ps of the
Union army from the morning of April 3d to the surrender of Lee
will stand as a lasting testimonial to Grant's military genius,
ranking him with the great strategists of the world. Lee's officers
were familiar with the roads; the inhabitants were their friends;
his retreat was upon the shorter line, and he had a night's start.
Generals Meade, Sheridan, Ord, and the corps commanders also, won
just fame for the successful handling of their several commands.

Meade kept his forces in hand and pushed them precipitously on the
desired points. Sheridan was indomitable and remorseless in his
pursuit with the cavalry. Grant accompanied the army, sometimes
with one part of it and then with another, always knowing what was
going on and the position of all the troops. His orders were
implicitly obeyed. Rest or sleep was impossible for any length of
time. Recent and continuing rains rendered the roads almost
impassable for artillery trains. Teams were doubled and one half
the artillery and wagons were left behind. Lee undertook to order
supplies sent to Burkeville, where he expected to meet them.
Sheridan's cavalry captured, April 4th, a messenger with dispatches
in his boots which he was conveying to Burkeville to be wired to
Danville and Lynchburg, directing 300,000 rations to be forwarded
to Burkeville. Sheridan, by scouts disguised as rebels, had the
dispatches taken to Burkeville and sent, with the expectation he
would capture the rations on their arrival. They did not reach
Burkeville, but several train loads were sent forward from Lynchburg.
Sheridan's cavalry met them at Appomattox Station on the 8th, and
received them in bulk, locomotives, trains, and all.( 1)

Late on the 5th, Lee leisurely moved his army from Amelia Court-
House towards Burkeville. Sheridan's cavalry, with some infantry,
had possession of Jetersville on a road Lee attempted to pursue.
Sheridan assailed Lee's advance furiously and drove it back, forcing
him to form his army for battle. This occupied so much time that
when it was ready to attack, night was approaching, and the Fifth
and Sixth Corps were arrived or were arriving. Lee's escape to
Danville by the way of Burkeville was no longer possible. The day
was too far spent to fight a battle. Grant was still pushing his
corps upon different roads to intercept Lee's retreat. Lee's prime
mistake was in not concentrating his army, on the 4th, at Burkeville,
the junction of the