The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-04-14
Capture Ofthc Rebel Capital and
Lees Surrender.

capital and stronghold of the rebellion
has fallen and Lees demoralized and
disheartened army which fed in des-
pair before Grants victorious columns
has surrendered. This joyful news
will be received with delight through
the country. We give brief nara
tive of the preliminary movement of
the army which commenced fortnight
ago Tuesday by slight advance of the
left wing:
The move was continued Wednes-
day and Thursday, in spite of the
usual rain storm which set in. On
Wednesday the % and 9Th corps
moved across the historical Hatcher's
run, encountering and driving back
the enemys pickets. Wednesday night
the rebels made sudden attack near
the centre of the line, in the vicinity
OF Fort Steadman, expecting to find
that part of the line weakened by the
advance on the left, but they were
mistaken, and forced back with heavy
loss. Thursday it rained, but the adj
vance on the left was pushed forward
about two miles, meeting with but
little resistance. Friday there was Sc
we're fighting all day. our forces being
at first repulsed with heavy loss. But
they finally succeeded in recovering
the lost ground and at night had OBJ
tanned an advanced position from that
held in the morning, But the crown
ing battle and victory of the whole
was reserved for Saturday. Sheridan
led the advance, having under his
command the 9Th corps as we'll as his
own tried troops. The battle was for
the possession of tho Five Forks on
the Southside railroad, and the enemy
made most desperate defense. But
Sheridan showed the same genius for
infantry movements that he has dis
played in the management of cavalry
and the rebels were everywhere out
Unanswered, outhanked and beaten,
and after day of as stubborn and
close fighting as there has been during
the war, Lees army was thoroughly
routed, and that general sent word to
JEFF Davis that the game was up. The
/ loss on both sides was heavy, and
Sheridan captured at least 5000 rebels
in this days operations. Gen. Win
throp, cousin of the late Major Win
throp, fell in this battle, MORALLY
wounded, the only general officer killed
ON our side during this week of battles.
On Sunday the battle was transferred
to the centre Of the line before Peters
burg, the 9th and oath corps assault
ing the rebel works in front of that
city and after repeated assaults and
repulses, and hard fighting all day,
carving them at last in gallant style
and turning the guns on the enemy
During the night the rebels made q
feint to cover their retreat, and before
daylight it was evident to our forces
that the rebe had evacuated, and al
4 o'clock Monday morning Petersburg
was in our possession, the city being
formally surrendered by Mayor Town
Lee sent word to jeff Davis Saturday
night that Richmond was no Longer
tenable. The rebel president at frs
refused to believe it, and treated the
message as an April fool Joke But i
soon became evident that it was tn,
truth, and Richmond as well as Pc
tersburg was evacuated by the rebels
Sunday and Sunday night. About
O'Clock, Monday morning, Gen. Welt
eel, who was left in command on tn,
north of the James, became awar,
what was going on, and advanced ant
took possession of the city soon after
O'Clock in the morning. He had witt
him only the 25th colored corps, al
the white troops of the army of til,
James having been taken south of til,
river to assist in the attack ON tn,
left and the negro soldiers wer,
therefore the first to enter the cit,
which has so long been the capital 0
the rebellion which was instigated fol
the express purpose of perpetuatine
slavery The rebels on leaving set fir,
to both Petersburg and Richmond
but the fires were extinguished doing
great damage. Some tobacco ware
houses, some of them filled with to
bacco, will prove the greatest loss
The mayor of Richmond gave up til,
city, only pleading for the protection
of life and property. Our troops wer,
received with many marks of Joy by
the inhabitants, showing that there i
still considerable Union sentiment il
the city. There is much suffering from
want of supplies, and Gen. Weitzel i
about to issue rations to all who tax,
the oath of allegiance. In the cap
ture of the city Weitzel took abou
1000 prisoners, besides 5000 rebe
soldiers sick in the hospitals, 60C
pieces of artillery and 5000 stand o
arms and it is estimated that in al
the operations of the week we hav,
taken $4,000 prisoners and an i'm
mense number of cannon and small
arms while Gen. Grant estimates
our loss in killed, wounded and miss
ing at only 1000, of whom 1900 O
2000 are prisoners and many of the re
mainder slightly wounded The rebe
rams in the James were blown up Sun
day night and destroyed ; but tn,
famous Tredegar iron works wer
taken uninjured. President LineolI
remains at the front, and has been il
both Petersburg and Richmond, an,
was received with much enthusiasm.