fore it could be reinforced, unsuccessful by reason of the want of
persistence on the part of the general intrusted with the duty. This
failure involved a long siege of that place, which the Confederates made
impregnable to assault. A breach in the defences was made by the
explosion of a mine constructed with vast labor, but there was failure
to follow up the advantage with sufficient promptness. Here the Army of
the Potomac passed the winter, except the part of the army that was
detached to protect Washington from threatened attack, and with which
Sheridan made his great fame in the Shenandoah Valley. Meanwhile
Sherman, in the West, had taken Atlanta, and leaving Hood's army to be
taken care of by Thomas, who defeated it at Nashville, had marched
across Georgia, and was making his way through the Carolinas northward
toward Richmond, an army under Johnston disputing his way by annoyance,
impediment, and occasional battle. Another incident of the winter was
the two attempts on Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina,--the
first, under General Butler, a failure; the second, under General Terry,
a brilliant success. All these movements were in execution of plans and
directions given by the lieutenant-general.

It was the 29th of March when, all preparations having been made, Grant
began the final movement. He threw a large part of his army into the
region west of Petersburg and south of Richmond, and at Five Forks, four
days later, Sheridan fought a brilliant and decisive battle, which
compelled Lee to abandon both Petersburg and Richmond, and to attempt to
save his army by running away and joining Johnston. All his movements
were baffled by the eager Union generals, flushed with the consciousness
that the end was near.

On the 7th of April Grant wrote to Lee: "I regard it as my duty to shift
from myself responsibility for any further effusion of human blood by
asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confederate States
army, known as the Army of Northern Virginia." Lee replied at once,
asking the terms that would be offered on condition of surrender. His
letter reached Grant on the 8th, who replied: "_Peace_ being my great
desire, there is but one condition I would insist upon, namely: that the
men and officers surrendered shall be disqualified for taking up arms
again against the government of the United States until properly
exchanged." He offered to meet Lee or any officers deputed by him for
arranging