will be made."

Lee responded:

"I think it absolutely necessary that we should abandon our position
to-night. I have given all the necessary orders on the subject to
the troops, and the operation, though difficult, I hope will be
performed successfully. I have directed General Stevens to send
an officer to your Excellency to explain the routes to you by which
the troops will be moved to Amelia Court-House, and furnish you
with a guide and any assistance you may require for yourself."( 8)

Richmond and Petersburg were evacuated the night of April 2d. The
troops in and around the two cities commenced to retire at 8 P.M.,
and were directed to concentrate at Amelia Court-House, about sixty
miles distant, where Lee had ordered supplies for his army to be
collected. Ewell withdrew the troops north of Richmond and the
marines from the James. There was insufficient transportation for
the archives and other valuables of the several departments of the
Confederacy, to say nothing of other public and private property.
Army supplies had to be destroyed or abandoned. A panic seized
the city, and in burning some public stores it took fire in two
places, and but for the arrival, about 8 A.M. of the 3d, of Union
troops from Weitzel's command, it would have burned down. Petersburg
suffered little in the evacuation. Its mayor and council surrendered
it about 4 A.M. of the 3d. The besieging army, so long striving
for its possession, was not permitted to enter it.

President Lincoln was at City Point when the movement of Grant's
army commenced, and remained until Richmond and Petersburg fell.
Grant, on the 2d, in anticipation of further success, suggested
that the President visit him at the front next day. Mr. Lincoln
accordingly met Grant in Petersburg the morning of its surrender
and held an interview with him of an hour and a half. Secretary
Stanton, learning that the President contemplated going to the
front, wired from Washington on the morning of the 3d, protesting
against his exposing "the nation to the consequence of any disaster
to himself in the pursuit of a dangerous enemy like the rebel army."

The President answered from City Point at 5 P.M.:

"Yours received. Thanks for your caution, but I have already been
to Petersburg. Staid with Grant an hour and a half and returned
here. It is certain now that Richmond is in our hands, and I will
go there to-morrow. I will take care of myself."( 9)

Mr. Lincoln ma