nicated his own plans, which were to hurry matters by moving on the 29th of March. If his attack should be unsuccessful, he would mass his cavalry to destroy the communications between Lee and Johnston, so that, instead of joining their forces, they might be beaten in detail. Sherman at once returned to Goldsboro', to move against Johnston.

Grant's anxiety was now extreme, lest at the last moment Lee should escape him, and, by a happy union with Johnston, inaugurate a new, long, and difficult campaign. The great number of deserters daily coming into our lines, led him to believe that Lee was contemplating an escape.

Spending a few days in reviewing the various divisions, he sent his sick and the sutlers to City Point; waited impatiently for an attack from Lee, which he thought would be the signal for his hegira, and then moved the army out in observation and readiness to manœuvre as a unit; sent his cavalry out to cut the rebel communications, and to remain in front ready for pursuit; and determined, if it were in human possibility, to finish up the whole matter.

CHAPTER XL.

THE TRUE BEGINNING OF THE END."

FIGHT AT DINWIDDIE COURTHOUSE.-BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS.-DEFEAT OF THE REBELS.-CONSTERNATION IN RICHMOND.-ITS EVACUATION BY LEE.-PURSUIT OF THE FLEEING ARMY.-SAILOR'S CREEK.-LEE'S SURRENDER.-TERMS.-SHERMAN.— STONEMAN.-CANBY AT MOBILE.-WILSON'S COMMAND.-CONCLUSION.

Ir was now the early morning of the 29th of March. In accordance with instructions, Ord had moved out with two divisions of the Twenty-fourth Corps, under Gibbon, and one of the Twenty-fifth, under Birney, and McKenzie's cavalry, on the night of the Twenty-seventh, and at dawn of the 29th they were at Hatcher's Run.

On the 28th, Sheridan had received the following instructions:

CITY POINT, Va., March 28, 1865.

GENERAL The Fifth Army Corps will move by the Vaughan road at three A. M. to-morrow morning. The Second moves at about nine A. M., having but about three miles to march to reach the first point designated for it to take on the right of the Fifth Corps, after the latter reaching Dinwiddie Courthouse. Move your cavalry at as early an hour as you can, and without being confined to any particular road or roads. You may go out by the nearest roads in rear of the Fifth Corps, pass by its left, and passing near to or through Dinwiddie, reach the right and rear of the enemy as soon as you can. It is not the intention to attack the enemy in his intrenched position, but to force him out if possible. Should he come out and attack us, or get himself where he can be attacked, move in with your entire force in your own way, and with the full reliance that the army will engage or follow as circumstances will dictate. I shall be on the field, and will probably be able to communicate with you. Should I not do so, and you find that the enemy keeps within his main intrenched line, you may cut loose and push for the Danville road. If you find

it practicable, I would like you to cross the Southside road, between Petersburg and Burkesville, and destroy it to some extent. I would not advise much detention, however, until you reach the Danville road, which I would like you to strike as near to the Appomattox as possible. Make your destruction on that road as complete as possible. You can then pass on to the Southside road, west of Burkesville, and destroy that in like manner.

After having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads, which are now the only avenues of supply to Lee's army, you may return to this army, selecting your road further south; or you may go on into North Carolina, and join General Sherman. Should you select the latter course, get the information to me as early as possible, so that I may send orders to meet you at Goldsboro'. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. Sheridan.

Sheridan's command, at the start, comprised five thousand seven hundred cavalry under Merritt, and three thousand three hundred under Crook; in all nine thousand. With these he moved across by way of Reams' Station and Malon's crossing of Rowanty Creek-where he built a bridge to Dinwiddie Courthouse, on his way to cut the enemy's communication; but already fully determined, if permitted, to find the long-sought flank of the enemy, crush it, and then push on and cut off Lee's retreat.

He was at Dinwiddie Courthouse on the afternoon of the 29th at five o'clock. Custer had been left at Malon's crossing to protect the trains. Our lines were then arranged thus: Sheridan on the extreme left, and our infantry, under Warren, extended to the Quaker road, near its intersection with the

Boydton road; next, on the right, was Humphreys; next, Ord and Wright; while Parke held the works in front of Petersburg. In this position, Grant was almost certain that the time had come for capturing Richmond, and, what was of far more importance, defeating Lee and forcing him to a surrender. To this end, he sent Sheridan the following important and significant dispatch:

GRAVELLY RUN, March 29, 1865. GENERAL-Our line is now unbroken from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie. We are all ready, however, to give up all from the Jerusalem plankṛoad to Hatcher's Run, whenever the forces can be used advantageously. After getting into line south of Hatcher's, we pushed forward to find the enemy's position. General Griffin was attacked near where the Quaker road intersects the Boydton road, but repulsed it easily, capturing about one hundred men. Humphreys reached Dabney's mill, and was pushing on when last heard from.

I now feel like ending the matter, if it is possible to do so, before going back. I do not want you, therefore, to cut loose and go after the enemy's roads at present. In the morning, push round the enemy if you can, and get on to his right rear. The movements of the enemy's cavalry may, of course, modify your action. We will act all together as one army here, until it is seen what can be done with the enemy. The signal-officer at Cobb's Hill reported, at 11:30 A. M., that a cavalry column had passed that point from Richmond towards Petersburg, taking forty minutes to pass.

MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN.

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

Grant, it will be seen, was at Gravelly Run in person, closely watching the developments of the situation. During the 30th a heavy storm of rain rendered the roads so bad that Sheridan found it very difficult to move from Dinwiddie; nothing on wheels could get forward, except on corduroyed roads. But the cavalry can flounder on, and so he starts on the 30th for Five Forks, on the White Oak road, where he knew the enemy was in force: while Warren is directed to extend his lines across the Boydton road to the White Oak road, to cross the latter if possible, and in any event to hold it and fortify.

With an impetuosity that cannot be resisted, Sheridan seizes the Five Forks, and fights a battle there; but the enemy making head against Warren, who has moved to obey his instructions, drives back the Fifth Corps, division after division,