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George Washington (search for this): chapter 5.48
lia Court-House, and even the reserve ordnance train of the army was ordered to the same point. Then suddenly, in the midst of all, the movement stopped. The authorities at Richmond had said, Hold your position. Lee countermanded his orders and awaited his fate. I say awaited his fate, because I am perfectly well convinced that from that moment he regarded the event as a mere question of time. No reinforcements reached him, while Grant grew stronger every day by reinforcements from Washington and Sherman's army-two corps from the latter-and soon he had at his command Sheridan's excellent force of 12,000 or 5,000 cavalry. He was pushing heavy columns, one after another, toward the Southside road, and at any moment a general attack might be expected all along the lines, while the elite of the Federal force was thrown against Lee's right. Such an assault, in his enfeebled condition, was more than General Lee could sustain, unless he stripped his works elsewhere of all their def
Virginians (search for this): chapter 5.48
ered useless by the freshet which had covered the low grounds and prevented access to them. The troops finally crossed on pontoons at two or three places; and, although suffering seriously from want of rations, pushed forward in good spirits to Amelia Court-House. Up to this time there had been very few stragglers, the Virginia troops turning their backs upon their homes without complaint, and satisfied to follow Old Uncle Robert wherever he led them. The statement that desertions of Virginians had taken place is untrue. They marched with their brethren from the Gulf States cheerfully; and it was only afterward, when broken down by starvation, that they dropped out of the ranks. That some, seeing the sure fate before them-surrender, and, as they supposed, long incarceration in a Northern prison-left their ranks during the last hours of the retreat, is also true; but, a few hours after they thus left their colours, it was the general officers who looked out for avenues of exit t
Danville (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
ee must move, if he moved at all, on the line of the Southside Railroad toward Danville, and he must move at once; for General Grant, who knew perfectly well the necey credit for intending to do what he ought to do. If Lee moved promptly toward Danville, every effort would be made to come up with and destroy him; if he did not rethe removal of all the stores of the army to Amelia Court-House, on the road to Danville. A movement of this sort is, of course, impossible of concealment, and the whr military judgment had foreseen had come to pass. Between his 40,000 men and Danville were the 140,000 men of Grant. Ii. I should think it impossible even fortion; and if it was General Lee's intention to advance on the east side of the Danville road, he gave it up. I believe, however, that such was never his design. His House by General Lee; that trains containing the supplies were dispatched from Danville; and that these trains were ordered, by telegraph from Richmond, to come on to
Petersburg, Va. (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
, of his own choice, to occupy a position at Petersburg from which, as events soon showed, he could e given by General Lee for the evacuation of Petersburg, and, consequently, of the State of Virginiament cotton and tobacco was hauled away from Petersburg; hundreds of the inhabitants left the place;successful. At the same time the lines near Petersburg were broken by a great force, and the affaird, he had continued to hold the works around Petersburg, and protect the capital; and to him, amid t General Lee in his inner intrenchments near Petersburg. When the present writer reached the vicinirdon was meanwhile thundering on the left of Petersburg, and holding his lines with difficulty, and des, though thinned by their heavy losses at Petersburg, still presented a defiant front; and the lo marched almost day and night since leaving Petersburg; their strength was slowly drained from themthat short week succeeding the evacuation of Petersburg. He had done his best, and accepted his fat[2 more...]
Farmville (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
er, that such was never his design. His trains were directed to move through Cumberland, Prince Edward, and Campbell, toward Pittsylvania; and the army would naturally keep near enough to protect them, moving southward between the Junction and Farmville. While the troops were resting at Amelia Court-House, and waiting for the rear to come up, the Federal commander must have pushed forward with great rapidity. His cavalry was already scouring the country far in advance of the Confederate colu competent. They fell out of the ranks by hundreds, overcome by hunger and exhaustion; or, what was equally bad, they dropped their heavy guns and cartridge boxes, and straggled along, a useless, cumbrous mob. On the morning of the 7th, beyond Farmville, the Federal cavalry made continuous and desperate onslaughts on the train, throwing everything into confusion. The teamsters, always the least soldierly portion of an army, became panic-stricken, and the terrible roads increased a thousand-fo
Lynchburg (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
have too many good fighting men for that! Now the current had set too strongly against him, and he was forced to yield. The army, with less than eight thousand muskets, a very short supply of ammunition, and almost nothing to eat, was at Appomattox Court-House, in the bend of the James-wholly impassable without pontoons-and on every side the great force of General Grant was contracting and closing in. A Federal force had seized considerable supplies of rations, sent down by railroad from Lynchburg; and this force now took its position in front of the Confederate army, slowly moving by the left flank toward James river. General Custer, who seemed to be greatly elated on this occasion, and to enjoy the result keenly, stated to Confederate officers that Grant's force amounted to eighty thousand men, and that a heavy reserve was coming up. Under these circumstances General Lee determined to surrender his army, and did so, on condition that the officers and men should be paroled, to
Richmond (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
f the army was ordered to the same point. Then suddenly, in the midst of all, the movement stopped. The authorities at Richmond had said, Hold your position. Lee countermanded his orders and awaited his fate. I say awaited his fate, because I that trains containing the supplies were dispatched from Danville; and that these trains were ordered, by telegraph from Richmond, to come on to Richmond, and did so, when the bread and meat was thrown in the gutter, to make way for the rubbish of thRichmond, and did so, when the bread and meat was thrown in the gutter, to make way for the rubbish of the Departments. The rubbish was preserved for subsequent capture, and the Army of Northern Virginia staggered on, and starved, and surrendered. If any one demands the proof of this assertion, I will give it. Iv. General Lee left Amelia Courchburg; and this force now took its position in front of the Confederate army, slowly moving by the left flank toward James river. General Custer, who seemed to be greatly elated on this occasion, and to enjoy the result keenly, stated to Confedera
United States (United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
of the Confederate army, slowly moving by the left flank toward James river. General Custer, who seemed to be greatly elated on this occasion, and to enjoy the result keenly, stated to Confederate officers that Grant's force amounted to eighty thousand men, and that a heavy reserve was coming up. Under these circumstances General Lee determined to surrender his army, and did so, on condition that the officers and men should be paroled, to go to their homes and remain undisturbed by United States authorities as long as they remained quiet and peaceable citizens. Officers and men were to retain their private property, and the former their side-arms. Such was the Convention between Lee and Grant. V. The Army of Northern Virginia had surrendered! Strange, incredible announcement! The effect which it produced upon the troops is hard to describe. They seemed to be stupefied and wholly unable to realize the idea. For Lee, the invincible, to yield up his sword was an i
Virginia (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
t under orders against which his military judgment revolted. Orders were given by General Lee for the evacuation of Petersburg, and, consequently, of the State of Virginia, at least six weeks before General Grant broke through the Confederate lines. The military necessity for this movement was perfectly plain to all well-infor end of winter the result of the coming campaign no longer admitted of a doubt. The crisis had evidently come, and it was perfectly plain that Lee must evacuate Virginia. All his prominent Generals shared his views. One of them said: If Grant once breaks through our lines, we might as well go back to Father Abraham, and say, Fa upon many hard-fought fields, was a great figure; but he is no less grand in defeat, poverty, and adversity. Misfortune crowns a man in the eyes of his contemporaries and in history; and the South is prouder of Lee to-day, and loves him more, than in his most splendid hours of victory. John Esten Cooke. Virginia, June, 1865.
Hatcher's Run (Ohio, United States) (search for this): chapter 5.48
inly nothing very remarkable that under these circumstances General Lee should make an attempt to save his army — the only hope of the Confederacy. There was only one way to do it, and the opportunity of embracing that sole means was rapidly slipping away. General Lee must move, if he moved at all, on the line of the Southside Railroad toward Danville, and he must move at once; for General Grant, who knew perfectly well the necessities of his adversary, was pouring heavy columns toward Hatcher's Run, to intercept him if he made the attempt. The Federal army was kept ready day and night, with rations cooked and in haversacks, for instant pursuit; and each of the great opponents understood completely his adversary's design. General Grant knew that General Lee ought to retreat, and he had learned the important maxim that it is always best to give your enemy credit for intending to do what he ought to do. If Lee moved promptly toward Danville, every effort would be made to come up wit
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