us duties. The news of the capture of
Savannah by Sherman and the defeat of Hood at Nashville had
a cheering effect upon the whole command, and we looked
forward with confidence that the end was drawing near.

"On the night of the 26th of March our division silently
left the lines on Chapin's farm, and marching to the rear
some three miles went into bivouac. On the night of the 27th
we crossed the James on muffled pontoons, and after a weary
march arrived at Hatcher's Run at daybreak of the 28th.
Crossing the original lines of breastworks we built new
breastworks some two hundred yards in advance and bivouacked
in the pine woods awaiting events. Sheridan at this time was
operating on the Confederate right flank. The news of his
decisive victory at Five Forks and of the complete turning
of the enemy's flank was the immediate cause of a verbal
order, given to company commanders by our colonel on the
afternoon of April 1st, to advance on the lines in our front
at dawn on the following day. That night the Union artillery
opened along the whole line. Hissing and bursting shells
from Appomattox river to Hatcher's Run filled in a scene
never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. It was as
if demons incarnate were holding a jubilee. As far as the
eye could reach there was one blaze of fiery shot. The world
has seldom seen its like. Where our brigade was to operate
was a dense wilderness of pines with matted underbrush, but
in the morning it looked as though a sirocco had kissed it.

"With the dawn of day the brigade was in line of battle. Not
a breath of air was stirring. A misty vapor shed its gloom
and hung like a pall among the tree-tops. The silk covers
were taken from our flags, but their folds hung lazily along
the staff when the command, 'Forward! guide centre! march!'
was given. At first slashed timber and brush obstructed our
way, but as the obstruction began to cease an obstacle in
the shape of a long line of abattis met our gaze. The dusky
line broke through the abattis, however, as if the stakes
had been so many reeds, and charged over the breastworks and
into the Confederate camp. The rush must have been a
surprise, as the enemy offered little resistance. In front
of one of the tents a Federal sergeant (white) lay dead,