possession of the common bridge at High +Bridge before the enemy could destroy it, and immediately +crossed over. The 6th corps and a division of cavalry crossed +at Farmville to its support.</p> + +<p>Feeling now that General Lee's chance of escape was utterly +hopeless, I addressed him the following communication from +Farmville:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 8th, before leaving, I received at +Farmville the following:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 7, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +To this I immediately replied:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>"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 the Northern +Virginia will be received.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 8th the pursuit was resumed. General +Meade followed north of the Appomattox, and General Sheridan, +with all the cavalry, pushed straight ahead for Appomattox +Station, followed by General Ord's command and the 5th corps. +During the day General Meade's advance had considerable fighting +with the enemy's rear-guard, but was unable to bring on a general +engagement. Late in the evening General Sheridan struck the +railroad at Appomattox Station, drove the enemy from there, and +captured twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and +four trains of cars loaded with supplies for Lee's army. During +this day I accompanied General Meade's column, and about midnight +received the following communication from General Lee:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +April 8, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--I received, at a late hour, your note of to-day. In +mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of +the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your +proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has +arisen to call for the surrender of this army; but as the +restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired +to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, +therefore, meet you with a view to the surrender of the Army of +Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the +Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the +restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten +A.M. to-morrow on the old stage-road to Richmond, between the +picket-lines of the two armies.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +Early on the morning of the 9th I returned him an answer as +follows, and immediately started to join the column south of the +Appomattox:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--Your note of yesterday is received. I have no +authority to treat on the subject of peace; the meeting proposed +for ten A.M. to-day could lead to no good. I will state, +however, general, that I am equally anxious for peace with +yourself, and the whole North entertains the same feeling. The +terms upon which peace can be had are well understood. By the +South laying down their arms they will hasten that most +desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hundreds of +millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hoping that +all our difficulties may be settled without the loss of another +life, I subscribe myself, etc.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +On this morning of the 9th, General Ord's command and the 5th +corps reached Appomattox Station just as the enemy was making a +desperate effort to break through our cavalry. The infantry was +at once thrown in. Soon after a white flag was received, +requesting a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for +a surrender.</p> + +<p>Before reaching General Sheridan's headquarters, I received the +following from General Lee:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +"April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL:--I received your note of this morning on the +picket-line, whither I had come to meet you, and ascertain +definitely what terms were embraced in your proposal of +yesterday with reference to the surrender of this army. I now +ask an interview, in accordance with the offer contained in your +letter of yesterday, for that purpose.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br><br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The interview was held at Appomattox Court-House, the result of +which is set forth in the following correspondence:</p> + +<blockquote><blockquote> +<p> +APPOMATTOX COURT-HOUSE, Virginia, April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: In accordance with the substance of my letter to you +of the 8th instant, I propose to receive the surrender of the +Army of Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls +of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to +be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be +retained by such officer or officers as you may designate. The +officers to give their individual paroles not to take up arms +against the Government of the United States until properly +exchanged; and each company or regimental commander sign a like +parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and +public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the +officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace +the side-arms of the officers, nor their private horses or +baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to +return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States +authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in +force where they may reside.</p> + +<p>"U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. +<br><br>"GENERAL R. E. LEE."</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> + + +<p> +"HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865.</p> + +<p>"GENERAL: I have received your letter of this date containing +the terms of surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as +proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those +expressed in your letter of the 8th instant, they are +accepted. I will proceed to designate the proper officers to +carry the stipulations into effect.</p> + +<p>"R. E. LEE, General. +<br>"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT."</p> +</blockquote></blockquote> + +<p> +The command of Major-General Gibbon, the 5th army corps under +Griffin, and Mackenzie's cavalry, were designated to remain at +Appomattox Court-House until the paroling of the surrendered +army was completed, and to take charge of the public property. +The remainder of the army immediately returned to the vicinity +of Burkesville.</p> + +<p>General Lee's great influence throughout the whole South caused +his example to be followed, and to-day the result is that the +armies lately under his leadership are at their homes, desiring +peace and quiet, and their arms are in the hands of our ordnance +officers.</p> + +<p>On the receipt of my letter of the 5th, General Sherman moved +directly against Joe Johnston, who retreated rapidly on and +through Raleigh, which place General Sherman occupied on the +morning of the 13th. The day preceding, news of the surrender +of General Lee reached him at Smithfield.</p> + +<p>On the 14th a correspondence was opened between General Sherman +and General Johnston, which resulted on the 18th in an agreement +for a suspension of hostilities, and a memorandum or basis for +peace, subject to the approval of the President. This agreement +was disapproved by the President on the 21st, which disapproval, +together with your instructions, was communicated to General +Sherman by me in person on the morning of the 24th, at Raleigh, +North Carolina, in obedience to your orders. Notice was at once +given by him to General Johnston for the termination of the truce +that had been entered into. On the 25th another meeting between +them was agreed upon, to take place on the 26th, which +terminated in the surrender and disbandment of Johnston's army +upon substantially the same terms as were given to General Lee.</p> + +<p>The expedition under General Stoneman from East Tennessee got +off on the 20th of March, moving by way of Boone, North +Carolina, and struck the railroad at Wytheville, Chambersburg, +and Big Lick. The force striking it at Big Lick pushed on to +within a few miles of Lynchburg, destroying the important +bridges, while with the main force he effectually destroyed it +between New River and Big Lick, and then turned for Greensboro', +on the North Carolina Railroad; struck that road and destroyed +the bridges between Danville and Greensboro', and between +Greensboro' and the Yadkin, together with the depots of supplies +along it, and captured four hundred prisoners. At Salisbury he +attacked and defeated a force of the enemy under General +Gardiner, capturing fourteen pieces of artillery and one +thousand three hundred and sixty-four prisoners, and destroyed +large amounts of army stores. At this place he destroyed +fifteen miles of railroad and the bridges towards Charlotte. +Thence he moved to Slatersville.</p> + +<p>General Canby, who had been directed in January to make +preparations for a movement from Mobile Bay against Mobile and +the interior of Alabama, commenced his movement on the 20th of +March. The 16th corps, Major-General A. J. Smith commanding, +moved from Fort Gaines by water to Fish River; the 13th corps, +under Major-General Gordon Granger, moved from Fort Morgan and +joined the 16th corps on Fish River, both moving thence on +Spanish Fort and investing it on the 27th; while Major-General +Steele's command moved from Pensacola, cut the railroad leading +from Tensas to Montgomery, effected a junction with them, and +partially invested Fort Blakely. After a severe bombardment of +Spanish Fort, a part of its line was carried on the 8th of +April. During the night the enemy evacuated the fort. Fort +Blakely was carried by assault on the 9th, and many prisoners +captured; our loss was considerable. These successes +practically opened to us the Alabama River, and enabled us to +approach Mobile from the north. On the night of the 11th the +city was evacuated, and was taken possession of by our forces on +the morning of the 12th.</p> + +<p>The expedition under command of Brevet Major-General Wilson, +consisting of twelve thousand five hundred mounted men, was +delayed by rains until March 22d, when it moved from Chickasaw, +Alabama. On the 1st of April, General Wilson encountered the +enemy in force under Forrest near Ebenezer Church, drove him in +confusion, captured three hundred prisoners and three guns, and +destroyed the central bridge over the Cahawba River. On the 2d +he attacked and captured the fortified city of Selma, defended +by Forrest, with seven thousand men and thirty-two guns, +destroyed the arsenal, armory, naval foundry, machine-shops, +vast quantities of stores, and captured three thousand +prisoners. On the 4th he captured and destroyed Tuscaloosa. On +the 10th he crossed the Alabama River, and after sending +information of his operations to General Canby, marched on +Montgomery, which place he occupied on the 14th, the enemy +having abandoned it. At this place many stores and five +steamboats fell into our hands. Thence a force marched direct +on Columbus, and another on West Point, both of which places +were assaulted and captured on the 16th. At the former place we +got one thousand five hundred prisoners and fifty-two field-guns, +destroyed two gunboats, the navy yard, foundries, arsenal, many +factories, and much other public property. At the latter place +we got three hundred prisoners, four guns, and destroyed +nineteen locomotives and three hundred cars. On the 20th he +took possession of Macon, Georgia, with sixty field-guns, one +thousand two hundred militia, and five generals, surrendered by +General Howell Cobb. General Wilson, hearing that Jeff. Davis +was trying to make his escape, sent forces in pursuit and +succeeded in capturing him on the morning of May 11th.</p> + +<p>On the 4th day of May, General Dick Taylor surrendered to +General Canby all the remaining rebel forces east of the +Mississippi.</p> + +<p>A force sufficient to insure an easy triumph over the enemy +under Kirby Smith, west of the Mississippi, was immediately put +in motion for Texas, and Major-General Sheridan designated for +its immediate command; but on the 26th day of May, and before +they reached their destination, General Kirby Smith surrendered +his entire command to Major-General Canby. This surrender did +not take place, however, until after the capture of the rebel +President and Vice-President; and the bad faith was exhibited of +first disbanding most of his army and permitting an +indiscriminate plunder of public property.</p> + +<p>Owing to the report that many of those lately in arms against +the government had taken refuge upon the soil of Mexico, +carrying with them arms rightfully belonging to the United +States, which had been surrendered to us by agreement among them +some of the leaders who had surrendered in person and the +disturbed condition of affairs on the Rio Grande, the orders for +troops to proceed to Texas were not changed.</p> + +<p>There have been severe combats, raids, expeditions, and +movements to defeat the designs and purposes of the enemy, most +of them reflecting great credit on our arms, and which +contributed greatly to our final triumph, that I have not +mentioned. Many of these will be found clearly set forth in the +reports herewith submitted; some in the telegrams and brief +dispatches announcing them, and others, I regret to say, have +not as yet been officially reported.</p> + +<p>For information touching our Indian difficulties, I would +respectfully refer to the reports of the commanders of +departments in which they have occurred.</p> + +<p>It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the West and +the East fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there +is no difference in their fighting qualities. All that it was +possible for men to do in battle they have done. The Western +armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and +received the final surrender of the remnant of the principal +army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of the East +commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the +Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of +their old antagonists at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The +splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories +removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately +experienced too much), and the cause of crimination and +recrimination that might have followed had either section failed +in its duty. All have a proud record, and all sections can well +congratulate themselves and each other for having done their +full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of +territory belonging to the United States. Let them hope for +perpetual peace and harmony with that enemy, whose manhood, +however mistaken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of +valor.</p> + +<p> I have the honor to be, +<br> Very respectfully, your obedient servant, +<br> U. S. GRANT, +<br> Lieutenant-General.</p> + +<p>THE END</p> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="b632"></a><img alt="b632.jpg (215K)" src="b632.jpg" height="451" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> +<center><a href="b632.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Full Size" src="none"></a></center> +<br><br> +<br><br> + + + + +<center><h2>FOOTNOTE</h2> +</center> +<center><h3>ORGANIZATION CHARTS--UNION AND CONFEDERATE</h3> +</center> + +<blockquote> +<pre> +UNION ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN, MAY 5, 1864. + +[COMPILED.] + +LIEUTENANT-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, Commander-in-Chief. + +MAJOR-GENERAL GEORGE G. MEADE, Commanding Army of the Potomac. + + +MAJ.-GEN. W. S. HANCOCK, commanding Second Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Francis C. Barlow. + First Brigade, Col. Nelson A. Miles. + Second Brigade, Col. Thomas A. Smyth. + Third Brigade, Col. Paul Frank. + Fourth Brigade, Col. John R. Brooke. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John Gibbon. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alex. S. Webb. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Joshua T. Owen. + Third Brigade, Col. Samuel S. Carroll. + + Third Division, Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. H. H. Ward. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Hays. + + Fourth Divisin, Brig.-Gen. Gershom Mott. + First Brigade, Col. Robert McAllister. + Second Brigade, Col. Wm. R. Brewster. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. John C. Tidball. + + +MAJ.-GEN. G. K. WARREN, commanding Fifth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. Charles Griffin. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Romeyn B. Ayres. + Second Brigade, Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J. J. Bartlett. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. John C. Robinson. + First Brigade, Col. Samuel H. Leonard. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry Baxter. + Third Brigade, Col. Andrew W. Denison. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. Crawford. + First Brigade, Col. Wm McCandless. + Third Brigade, Col. Joseph W. Fisher. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. James S. Wadsworth. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Lysander Cutler. + Second Brigade Brig.-Gen. James C. Rice. + Third Brigade, Col. Roy Stone + + Artillery Brigade, Col. S. S. Wainwright. + + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK, commanding Sixth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. H. G. Wright. + First Brigade, Col. Henry W. Brown. + Second Brigade, Col. Emory Upton. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. D. A. Russell. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Alexander Shaler. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. George W. Getty. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Frank Wheaton. + Second Brigade, Col. Lewis A. Grant. + Third Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Thos. H. Neill. + Fourth Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry L. Eustis. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. James Ricketts. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H. Morris. + Second Brigade, Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour. + + Artillery Brigade, Col. C. H. Tompkins + + +MAJ.-GEN. P. H. SHERIDAN, commanding Cavalry Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. A. T. A. Torbert. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. G. A. Custer. + Second Brigade, Col. Thos. C. Devin. + Reserve Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Wesley Merritt + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. D. McM. Gregg. + First Brigade, Brig.-Gen. Henry E. Davies, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. J. Irvin Gregg. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. J. H. Wilson. + First Brigade, Col. T. M. Bryan, Jr. + Second Brigade, Col. Geo. H. Chapman. + + +MAJ.-GEN. A. E. BURNSIDE, commanding Ninth Army Corps. + + First Division, Brig.-Gen. T. G. Stevenson. + First Brigade, Col. Sumner Carruth. + Second Brigade, Col. Daniel Leasure. + + Second Division, Brig.-Gen. Robert B. Potter. + First Brigade, Col. Zenas R. Bliss. + Second Brigade, Col. Simon G. Griffin. + + Third Division, Brig.-Gen. Orlando Willcox. + First Brigade, Col. John F. Hartranft. + Second Brigade, Col. Benj. C. Christ. + + Fourth Division, Brig.-Gen. Edward Ferrero. + First Brigade, Col. Joshua K. Sigfried. + Second Brigade, Col. Henry G. Thomas. + + Provisional Brigade, Col. Elisha G. Marshall. + + +BRIG.-GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, commanding Artillery. + + Reserve, Col. H. S. Burton. + First Brigade, Col. J. H. Kitching. + Second Brigade, Maj. J. A. Tompkins. + First Brig. Horse Art., Capt. J. M. Robertson. + Second Brigade, Horse Art., Capt. D. R. Ransom. + Third Brigade, Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh. + + +GENERAL HEADQUARTERS....... + Provost Guard, Brig.-Gen. M. R. Patrick. + Volunteer Engineers, Brig.-Gen. H. W. Benham. + + + + + +CONFEDERATE ARMY. + +Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, Commanded by +GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE, August 31st, 1834. + + First Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. R. H. ANDERSON, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. GEO. E. PICKETT'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Seth M. Barton's Brigade. (a) + Brig.-Gen. M. D. Corse's " + " Eppa Hunton's " + " Wm. R. Terry's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. W. FIELD'S Division. (b) + Brig.-Gen. G. T. Anderson's Brigade + " E. M. Law's (c) " + " John Bratton's " + +MAJ.-GEN. J. B. KERSHAW'S Division. (d) + Brig.-Gen. W. T. Wofford's Brigade + " B. G. Humphreys' " + " Goode Bryan's " + " Kershaw's (Old) " + + + Second Army Corps: MAJOR-GENERAL JUBAL A. EARLY, Commanding + +MAJ.-GEN. JOHN B. GORDON'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. H. T. Hays' Brigade. (e) + " John Pegram 's " (f) + " Gordon's " (g) + Brig.-Gen. R. F. Hoke's " + +MAJ.-GEN. EDWARD JOHNSON'S Division. + Stonewall Brig. (Brig.-Gen. J. A. Walker). (h) + Brig.-Gen. J M Jones' Brigade. (h) + " Geo H. Stewart's " (h) + " L. A. Stafford's " (e) + +MAJ.-GEN. R. E. RODES' Division. + Brig.-Gen. J. Daniel's Brigade. (i) + " Geo. Dole's " (k) + " S. D. Ramseur's Brigade. + " C. A. Battle's " + " R. D. Johnston's " (f) + + + Third Army Corps: LIEUT.-GEN. A. P. HILL, Commanding. + +MAJ.-GEN. WM. MAHONE'S Division. (l) + Brig.-Gen. J. C. C. Sanders' Brigade. + Mahone's " + Brig.-Gen. N. H. Harris's " (m) + " A. R. Wright's " + " Joseph Finegan's " + +MAJ.-GEN. C. M. WILCOX'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. E. L. Thomas's Brigade (n) + " James H. Lane's " + " Sam'l McCowan's " + " Alfred M. Scale's " + +MAJ.-GEN. H. HETH'S Division. (o) + Brig.-Gen. J. R. Davis's Brigade. + " John R. Cooke's " + " D. McRae's " + " J. J. Archer's " + " H. H. Walker's " + + _unattached_: 5th Alabama Battalion. + + + Cavalry Corps: LIEUTENANT-GENERAL WADE HAMPTON, Commanding.(p) + +MAJ.-GEN. FITZHUGH LEE'S Division + Brig.-Gen. W. C. Wickham's Brigade + " L. L. Lomax's " + +MAJ.-GEN. M. C. BUTLER'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. John Dunovant's Brigade. + " P. M. B. Young's " + " Thomas L. Rosser's " + +MAJ.-GEN. W. H. F. LEE'S Division. + Brig.-Gen. Rufus Barringer's Brigade. + " J. R. Chambliss's " + + + Artillery Reserve: BRIG.-GEN. W. N. PENDLETON, Commanding. + +BRIG.-GEN. E. P. ALEXANDER'S DIVISION.* + Cabell's Battalion. + Manly's Battery. + 1st Co. Richmond Howitzers. + Carleton's Battery. + Calloway's Battery. + + Haskell's Battalion. + Branch's Battery. + Nelson's " + Garden's " + Rowan " + + Huger's Battalion. + Smith's Battery. + Moody " + Woolfolk " + Parker's " + Taylor's " + Fickling's " + Martin's " + + Gibb's Battalion. + Davidson's Battery. + Dickenson's " + Otey's " + + +BRIG.-GEN. A. L. LONG'S DIVISION. + + Braxton's Battalion. + Lee Battery. + 1st Md. Artillery. + Stafford " + Alleghany " + + Cutshaw's Battalion. + Charlotteville Artillery. + Staunton " + Courtney " + + Carter's Battalion. + Morris Artillery. + Orange " + King William Artillery. + Jeff Davis " + + Nelson's Battalion. + Amherst Artillery. + Milledge " + Fluvauna " + + Brown's Battalion. + Powhatan Artillery. + 2d Richmond Howitzers. + 3d " " + Rockbridge Artillery. + Salem Flying Artillery. + + +COL R. L.WALKER'S DIVISION. + + Cutt's Battalion. + Ross's Battery. + Patterson's Battery. + Irwin Artillery. + + Richardson's Battalion. + Lewis Artillery. + Donaldsonville Artillery. + Norfolk Light " + Huger " + + Mclntosh 's Battalion. + Johnson's Battery. + Hardaway Artillery. + Danville " + 2d Rockbridge Artillery. + + Pegram's Battalion. + Peedee Artillery. + Fredericksburg Artillery. + Letcher " + Purcell Battery. + Crenshaw's Battery. + + Poague's Battalion. + Madison Artillery. + Albemarle " + Brooke " + Charlotte " + + +NOTE. +(a) COL. W. R. Aylett was in command Aug. 29th, and probably at +above date. +(b) Inspection report of this division shows that it also +contained Benning's and Gregg's Brigades. (c) Commanded by +Colonel P. D. Bowles. +(d) Only two brigadier-generals reported for duty; names not +indicated. + +Organization of the Army of the Valley District. +(e) Constituting York's Brigade. +(f) In Ramseur's Division. +(g) Evan's Brigade, Colonel E. N. Atkinson commanding, and +containing 12th Georgia Battalion. +(h) The Virginia regiments constituted Terry's Brigade, Gordon's +Division. +(i) Grimes' Brigade. +(k) Cook's " + +(l) Returns report but one general officer present for duty; +name not indicated. +(m) Colonel Joseph M. Jayne, commanding. +(n) Colonel Thomas J. Simmons, commanding. (o) Four +brigadier-generals reported present for duty; names not +indicated. +(p) On face of returns appears to have consisted of Hampton's, +Fitz-Lee's, and W. H. F. Lee's Division, and Dearing's Brigade. + +*But one general officer reported present for duty in the +artillery, and Alexander's name not on the original. + +</pre> +</blockquote> + + +<br><br><br><br> +<center><a name="backcover1"></a><img alt="backcover1.jpg (184K)" src="backcover1.jpg" height="980" width="650"> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<br><br> +<hr> +<br><br> +<br><br> +<br><br> + + +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIRS OF GENERAL GRANT, V6 *** + +******* This file should be named mug6w10h.html or mug6w10h.zip ******* + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, mug6w11h.html +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mug6w10ha.html + +This eBook was produced by David Widger [widger@cecomet.net] + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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