The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-26

sent back letter to Grant, but he was do
ing his best marching, and 1t was good
that the corps on his rear could not get
near enough to attack him and compel him
To face bout and fight Lee marched rap
idly all day and into tue night. and halted
his worn-out, balf-stafSed men at Appo-
mattox for a few hours and TO wait for ra-
tions which Sheridan had intercepted 1t
Is said that Lee. when told by scouts that
General Ord's army was Fastening on the
road TO Sheridan no expressed doubt, say
ing: I'VE left Ords army at Farmville
and it is fifty miles to SherIdan-an impos-
slble distance"
Meantime, Ord's Army of the James. one
corps of which was headed by General Fos-
terS division, was marching under the In
SEPARATION of the probability of heading off
Lee and bsgglng the finest army of the Con-
federacy. the Army of Northern Virginia
Legs win this fight. was the remark of
they covered the miles. 'As night ap-
preached" said q lieutenant in one of Gen.
FOSTERS regiments, I'VE Just crawIed along
In manner which caused one to liken the
column to wounded snake. We scarcely
stopped TO rest q half hour for the day
Officers urged the men to brace MP. and
held out the probability of the capture of
Lee"
All day nothing had been heard from
Sheridan, but Generals Ord and Gibbon
knew that they must be so near Sheridan
that he could communicates with them, so
1T was decided that the army should bivouo
for the night. The inspector general had
rode ahead and selected the ground. and
General Fosters division. leading the
CORPS was waiting for the next division to
come mp and pass him, as It would lead by
the rule of marching the next day. when O
staff officer came riding wildly up. He
seemed surprised to fall in with the troops
or, as it was an unknown country
to, federal troops. that he had
fallen In with any body. 1t was dark by
this time. The staff officer asked if any
general officer was there. and one of Gen.
Fosters aids took him to that officer. Il
have orders from General Sheridan" said
he. Ito present this dispatch to the first
general officer should meet" and he gave
the paper to General Foster. A light was
struck and the following was read:
am in front of Lees army at Appomattox.
He will attack me at daylight. IL the Army OF
p. Ii. SHERIDAN.
Down the road You will find General
Gibbon; take the dispatch to him." said
General Foster TO the staff officer. 1--WE
will march on" said he to his staff; give
the order to brigade commanders"
The word was not long getting to the
ears of the men, who were worn out.
"March on" said one; "I'll be id il
march another step tonight to put another
star on General Fosters shoulder" The
General was standing within hearing, and
In his kindly way replied to the man, who
did not know that the division commander
was so near: Yes. my man, we are going
10 IudIC Gu OF 10 Qelp SleTlQ80 capture Lee:
aren't you going along"
That l am, General; the old regiment
never knew me as str8ggler; but sir, Pve
enough sore feet for whole army"
And so the First Division. headed by it's
commander. plodded, or rather stumbled
on In the dark. At IL o'clock orders were
received for the men to lie down in the
road until o'clock, and for division COM
mandersN to proceed at that hour without
further notice. General Foster was in
minnfea VT
asleep. but General Foster and two of his
staff did not sleep. HE told us to Sleep"
said one of the staff, but l concluded to
watch with him and small quantity of
AT O'Clock promptly General Foster had
his men aroused and the painful march
was resumed. But how with the other two
divisionsf They trusted to staff officers to
waken them. and, being overcome with
sleep, they did not waken at o'clock. but
at o'clock General Gibbon himself woke
with q start and ronsed the rest. start
the troops at once" be cried; but the staff
officers arrived at the position General
Foster had occupied to find him gone. The
others had lost an hour.
The signs of approaching day were just
appearing In the east when General Foster
found himself in the vicinity of General
Sheridan. Riding ahead q half mile be.
with his staff. came to that dashing lead
.ers headquarters and reported. Sheridan
was lying down. but the moment he heard
with him he rose and expressed the great
est satisfaction. He then briefly described
the position, and his division arrived
told General Foster where he wanted it put
and what he was to do While he was yet
getting his instructions General Gibbon
rode up. and approaching General Foster,
said: Foster, / am thankful that one of
my division commanders didn't sleep over,
as all the rest of us dI0."
General Fosters division was quickly
put into position in rear of the cavalry
and 1t was fortunate that this was DONE
for before the formation was completed
the cavalry was attacked by Lees infantry
and driven in. leaving the command of Fos-
ter to withstand an attack which was
practically made by all that renamed of
Lees army. The most that Fosters force
could do was to hold the enemy in check
until the rest of the Army of the James
could be fastened up. This was splen.
didly done. but before the rest Of that
army was within supporting distance FOs-
ter's men. holding their ground had been
roughly handled. as the oppos-
ing force was able to envel-
ope him with their much greater
numbers. The sound of the battle caused
the other divisions TO hasten up. but it took
some time to convince the confederate
leaders that the Army of the James was
the mountains. When. however, the long
and solid lines of infantry were developed
by Withdrawing the curtain of Sheridan's
cavalry. they were astounded at the fact
and called q halt. Lee and his subordinates
saw at once that the end had come. With