Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

He concluded with a soldier's panegyric of the forces under his own immediate command, inspired by what he had witnessed during the last few days. ‘This army,’ he said, ‘has now won a most decisive victory, and followed the enemy. This is all that it ever wanted to make it as good an army as ever fought a battle.’ No commander was ever more firmly convinced than Grant of the enhancement of spirit and strength and force that troops receive—not only from the excitement of victory, but from the sensation of following the enemy.

By daylight on the 4th, the cavalry was in motion again, Merritt moving towards the Appomattox, and following the force he had driven from Deep creek the day before, while Crook was ordered to strike the Danville road between Jetersville and Burksville, and then move up to Jetersville. This would throw him directly in front of Lee, who had now arrived at Amelia, where everything indicated that the rebels intended to concentrate. The Fifth corps also moved rapidly in the direction of Jeters. ville, about six miles south of Amelia court-house. Meade with the Second and Sixth corps followed on the Namozine road, south of the Appomattox. Grant this day marched with Ord's column on the Cox road, which follows the line of the Southside railroad. The roads were all bad, and the cavalry often cut into the infantry columns, which were instructed always to give it way.

At noon Sheridan sent a dispatch to Grant: ‘Merritt,’ he said, ‘reports that the force in his front have all crossed to the north side of the Appomattox ’