d captured
five pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. The enemy moved
out a stronger force and renewed the contest, but were driven back.

"Meador had now arrived with his force and joined Sherlin, but failed to
attack, he being the senior and then in command. Silent rode late in the
night to Sherlin's headquarters, and at once ordered an attack at four
in the morning, but said that Laws would steal away that night. The
next morning he was gone, and changing his course, was now heading for
Lynchburg. Pursuit was immediately made. Hume struck the rear of the
enemy at Deatonville, and at once attacked him. Crooker and Mullett
attacked the enemy's wagon train in flank. Orden had arrived at Rice
Station, and was intrenched, so as to prevent any further movement of
the enemy south. At four o'clock Wight's Corps came up and at once
went into action and carried the road two miles south of Deatonville,
breaking the enemy in twain. Hume was on his rear and Sherlin on his
flank. Hume here moved to the right after one of the fragments, in the
direction of the Appomattox.

"Wight now drove the enemy in his front two miles into a swampy, marshy
bottom of Sailor's Run. The cavalry were now to the left, where they
were burning and destroying the wagon trains of the enemy. The rebels in
front of Wight's Sixth Corps had crossed the run, and were throwing
up breastworks, Sherlin ordered the stream crossed and their works
assaulted. This was done by two divisions. The fight was a desperate
one. The works were carried on the enemy's left, but a division of the
enemy came sweeping down on our flank and drove the troops of the Sixth
Corps back across the stream.

"Just at this moment Mullett's division of cavalry came charging down on
the enemy's rear. The Sixth Corps again advanced, and a most desperate
and bloody hand-to-hand bayonet and saber contest now took place. Our
artillerymen opened on the lines of the enemy some twenty guns. Our
lines were now closing around them. Crooker had come up with his
command and closed the gap. The enemy threw down their arms and
surrendered--7,000 men and fourteen pieces of artillery, with Gen.
Ewelling and his seven subordinate Generals. This utterly destroyed the
entire command that was covering Laws's retreat.

"Hume had pursued the fragment of the enemy which he had opposed in
the morning to the mouth of the run, some fifteen miles, attacking and
fighting--a running battle all the da