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began, the corps moving towards
Amelia C. H., with the design of attacking the enemy if found.
We came within sight of his wagon train, and accelerated its speed in a most comical manner with a few shells.
1 It was not all holiday work, however, for the
Rebels with their old-time doggedness, though fully realizing that the days of the
Confederacy were few, seized upon every commanding position in their path to make a short stand, which necessitated bringing up artillery and deploying the infantry to drive them on. By the time this was done they were ready to renew the retreat, having delayed our advance long enough to permit their trains and main column to get a good start.
Other evidences of demoralization than those evinced by captured prisoners and artillery now became frequent along the route.
These were abandoned wagons, forges, battery wagons, pots and kettles, in short every description of army traps not absolutely essential in battle that pulled back their hungry, jaded beasts, and, it may be added, the hungry, footsore, worn-out Confederates as well, so many of whom still rallied around their idolized leader.
The misery of the famished troops during the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th of April, passes all experience of military anguish since the retreat from the banks of the Beresina, Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac.
Towards evening of the 5th.
[says one of their number,] and all day long upon the 6th, hundreds of men dropped from exhaustion, and thousands let fall their muskets, from inability to carry them any further.
It was the lot of the Second Corps to follow sharply upon the heels of the enemy during his retreat,