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The excitement and the enthusiasm extended through every city, town, and village in the
State.
On the 4th of April, the
Governor sent a message to the Senate and House of Representatives, announcing in eloquent words the successes of our armies, and the certain downfall of the
Rebellion.
Under the immediate supreme command of Lieutenant-General Grant, in a series of consummate military movements, occupying several days of constant engagement fought with endurance and valor never surpassed, attended by hardships and peril heroically sustained, and extending along a line of operations without example in military history, culminating in the destruction of the enemy's line in the evacuation of Petersburg, and in the occupation, by the corps under Major-General Weitzell, of the Capitol of the rebel usurpation. . . . This result has promptly succeeded upon the extraordinary and brilliant exploits of the army commanded by Major-General Sherman, whose march through the States of Georgia, South Carolina, and far into the State of North Carolina, while it swept, by its resistless energy, the cities of Savannah, Columbia, Charleston, and their surrounding territories. . . .To these have been added the recent capture of Fort Fisher, on the Cape Clear River, and the occupation of Wilmington by a force detailed for that purpose by Lieutenant-General Grant, and immediately led by Brigadier-General Terry in an enterprise most brilliant, both in action and result.
The Governor also refers to the brilliant services and operations of
Major-General Sheridan in the
valley of the Shenandoah.
He then says,—
In the midst of a great national rejoicing, we are called again to mourn the loss, to the country and their kindred, of, we know not how many, our most gallant and worthy sons.
Their names, their memory, and their deeds will last while the best actions of men have a record on earth.
And the precious sacrifice of heroic lives will find their great reward in the gratitude of mankind and the benediction of God.
The address was received by the two branches with great satisfaction, and was frequently applauded.
Senator Wilson came into the House of Representatives, and was loudly cheered.
Very little business was done in either branch.
On the same afternoon a very large and enthusiastic meeting was held in
