The New York herald., 1865-04-05

passable In any other way And 90 by most remarkable
engineering and unequalled honsnanship, although the
dangers encountered frghtful succeeded In get
ting safely through the absnh and had the honor 70
be the nTst Yankee civilian to enter the city.
DESTRUCTION OF LEES ARMY.
Let me pause here for little time while the victor
GUS Army of the Potomac marching into Petersburg,
and describe the nnal dispersion Of Lees grand army
mRsxorH OF THE ARMY DEFENDING PETERSBURG
At tho commencement Of General Grants operations
on this line Ave days ago the rebels had force at their
command defending Petersburg varousy estimated at
from sixty TO seventyhve thousand men, The defence
fell the other certain to fall Hence every available
man was brought TO confront Grant
PRISONERS cAPrURxD
or this boasted army of veteran troops the last hope
Of the rebellion less than twenty-five thousand have
fallen into our hands prisoners Of war These have
been captured the battle field the fruit Of severe
fighting Twelve thousand and Ave hundred Of them
had been delivered at City Point and disposed
Of up TO last evening. So rapidly werc they
received that troops could not be spared TO guard them
all and Admiral Porter volunteered the services Of his
sailors and marines for that duty and the gallant tars Of
the Monitors he depth Of water not permitting them 70
get up Rchmond) thus found opportunity Of par
tcipating in the great final struggle Of the war.
KILLED WOUNDED.
have no data upon which TO base estimate OF the
casualties the rebel ranks but every hand they
reported 70 be very heavy Ordinarily thirty and
third per cent Is fair average OF losses in general
engagement Of any magnitude But lot it be supposed
that because Of the lack of spirit the rebel ranks
which caused them to shrink from the fight and not
stand up bravey former occasions their losses
small Make them but twenty FIVE per cent That
gives from fifteen to eighteen thousand killed and
wounded-say fifteen thousand, which, added to the
twenty-five thousand captured, makes forty thousand
than half the entire army at the maximum csti.
mate Of It's strength. three fourths at the minimum
estimate.
RssT?
These estimates leave from fifteen thirty thousand
of the Petersburg rebel army yet alive and at large
Add to this say ten thousand occupying the deences OF
Richmond making from twenty i've to forty thousand,
the sole survivors of the grand army of Northern vr
gnia These divided into not less than four distinct
fugitive bands each seeking safety for itself alone with
settled purpose plan Of junction, and no rest &
forded them by their unelentng to form plans
HOW THE REBKrs GOT AWAY.
Sheridan's at the Five Forks Saturday cut
Lees right wing off, since which time II has not been
heard OF. Doubtless II was then understood by them
that defeat abandonment Of the Petersburg and
Richmond lines, and rightly considering Sheridan flank
movement virtual defeat, these fellows made of with
all haste. Their disappearance has been considered
mystery up this tme the rebels themselves supposng
them captured entire
The vigorous push by the Ninth, Sixth and Twenty
fourth corps yesterday morning. penetrating and psrc
ing tho rebel nes caused another separation Of their
forces cutting on second large body or the flight o
these we have trace. portion Of them started
for the Appomattox, and succeeded In crossing that
stream by means Of pontoon train a point ter
fifteen miles above Petersburg while the rest being
hard pressed could not get across and fed up the ve
its southern bank. Sheridan In still pursuing ant
pushing them capturing prisoners at every step.
third detachment consisting Of those who held, OF
sought hold the works Immediately front Of Peters
burg escaped through that city.
Tho fourth detachment those in the defenocs Of Rich
mond, also fugitives IL now being known that thai
| place is evacuated
wHknx HAvB GoSH
Thus We have the grand army reduced by iS many
battles and campaigns TO but sixty seventynve thou
sand men ths number again reduced In the final strag
gle to twenty thirty housapd, or including the Rich
mond detachment not In the battle 70 from twenty 1--WE
to forty thousand and these again sepsraaod by the
chances Of battle into four distinct squads each sepa
ratey put 70 fight and being vigorously pursued Thus
tho rebel army Of NoFhom Virginia is In reality de
sroyed. The general direction Of the flight Of each
squad towards the Danville Railroad Probably they
have plan Of forming junction at Apponaotrtatior
Burksvle But she plan will be frustrated Neither
Of the fragments win be permitted 10 halt at any point
long enough for another find t. They are on the rum
fairly put TO flight and SderidnS magnificent cavalry,
with the elated, victorious Army Of the Potomac are
on their heels picking up additional prisoners by
hundreds and thousandsAlmost st every turn. more
complete destruction OF army never known Even
Waterloo, whom the facts learned will be found net
70 surpass IT, The fugitive character Of this mag
nincent army stteed BY the multitude Of ~ NUMBER
found in Petersburg. hid away IN houses barns and
other places Of concealme anxious 10 give themselves
up prisoners rather than stand long and hopeless
pursuit II Ia further attested by their leaving behind
them their artillery, tents and all teduntc; and BY
the roads lined with their or guns and
mentA Goodby 70 the rebel army Of Nortben vir
gnia II has been noble army, worthy Of better
cause and more honorable DEATH