CHAPTER XX.
TO PETERSBURG.
Comments of the Rebel Newspapers. — Opinions of the Soldiers. — Discussion of Plans. — General Hunter's Advance to Lynchburg. — Sheridan's Raid. — Butler and Gillmore. — Movement to James River. — Gillmore's Failure. — Grant's Instructions to Smith. — Lee surprised. — General Hinks's Division of Colored Troops. — Their First Engagement. — Smith's Advance. — First Battle in Front of Petersburg. — Capture of Rebel Intrenchments. — General Terry's Movement. — Lost Opportunities. — Sentiments of the People. — President Lincoln. — Heroism of the Colored Soldiers. — Arrival of the Ninth Corps. — Second Battle in Front of Petersburg. — General Potter's Division. — Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts. — Edward M. Schneider. — Third Battle in Front of Petersburg. — Barbarism of Slavery. — Prejudice against Colored Troops. — The Christian Commission. — Hardships of the Campaign. — Religion in the Army. [351]
CHAPTER XXI.
SIEGE OPERATIONS.
Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants. — His Plan for a Mine to destroy the Works before Petersburg. — Difficulties he encountered in constructing it. — Battle at Deep Bottom. — Completion of the Mine. — Preparations for springing it. — Fuse goes out. — Delay. — Relighted. — The Explosion. — Consternation of the Rebels. — Confusion of Union Troops. — Rebels return to their Guns. — Terrible Slaughter in the Crater. — Reasons for the Failure. — The Rebel Press. — The Fortunes of the Confederacy. [376]
CHAPTER XXII.
THIRD INVASION OF MARYLAND.
General Situation of Affairs. — Early's Movement down the Valley. — Breckenridge sent to reinforce him. — The Sixth Corps. — Excitement in Washington. — Early's Force. — Massachusetts Sixteenth Regiment. — Arrival of Nineteenth Corps. — Enthusiastic Reception. — Confidence restored. — Battle of Monocacy. — Alarming Reports. — Advance of Rebels upon Washington. — Their hasty Retreat. [384]
CHAPTER XXIII.
SHERMAN'S ARMY.
Review of Sherman's Campaign. — Jeff Davis's dislike of Johnston. — Appointment of Hood. — Davis's Speech to Hood's Army. — Sherman contemplates a Movement to Savannah. — Grant authorizes it. — Organization of Sherman's Army. — Comments of Rebel Press on his March to the Sea. — Complaints of Sherman's Inhumanity. — He is compared to Attila. — His Vindication of Himself. — The Bummers. — Their Humanity to Union Refugees. [391]
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHRISTIANITY AND BARBARISM.
Sherman in Savannah. — Destitution of the People. — Humanity of the People of the North. — Steamer Greyhound. — Belle Boyd. — Voyage of the Greyhound. — Thunderbolt Battery. — Fifty-Fifth Massachusetts. — Distribution of Supplies. — Rebel Prisons. — Responsibility of Rebel Officials. — Amiability of General Lee. — Andersonville. [402]