The Irish standard., 1888-10-27

fnink Of It'll Fourteen thousand cavalry,
endless lines OF infantry, and fifty batter
les of artillery, all in their best, with tho
spring sun shining on their ranks.
Itwas q long ride for Sheridan that day
TO pass before the extended ranks. On
starting he was accompanied by his stan,
brave in furnished uniforms, but by de-
grees, as horse after horse succumbed to
fatigue, there was nothing left OF the gay
cavalcade but tho General himself on his
tireless black charger. And the most SIM
gular part Of it all was, that when the long
ride was over, every soldier in line was
ready to swear that Sheridan's eyes looked
straight into his with especially approving
glance.
Two days afterward, at four o'clock in
the morning, this splendid host set forth
to fulfil its destiny. They captured Staun.
ton, passed Waynesboro, and marched
along the muddy roads to Charlottesville.
Little did Harry think, when he went &
soldering, that high academic honors would
90 conferred upon him; that, in fact, he
would be appointed temporary conservator
Of the third greatest university of this
country, but so it was. AS the Union
troops approached the city eager deputar
tons Of hurghers and college authorities
came forward to pray the clenency OF the
invaders, and to Winthrop's guardian care
was con6ded the protection OF those classic
halls which have made Virginia llustrious
as home OF learning. But am afraid
these registering troopers enjoyed the good
fare the rich city provided a great deal
more than the honor accruing from their
protectorate Of college dons.
Then they struck the James river and de-
stroyed every lock and mill they came to.
reaching Hanover junction, where they
had q brush with Plckett's division, which
Harry Winthrop declares to this day was
the best in the Confederate army, and final
~ Joined Grant at Petersburg.
Meanwhile Lees position was becoming
utterly desperate, for every day Grants
grip upon him was Tightening with the
cruelty Of an avenging Nemesis, and the
only hops left to him was to steal away and
Join Johnston.
On the LIST day Of April Sheridan, with
nine thousand sabers and heavy columns OF
infantry, drove his force like wedge be-
hind the Confederate position at Five Forks,
twelve miles southwest of Petersburg; and,
assailed in front and rear, the garrison
was overwhelmed, and Eve thousand mon
were taken prisoners
The next morning at four o'clock the
Union army advanced along the whole
front, and the Confederate line Of intrench-
ments was broken and thousands OF prison
ers were captured.
Oh, that sad, sad Sunday at Richmond
The churches were full Of people pititully
praying for Divine interference to avert
the calamity they trembled to think was
beyond the power Of human aid. Even as
Jefferson Davis sat in his pew, the bitter
tidings were brought him, and men read in
his palhd face the beginning OF the end OF
their heroic struggle. From lips to lips
were passed the fatal words-Richmond
must fall. Then the streets were filed
with men, women and children, rushing in
wild lan,entation they knew not whittier,
while even in that supreme hour OF misery
the figures of busy plunderers might be-
seen doing their unholy work regardless
of the suffering around them. In vain tho
city fathers tore from the warehouses the
whisky barrels and poured their contents
into the CUTTERS, men wore found even IN
that dread hour reelng like demons through
the streets. and when night came and Cen
eral Ewel fired tho great tobacco houses,
and the flames leaped with uncontrollable
fury from street to street, tue crisis OF
stricken Inhabitants.
That night Petersburg and Richmond
were evacuated, and Lee, having done all
that man could do, passed with the wreck
of that splendid array with which he had
struck the Union forces SO many a crushing
blow out into the open country, with the re-
lentlcss Sheridan hanging on his TANKS.
In all history where is there parallel OF
10
Beset on all sides by a relentless foe, ragged
and spirit-brolzen, driven by the pangs OF
hunger tc eat the young shoots OF trees, with
the chatter OF the pursuing cavalry in their
ears if for a moment they fingered for rest,
they wandered on in grim despair And
when the last supreme moment was como
and the long ranks Of tho Union army
br,stled in thea: front, they rallied to their
gallant leaders, order to form for the
charge.
But Grants letter to Lee, demanding sur
render and Offering terms Of generous
treatment, averted what would have been
one of the bloodiesS tragedies of the war
the slaughter Of men who, right or wrong,
had fought like heroes.
So, on the 9th day OF April, 1868, the
Army Of Virginia laid down its arms, and
the men who had periled SO much for SEN
timent, were no longer Confederate soldiers,
but simply citizens, and Northerner and
Southerner fraternized and conversea in
words Of sympathy and respect.
"Why, surely this is Walter Fro
bjshaml ~ Harry cried, grasping the hand OF
pale, emaciated young fellow. who stood
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