It was not known whether General Johnston would surrender on hearing the news of Lee’s capitulation, and if he did not Burkeville Station was the natural point from which to attack him. General Sheridan with his cavalry and the Sixth Corps was instructed to proceed to Greensboro, North Carolina, for the purpose of aiding General Sherman in hastening the surrender of Johnston.
At half-past six o’clock on the morning of the 23d the Sixth Corps started from Burkeville Station, our battery being attached to the First Brigade, First Division, which led the advance. We marched rapidly toward Danville, and camped for the night near Keyes Station.
On the 24th, we marched at 6.50 A. M., to Clark’s Ferry, on the Staunton River, a branch of the Roanoke River, and encamped for the night on the road to Danville.
April 25th, we marched twenty-one miles and camped for the night near Halifax Court House. Before going into camp we passed by an old farm-house, and in the doorway sat an old lady knitting. She said to us: “Where did all you Yankees spring from? Did you spring out of the ground? God bless you, boys, I wish you all good luck. It does my soul good to see the old flag once more. Peace has come at last. Thank God the war is over at last.”
The morning of the 26th at half past seven o’clock found us on the march. We reached the town of Halifax, where we met a large number of soldiers from Johnston’s army going to our rear, and they informed us that Johnston would soon surrender, and they were going home. They appeared to be contented that the war was drawing to a close.
We arrived at Danville at five o’clock on the afternoon of the 27th. This town appeared to have been quite a business place before the war. Five railroads centred here, and the surroundings were very pleasant. A printing-office was discovered which was taken possession of by our troops, and a paper issued called “The Sixth Army Corps.” Some of our cavalry who had preceded us liberated the Union prisoners who had been confined in the slave-pen here. We encamped on the west side of the town.
April 28th, the official report of the surrender of General Johnston’s army was read to our battery at assembly call. We immediately moved into the town and fired a salute in honor of the surrender. General Sheridan with his cavalry had now arrived at South Boston, on the Dan River. On receiving a dispatch from Washington announcing the surrender of Johnston’s army, Sheridan returned with his cavalry to Petersburg.
CHAPTER X.
Return to City Point—March to Richmond—From thence to Washington—Returning Homeward—Muster-out.
Now that the two principal armies of the Confederacy had surrendered to the Union forces, the ultimate end of the Rebellion was a foregone conclusion, and the thoughts of muster-out and return home became uppermost in all our minds. We enjoyed several days’ rest at Danville before a retrograde movement was made.