retreat the darkness saved them. The day's work left about fifty pieces
of artillery and 12,000 prisoners in our hands.

"All west of the center of Laws's army had been driven by Sherlin across
the Appomattox, and the rest had been forced inside the interior
lines around Petersville, from which there was no escape save by bad
roads--country highways. Laws was now struggling to get his army out and
escape, so as to join Jones, and get the best terms he could after one
more short campaign.

"Gen. Hiller, of the rebel army, fell that day. Laws had him buried that
night, and after the last rites were paid, he rode with his staff out
of the city, and in accordance with orders previously given, the
whole rebel army, save a small picket-line, filed out and moved in the
direction of Amelia Court-house. Parker, under his orders to feel the
enemy during the night, discovered the movement, captured the rebel
pickets, and the city was surrendered at four o'clock the next morning.
Laws burned behind him the small bridges on the Appomattox and blew up
his forts on the James River.

"The next morning Silent ordered Meador immediately up the Appomatox
River. Sherlin was ordered to push for the Danville Railroad with Hume
and Griffith and all the cavalry. Orden was directed to push south-west,
on the Cox road. Silent waited until he got news of the surrender of the
rebel Capital and the flight of Davis and his Cabinet; then he pushed
out on the road to his army marching to intercept Laws. Mullett, being
in the advance, came upon the enemy at Deep Run, on the 3d of April,
and then a battle ensued, in which the rebels were defeated and put to
flight. The road was strewn with caissons, ammunition, clothing, and all
kinds of material used by an army.

"This was evidence of the great demoralization of the enemy.

"At 5 p.m. on the 4th, Sherlin, with the head of the column of the Fifth
Corps, arrived at Geterville, capturing Law's dispatch to Danville for
rations, his army being entirely destitute of food. He was at Amelia,
but our forces were in his front and in possession of the Danville road.

"On the 5th, Silent received information from Sherlin, that Laws and his
whole army were at Amelia, and that he (Sherlin) had possession of the
road to Burkesville. He sent Davies' division on a reconnaissance in
the direction of Painstown to see if any movement was being made by the
enemy. This command struck a train of wagons, burned them, an