University of Virginia Library

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400

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

Winter put an end to all military operations, and both armies lay inactive
awaiting the opening of the spring campaign, which commenced
with the 25th of March, 1865. The first action was that of Fort Stedman
or Hares Hill. At four o'clock on the morning of that day, all
things being in readiness, a body of Confederate sharpshooters, 250 in
number, with empty guns left their own works and stealthily moving
across the intervening space, scaled the outer works of the enemy. It
was to the Federals as great a surprise as would have been a clap of
thunder from a noonday sky. They were driven from their batteries,
and yet not a musket was fired. This movement was followed by that
of several brigades which had been massed for the purpose. The
Federals having recovered from the surprise occasioned by the daring
adventure recited, now opened a murderous enfilading fire upon the
assailants, and soon General Gordon found it judicious to retire. In
the assault, the Confederates captured nine pieces of artillery, but being
unable to remove them, they were disabled and left behind; also,
550 prisoners among whom was one brigadier-general and several field
officers of lower rank.

This action seemed to arouse Grant to the realization that it was time
to open the campaign, and on the 29th he began a heavy movement
against the Southside railroad. Pouring forth 50,000 men, of whom
9,000 were cavalry, he succeeded after several reverses in the accomplishment
of his object. Saturday night, April 1st, was a gloomy one
for General Lee.

The Federal forces had now passed around to the south-west of his
position, thus cutting off not only his source of supplies, but also his line
of march southward, should he be compelled to abandon his works. Not
only this, but three Federal corps lay before him ready to strike the
Petersburg defenses at daylight.

The hour came, and at sunrise on that balmy Sabbath morning the
attack was made from three separate points. The 6th corps went
though first, at a point nearly opposite the western extremity of the city;
a little farther west was the point of attack of the 24th corps; while to the
east was that of the 9th corps, which succeeded in carrying Fort Mahone,
one of the strongest defences of the city. Ord's and Humphrey's
commands having carried the works in front of them, swung around to
the right and joined Gibbon's division before Forts Alexander and Gregg:
these were the strongest fortifications south of Petersburg, and with their
reduction the way to the city would be opened. The assault was at once
made, and Fort Alexander carried, but so determined was the resistance
of Fort Gregg that Gibbon's columns were forced back, leaving the
ground covered with the dead. Three furious charges were signally repulsed,

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TOMB OF EX-PRESIDENT MONROE,

Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Va.

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402

At this moment, Generals Lee, Hill and Mahone were in Petersburg
consulting upon their future movements. The terrible sounds of battle
were coming nearer and nearer. "How is this, General?" said Lee to
A. P. Hill. "Your men are giving way." Hill drew a rough coat over
his uniform and mounting his horse, accompanied by a single orderly,
dashed away to the front. In a ravine he rode into the Federal skirmish
line, the sound of a dozen rifles instantly rang out upon the air, and the
noble Hill, who had been foremost in so many victorious charges, fell to
rise no more. (A sketch of his life will be found in the first volume
of Virginia and Virginians.)

The day waned and with it the fortunes of the Confederate arms;
the works were carried after thousands of men had fallen in their defence.
But how different was the scene in Richmond, twenty-two miles away!
It was a beautiful, balmy spring evening, and the people had gathered
in their respective churches for worship. President Davis was seated in
his pew in St. Paul's Church. A messenger walked briskly up the aisle
and handed him a telegram: it was from General Lee, and in it he said:
"Petersburg is lost to the Confederacy, and Richmond must be evacuated
at once." The President arose immediately and left the church with a
measured but nervous step. No one save himself knew the exact contents
of that message, and yet every one in the assemblage intuitively
felt that something of dread import had taken place at the front. Quivering
lips passed the news from church to church, and the congregations
were speedily dismissed; then the rumor was caught up in the streets
and soon carried to the remote limits of the city.