Petereburg, Va

About this town and Richmond from June, 1864, to April, 1865, there was the most celebrated campaign of the Civil War. Gradually Grant had forced Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia south. ward until the Confederates lay posted about Petersburg and Rich. mond. Grant's army, including drivers, camp followers, etc., num. bered nearly 120,000 men, while Lee was at the head of about 70,000, By June 10, 1864, the Confederates were strongly posted, Lee, with the main command, at Petersburg, and Long street on the left at Chapin’s Bluff, the line extending along the Boydton Road and Hatcher’s Run eastward. The campaign was opened by Butler, then commanding the Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred. June to, a Federal force was sent by him under Gilmore and Kautz to destroy the Appomattox bridges and attempt to capture Petersburg. This expedition failed signally. June 14, Grant sent Smith with a Jarge force upona similar expedition. Smith delayed, thus giving the Confederates time to a ault and defeat him. Grant lost 9,000 men in these two expeditions. The siege of Petersburg practically commenced June 18. Butler had effected a valuable lodgment at Deep Bottom, and, on the twenty first, forces under Hancock and Wright endeavored to destroy the Weldon Road, but this was frustrated by Hill, who attacked and defeated the Federals disastrously. Then followed Sheridan’s victory at Yellow Tavern and Wilson and Kautz’ raid. June 25, Burnside proposed and began the construction of a mine to blow up the Confederate lines about Petersburg. This mine was in proce of construction until July 23, and was sprung July 30. It consisted of a shaft 520 feet long with lateral terminations forty feet in each direction and was charged with 8,000 pounds of powder. Burnside was to rush into the breach and seize Cemetery Hill, commanding the town. A crater 200 feet long by sixty feet wide was formed by the explosion, and one Confederate regiment was blown up, but the rest poured such a murderous fire upon the advancing Federals that 4,000 men were lost and the attempt failed. After this things rerrained comparatively quiet around Petersburg until February, 1865. Then Lee, having been appointed commander-in-chief of the entire Confederate force, perceiving that his situation was becoming desperate, determined to evacuate Richmond and Petersburg and join Johnston in the south. To cover his retreat, he sent a strong force on the night March 24, 1865, to a ault Fort Steadman. The fort was carried at the first a ault, but reinforcements failed to come, and the Federals under Parke quickly repelled the a ault. Of 5,000 Confederates, 3,000 were killed and Lee’s retreat was prevented. The National line then extended without a break from the Appomattox to Dinwiddie Court House. April 1, the fatal battle of Five Forks occurred, Sheridan defeating the Confederates after a desperate fight. They were also defeated at Quaker and Boydton Roads. April 2, Grant ordered a united attack along the Confederate line from Appomattox to Hatcher’s Run. Everywhere the Confedferates met defeat after fearful lo es. On April 3 Lee evacuated Richmond and Petersburg simultaneously. 89