Evening journal., 1905-04-27
The War Game Forty Years Ago.


Grant at the very beginning Of the
Appomattox campaign, April 3, 1865,
that Robert E. Lee would at
tempt to march his army from the
abandoned works at Petersburg and
Richmond either to Lynchburg, about
ninety miles west, or to Danville,
about 100 miles southwest. Grant in
structed General Sheridan, who led the
mounted column, to intercept the re-
treating Confederates. lie apprised
Sheridan of the fact that Lee had
ordered rations for his men to be
shipped to Farmvllle, on the Danville
railroad, about fifty miles from Peters
burg.
Lee concentrated his columns from
Petersburg and Richmond at Amelia
Court House, a point thirty miles from
Petersburg, and there intrenched. He
expected rations to meet him there,
possibly the Farmville supplies, but in
this was disappointed and attempted
to raise food by foraging on the coun-
try. This plan failed, as the land had
already been stripped Of everything,
and the delay gave Sheridan a chance
to get a good start on the march west
ward.
At this time. April 3, the Confeder-
ates were OH the south side ofzfhe Ap-
pomattox river, the same side asethat
upon which sheridan was moving to
head of the retreat, and the infantry
columns headed by General Meade and
Grant in person were following up
From Amelia Court House Lee march
ed to Farmville, fighting desperately
on the 9th of April, with a loss Of zoos
men, picked up the rations and crossed
the river, his rear guard holding of
the pursuers at the crossings.
In crossing the Appomattox TO the
north bank Lee showed his intention
to reach Lynchburg instead Of Dan
vile. and the conclusion is that h'
hoped to take TO the mountains in thar
region and await developments. Fed
eral scouts had kept Grant and Sher
idan posted upon Lees movements
and when Lee arrived at Appomattol
Court House. about ten miles short o
Lynchburg, the Federal cavalry wal
on his front, strong columns OF infan
try marched abreast on the south. ant
General Meade, with two Fedora
corps. was close in pursuit on the east
When Grant proposed that Lee sur
render the troops with him at the time
that is, the Army Of Northern Virgins
Lee answered that he would not COL
slider that proposition, but would trea
for peace.
As Grant had been instructed by th
secretary Of war not to treat forpeac'
he declined Lees offer and ordered hi
troops into position to attack. Lee
statement Of the conclusion is that hi
troops were worn down with hunge
and fatigue and that he could not hav
held out above one day. He said tha
I ne udQ Uul osNty AhAu4es uAN@A a. AZ
at Appomattox the morning OF Apr
, 8 and about 1900 cavalry at hand. II
estimated Grants force at Eve time
his own, including in the latter 20,0C
unarmed men.
While the situation Of the Confedei
ates seemed hopeless the evening {
April s, it was decided by a council {
Z officers that Fitz Lees cavalry an
Gordon's corps should attempt to brea
through Sheridans line on the wei
early the morning Of the 9th. and
successful the troops would marc
rapidly out of the net to the moul
! tains. General Longstreet said thu
several prominent officers counsele
surrender; that he was asked to bes
r the message to Lee and declined.
didn't take long for Lee to discov'
4 the morning of the 9th that the situ
ton called for surrender. In view (
the fact that Lee occupied six days
making a forced retreat of seveni
miles and Grant that length OF time
heading him OF with a mounted fore
1 the campaign on either side was scare
+ " Napoleonic, not even Oyamaio.