that thunderbolt of war, "Stonewall" Jackson. All these tasks the Army of the Potomac accomplished. The number and desperate character of its encounters may be illustrated by the history of the single corps of that army already mentioned. Its personnel were largely volunteers who had been quick to offer up their lives for the preservation of the Union. Knowing the value of military discipline they accepted without complaint its extremest requirements. This explains the matchless fortitude displayed by that army through the long and trying years of the war, much of the time suffering under reverses and disasters that would have destroyed the morale of any army composed of less choice material. And of the same choice material were the entire national forces composed. While heroic sacrifices were made by the Army of the Potomac, other armies and fleets were with similar devotion engaged in the same noble cause.

The Army of the Union was, in fact, "The People in Arms." It mirrored all the diversified opinions and pursuits of a free and intelligent democracy. The force that called it together was the same spirit that had made a "government of the people" possible. Love of adventure may have had its natural influence in stimulating enlistment, but the ranks were, nevertheless, largely filled with youth, who had no love for war, but who left their homes and the pursuits of peace that the Nation might not perish. To the large number of young men is to be attributed much of the hopeful spirit always manifested by the army in adversity. Though often baffled by costly and disheartening reverses, though changing commanders often, especially in the east, it never lost its discipline, its high spirit, and its confidence in final success.

BATTLE OF NASHVILLE

CHAPTER III.

LAST SCENES OF THE GREAT WAR.

STORMING THE WORKS

MARCHING THROUGH GEORGIA FIVE FORKS AT PETERSBURG FALL OF RICHMOND SCENES IN CAMP - CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE TWO COMMANDERS APPOMATTOX Joy OF THE SOLDIERS DEATH WHAT WE WON, AND CONSEQUENCES

OF THE PRESIDENT

POINTMENT AS COLONEL AND BREVET MAJOR

GENERAL UNITED STATES ARMY.

OF

AP

'HE spring of 1865 witnessed the final scenes in this great drama of war where the stage was a continent, and the whole world the audience. The "Rock of Chickamauga," General George H. Thomas, had annihilated the opposing forces on the ice-covered fields of Nashville, and Sherman's victorious army had swept from Atlanta to the sea, and was taking the South Atlantic defenses in reverse by its onward march toward the North. The success of Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley had enabled him to return the Sixth Corps, which had been temporarily detached, to the Army of the Potomac, and to move with his cavalry corps to the left of the line confronting Petersburg. The line of battle confronting the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee, stretched from the north side of the James River, northeast of Richmond, to the south side of Appomattox near Five Forks, south of Petersburg, more than thirty miles. The troops on the north side of the James River, immediately in front of Richmond, were under the command of MajorGeneral E. O. C. Ord; the Army of the Potomac under Major-General George G. Meade, occupied the center, and the cavalry under Sheridan the extreme left; all under General Ulysses S. Grant, commanding all. the armies.

It would be impossible to adequately describe the closing scenes of this historic conflict. There was a general advance ordered along our entire line, and the extending of the line to the left, with Sheridan's cavalry reinforced by the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac under Major-General Warren, resulted in a victory for us in the engagement at Five Forks, April 1, 1865. The following morning the entire line of

battle assaulted the enemy's works, swept over the fortifications of Petersburg and Richmond, and the national flag at last floated over the capital and stronghold of the Confederacy. From that point to Appomattox Court House was almost one continuous battlefield, the pursuers attacking the retreating enemy wherever overtaken. Anyone who has witnessed a tornado, or a violent storm at sea or on the great lakes, where the sturdy ships have been swept before the continuous and incessant fury of the storm, every safeguard broken down, their anchors dragging, and everything swept before the destroying power, may form some idea of the resistlessness with which a hundred thousand men in practically one continuous line with reserves, swept over fortifications, capturing many forts and two great cities, and pressed on in one unbroken front.

It was a front which blazed and thundered shot and shell, hailed iron and lead, which was marked by the smoke and roar of its line of advancing batteries. The shouts of its victorious hosts swelled on the gale, while the moans of the dying and wounded murmured in its wake. During the hours of every day there was constant pursuit and fighting, and the hours of night were devoted to replenishing the supplies of food and ammunition, and preparing for the following day, with little time given to rest or sleep. The important engagements at Sutherland Station, Sweet House Creek, Tabernacle Church, Amelia Court House, Jetersville, Sailor's Creek, Farmville, all these preceded the final scene at Appomattox Court House.

Yet these desperate encounters were not without the alleviation of occasional scenes of mirth and revelry. On the day of the engagement at Sailor's Creek, my division marched in line of battle over sixteen miles, fighting over every ridge, and assaulting every defense. We could occasionally see in the distance the large wagon-train which the Confederate forces were endeavoring to protect and which the Union forces were determined to capture. Just as the sun was setting in the west, the final assault of the day was made at Sailor's Creek, resulting in the complete rout of the enemy and the capture of this entire train, numbering over two hundred wagons, and many battle-flags, pieces of artillery, and thousands of prisoners. Then as night mantled the field of slaughter, a scene of comedy was enacted about the bivouac fires. After the troops were in position for the night and the soldiers had partaken of their spare meal of coffee and crackers, they gratified their curiosity by a rigid inspection of the day's trophies, and several of the wagons were found loaded with the assets of the Confederate Treasury which had been brought out of

that department at Richmond. Then followed a most extraordinary spectacle of jollity and good humor. A Monte Carlo was suddenly improvised in the midst of the bivouac of war.

"Here's the Confederate Treasury, as sure as you are a soldier," shouts one. "Let's all be rich," says another.

"Fill your pockets, your hats, your haversacks, your handkerchiefs, your arms, if you please," was the word, and the Confederate notes and

UNION SOLDIERS GAMBLING WITH CONFEDERATE MONEY.

bonds were rapidly disbursed. If they were at a discount, they were crisp and new and in enormous denominations.

Spreading their blankets on the ground by the bivouac fires the veterans proceeded with the comedy, and such preposterous gambling was probably never before witnessed. Ten thousand dollars was the usual "ante;" often twenty thousand to "come in;" a raise of fifty thousand to one hundred thousand was not unusual and frequently from one million to two millions of dollars were in the "pool."

"Be prudent stranger," "Don't go beyond your means, my friend," were some of the remarks frequently heard amid roars of laughter; together with an occasional shout of "Freedom forever!" "Rally round the flag, boys!" "Aint I

VILLAGE OF APPOMATTOX.

They were seemingly as light-hearted and oblivious to what might follow as it is possible for soldiers to be. They kept up the revelry during most of the night, and some were to make the soldier's sacrifice on the morrow, while others were to witness the scene of final triumph. Soon after daylight on the following morning, April 7, found the troops in a hot pursuit which was continued across a branch of the Appomattox River, near High Bridge, toward Farmville, and a sharp engagement ensued at the latter place. The command held tenaciously to its close proximity to the enemy's line in the several engagements during the day, and in the evening Adjutant-General Seth Williams came to my division headquarters bearing a letter from Lieutenant-General Grant addressed to General Robert E. Lee, commanding the Confederate Army, demanding the surrender of that army. This letter passed through my line under a flag of truce, and the reply of General Lee was returned through the same channel. This correspondence, though now well-known history, is again given here as a part of my narrative. It was as follows:

GENERAL :-The results of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as my duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion of blood by asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States Army known as the Army of Northern Virginia. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. GENERAL R. E. LEE.