CHAPTER XIV.

Lee advances through the Shenandoah Valley for the invasion of

the North. Hooker desires to attack the isolated corps of

General A. P. Hill, but is forbidden from Washington to do

So. The advance of Lee northward is continued. Lee

crosses the Potomac above Washington. Hooker crosses it

below him and advances on Frederick, Maryland. Hooker

and Halleck disagree about Harper's Ferry, Hooker recom-

mending its evacuation, Halleck refusing to evacuate it.

Hooker asks to be relieved of the command of the army.

His request is granted,

CHAPTER XV.

Meade is appointed to the command of the army at Frederick,

Maryland. He directs his army from Frederick northward.

Buford's cavalry and the First and Eleventh Corps become

engaged at Gettysburg. Meade sends Hancock to report as

to fitness of the field there for battle. Meade orders all the

troops to Gettysburg. Account of the fight that takes place

there before General Meade reaches the field,

CHAPTER XVI.

Sickles withdraws from the position assigned him on the left on

the field of Gettysburg. General Meade sends reinforcements

to endangered left wing, goes personally to its assistance,

leads troops into action. The battle on the left rages until

nightfall. Its result for a long time doubtful. The enemy

takes advantage, to make a lodgment there, of reinforce-

ments having been sent from the extreme right of the lines.

Council of war that night decides that the battle shall be

fought out on the ground occupied,

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290

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CHAPTER XVII.

Opening action on the third day of battle. Pickett's famous

charge, with which the battle ends. The losses on both sides

during the three days' conflict,

.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Lee retreats through the mountain passes in his rear.

Meade fol-

lows by the route east of the mountains, passing through them

• 339

further south. Meade finds Lee strongly entrenched near

Williamsport. His corps-commanders are not sanguine of

success in attacking the position. He concludes to essay the

storming of the position, but upon advancing, finds that the

enemy has gone. General Meade follows the enemy and

takes position on the Rappahannock, near Warrenton. Lee,

marching by way of the Shenandoah Valley, takes position

opposite Meade, between the Rappahannock and the Rap-

idan,

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354

CHAPTER XIX.

Skirmishes occur south of the Rappahannock. Meade, begin-

ning a more serious movement, it is countermanded from

Washington. Lee sets his army in motion by the left flank

to drive Meade out of his position, at Culpeper, south of the

Rappahannock. Meade is forced to retire, but by forced

marches thwarts Lee's intention of getting in his rear. The

fight at Cedar Run. The engagement at Bristoe Station.

The retirement of Lee. The skirmish of Buckland Mills.

Meade advances as Lee retires, until he reaches the Rappa-

hannock, where Lee holds with works across that stream.

Meade plans to surprise Lee by marching suddenly by the

left flank on Fredericksburg, but Halleck overrules him.

Meade captures Lee's works astride the Rappahannock, and

compels him to abandon his positions immediately south of

that river. Meade being now again between the Rappahan-

nock and the Rapidan, takes Lee by surprise by crossing the

Rapidan and reaching his right flank. His plan proves abor-

tive through the dilatoriness of a general. Meade retires to

his former position and Lee resumes his former position.

Campaign ends with a demonstration by the army, as a di-

version in favor of an operation of General Butler's near

Richmond,

CHAPTER XX.

General Grant is appointed commander-in-chief of all the armies
of the United States, and makes his headquarters with the
Army of the Potomac. He orders a midnight advance to-
wards the Rapidan. Pushes forward the next day by a short
march into the Wilderness. Lee is on the alert, and con-
fronts the Army of the Potomac early in the morning. A

.

363

battle begins and continues with varying fortunes. On the

next day the battle is renewed. Reinforcements for both sides

having arrived, the conflict becomes hotter and hotter. Grant

directs General Meade to move by the left flank to Spottsyl-

vania Court House. Sheridan fails to clear the front of the

advancing infantry. The enemy appears in force at Spott-

sylvania before General Warren reaches there. Sheridan

goes off on a raid towards Richmond. The Army of the Po-

tomac comes into position around Lee's lines. A portion of

the Second Corps passes around Lee's left flank, but is re-

called. Generals Wright and Warren assault the enemy's

works in front and are repulsed. Hancock renews the attack,

supported by Warren, but fruitlessly. Farther to the left

General Upton has success, but is finally obliged to relin-

quish his hold of a captured line. The next day is spent

in preparing to capture the salient of the enemy's works.

The assault of the salient takes place early. The lines there

are carried and held. The enemy shuts off the salient by

a line of works. Burnside's attack is ineffective save as

a diversion. Troops of the Army of the Potomac march

and countermarch, seeking a weak point in the enemy's de-

fences. The army marches by the left flank, masked by the

left in position, to Hanover Junction. Approaching the North

Anna, Lee's troops are discovered coming into position behind

that stream. The Army of the Potomac crosses on the right

and left of Lee's lines; on the right with no opposition until

the southern bank is reached, on the left, with considerable.

Grant orders the retirement of the army to the north side of

the river. It marches towards the southeast, and crosses the

Pamunkey at and in the vicinity of Hanovertown,

CHAPTER XXI.

Co-operative movements in different quarters, far and near,

CHAPTER XXII.

The battles near the Totopotomoy. Bethesda Church and Cold

Harbor. Sheridan goes on a cavalry raid towards Char-

lottesville. The Army of the Potomac moves out of its en-

trenchments to make a change of base by crossing the James

River. Just before it starts General Butler makes an attempt

to capture Petersburg,

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CHAPTER XXIII.

The march of the Army of the Potomac from the Chickahominy

to James River. The crossing of that stream, and march to-

wards Petersburg. Grant intends to capture Petersburg by a

coup de main, but omitting to inform Meade or Hancock

of the project, it fails. The lines of Petersburg are vigorously

attacked on three successive days,

CHAPTER XXIV.

The various corps come into position for the siege of Petersburg.

The enemy makes a sally while the operation is proceeding.

Sheridan's cavalry operations north of the James still going

on. Cavalry expedition under General Wilson, south of the

Appomattox, before Sheridan rejoins the army. He returns

by a devious path to the lines of the army, shattered by loss

of men and material. Sheridan returns to the south bank of

the James too late to make a diversion in his favor,

CHAPTER XXV.

456

. 471

The autumnal siege of Petersburg. Investment of Richmond

and Petersburg proceeds. Attack on the enemy's lines north

of the James, near Richmond, whilst preparations go forward

to spring a mine under the enemy's works at Petersburg.

The latter enterprise fails. Lee despatches General Early to

threaten Washington. Grant detaches troops to safeguard

that city. Sheridan placed in command of the forces in the

Shenandoah Valley, to put a stop to Early's threatening

Washington. To prevent Lee's sending more troops to op-

pose Sheridan, Grant orders attacks near Petersburg. The

enterprise north of the James fails, but that south of it suc-

ceeds. Check of the Second Corps at Reams's Station.

North of the James some works are captured. South of the

Appomattox, infantry and cavalry make a movement and

gain and maintain a foothold for the extension of the line of

investment of Petersburg. Meade makes a narrow escape

of his life from a shell. The first attempt to capture the Pe-

tersburg and Lynchburg Railroad. Hancock bids farewell

to the Second Corps and goes north to recruit veterans.

General A. A. Humphreys succeeds him in command, . 481

CHAPTER XXVI.

The winter's siege of Petersburg. Butler's unauthorized command

of the fruitless expedition against Fort Fisher, N. C. General

Terry, in command of the second one, succeeds. Destruc-

tion of the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad for forty miles.

A slight engagement with the enemy while making a recon-

noissance in force. Extension of the lines of the Army of

the Potomac towards the left. Sheridan rejoins the army

with his cavalry, having rid the Valley of the Shenandoah

of Early, and reduced him to harmlessness. Sheridan's in-

timate relations with Grant. Sheridan's return to the Army

of the Potomac coincides with a visit of the President to

General Grant, and with General Sherman's arrival on the

following day for the purpose of concerting military move-

ments. Movements outside of the zone of those of the Army

of the Potomac. Lee foresees the doom of Richmond and

Petersburg, and makes preparations for evacuating them and

successfully retreating. The Army of the Potomac stands

ready to defeat his intention, .

CHAPTER XXVII.

A strong force, under General Gordon, makes a sortie from Pe-
tersburg and captures a portion of the lines of contravalla-
tion there. The officers on the Federal side soon retrieve
their loss with gains, which they secure permanently. The
Army of the Potomac, holding its lines in front of Petersburg
with sufficient troops, moves by the left flank, and after a
check to Sheridan between Five Forks and Dinwiddie Court
House, makes a final break everywhere through the enemy's
positions and starts Lee on his long contemplated retreat.
Petersburg assaulted and occupied. The two armies are put
rapidly en route, the Army of Northern Virginia striving to
escape to Danville or Lynchburg, the Army of the Potomac
to frustrate its intention by intercepting the retreat in either
direction. Skirmish at Deep Creek. Battle of Sailor's
Creek. Humphreys crosses the Appomattox at High Bridge,
detaches Barlow to follow a column of the enemy along the
railroad, and himself pushes towards the stage road on the
right, where he brings the enemy to bay. Grant, availing
himself of this detention, sends a note to Lee demanding
the surrender of his army. Lee replies. A regular corres-

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