Our battery went into action with our division, and fired fifteen rounds. We then changed our position to the brow of a hill overlooking the creek, where we remained until the close of the engagement. Generals Sheridan, Wright, and Custer were on this hill observing the progress of the battle. The enemy had now little chance of escape, and fought like tigers, but were pressed vigorously by Seymour and Wheaton, our forces gaining ground at all points except where Seymour’s left was checked. Here the enemy made a counter-charge, surging down almost to the creek, but our artillery, supported by Getty, who had arrived upon the ground, opened such a terrible fire upon them that they fell back to their original position. Ewell seeing that he was completely hemmed in on all sides, surrendered all those under his immediate command.
Anderson’s troops (rebel) had by this time become disorganized, and he with two thousand of his men escaped through the woods toward the Appomattox River, before they could be entirely surrounded. The fight was now over and night had fallen, but the cavalry and a part of the Sixth Corps pursued the enemy a few miles, anxious to complete a victory which had annihilated one corps of Lee’s army, and had compelled Longstreet to move to Farmville, and take a road north of the Appomattox River, instead of continuing toward Danville. The result of this victory was the capture of six general officers (including General Ewell) and seven thousand men. Sheridan immediately sent a staff officer to General Grant apprising him of the situation. At midnight he dispatched a message to Grant giving the names of the generals captured. He also wrote in the same dispatch: “If the thing is pressed, I think that Lee will surrender.” General Grant on receiving this message transmitted it by telegraph to President Lincoln, who was at City Point. The President in his quaint way telegraphed this characteristic reply: “Let the thing be pressed.”
CHAPTER IX.
Pursuit of Lee’s Army still continued—Surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House—Sixth Corps march to Danville.
The morning of the 7th still found our troops in hot pursuit of Lee’s retreating army. Crook’s cavalry division overtook the main body of the Confederates at Farmville, and promptly attacked their trains on the north side of the Appomattox, with Gregg’s brigade. The enemy fiercely turned upon our forces, compelling them to recross the river, and captured a number of prisoners, among them Gregg himself. It was apparent that Lee had abandoned all effort to escape to the southwest by the way of Danville. He was no doubt endeavoring to make Lynchburg his objective point now. Sheridan determined to throw his cavalry across his path, and hold him till the infantry could overtake him.
On this morning Battery H moved with the corps toward Farmville, where it arrived about four P. M. Our infantry skirmished with the enemy successfully, and passing through this beautiful little village camped on the heights beyond.
Several of the chief officers of the fleeing army had met around a bivouac fire on the night of the 6th, and concluded that a capitulation was inevitable. They saw the hopelessness of the contest. Even if they could cut through the host of pursuers following so sharp upon their trail, they could only do so by the sacrifice of their remaining guns and munitions, and in a state of utter inefficiency from famine. General Lee was not present at this council, but its judgment was subsequently made known to him.
General Grant, who was now at Farmville, spared General Lee the pain of first proposing a surrender of his army, and addressed him a letter to that effect, saying: “The result of the last week must convince you of the hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of Northern Virginia.” General Lee replied that he did not entertain the opinion of Grant concerning “the hopelessness of further resistance,” but reciprocated his desire “to avoid useless effusion of blood,” and asked what terms would be offered on condition of the surrender of his (Lee’s) army. To this Grant responded, “Peace being my great desire, there is but one condition, that the men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged.”
Receiving no immediate reply, the pursuit was continued on the 8th. Sheridan now pushed his cavalry along the roads parallel to the railroad leading to Appomattox Station, followed by General Ord’s command and the Fifth Corps. The Sixth Corps moved rapidly to the small village called Prospect Station, where we made a brief halt, and then marched a few miles out and encamped for the night on Farmville Heights.
At midnight of the 8th General Grant received a communication from General Lee stating that he did not agree with Grant that the “emergency has arisen to call for the surrender of this army, but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desire to know whether your proposals would lead to that end.”