and then turns in force upon Sheridan, who is slowly driven back to Dinwiddie Courthouse. In the mean time, Humphreys drives the enemy back in his front, into his main line near Burgess's mill, while Ord and Wright, reporting the enemy weak before them, are impatient to move forward. In this conjuncture, Grant re-enforces Sheridan with the Fifth Corps because it is the nearest-which he placed under his command; and thus strengthened, Sheridan again moves forward, while the other corps assault in their front.

As the attack on Fort Steadman had enabled our troops in their riposte to get very close to the enemy's lines, the task was not difficult. But we are anticipating.

In this forced movement to the rear against overpowering numbers of the enemy, General Sheridan, in the opinion of Grant, displayed great generalship. He did not retreat on the main army, "to tell the story of superior forces encountered, but he dismounted his cavalry and deployed, which forced the enemy to do the same, and thus checked his progress." When Grant was informed of this, he sent McKenzie's division of cavalry, with one division of the Fifth Corps to his assistance; and soon after, as Meade had informed him that Humphreys could hold the Boydton road, the other division of the Fifth was sent to Sheridan, and that officer assumed the command of the whole corps. This was on the 1st of April. In front of Dinwiddie, Sheridan now assaulted, and fought a successful battle, drove the enemy back, and made a second advance on Five Forks, which the enemy now held in great force. Here Sheridan executed a beautiful tactical manoeuvre. While the enemy were pressed within their works, he directed General Merritt to demonstrate, as though he would turn the enemy's right flank, while the Fifth Corps was ordered up to strike their left flank vigorously. The Fifth Corps, General Sheridan thought, was moving too slowly, and for this he censured Warren; but at last it was in readiness,--Ayres' division on the left in double lines, Crawford on the right, and Griffin in reserve, behind Crawford. We quote Sheridan's words:

"I then directed General Merritt to demonstrate as though he was attempting to turn the enemy's right flank, and notified him that the Fifth Corps would strike the enemy's left flank, and ordered that the cavalry should assault the enemy's works as soon as the Fifth Corps became engaged, and that would be determined by the volleys of musketry. I then rode over to where the Fifth Corps was going into position, and found them coming up very slowly. I was exceedingly anxious to attack at once, for the sun was getting low, and we had to fight or go back. It was no place to intrench, and it would have been shameful to have gone back with no results to compensate for the loss of the brave men who had fallen during the day. In this connection, I will say that General Warren did not exert himself to get up his corps as rapidly as he might have done; and his manner gave me the impression that he wished the sun to go down before dispositions for the attack could be completed. As soon as the corps was in position, I ordered an advance in the following formation: Ayres' division on the left, in double lines; Crawford's division on the right, in double lines; and Griffin's division in reserve, behind Crawford: and the White Oak road was reached without opposition. McKenzie was ordered to swing round on the right of the infantry, and get possession of the ford at the crossing of Hatcher's Run."

The Fifth Corps advanced gallantly with a left half-wheel, and went into and beyond the enemy's works, routing him and pursuing; while Merritt, whose signal was to be the firing of the Fifth, assaulted and carried the enemy's right, putting him to flight in that quarter. In General Sheridan's flashing words:

"The enemy were driven from their strong line of works, and completely routed; the Fifth Corps doubling up their left flank in confusion, and the cav. alry of General Merritt dashing on to the White Oak road, capturing their artillery and turning it upon them, and riding into their broken ranks so demoralized them, that they made no serious stand after their line was carried, but took to flight in disorder."

Between five thousand and six thousand prisoners fell into our hands, and the fugitives were driven westward, and were pursued till long after dark by Merritt's and McKenzie's cavalry, for a distance of six miles.

During this attack, Sheridan was again dissatisfied with Warren; and having already received, unsolicited, permission from the lieutenant-general, he relieved Warren of his command, and turned it over to Griffin, not the ranking officer, but selected for the purpose.

Grant, still fearful that the audacious advance of Sheridan might be overpowered, sent him during the night Miles' division of the Second Corps, which reported at daylight on the 2d. It was at once ordered to move up the White Oak road towards Petersburg, and attack the enemy at the intersection of that road with the Claiborne road. Miles was followed by two divisions of the Fifth. He attacked handsomely, and forced the enemy back; but was soon reclaimed by Humphreys, and relinquished, greatly to Sheridan's regret.

Let us look a little further to our right. A heavy bombardment had been kept up all night of April 1 along our whole line; and at four o'clock on the morning of the 2d a combined assault was made, with grand success. Wright, with the Sixth, swept every thing in his front, from his left at Hatcher's Run towards Petersburg, taking many guns and prisoners. Ord, joining him on the right, was equally successful; and then the two combined swung round by a right wheel and forward, and closed upon Petersburg to the river, tearing up the Southside Railroad.

Parke, holding in front of Petersburg, assaulted, taking the main line with its guns, but not the innermost line. Gibbon, with a part of Ord's command, captured two strong works, "the most salient and commanding points south of Petersburg." The rebel lines around the city were thus very much shortened, and if a new assault should be thought necessary, the capture would not be difficult.

When Miles made his attack under Sheridan's orders he had pushed the enemy across the run, and followed him up to Sutherland's Depot, on the Southside road; and it will be remembered that two divisions of the Fifth Corps had followed the movement. After a hard fight, in which the rebels were driven by Meade on our right and Sheridan on our left, they broke at that point in great confusion, streaming westward by the main road along the Appomattox.

The night of the 2d of April was one of consternation and terror in Richmond. The people had been lulled by the long years of security, and deceived by their leaders. No intelli

gent man doubted the result, but the hoodwinked populace still believed that Richmond was impregnable, and would never be evacuated. Their eyes were now suddenly opened. Without warning, it was now announced, while Jeff. Davis was in church, for it was Sunday, that the army was evacuating the city, and that the "Federals" would enter at once. Lee, who had long before seen the folly of continuing the struggle, had been overruled by Jeff. Davis; but now there was no choice. The army left that night, in frantic haste to move by the Danville road, and form a junction with Johnston. But it was too late.

Sheridan pursued vigorously on the 3d, striking at once for the Danville road, to cut him off. Meade, with the Second and Sixth corps, followed him by a forced march; Ord was dispatched to Burkesville, moving along the Southside road; the Ninth Corps stretched out, holding the main points in rear.

Although so much had been achieved, there was still to be a race with the rebels-a race for life. Lee must not escape. On the 4th of April, Sheridan struck the Danville road at Jettersville, right athwart the track of Lee, who had only reached Amelia Courthouse. The rebel army was in no condition to prolong the conflict; it could only now drift hopelessly westward, and put off for a few hours the evil day.

At Jettersville, Sheridan intrenched, and waited for Meade, who came up the next day, the 5th. On the afternoon of that day, Ord was at Burkesville; and Grant, who had reached Wilson's Station, addressed the following letter to Sherman :

WILSON'S STATION, April 5, 1865.

GENERAL-All indications now are that Lee will attempt to reach Danville with the remnant of his force. Sheridan, who was up with him last night, reports all that is left-horse, foot, and dragoons-at twenty thousand, much demoralized. We hope to reduce this number one-half. I shall push on to Burkesville, and if a stand is made at Danville, will in a few days go there. If you can possibly do so, push on from where you are, and let us see if we cannot finish the job with Lee's and Johnston's armies. Whether it will be better for you to strike for Greensboro', or nearer to Danville, you will be better able to judge when you receive this. Rebel armies now are the only strategic points to strike at.

MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.