Under cover of the darkness on Sunday night, Lee withdrew the remnant of his army and fell back across the Appomattox. The bridge across the river was partially burned by them, but the flames were soon extinguished by our troops, who commenced entering Petersburg shortly after sunrise on Monday morning, and were objects of great curiosity to the negroes of the city. They capered around our men in a most ludicrous manner, and at every fresh arrival yelled out, "Dar comes de clebber yankees." The stores were all closed, and the city seemed to have left off doing business. Our enterprising news boys entered the city along with the soldiers, and almost before the rear guard of the rebels had crossed the river, the New York Herald, of March 31st, was sold in the streets of Petersburg.
The final movement in pursuit of the balance of Lee's army commenced at daylight. It was General Grant's intention to use them up entirely in case the charge of the 6th corps should prove a success, and accordingly the 2d, 5th, 6th and 24th corps, together with the cavalry under General Sheridan, were put in motion to find the rebels. The camps around Petersburg were left, and the whole of the grand army of the Potomac was fairly en route by eight o'clock, with all their teams, ambulances, pack mules, droves of cattle, and all other necessities for campaigning. After long weary waiting around Petersburg for nearly nine months, the change was agreeable, and the recent victories added considerably to the good spirits of the men. The country passed through was in a fine state of cultivation, and the bright green of early vegetation looked very cheerful when contrasted with the brown sandy waste we had looked on for so long a time. The 6th corps moved in the following order: Getty's division ahead, Wheaton in the centre, and Seymour with the 3d division in the rear.
During the day the troops marched forty miles; night found the advance at Mount Pleasant Church. Hundreds of rebels had been picked up on the march. The roads were very muddy from the recent rains, and on no other occasion could the men have marched as far, but all knew the necessity of capturing Lee's army, and all were willing to do their best. During a temporary halt in the afternoon, Gen. Meade passed the 6th corps on his way to the front. He was recognized by the men and greeted with loud and enthusiastic cheers; for a short time the scene was one that could be better imagined than described, so great was the enthusiasm inspired by the presence of the Commander of the army of the Potomac. Caps were waved and cheers given in a manner which is only heard and seen where thousands of soldiers are greeting a commander who has won their confidence and esteem. General Meade returned the greeting of the 6th corps by repeated bows, although compelled to bestow considerable attention on the management of the spirited horse he was riding. On reaching the spot where Gen. Wright was standing, he reined in his horse, and said to him, laughingly, "The 6th corps men are in such good spirits that they seem determined to break my neck;" to which the General replied, that "He imagined they were proud of their success," when Gen. Meade, with much feeling said, "Yes, we all know, and the country shall know, that the 6th corps did the business; to them we owe our success in breaking the rebel line, and we feel very grateful to them for it."
On the 6th at daylight, the 2d, 5th and 6th corps were at Burksville Station, and Lee was near Amelia Court House. The enemy again made a stand, when they were attacked by General Sheridan with his cavalry, and the 1st and 3d divisions of the 6th corps. A desperate battle was again fought, which resulted in the capture of six rebel generals, Ewell, Pegram, Barton, DeBoise, Corse and Fitz Hugh Lee, several thousand prisoners, fourteen pieces of artillery, and thousands of small arms. Lee's army was now closely pressed, and nothing could save him from capture. The troops moving down the road on a parallel with the enemy, they were again attacked at Sailor's Creek. The 3d division in advance was moved up the road held by the enemy, which was carried by the division. By this time Wheaton's division was put into position as rapidly as possible on the left of the line. While these operations were going on, similar ones were occurring at other points. By bold and strategic movements Grant had almost surrounded Lee, and his surrender was speedily looked for. The men were exhausted and needed rest, but there was none until Lee's army had been captured. The lines of the 1st and 3d divisions were again advanced, and swept down the road for a distance of two miles. Arriving at a deep and difficult creek, the enemy were found in line on the opposite side; they were immediately attacked and driven back from Sailor's Creek. In this engagement our loss was heavy, especially in the 1st division, as the men were compelled to cross under heavy fire. The 14th was now rapidly diminished in numbers, with only about 100 men left; but those that were left were as full of fight as ever. The rebel General A. P. Hill was killed in front of Petersburg while urging on his men; his loss was felt by them, as he was one of their leading corps commanders. Ewell was in our hands, and of the four leading generals of the rebel army, Lee and Longstreet only were left.
The pursuit was kept up the entire week following the capture of Richmond and Petersburg, in which the troops marched over two hundred miles. It was soon found that the enemy had fled from Sailor's Creek to the north side of the Appomattox; but so close was the pursuit that our forces secured the bridge, and immediately crossed the 6th corps at Farmersville. Feeling that Gen. Lee's chance of escape was utterly hopeless, and his men dropping out at every mile, the following dispatch was sent to him by General Grant;
To Robert Lee, Com'g Army of C. S. of America:
General:
The result 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,
Lieut. General.
To this General Lee replied: