62 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



other side of the river was maintained by four 

 bridges, some of which were pontoon and some 

 pile, in addition to the three railroad bridges 

 at and in Richmond. 



" The evacuation of the works and city was 

 not generally understood by the troops and 

 people till Sunday afternoon. The necessity 

 of the movement was rendered imperative by 

 Gen. Grant's successes on the left. At half-past 

 three o'clock yesterday afternoon, Jeff. Davis, 

 while in church, received a despatch from Gen. 

 Lee, that immediate preparations must be made 

 to evacuate Richmond and its defences at once, 

 as he was wholly unable to make further head- 

 way against Grant's onset on the left. He 

 added that his (Lee's) design was to endeavor to 

 make Danville, and there fortify for a last grand 

 stand. 



" Davis left this city last night at eight o'clock 

 by rail for Danville, his family having been sent 

 out five days ago. On the train he had horses 

 and carriages embarked, in case the road was 

 interrupted, in order to easily make his way by 

 these means. Governor Smith did not evacuate 

 the Gubernatorial mansion until one o'clock 

 this morning, when he fled, leaving Mrs. Smith 

 behind, and all the furniture in his house, which 

 he had heretofore threatened to burn. The 

 residence of the Governor is now the head- 

 quarters of General Charles Devens, command- 

 ing a division in the 24th corps, now here. 

 Mrs. General R. E. Lee, wife of the General-in- 

 Chief, is also in the city." 



The operations of Gen. Sheridan on the 2d, 

 consisted in efforts to push the advantages thus 

 far gained by him. On the 3d his object was 

 to intercept the retreat of the enemy. The ad- 

 vance of the cavalry consisted of Custar's divi- 

 sion. At Namozine Creek the rear guard of the 

 enemy was found strongly intrenched behind 

 earthworks covering the crossing. The bridge 

 had been destroyed and trees felled across the 

 road leading down to it. , A section of artillery 

 was opened in front, while the cavalry forded 

 the stream and flanked the enemy's position. 

 After a short skirmish the enemy retreated, 

 leaving their path strewn with wagons, ambu- 

 lances, dead and wounded horses and mules, 

 caissons, boxes of ammunition, mess utensils, 

 arms, accoutrements, blankets, &c. The enemy 

 were overtaken beyond Namozine Church, and 

 prisoners, horses, and arms were captured in 

 abundance. A harassing pursuit was now kept 

 up for twenty miles, during which about 350 

 prisoners, four cannon, two flags, and several 

 ammunition wagons were captured. Night put 

 a stop to its progress. Early on the next morn- 

 ing, Tuesday, April 4th, the pursuit was resumed, 

 with Mackenzie's division in front and Custar's 

 in the rear. The enemy were overtaken in the 

 afternoon, and found posted with infantry and 

 artillery in works about two miles from Beth- 

 any. Skirmishing began at once, and continued 

 until dark, when the troops encamped, waiting 

 for the rest of the column. Soon after 11 p. M. 

 the cavalry were aroused and marched all night, 



reaching Jettersville about" 6 o'clock in the 

 morning, and there found the 5th corps, well 

 intrenched across the railroad from Richmond 

 to Danville. The 5th corps had started in pur- 

 suit, soon after the cavalry, on the 3d, under 

 Sheridan's command. They arrived in sight 

 of the Appomattox about 2 p. M. Thence it 

 turned to the left without crossing the river, and 

 moved along the Namozine road behind the cav- 

 alry, marching through Amelia County and cross- 

 ing both Deep and Namozine Creeks. The dis- 

 tance made was sixteen miles, which ended in 

 blocking the trains in the miry roads. Few peo- 

 ple were to be seen, except those who had been 

 slaves, many of whom followed the column. 

 The march on the next day, Tuesday the 4th, was 

 twenty miles, and brought the corps to Jetters- 

 ville, There it was massed across the railroad 

 in an open field. In the rear of the 5th corps 

 followed the 2d, and in the rear of the 2d was 

 the 6th. These two corps were under Gen. 

 Meade on the river or Narnozine road, but did 

 not start until the 4th. After a long march the 

 2d reached Jettersville at 2 p. M. on the next 

 day after the 5th. 



When the cavalry reached Jettersville on the 

 morning of the 6th, it was understood that 

 Gen. Lee in his retreat from Richmond had got 

 as far as Amelia Court House, while the Union 

 troops were beginning to assemble at Jetters- 

 ville. This place is on the railroad, about half- 

 way Between Burkesville and Amelia Court- 

 Hous'e, and fifty-four miles southwest of Rich- 

 mond. Amelia Court-House is on the same 

 railroad, about forty-seven miles from Rich- 

 mond. The cavalry division of Gen. Custar 

 was immediately posted on the left of the oth 

 corps, and the 1st and Mackenzie's division still 

 further to the left. 



At the same time Gen. Davies' brigade of 

 Gen. Crooks' division was sent toward Burkes- 

 ville, to seize that station and ascertain the 

 state of affairs in that direction. . At Burkes- 

 ville is the junction of the Richmond and Dan- 

 ville Railroad with the Southside Railroad from 

 Petersburg, and fifty-two miles west of Ihe 

 latter place. Gen. Davies came upon the cav- 

 alry of the enemy at Fame's cross-roads, and 

 attacking them, captured a large number of 

 prisoners, 5 new Armstrong guns and caissons, 

 and about 200 wagons, mostly empty, and 7 

 or 8 battle-flags. " An infantry force then came 

 to the support of the cavalry, and Gen. Davies 

 was forced to retire with his prisoners, after 

 burning the wagons. At 3 p. M. Gen. Sheridan 

 learning this news, and finding the condition 

 of the enemy, sent the following despatch to 

 Gen. Grant: 



JETTEBSVILLE, April 5 3 P. M. 

 To Li#tt..Gen. U. S. Grant ; 



GENERAL : I send you the enclosed letter, which 

 will give you an idea'of the condition of the enemy 

 and their whereabouts. I sent Gen. Davies' brigade 

 this morning around on my left flank. He captured 

 at Fame's cross-roads five pieces of artillery, about 

 two hundred wagons, and eight or nine battle flags, 

 and a number of prisoners. Tho 2d army corps ia 





