struck the 6th corps, Sheridan's army would have been involved in utter ruin. But instead, Early's force, for some unknown cause, halted on the field and allowed the Federals to form a new line near Middletown. At 10 o'clock A. M. Sheridan had completed his famous "Ride from Winchester," and at 3 o'clock P. M. assumed the offensive, and moving forward, vigorously and successfully assaulted Early. Gordon's division was the first to break, then followed Kershaw's, and later Ramseur's. Soon after, Wharton's and Pegram's lines gave way, and the field was soon covered with flying men. It was a shameful rout. Never before had the Confederate soldiery so behaved. Their loss was 3,500 killed and wounded, and 2,500 prisoners, while that of the Federals was 4,990, of whom 653 were killed, 3,719 wounded, and 618 missing.

AROUND PETERSBURG.

On

We must now return to the theater of war around Petersburg. the 1st of August, Grant had 85,295 men present for duty. On the same day Lee's force numbered 54,751, reduced from 60,000 by his having sent Kershaw's brigade to Early in the Valley. On the 12th, Grant, believing that Lee had sent three divisions instead of one to the Valley, determined to assail Richmond, and for this purpose, Hancock's corps embarked on the James and landed at Deep Bottom, whence it advanced toward Richmond. But it was not long ere it was learned that three divisions had not gone to the assistance of Early. One important advantage was gained, however-Hancock's northward movement, which resulted in the

CAPTURE AND DESTRUCTION OF THE WELDON RAILROAD.

When General Lee became aware of the position of the Federals on the north bank of the James, he drew the troops heavily from Petersburg to the defense of Richmond, and on the 18th, the 5th corps under Warren moved south of Petersburg and struck the Weldon railroad only four miles south of the city. In doing this a gap was left open on his right and into it Lee at once thrust Mahone's division, which succeeded in forcing Wright farther south, and in capturing 2,000 prisoners, but it was finally obliged to fall back. The next day another serious engagement took place, but Warren held his position, and in three days succeeded in destroying seven miles of the road, but it cost him a loss of 4,543 men. From this date until the close of the year, a continued series of engagements, sorties, raids, advances and retreats took place, a recountal of which is not necessary to our plan, and would from their similarity of detail scarcely interest the reader. Therefore we proceed to the consideration of the momentous events of 1865, which was

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Winter put an end to all military operations, and both armies lay inactive awaiting the opening of the spring campaign, which commenced with the 25th of March, 1865. The first action was that of FORT STEDMAN or HARES HILL. At four o'clock on the morning of that day, all things being in readiness, a body of Confederate sharpshooters, 250 in number, with empty guns left their own works and stealthily moving across the intervening space, scaled the outer works of the enemy. It was to the Federals as great a surprise as would have been a clap of thunder from a noonday sky. They were driven from their batteries, and yet not a musket was fired. This movement was followed by that of several brigades which had been massed for the purpose. The Federals having recovered from the surprise occasioned by the daring adventure recited, now opened a murderous enfilading fire upon the assailants, and soon General Gordon found it judicious to retire. the assault, the Confederates captured nine pieces of artillery, but being unable to remove them, they were disabled and left behind; also, 550 prisoners among whom was one brigadier-general and several field officers of lower rank.

In

This action seemed to arouse Grant to the realization that it was time to open the campaign, and on the 29th he began a heavy movement against the Southside railroad. Pouring forth 50,000 men, of whom 9,000 were cavalry, he succeeded after several reverses in the accomplishment of his object. Saturday night, April 1st, was a gloomy one for General Lee.

The Federal forces had now passed around to the south-west of his position, thus cutting off not only his source of supplies, but also his line of march southward, should he be compelled to abandon his works. Not only this, but three Federal corps lay before him ready to strike the Petersburg defenses at daylight.

The hour came, and at sunrise on that balmy Sabbath morning the attack was made from three separate points. The 6th corps went though first, at a point nearly opposite the western extremity of the city; a little farther west was the point of attack of the 24th corps; while to the east was that of the 9th corps, which succeeded in carrying Fort Mahone, one of the strongest defences of the city. Ord's and Humphrey's commands having carried the works in front of them, swung around to the right and joined Gibbon's division before Forts Alexander and Gregg: these were the strongest fortifications south of Petersburg, and with their reduction the way to the city would be opened. The assault was at once made, and Fort Alexander carried, but so determined was the resistance of Fort Gregg that Gibbon's columns were forced back, leaving the ground covered with the dead. Three furious charges were signally re

pulsed, but at length the gallant garrison, with smoke-blackened faces from their blazing batteries, was forced to yield, and the works were carried.

At this moment, Generals Lee, Hill and Mahone were in Petersburg consulting upon their future movements. The terrible sounds of battle were coming nearer and nearer. How is this, General?" said Lee to A. P. Hill. "Your men are giving way." Hill drew a rough coat over his uniform and mounting his horse, accompanied by a single orderly, dashed away to the front. In a ravine he rode into the Federal skirmish line, the sound of a dozen rifles instantly rang out upon the air, and the noble Hill, who had been foremost in so many victorious charges, fell to rise no more. (A sketch of his life will be found in the first volume of VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIANS.)

The day waned and with it the fortunes of the Confederate arms; the works were carried after thousands of men had fallen in their defence. But how different was the scene in Richmond, twenty-two miles away! It was a beautiful, balmy spring evening, and the people had gathered in their respective churches for worship. President Davis was seated in his pew in St. Paul's Church. A messenger walked briskly up the aisle and handed him a telegram: it was from General Lee, and in it he said: "Petersburg is lost to the Confederacy, and Richmond must be evacuated at once." The President arose immediately and left the church with a measured but nervous step. No one save himself knew the exact contents of that message, and yet every one in the assemblage intuitively felt that something of dread import had taken place at the front. Quivering lips passed the news from church to church, and the congregations were speedily dismissed; then the rumor was caught up in the streets and soon carried to the remote limits of the city.

EVACUATION OF RICHMOND.

Night passed away, and the day brought such a scene as had only been witnessed in the abandoned cities of the Old World. A government was preparing to move; wagons were hastily laden with boxes and trunks at the departments, and driven to the depot of the Richmond & Danville railroad. Thousands of citizens determined to follow the fortunes of the fugitive government, and as much as a hundred dollars in gold was offered for a conveyance. Night came again and brought with it a reign of terror. No human eyes in Richmond were closed in sleep that night. The city council convened and resolved to destroy all the liquor in the city, and at midnight the work of destruction began. Hundreds of barrels were poured into the gutters, but despite every effort the straggling soldiers secured a quantity of it, and from that moment law and order ceased to exist. Many stores were pillaged, the lawless marauders crashing windows and battering down doors, that they might

grasp the coveted merchandise within. Wild cries of distress mingled with the yells of the pillagers rent the air and a livid pallor rested upon every face.

But the worst element of destruction had not yet appeared upon the scene, although it hovered near. General Ewell, then in charge of the city, now ordered the four principal tobacco warehouses in the city to be fired. Mayor Mayo, through a committee of citizens, remonstrated against the order, the execution of which placed the entire business portion of the city in jeopardy, but without avail. The torch was applied, and the rams of the Confederate navy lying in the James were blown up. Daylight dawned upon the awful scene. The beautiful city was a sea of fire; tongues of flame shot from block to block, and far in beneath the dense columns of smoke might be seen the figures of the rioters rushing amid the glare like demons to and fro, laden with plunder of every kind. It was a scene indeed that beggared description.

The victors were near. A short distance below the city, and on the north bank of the James, lay the division of General Godfrey Weitzel, and to his eye and ear the lurid flames and thundering explosions conveyed an assuring conviction. He knew that Richmond had been abandoned by the Confederate authorities. His martial bands filled the air with inspiring national strains, and as the day dawned orders were given to advance and occupy the city. As the sun arose long lines of cavalry-the 4th Massachusetts in advance-entered the city and filed along Main street. A body of fifty cavalrymen occupied the city square, and Lieutenant Johnson de Peyster ascended to the top of the Capitol building and unfurled the National flag. The dread scene deepened in awful intensity; the hissing of the conflagration, the sullen curses of the vanquished, the shouts of the victors, the screams of women and children united to form a very pandemonium. But at last, through the efforts of the soldiers and citizens, assisted by a favorable change of the wind, the flames were stayed. Martial law was proclaimed, the discordant elements stilled, and order once more reigned.

FROM RICHMOND TO APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE.

It was a dark and moonless night when Lee withdrew the wreck of his shattered army from Petersburg and Richmond. Orders had been issued for the forces to unite at Chesterfield Court House, a point nearly midway between the two cities. From this point it was his intention, it appears, to reach Danville and form a junction with Johnston, who was then marching northward; but a terrible disappointment awaited the army at Amelia Court House. The orders of General Lee for the forwarding of supplies thither from Danville had been shamefully neglected, and with this bitter revelation all hope vanished; capitulation