With Richmond were taken 1000 prisoners, 5000 sick and wounded in the hospitals, 500 cannon, 30 locomotives, 300 cars.

Petersburg was evacuated simultaneously with Rich

Evacuation of
Petersburg.

mond. Its municipal authorities came out and surrendered it. It was taken possession

of quietly, and the United States flag hoisted on the courthouse at 4.30 A.M.

CHAPTER XCI.

THE SURRENDER OF LEE.

After the evacuation of Richmond and Petersburg, General Lee attempted so to conduct his retreat as to join the army of Johnston in North Carolina. His march was intercepted by Sheridan. He then endeavored to escape to Lynchburg.

His army endured the most dreadful privations. Its retreat was finally cut off near Appomattox Court-house.

An interview took place between Generals Grant and Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia surrendered to the national army.

The retreat of Lee

and Richmond.

THE night was moonless and dark as Lee withdrew the wreck of his army from Petersburg and Richfrom Petersburg mond. He had given orders for the shattered troops to unite at Chesterfield Court-house, a point about midway between the two cities. Ostensibly it was his intention to march toward Danville, and join the army of Johnston; but doubtless he realized, in the horrible confusion and disorder of the fleeing host, that the power of the Confederacy was not only broken, but forever gone. No order was published against straggling. The soldiers deserted almost at will, particularly the Vir ginia troops, who dropped off to their homes at almost ev ery step of the route. The 40,000 men with whom the retreat commenced had dwindled greatly in numbers when

it closed.

Nevertheless, for him there was but one honorable course, whatever his private conviction of the issue might be: he must energetically attempt to make good his re treat, and not surrender his army until its surrender be came an undeniable military necessity.

It was Lee's intention to make as quickly as he could It is toward Burkes for Burkesville, the junction of the Southside and Danville Railroads, 52 miles west of Pe tersburg. If he could reach that point and destroy

ville Junction.

the

bridges behind him, there was a hope that his pursuers might be so delayed that he could make good his escape, and, uniting with Johnston, exact favorable terms. Twice, under like circumstances, he had been fortunate: he had made his way across the Potomac after Antietam, and again after Gettysburg.

Grant's pursuit.

Of Grant's army, the 5th Corps was at Sutherland's, nine miles west of Petersburg. Sheridan, with his cavalry, was ten miles still farther west. All the rest of his forces, except Weitzel, were south or southwest of Petersburg. Grant's object was to reach Burkesville in advance of Lee, so as to intercept him there. The lines of march of the two armies, the pursued and the pursuing, converged to that point. The troops of the Army of the James, under Ord, moved by the Southside Railroad; Sheridan and the 5th, 2d, and 6th Corps of the Army of the Potomac more to the north.

The roads, which are here of a stiff red clay, were very much broken, and rendered almost impassable by the recent rains. The bridges over the creeks had to be renewed, and much corduroying done. But the roads over which Lee had to pass were in a better condition than those of his antagonist's line of march.

Lee, with all speed, made his way due west, crossing the Appomattox River, and reaching Amelia Court-house on Tuesday, the 4th. But there was no lingering on the part of his ever-watchful antagonist.

Lee is constrained

to halt at Amelia Court-house.

At Amelia Court-house Lee struck the Danville Railroad. He had ordered supplies for his army to meet him at that point-a quarter of a million of rations. His men had started on the march provided only for a single day. With dismay he learned that the train which had duly brought these sup plies had been ordered on to Richmond by the authorities there the previous Sunday to carry away the fugitive officials. It had gone without unloading the supplies. In

this supreme moment the army had been sacrificed for the safety of the politicians. The men were famishing. It was absolutely necessary to halt, during the 4th and the 5th, to obtain subsistence from the surrounding country. All the advantages of the start and the forced march were lost.

Sheridan intervenes between him and Burkesville.

This delay enabled Sheridan, with his cavalry, to over. pass Lee, and reach the Danville Railroad at Jetersville, seven miles southwest of Amelia, the advance sweeping down to Burkesville. The 5th Corps was rapidly following. At Jetersville Sheridan heard that Lee was still at Amelia Court-house. He saw with delight that he had intercepted the Confederates. He sent an urgent request to Meade, who was sixteen miles in the rear, sick, and his troops encamped for the night, to hurry up. "Do I understand that General Sheridan believes that Lee's army will be destroyed or captured if my troops reach the Danville Railroad by morning?" "Yes, sir," was the reply. Orders were at once issued, and the wayworn men were put in motion.

To Grant Sheridan sent word: "I wish you were here yourself. I feel confident of capturing the Army of Northern Virginia. I see no escape for General Lee." Just before midnight Grant reached Sheridan's head-quarters, a little frame building near Jetersville. Sheridan was up stairs asleep, but, soon coming down, he drew on the back of a letter the positions of Lee's columns and his own troops. "Lee is caught," said Grant; "it will be hard for him to get away."

Accordingly, Meade came up with the 2d and 6th Corps. On the ensuing morning three fourths of the Army of the Potomac were at Jetersville. Lee's farther retreat in that direction was cut off. He had ordered supplies to meet him from Danville and Lynchburg at Burkesville. Even had not his dispatch been intercepted, it was impossible for him now to reach them.