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

From Buffalo river, where he camped, Sheridan, early on the 8th, sent a dispatch to Grant, with information derived from Merritt, who was in the advance: ‘If this is correct,’ he said, ‘the enemy must have taken the Pine road north of the Appomattox. I will move on Appomattox court-house. Should we not intercept the enemy, and he be forced into Lynchburg, his surrender is then beyond question.’

The troopers were in the saddle as soon as the sun was up, and Merritt led off, Custer in the advance, followed by Devin. At Prospect station the command was joined by Crook, who now brought up the rear. Soon after the march began, Sheridan's scouts reported four trains of cars at Appomattox station, five miles south of the court-house, loaded with supplies for Lee. These were doubtless the same supplies that had been chased from Burksville to Farmville, and from Farmville to Appomattox; for days they were almost in sight but never in reach of the famished enemy. Merritt and Crook were promptly notified, and the entire command pushed briskly on for twenty-eight miles, halting only once for rest and water.

It was a day of uneventful marching; hardly a human being was encountered on the way. The country was enchanting; the peach orchards were blossoming in the southern spring, the fields had been peacefully ploughed for the coming crops, the buds were beginning to swell, and a touch of verdure was perceptible on the trees and along the hillsides.