Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-04-16
Ei!teen Year, Aro

On the 29th of March Grant put his forces
in motion for the final campaign,
which was TO capture the South Side
Railroad, shut up the Rebel army in Rich
mond and Petersburgh, beyond hope of es-
cape; and compel an unconditional surren-
der. The 2d and 5th corps, that day, drove
in the Confederate ou,posis along Iiatcher's
Run and the White Oak Swlmp rold and
occupied positions which removed al danger
that Lee could slia out Of Petcrsjurgh ari
march to join Joo Johnston in North Caro-
lima. The next day the rain fell in torrents.
Little was done except to push np closer to
the Confederate works aHd intrench. On
the 3l>t, Lee attacked the Fifth corps AMI
was rcpulsed. April I. Sheridan, with the
cavalry and Fifth corps, attacked and carried
Five Forks, taking several THOUSAND prison
crs AMI much war material. This WIS
stunning blow. Lee no. on,y lost h..,viiy in
mcn and material. bat the South Si,!e Rail
road WIS at the mercy Of The Fe,lerals San
day, April .. before daylight, the Federal
artillery from the front of Richmond, north
OF the James river, opened Cpon tie rebel
works, as the prelude to q general aSs!uit.
The 9TH Cops made the assault i'll front of
Fort Hell, about two miles soIth Of Ap-
pomat;oX river, and carried the first line Of
the Confederate works The 9Th Corps
swept over tie cncny's works, further to-
war.!- ihc left. IN front 1i.'ort Fisher, and
crossed the rails, al. The 24Ih Corps went
through the rebel lines near IIatcLcr's Run,
and the 2d Corps marched up and closely
invested Pelcrsbursh from the south and
southwest.
That night Loe concentrated his army,
now fedrcad to less than 10000 mcn, and
pushed ilraugi tie lines which were closing
around lim. III desperate effort to reach
Lynciihurrh and tie mountains. SIX days of
hard marching aud sharp fighting followed.
Late Saturday night Sheridan, with 4 SINAI.
portion Of the cavalry, g1t in front Of the
lle, ins foe BY an a!l-nieh! march, after
one OF all day, the 9TH and 2lth Corps reach
ed Sheridan At dly-hrc:k Sunday morning.
to break through the thin line f The cavalry.
As the cavalry boys frli lack, disclosing the
ranks of i1yones tclini them, the Con!ed-
crates rceailed An advauc, was ordered on
the other Side. NEsl the while fa- was adj
vanccd from the rebel lina, and negotiations
for surrender took the place Of active hostil-
tiles. That last rattle Of small arms in the
misty morning of the 9th of April, WAS the
death rattle in the throat Of the Confederacy.
Six hours later the victors were sharing
their ratians with the half starved rebels,
who. with a fortitu,e worthy Of better
cause, had been marching and fighting fer q
week on one DAYS ratiGns- eighteen thou
sand of them having no arms 10 lay down,
because they were too weak 10 carry their
muskels, and had dropped them in their
march.
The recall OF these events may sse'n iaoTe
fitting to day Of Thanksgiving than 10 one
of fasting: but there remains Sufficient
ground for modification in the reflection that
on the fifteenth anniversary Of that great
triumph of National sovereignty, the los,
cause" is taking heart again. as its
brisad;crs look al, uni upon their ma
iorily in both houses Of Congress; and
looi, forward 10 an early day when. rs
thsy believe. the viclorS shall become the
vauquished. Dissensions and jcalousics in
the Republican ranks: hated and abuse Of
the great captain whose grim determination
and grand rencralshi2 brought victory ai last
to the Maternal caGs.: tn s'IhS;rvielcy ci
the Northern Democracy. aai the less open
but hardly less effective assistance Of the in
depcndcrtS.~ who sand ready TO ruin if they
Cannot rule The Hepuhlican rarity. to which
they N, tas> aihcrcGce, are. with @oad Sausi'
revivia- Today in the hearts Of tha lIic
rebels. hnpes Whi,h ii expired fifteen wears
~, 1t Agpo!1a!toN. The vision which
rises hcfort them r1w l. Il = Uninn under
Southern control OF all branches of ;hr Gov
vc-nmcni; L government - administered
anI r,1rsaHizrd in It's executive. legislative
and judicial departments. that S;aic srv,r-
cignity shall once Inu;c Corsc to th' front,
Southern claims receive fir; attention, Con
fc,icrate soldiers he Pc:sioucd, tie Southern
exodus stepped by the siroas hand, anu th,
cplor,d m;n driven hack to peonage. unpaid
tuil and utter snhjeetion. There are voters
enough who desire n1ac nf these things to
make them impossible, If they viii oaly pull
together. and let the great is~'ic remain such
till IL, r-|Glls of the war are uaie finally
and absolutely :, cane. And So Ii, arniyer-
sary Of .t?prmat;oy Is Il good dav. in the
language Of Suf Governor. for every mln
TO paus; and ulal,. careful examination Of
his political course, and make sure that he is
aciua;el by love oi country. anil that lis
motives are pure and high AMI his acts in in
tellisent accord thercwiih. Thea will the
voice Of iha people IL iude,d the voiee of
Cod