Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-04-30

Crash, as II the World itself was at an
end.
Even then Grant did not wait mo-
ment. He did not even move his army
eastward to occupy or capture Peters
burg; he was certain it would fall with
out final effort, and before the town
was in his hands his forces were
out to intercept the flying
defenders, who themselves had not vet
escaped from the lines which had pro-
tected them so long. Sheridan,
Humphrey, and Griffin were held loose
on the night of April 2, in the certainty
that Lee would eyacuate Petersburg
before morning.
For when once the citadel of the re-
bellion was gone. when the confeder-
ates were driven from cover, Grant
knew well what the next and only OBJ
ject of Lee must be. He must attempt
to unite with Johnston's army. Should
this be accomplished, the war might
very possibly last yet another year.
The two great confederate forces
might retire into the interior and in
some way find supplies, and though
they could not damage the union ar
mics seriously they might occasion in
finite trouble and cost before they could
be subdued
This was the spur and Indictment of
Grants terrible energy. 1t was not the
mere pursuit of q routed foe, but the
accomplishment of great strategical
and political object that he was aiming
at, and there were plenty of difficulties
in his path. Lee had shorter road
and fewer impediments; he had the
wonderful impetus of flight, with the
chance of safety and something like
success before him as his prize. He,
besides, was moving toward his source
of supplies, while Grant must leave his
base, and build railroad in order to
provision his army. There was every
military chance when Lee fled from
Petersburg that he would succeed in
GLIDING his pursuers. Accordingly, he
ordered supplies from Danyille to meet
him and by daylight on the Sd of April
his advance was sixteen miles on the
road to Amelia.
And now came a contest between the
wits and genius of the two command
ers. For the first time they were pit
ted against each other, absolutely out
side of works and in the open field.
Lee no longer had elaborate fortifica-
tions to protect his army, but only the
breastworks that he threw up along the
road in the intervals of flight. Grant,
on the other hand, could with difficulty
concentrate his superior numbers while
in motion, and they were therefore at
times an absolute incumbrance, crowd
ing the roads, in each others way, and
exposed, if separated, to sudden blow
from the enemy. Lee had only a sim
gle object now--to elude the columns
of his adversary and effect his junction
with Johnston If he succeeded in this,
Grant was bahied and beaten, despite
the evacuation of Richmond and Peters
burg, and the rebellion was not over.
So JEFF Davis thought, and issued
proclamation from Danville on the 9th
of April announcing to the people of
the south that their cause was still not
lost. But neither Lee nor Davis even
yet understood the man with whom
they were dealing. For now began the
unintermitted succession of maneuvers
and marches and battles and blows
one end. While Lee was making for
the Appomattox and attempting to
cross the river and collect his troops at
Amelia, Grant pushed rapidly forward
for the same point on the opposite side.
He was aware of Lees intention almost
as soon as it was formed, and long be-
fore night on the Sd of April his col
ums were all in motion for the Danville
road to intercept his adversary. On
the 4th the flight was continued on the
northern bank, and the parallel move
ment on the opposite side, Sheridan
stretching ahead in the race, and gain
ing step by step on the advance of the
enemy. This day Lee arrived at
Amelia, and Sheridan came up not only
with his cavalry, but with the head of
Griffin's corps, to Jetersville, having
thus absolutely outmarched the con-
federate army. At this point the sup
plies that Lee had ordered were inter-
copied on their way from Danville, and
the confederate chief was advised to
wait a day and gather food and forage
from the inhabitants.
And now the energy of the chief of
the advance was not more conspicuous
nor commendable than the efforts of
Meade and his subordinates All night
the Army of the Potomac marched,
though it had been allowed no rest for
five 1ull days and nearly as many nights.
Ord, meanwhile, pushed on nearly as
hard, for Grant constantly used the
Army of the James to cut off and pre-
vent any possible flight or escape of
Lee by detour in the direction of
Danyilie. He was at this time striking
hard with one wing of his command
and extending the other to retain the
rebels in position where they could be
struck. At Jctersvillc, on the 9th, the
Army of the Potomac and the cavalry
were in front of Lee. The confeder-
ates were intercepted. and it is claimed
that Meade should have here attacked
and destroyed the remainder of the
rebel command. Lee, however, find
ing that Meade made no attack, the
confederate general in the night, with
admirable secrecy and skin, did exactly
what Sheridan had foretold. and what
Grant, as soon as he arrived on the spot
and understood the situation, concurred
in anticipating he moved again by his
right flank; and before Grant had time
to reverse the arrangements of Meade,
the army of Northern Virginia was
once more on the march.
Not, however. to escape unhurt or
entire. Instantly changing the direc-
ton of his columns, Grant again dis
posed them not only TO pursue, but,
again TO intercept his adversary. Then
came the exciting race, and all the
movements by which Ord held Lee in
front long enough for Sheridan to at
tack in flank and Humphreys to come
up with the rear-as complete strate-
gical success rs was ever achieved. The
whole confederate rear guard was ami
hilated
But even now a portion of the enemy
had escaped, and with marvellous reso-
luton and endurance was pressing on.
The chance of reaching Johnston was
quite gloomy. Lee himself could not
have hoped to save amy force that could
ever resist an army again. During the
night of the 9th the rebels again eluded
the Army of the James. On the 9TH
the Appomattox was crossed over burn
ing bridges, and amid exploding forts;
but the rebels pressed on, and beyond
Farmville they turned once more with
indomitable courage TO hold off their
energetic foe. But the pursuit was as
persistent as the flight; the columns
were all advancing, though generals
were captured and divisions repealed;
the cavalry crossed and recrossed the
Appomattox; solitary corps were en-
dangered; others were INSTRUCTED;
Others marching across each others
path, and the troops entangled on the