Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-18
From the Boston Journsl
The Pursuit of Lee-scenes Of the Surrender.
"CarIetons" Account

The long oontest-the ieur years OF internal
strlfe-ls virtually over. The rebel army Of
Northern Virginia, " hlch has been the strong
power Of JEFF DAVIS, has laid down It's arms.
fhe soldiers composing it have gone TO their
homes, never more to be found fighting against
the Union. With the surrender and dispersion
Of tie army commanded by Gen. Lse, the last
hope OF J,H DAVIS and the leaders Of the rebel.
lion expires. rhe svent will be forever stand
poin, in history. One year ago Gen. Grant
proposed 60 bsbt it out on the line which he
then adopted, and he has adhered to hIs puf-
pose till success has crowned his efforts.
have given in former letters the movements
and operations Of the army, the series OF battles,
the carrying of the " Five Forks, and the
forts around Petersburg, which compelled Lee
to eyacuate Richmond. 10 the present letter |
propose to give brief and plain narrative OF
the pursuit Of Lee, Of the battles fought, how
he was brought to bay, and the dnal scene OF
bis surrender.
THE PURSUIT or LEE.
4, three O'Clock Monday morning, on the 81
ult., WilcoI's division OF the ninth army corps
entered Petersburg just in season to see The rear
guard Of Lees army disappear over the bills
on the north bank Of the Appomatox, having
burned the bridges behind them. Lees army
was now divided by the river. Long,treets
and Gordons corps, or what was LETT OF them,
were on the south side, while Ewell, Heth,
Pickett and Gusts Lee and Gen. Lee himself
were on the north bank The main army, With
The exception OF the caYalry-or that portion
OF the army which was south Of the AppomsioI
vas biyouackng in 4 semicircle around the
city The cavalry was on the flank OF Long
srest pushing along the South Side railroad.
Gen. Grant lssued orders directly to each
corps commander. Tho ninth corps was de-
tailed to hold the town, guard the railroad,
reconstruct il, and follow the other corps as a
reserve The second, fifth and sixth corps, in
stead Of crossing the river TO follow Lee, were
sent upon the double quick along the road
which runs between the AppomstoX and the
railroad, and which crosses the NLmoxine and
Deep creeks and other tributaries Of the AppS-
matoX The road runs west.
The 24,h corps preceded by the cavalry, took
highway that runs parallel to the railroad,
sometimes crossing it. Gen. Grant designed by
this movement 70 prevent Lee from reaching
Danyille. BY q glance at the map il will be
seen that Grant was even with Leo on the start.
1t was race. The troops moved cut from
Petersburg on the run, cheering and shouting
as they passed through the streets of that town.
Iongs,reet aud Gordon re,rested by the river
road, with Sheridan on their aank all the
while. Lee aud the troUps north Of the Appo-
matox struck the river al Devils bend, which j,
about twenty-five milee above Petersburg
| NJ ads was too Tar behind to prevent the cross-
| ing lie did not aim 10 prevent 1t, but by strlk.
| ing due west, taking the shortest possible route
be hoped to fall upon Lse along Ihs line Of tho
Richmond and DsnvIlle road. He succeeded.
POSITION APRIL 6.
On the morning Of April 9th, Gen. Meade
Wa, a, Jeitersvllle, . station on the Danvlle
road, which is ten miles from Burkesvllle juno
tion and six miles from Amelia Court House
Lee was at the Court House, having been com
pletcly tlanksd by Grant, for Ord, with the Oath
corps, by rapid marching, had reached The
junction, Waikiug along the Richmond anC
Danvlle road, from the Appomstox SOUTH or
the morning OF the sixth, we came to Lse ai
Amelia Court House, then Meade at Jettersvills
and beyond at the junction, Old with tie 2itt
corps and Sheridan with his splendid corps o
cavalry, q little west OF tho junction. Meade
finding that he had succeeded in outmarchlpI
Lee, now, instead Of marching west, turnet
northeast, and swept up the railroad tewaTt
Amelia with the 5th corps on the right, the 2,
ia the centre, and the 9th on the left. Ls9
seeing that he could not 20 down the railroad
instead OF marching southwest, as he had don,
the Say before, moved directly west, marching
rapidly 10 give Meade the sip II possible, Ii,
abandoned wagons, cassOns and forage, and
everything that impeded hi' march.
When Gen Meade discovered Lees now move
meut he wheeled toward the lsts and faced th
II and jih corps northwest, The 9th corp
moy,d up to Palusyllle, which is northwest .
Amelia. but Grlkn commanding, was to !ate Il
strike Lce, whose rear gaard had passed tina
point The "a corps moved through Doaton
vile, which is five miles west OF Jotteresyllle
while the 9th corps moving southwest, cam
upon the rebels on Little Sailors Creek, u smsl
tributary OF The Appomatox, The 24th corp
meanwhile matching from Burkesyllle up III
railroad, jolned the 9th corps at tue head Of tn
creek.
TnE FIGHT oF sAILoR S oRkEG AND HARPER s FARM
Early on the morning OF the b, Gen. Or,
directed that the Petersburg and Lynchbur
Railroad bridge across the Appomattox be seize
and held II possible; 1t not able to hold H. th
troops we're to destroy 1t. The 5ith Pennsyl
vana and 1881 OHIO we're sent to do the work
They moved toward the river but suddenl
found themselves gu the right flank Of Ice
army which was in line Of battle betwee
SAllOr's creek and the Appomaltoy.
The Appomattox at this point runs northeast
Sailors creek IS a short, t,siream "a ryulet wind
ing through doep rayiOo. lts general cours
is northerly, aud 1t falls into the AppomattoI
about ten miles below tho railroad bridge L,e
army laced just as it did at Petersburg, ea'
and southeast.
Walking along the Union hne We hud III
Fifth Corp, not yet up from ts long detou
north towards psinosville, but the Second CofI
is approaching the creek four miles above i
Junction with Tho AppomsttoI. The SixI
Corps is on the efs Of The Second, facing wcs
There i. a break in the line rs we 70 on towar
the cath, which S near Burkesville, iscr