two railroads, instead of at Amelia Court-House.
It was supposed that a decisive battle would be fought at Jetersville,
but Lee withdrew during the night.

General Lee claimed he lost one day at Amelia Court-House gathering
subsistence, because his orders to collect them there in advance
of his retreat had been disregarded.( 2)

Jefferson Davis reached Danville, Virginia, with members of his
Cabinet, on the 3d of April, and, on the 5th, he issued a proclamation
which he subsequently characterized thus:

"Viewed in the light of subsequent events, it may be fairly said
it was over-sanguine." In it he used such expressions as:

"Let us but will it and we are free. I announce to you, fellow
countrymen, that it is my purpose to maintain your cause with my
whole heart and soul; that I will never consent to abandon to the
enemy one foot of the soil of any of the States of the Confederacy;
that Virginia--noble State, whose ancient renown has been eclipsed
by her still more glorious recent history; whose bosom has been
bared to receive the main shock of the war; whose sons and daughters
have exhibited heroism so sublime as to render her illustrious
through all time to come--that Virginia with the help of the people,
and by the blessings of Providence, shall be held and defended,
and no peace ever made with the infamous invaders of her territory.

"If by the stress of numbers, we should be compelled to a temporary
withdrawal from her limits or those of any other border State, we
will return until the baffled and exhausted enemy shall abandon in
despair his endless and impossible task of making slaves of a free
people."( 3)

In consequence of Hill's death, Lee divided his army into two wings,
Ewell commanding one and Longstreet the other, his cavalry being
under Fitzhugh Lee and his artillery under Pendleton.

The Confederate Army, on the night of April 5th, abandoned Amelia
Court-House, and by circuitous country roads endeavored to pass
around the Union left through Deatonville and Painesville to Prince
Edward's Court-House, hoping still to be able to escape to Danville.

At daylight of the 6th the Union forces at Jetersville advanced in
battle array on Amelia Court-House, and some precious hours were
lost in ascertaining the direction of Lee's retreat. Our army was,
however, soon counter-marched to Jetersville, and thence, by
different roads and regardless of them, by forced marches, it sought
to intercept Lee. It