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

He made no delay, however, in the pursuit. Meade was ordered to follow north of the river, while Sheridan with all the cavalry pushed, on the opposite side, for Appomattox, followed by the army of the James and the Fifth corps. To Sheridan, Grant said: ‘I think Lee will surrender to-day. I addressed him on the subject last evening, and received a reply this morning, asking me the terms I wanted. We will push him until terms are agreed upon.’ This day also he sent a dispatch to Stanton in these words: ‘The enemy so far have been pushed from the road towards Danville. I feel very confident of receiving the surrender of Lee and what remains of his army by to-morrow.’

During the night the enemy abandoned his position in front of the Second corps, and at five A. M. on the 8th, Humphreys resumed the pursuit on the Lynchburg stage road, Wright following on a parallel road. No halt was made by the Second corps till sunset, and then after two hours rest, the march was renewed. But the rebels fled fast, and at midnight there seemed no prospect of overtaking them in the darkness. The head of the column was therefore halted again. The men were exhausted by fatigue and want of food, and the rear of the column did not get up till morning; while the supply train of two days rations was still later. But as soon as the rations could be issued the Second corps moved forward again; and at eleven o'clock on the 9th, Humphreys came up with the rebel skirmishers about three miles from Appomattox court-house. The Sixth corps marched on the 8th to New Store,