The Portland daily press., 1873-04-09
The Ninth of AnriJ.

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The Ninth of April.
So busy people are we and so many grand
achievements have been crowded into the his
tory of the nation during the last twenty
years that comparatively few recall the ami
versaries of great events. Consequently very
few recall the fact that to-day is the eighth
anniversary of one of the most memorable of
tie great events that will ever be conspicu-
Gus in our history-the surrender of Gen.
Lee and the Army of Northern V rginia at Ap-
pomattox Court House, Sunday April 9th,
1865, the virtual close of the war for the in
tegrity of the Union. In that connection it
will not be improper to briefly recall the
circumstances of that memorable event.
The movement which resulted in the sur
render at Appomattox began March goth.
The army ofoperation consisted of the Army
of the Potomac, embracing the Cavalry Corps
under Gen. Sheridan and the I'd, 5th. 9th and
9th Corps VITA two divisions of the Army of
the James, the third holding the federal lines
north of the James river. The 9Th and 9th
corps and the divisions of the Army of the
James held the federal lines south of the Ap-
pomattox river while the I'd, 9th, and Cavalry
connecting with the extreme left of the forth
fed line were to operate against the South
Side and Danville Railroads. The movement
was surprise to Gen. Lee, and his forces in
front of the I'd and 9th CORPS were driven be-
hind their works after considerable resistance,
and the cavalry making wider detour
seized Dinwiddie Court House, the junction of
several roads connecting with the main
army and leading to Five Forks the kew to
the railroad. The night of the 10th, a heavy
rain storm began which continued through
the 30th and until the 31st, converting the
fiat country which was the theatre of opera
tions into a vast quagmre and rendering the
movement of trains impossible. On the Both
the two last named corps strengthened their
positions aud Gen. Lee fastened all his avail
able infantry force to confront them and, if
possible, parry the impending blow. On the
31st Gen. Lee attacked brigade of the 5th
Corps, making movement upon the White
Oak road leading to Five Forks, ,and striking it
in its flank drove it back upon the main force
causing considerable disorder and loss. The
attack was however effectually resisted and
Gen. Lee turned upon Gen. Sheridan who
was at that time advancing on Five Forks,
when there ensued the severest fight on the
part of the cavalry during the war; which re-
suited in no advantage 10 either party. April
1st. after severe fighting in the almost impeu-
etrabie jungles about Five Forks, Gen. Sheri-
dan captured that important position with the
9th corps and cavalry, taking 5000 prisoners
Three o'clock Sunday morning, April 2nd,
under the cover of terrific cannonade, the
infantry all along the lines south of the Ap-
pomattox river, assaulted and carried the
main lines of the enemy and by noon had
seized the South Side railroad and established
lines near the inner line of forifieations
about Petersburg. Sunday night, Gen. Lee
evacuated Petersburg and Richmond and
concentrated his army at Chesterville Court
House, sixteen miles northwest of Peters 4
burg. Early Monday morning the relentless
pursuit and retreat for life began, and from
that hour until the next Sunday morning
there was 70 rest for man or beast. Monday
Gen. Lee retreated along the north side of
the Appomattox to Amelia Court House.
where he expected to find supplies to feed
his hungry army, but by mistake, his rations
had been taken to Richmond, where they had
been burned. Obliged to wait there to for
age, Gen. Lee found his way disputed by
Gen. Sheridan and the 5th corps and hesi-
tating to contest it, the arrival of the End
9th corps rendered il necessary to change
his plan, which was to join Johnston in west
efn North Carolina, and make for Lynchburg,
Va, and the mountains April 9th there was
much severe fighting, in which parts of the
whole army participated, but in which the
9th corps lost heaviest, though the cavalry,
the End corps and a part of the 5th corps
were hotly engaged. During the day large
numbers of prisoners, many pieces OF artillery
and several hundred wagons were captured.
During the. 7th, there was considerable
fighting and Gen. Lee made stand at Farm
vile, seizing natural position of great
strength. At this juncture in the pursuit, a
large part of the cavalry with the 9Th corps
and army of the James started to out-run the
enemy by the way of Edwards Court House
and place Itself in Gen. Lees front. During
the night of the 7th the enemy quietly left
Farmville and continued the fight, though
his troops were nearly famished for want of
food, not having an apology for ration since
the Monday before. The federal army had
hardly half rations at any time and had literal
ly nothing on the morning of the 9th, besides
being worn out by marching and fighting day
and night.
During the Sth, there was comparatively
little fighting, the army following in pursuit
not pressing very hard in order that Gen.
sheridan might better get to the eneny's
ir'nt. Late the same evening, Sheridan's
cavalry appeared in front Of the enemy near
Appoma'to1 Court House and by severe all
nisn' March, the infantry came to his aid
Juss III ''me to repel Gen. Lees attack
early sunday morning, the 9th Tho
great Confederate leader Saw .1.t s,.t,,au
resistance was utterly homeless "a - - -'
the early dawn of that Sabbath morOino .ha
report OF the last rebel cannon as it diaJ . wy
among the distant hills, proclaimed H.. "aS w..
cause for which it had spoken was a,roaae
lost. e'uy
Growing out of the results of tbat
of April, eight years ago, what ron. ,,,.l,,-
events have transpired. Slavery has been
abolished; the States that SO madly rushed
into rebellion have been restored to their ~
sition in the Union and the fullest rights of
citizenship restored to all except a yerv fayr
"no can have the boon for the ask;pa. T.,
20 sasa;o Sa 1unrage has been engrafted upon the
o.e. AI "a" VI the nation. Doubtless much
OF 'ne oi''erness of defeat yet fingers among
the people who were 50 heroic in defense Of
the wrong; but when we consider how far
that has given way to reason and better judg-