Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[901] the Army of the James. I cannot give space to speak of them all as I would wish to do, but that is not necessary, for they made history for themselves wherein their great services appear; and I have mentioned many of them in this, my own history, as it progressed. If I had only had as corps commanders at first, men like those who were my corps commanders at last, and almost without exception their subordinates, the Army of the James would have had a more brilliant story told of the results of their bravery, conduct, and efforts in the service of their country.

By the middle of January, 1865, to Grant and to all who knew the condition of the Confederate army and the impossibility of their recruiting more soldiers, it was evident that Lee must abandon Petersburg and Richmond and take a position further south, coming, if possible, in conjunction with Johnston. It was also apparent that as soon as he began that retreat and could no longer fight behind intrenchments, he would be easily defeated, by reason of the increased morale of our army derived from following him, and by reason of his great want of supplies. As the winter had been a very rainy one, the roads he would have to go over would be almost impassable early in the season; consequently he must wait until milder weather and the drying up of the mud before he could make the move. So confident was Grant of this that early in March he recalled Sheridan with his ten thousand cavalry. Sheridan had been operating in the Shenandoah Valley, and came down toward the north side of the James River so as to join Grant at once with his whole force. As soon as Sheridan's horses had been rested and his army had been refitted, Grant, fearing all the time that Lee would escape him, commenced a series of operations on Lee's right flank to drive him into Richmond and hold all communication on the south side. Hence the battle of Five Forks, which was successful. Lee made a counter attack on Grant's right wing, which was at first quite successful, his lines being broken through the day so that Meade was cut off from his headquarters; but that disaster was soon repaired. From that moment Grant had no further doubt of the end and was very much concerned lest Lee should vacate Petersburg in the night and escape him, of course abandoning Richmond. Grant was being all the time reinforced by troops from the North and other sources, while Lee could get no more reinforcements. This impossibility of