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

[580] fall of that place, and now recounted to Grant his conferences with the rebels, the partial sanction he had given to the assembling of the state legislature, and especially a promise that confiscations should be remitted to the people of any state which should promptly and in good faith withdraw its troops from resistance to the government. ‘I do not think it very probable,’ said Lincoln, ‘that anything will come of this, but I have thought best to notify you, so that, if you should see signs, you may understand them. From your recent dispatches it seems that you are pretty effectually withdrawing the Virginia troops from opposition to the government. Nothing I have done, or probably shall do, is to delay, hinder, or interfere with you in your work.’

At midnight Grant received dispatches from Sheridan announcing his victory, and the first idea of the national chief was to intercept again the flight of Lee. If the rebels should not succeed in crossing the Appomattox at Farmville, their only open road was by Prince Edward court-house, about ten miles northwest of Burksville, and five miles directly south of Farmville. At ten minutes past twelve, accordingly, Grant said to Meade: ‘Every moment now is important to us. Communicate this to General Griffin. Direct him to move out at once to our left, taking the most direct open road to Prince Edward court-house. Mackenzie's cavalry is already ordered there, and will be off from here at two A. M.’ To Ord he said: ‘Your troops are the nearest to Prince Edward unless the Fifth corps is between you and there. That corps was ordered to Prince Edward last night, and on the receipt of the news of our ’