ARMY OPERATIONS. 



63 



now coming up. I wish you were here yourself. I 

 feel confident of capturing the Army of Northern 

 Virginia if we exert ourselves, I see no escape for 

 Gen. Lee. I will send all my cavalry out on our left 

 flank, except McKenzie, who is now on the right. 

 (Signed) P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General. 



LETTER. 



AMELIA COURT HOUSE, April 5, 1865. 

 DEAR BRAMMIA : Our army is ruined, I fear. We 

 are all safe as yet. Theodore left us sick. John 

 Taylor is well ; saw_ him yesterday. We are in line 

 of battle this evening. Gen. Robert Lee is in the 

 field near HS. My trust is still in the justice of our 

 cause. Gen. Hill is killed. I saw Murray a few 

 moments since. Bernary Perry, he said, was taken 

 prisoner, but may get out. I send this by a negro I 

 see passing up the railroad to Michlenburg. Love 

 to all. Your devoted son, 



W. B. TAYLOR, Colonel. 



Sheridan now proceeded to put his cavalry 

 out on the left flank, and the slight skirmishing 

 which took place indicated the contest of the 

 next day. 



Meanwhile the other corps of the army were 

 approaching. On April 4th, Gen. Ord's col- 

 umn of the Army of the James, comprising two 

 divisions of the 24th corps and one of the 25th 

 corps, marched down the Cox's road from 

 Sutherland's station, 10 miles west of Peters- 

 burg, on the Southside Railroad. Having sepa- 

 rated from the main column, it moved on the 

 direct road to Burkesville. Gen. Grant was with 

 this force. After advancing along the railroad 

 15 miles, it encamped at night near Wilson's 

 station. On the next day, the 5th, it advanced 

 along the railroad to Black and White's, which 

 it reached at 2 p. M. Thence it pressed for- 

 ward, over good roads, to Nottaway Court 

 House, 9 miles from Burkesville. Here the 

 despatch of Gen. Sheridan was received by 

 Gen. Grant, about 6 P. M., and the two divis- 

 ions of the 24th corps were immediately pushed 

 forward to Burkesville, which they reached at 

 11 P. M. The division of the 25th corps re- 

 mained at Black and White's. Gen. Grant him- 

 self went to Jettersville. 



Of the 9th corps, two divisions on the 4th 

 marched from Petersburg to Ford's station on 

 the Southside Railroad, about 20 miles. On 

 the 5th they advanced along the railroad to 

 Wellsville, 41 miles from Petersburg, having in 

 charge most of the army trains. On the next 

 day, the 6th, they pressed forward, and arrived 

 within 10 miles of Burkesville. 



On the night of the 5th, after the skirmishing 

 of the cavalry with the enemy, the army lay in 

 line of battle, facing substantially to the north. 

 The cavalry division of Gen. Mackenzie was on 

 the left, next the 2d corps of infantry, with the 

 5th and 6th .still further to the right, and the 

 cavalry divis'ion of Gen. Custar on the right 

 flank. At daylight in the morning Gen. Meade 

 moved the three corps along the railroad in the 

 direction of Amelia Court House, but learning 

 that the enemy were retreating toward Farm- 

 vine, the nearest station west on the railroad 

 to Lynchburg, he changed the direction of the 

 2d and 5th corps from a northerly to a north- 

 westerly one, with the 2d corps in advance, 



moving on Deatonsville, and the 5th on its 

 right. At the same time the 6th corps faced 

 about and moved by the left flank, taking posi- 

 tion on the left of the 2d. The cavalry were 

 on the extreme left. The 6th corps in its 

 movement struck the road running from Dea- 

 tonsville to Burke's station, a little south of the 

 former place. It found the 2d corps engaged 

 with the enemy at the front and right, and the 

 cavalry on the left. Moving down the road 

 toward Burke's station about a mile, it turned 

 sharp to the right and proceeded across toward 

 a nearly parallel road, on which the enemy was 

 moving, and along which they had a line of 

 intrenehments thrown op. Gen. Seymour's 

 division of the corps carried the road held by 

 the enemy about 4 p. M., and then turned to 

 the right and advanced down the road against 

 strong resistance. Gen. Wheaton's division 

 was brought in on the left of Gen. Seymour's, 

 and both swept down the road two miles. The 

 enemy were there found reformed on the oppo- 

 site bank of a deep and difficult creek, from 

 which they were driven half a mile. At all 

 points the enemy were driven during the day, 

 and Lieut.-Gen. Ewell, Gen. Custis Lee, and 

 three others, were captured, with a large number 

 of men. The 5th army corps made a long march, 

 but its position on the right prevented it from 

 striking the enemy's column before it had passed. 

 The Union loss was above 1,000. Five guns and 

 many flags, caissons, and wagons were taken, be- 

 sides prisoners. On the next day, the 7th, the 

 2d corps, with the 2d division of cavalry, found 

 the enemy at Farmville, 16 miles west of 

 Burkesville. A sharp contest ensued, causing 

 a loss of several hundred men, among whom 

 was Gen. Smyth. Other troops were brought 

 up, but before the enemy could be reengaged 

 he was on the retreat again. 



At High Bridge over the Appomattox, Gen. 

 Lee crossed to the north side of the river, and 

 two regiments sent by Gen. Grant to hold the 

 bridge were captured by the cavalry of the 

 enemy, and the bridge burned. The re- 

 treat of the enemy was now directly tow- 

 ard Lynchburg. The pursuit was made 

 with great vigor, and stragglers were picked 

 up at every step, and property dropped 

 or partially destroyed by the enemy. During 

 the day Gen. Grant addressed a letter to Gen. 

 Lee, demanding a surrender of his army. On 

 the 8th the enemy made most strenuous efforts, 

 by hard marching, to extricate themselves ; but 

 at night they encountered Gen. Sheridan at 

 Appomattox Court House, between themselves 

 and Lynchburg. A sharp contest ensued, in 

 which many of them were taken prisoners and 

 their retreat checked. The 24th and 5th 

 corps were in support of the cavalry, and dur- 

 ing the night a strong position was taken across 

 the main road, south of the enemy, the Appo- 

 mattox River being on the north, and cutting 

 him off from retreat in that direction. Early 

 on the next morning Gen. Sheridan commenced 

 a vigorous attack, and a warm engagement en- 



