HISTORY OF STEUBEN COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



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flanked. Thereupon a charge was made all along our line, 

 by which six thousand rebels, with their arras and ammu- 

 nition, were captured, and the battle of Five Forks, the Key 

 of Petersburg, Richmond, and the downfall of the Rebellion 

 turned gloriously in favor of the Union. In this decisive 

 charge every officer and man was in his place ; Gen. Gregory, 

 followed closely by the 189th, being the first whose horse 

 leaped the enemy's fortifications, and who struck down with 

 his sword those who attempted to raise their guns to take 

 his life. 



On the 3d the news of the evacuation of Richmond 

 evoked the wildest cheers and enthusiasm. Passing through 

 Mannsboro' and Dennisville, the regiment struck the Dan- 

 ville Railroad at dark on the 4th, seven miles east of 

 Burksville, and immediately were ranged in line of battle 

 to encounter the forces of Lee trying to elude Sheridan, 

 who had intercepted him in his westward flight. Hastily 

 erecting breastworks across the railroad, the 189th lay down 

 behind them for the night, no enemy appearing. On the 

 morning of the 5th, planting batteries, strengthening earth- 

 works, and manoeuvring forces indicated the proximity of 

 the enemy. Soon the regiment was ordered to advance 

 and assist the cavalry in capturing a body of rebels ; but they 

 had not proceeded far when shouts of victory were heard, 

 and jubilant troops of cavalry came back bringing many cap- 

 tured battle-flags. The end approached. 



The historian of this regiment thus describes the final 

 struggle before the surrender of Lee : " The bugle-notes by 

 which, at six o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the ever- 

 memorable 9th day of April, we were summoned to renew 

 our marching, called us forth to the proudest deeds that 

 ever shed lustre on human efl"ort. Word was brought that 

 Lee, completely surrounded, was engaging Sheridan, intent 

 upon cutting his way through. Marching towards Appo- 

 aattox Station, we met forty cannon, numerous wagon- 

 ,rains, and army stores, and at the depot four railroad 

 * trains of supplies, captured the previous night by the cav- 

 alry, who were now struggling with the advance of our 

 ensnared foe. The enemy, unconscious of the presence of 



the 5th Corps in support of Sheridan's cavalry, were slowly 

 but surely repelling it, expecting to break through its lines 

 and escape. Forming in line of battle in an open field 

 half a mile in the rear of our cavalry line, which was fight- 

 ing briskly but giving way. Companies A and F of the 

 189th, being deployed as brigade skirmishers, advanced 

 and relieved the cavalry, who moved off to the right of our 

 corps, and took their position in the invincible circle whose 

 toils now surrounded the greatest hope and army of the 

 Rebellion. Coolly and steadily our columns advanced under 

 the volleys of shell and solid shot poured upon us from the 

 rebel batteries. Our infantry skirmish line having become 

 hotly engaged with that of the rebels, we proceeded double- 

 quick to their support. Rapidly the foe drew back, and 

 our column rose to the brow of the hills around Appomattox 

 Court-House. Here the grandest military view ever pre- 

 sented to mortal sight appeared. Wherever the woods did 

 not intercept the view. Grant's dread phalanx of embattled 

 hosts, — infantry, cavalry, and artillery, — were seen con- 

 verging, ' with awful tread and slow,' down the slopes 

 towards Lee's hostile and defiant battalions, moving to em- 

 brace annihilation if made to give battle. On both sides 

 the banners are all floating on the breeze. Generals and 

 their mounted aids and officers are hurrying to and fro, 

 directing the movements which are to decide the issues of 

 four years of war. The double circle of skirmishers come 

 into closer and closer conflict. 



"Our boys, with fixed and pallid features, move onward, 

 expecting every minute to participate in the most over- 

 whelming outburst of fire and death and ruin that ever 

 shook the martial field. Then across the fields, at terrible 

 speed, through our brigade skirmish-line, came Lee's 

 orderly, bearing a flag of truce, and exclaiming, ^ Cease 

 firing ! Gen. Lee surrenders with all his forces !' Instantly 

 was riven, as if by a thunder-bolt from Heaven, the iron 

 spell which had bound every man to his fate in the ex- 

 pected conflict, and in an unrestricted confusion of shouts 

 and demonstrations of joy, officers and privates gave the 

 wildest vent to their feelings of gratitude and delight." 



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