A Federal wagon-train moves out of
Petersburg to feed the troops pursuing
Lee, in those early April days of 1865.
The Army of Northern Virginia has taken no supply trains on its hurried departure from
Petersburg and
Richmond.
It depends on forage.
Within the next week
Grant's troops are to be brought almost to a like pass.
If the surrender had not come when it did, the pursuit would have been brought to a stop for the time being by lack of subsistence.
The South Side Railroad, which crossed Indian Town Creek on the trestle shown in the smaller picture, was the only railroad line in the possession of the
Confederates at the end of the siege of
Petersburg.
It was their only avenue of supplies, but
Sheridan's victory at
Five Forks made it possible to cut the line.
Lee was thus compelled to evacuate both
Richmond and
Petersburg.
The bridge is to the west of
Petersburg on the main line of the railroad.
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Supporting the pursuit of Lee's army |
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