The Florida star., 1905-04-14

The War Game Forty Years Ago
IL was well understood by General
Grant at the very beginning Of the
Appomattox campaign. April 3. 1855.
that Robert E. Lee would at
tempt 10 march his army from the
abandoned works at Petersburg and
Richmond either 10 Lynchburg. about
ninety miles west. or 20 Danville,
about 100 miles southwest Grant iu-
structed General Sheridan. who led the
mounted column. TO intercept tile re-
treating Confederates- lie apprised
Sheridan OF the fact that Lee had
ordered rations for his men to be
shipped TO FarnIville. on the DanviiIe
railroad. about fifty miles from Peters
burg
Lee concentrated his columns from
Court House. a point thirty miles from
Petersburg. and there intreDched- He
expected rations 90 meet him there.
possibly the Farmville supplies. but in
this was disappointed and attempted
90 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 >, the Confeier-
atss were on the. south side OF the Ap-
pOmattoN river. the same side As that
upon which sheridan was moving 10
head ofT the retreat. and the infantry
columns headed by General Meade AMI
Grant in person were following up.
Frum Amelia Court House lee marCh-
Ell TO FarmvilIe. lighting desperately
ON the 9TH Of April. with loss OF I.UsD
men. picked UP the ra,ions and crossed
the river. his rear guard holding or
The pursuerS aT the crossings.
In crossing the Appomattox TO the
north hank lee showed his intention
10 reach I-ynchburg instead OF Dan
vile. and the conclusion Is that he
hoped 70 take 10 the mountains IN that
region and await developments. Fed
~raI scouts had kept Grant and Shar-
klAn posted upon Lees movements.
snJ when Lee arrived at Appomattox
Court House. about ten miles sh IrT ~
I-ynchburg the Federal cavalry was
on his front. strong columns of infan-
Try marched ahreaSt on the south. and
General Meade. with two Federal
corps. was clOse In pursuit on the east.
When Grant proposed that Lrc 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. hut would treat
for peace.
A. Grant had been instructed 10y uI,.
secretary Of VIZ not 10 treat for peace.
he declin,-l Lees offer and ordered hi
troops into position Io attack Lees
statement OF the conclusion i that his
troops were worn down with hunger
AMI fatigue and that be could not have
held out above one day. lie said that
be had but 500 infantry under arms
At APIpomattox the morning Of April
o AMI about 2.UU cavalry 1T hand lie
estimated Grants force ar tve times
h-s own. including IN the latter coosn
unarmed men
While the situation Of the Confe>ieT
Ates seemed hopeless the evening OF
ART! - IL was decided by a council %
officers that Fytz Lees cavalry and
GOrSion's corps should attempt 90 break
through shertdan's line On the west
early the morning ot the 9Th. asi y
sucCesSfui the troops wouh march
rapidly out OF the net - the usOua
tainS General L0ngstrret said that
several prominent otrosrs cOuasrIr-'
surrender. that hs ~as ask~d 20 teAT
the message 20 Lee aDi decIiu.-i u
dIdn't take long for I.s~ 20 G.SCov,r
the morning Of the p'h that Ihc s.tGa
ton called for surrender In vi-W o.:
the fast that Lee occupied SIX days -
making 4 fOCc-d retr~st % ss-rut.
miles and Gran, that IeasJL u I.l-~ 49,
heAdIaS hlEa % VIII 4 mounted .O-Cr.
the campaign on either side ~as sCar~~-
" Napoir-nEs-. cot even OyauaiC