The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-18


Grant at the very beginning Of the
tppomattox campaign, April 3, 1855,
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. He appraised
Sheridan Of the fact that Lee had
ordered rations for his men to be
Bhipped to Farmville, 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 vas 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 good start on the march west
ward.
At this time, April 5, the Confeder-
ates were on the south side of the APP
pomattox river, the same side as that
upon which Sheridan was moving to
head off 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 loss Of 1000
men, picked up the rations and crossed
the river, his rear guard holding off
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 he
hoped to take to the mountains in that
region and await developments. Fed
eral scouts had kept Grant and Sher-
idan posted upon Lees movements,
and when Lee arrived at Appomattox
Court House, about ten miles short Of
Lynchburg, the Federal cavalry was
on his front, strong columns of infan-
try marched abreast on the south, and
General Meade, with two Federal
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 Virginia
Lee answered that he would not con-
slider that proposition, but would treat
for peace.
AS Grant had been instructed by the
secretary Of war not to treat for peace,
he declined Lees offer and ordered his
troops into position to attack. Lees
statement Of the conclusion is that his
troops were worn down with hunger
and fatigue and that he could not have
held out above one day. He said that
he had but 5000 infantry under arms
at Appomattox the morning of April
and about 1000 cavalry at hand. He
estimated Grants force at five times
his own, including in the latter 10000
unarmed men.
While the situation Of the Confeder-
ates seemed hopeless the evening OF
April 8, 1t was decided by council OF
officers that Fitz Lees cavalry and
Gordon's corps should attempt to break
through Sheridan's line on the west
early the morning Of the 9th, and IL
successful the troops would marcn
rapidly out Of the net to the noun
tains. General Longstreet said tnat
several prominent officers counseled
surrender; that, he was asked to pear
the message to Lee and declined. IL
didn't take long for Lee to discover
the morning Of the 9th that the situa-
ton called for surrender. In view OF
the fact that Lee occupied six days In
making a forced retreat Of seventy
miles and Grant that length OF time IN
heading him of with mounted force,
the campaign on either side was scarce
" Napoleonic, not even Oyamaic.