EVENTS OF 1865 Sherman Marches North to Aid Grant-Charleston Surrenders-Johnston Succeeds Beauregard-He Fails in Attack on Slocum at Bentonville, N. C.-He Faces Sherman at Goldsboro, N. C.-Wilson and Stoneman Destroy Confederate Arsenals and Supplies-Canby, Sheridan, and Thomas (Union) Destroy Railroads and FactoriesSheridan Captures Early's Command Near Staunton, Va.-Confederates Capture Fort Steadman, where Federalists Hold Them under Fire-Sheridan Routs Pickett at Five Forks-Grant Carries Lee's Works at Petersburg-Cut Off on South from Railroad to Danville, Lee Retreats West to Lynchburg-Sheridan Captures Ewell's Corps and Lee's Supplies-Lee is Surrounded at Appomattox-He Surrenders-Richmond, Evacuated by Confederates, is Entered by Federals-It is Visited by Lincoln-Abolition Amendments to Constitution are Ratified by the States-Lincoln's Plan of Organization of State Governments in the South on Theory that States had Never Left the Union is Begun in Tennessee and Louisiana-Death of Cobden, the English Free-Trader-Kuehne Discovers Composition of Blood-John Wilkes Booth, an Actor, Assassinates President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, Washington-Secretary Seward is Wounded by Would-Be Assassin-Andrew Johnson Succeeds to Presidency-Surrender of Cities, Arsenals, etc., Throughout the South-Confederates Win Last Battle of the War at Palo Pinto, Tex.--Surrenders of Jeff Thompson, Johnston, and Kirby SmithJefferson Davis is Captured, Indicted for Treason, and Released on Bond of Horace Greeley and Others-General Statistics of the War -Congress, by Taxing Notes of State Banks, Strengthens National Bank System-Many Confederates Go to Support of Maximilian, Causing Federal Government to Give Open Aid to Juarez-Maximilian Outlaws Juarists and Executes Two of Their GeneralsAustria and Prussia Contend Over Interests in Schleswig-Holstein -Peace is Temporarily Secured by Treaty of Gastein-Bismarck Plots against Austria-Death of Troyon, the Painter-Palmerston, English Premier, Dies, and Russell Succeeds Him. HE early spring campaign of 1865 brought the final scenes of the North American Civil War. Sherman moved northward to assist Grant in the rear of the Confederate force, and made a remarkable march. Charleston, rendered untenable, surrendered on February 18 to Dahlgren and Gilmore, and was placed under martial law. On January 19 the Confederate Congress displaced Davis as Commander-in-Chief and appointed Lee, who assumed command on February 9. At Lee's request Hood was relieved of the command of his shattered army. Beauregard, enfeebled UNION CAVALRY RAIDS 1865 by illness, was superseded by General Johnston, in the command of the Confederate force in North Carolina. General Lee, on the 2d of February, proposed a meeting to Grant to arrange terms of peace. President Lincoln ordered Grant to decline the proposal. At Bentonville, North Carolina, on March 19-21, Slocum's division was unexpectedly attacked by Johnston, and the safety of the entire army was in peril; but the Confederates, after six desperate assaults, withdrew. Bragg was sent to oppose Schofield, and Johnston himself faced Sherman. Avoiding a general battle, however, Sherman hurried his march and reached Goldsboro, North Carolina. He there found Schofield, who had repulsed Bragg on the 9th of March. Here Sherman again encountered Johnston, who had been sent to oppose him with 30,000 men. The two armies rested inactive. About the same time a cavalry expedition under General J. H. Wilson destroyed the important arsenal at Selma, Alabama, and dispersed Forrest's command. Stoneman cut off Lee's avenue of escape into the mountain regions of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. On March 22 Stoneman destroyed the Confederate depot of supplies at Lynchburg, Virginia, and from there he went, on April 9, to Galesburg, North Carolina, which he captured with all its magazines. Grant had ordered Canby, Sheridan, and Thomas to lay waste the railroads and military stores of the Confederacy. Canby moved from New Orleans against Mobile. Sheridan was ordered to push through to Lynchburg. He met Early between Staunton and Charlottesville on March 5, and captured almost his entire command. With over 10,000 cavalry, he tore up miles of railroad and destroyed mills and factories. Grant ordered a general advance to the left, to prevent the of Lee. In his well-fed army he had 111,000 foot and 13,000 cavalry, to Lee's half-starved force of 51,000 foot escape 1865 BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS and 6,000 cavalry. Lee hoped to reach Danville, form a junction with Johnston, and take the chance of beating Sherman with Grant left behind. He determined on a night assault on Grant's right at Petersburg, and assigned half of his active army for that purpose. The point chosen was near Fort Steadman, and the attack was to be at night. But Grant had anticipated such an effort, and had issued orders to meet and counteract the attempt. The action was begun at dawn on March 25. Fort Steadman and three Union batteries were taken and a gap was made in the Union lines. Meade sent Parke to drive the enemy back. The Confederates were forced into Fort Steadman, where they were under concentrated Union fire. On the 24th Grant had issued orders for the grand attack on Lee. Ord was moved to a position on the left. Weitzel remained at Bermuda Hundred; Parke confronted Petersburg, and Humphreys and Warren were to extend their lines westward to Five Forks, so as to strike the South Side and Danville railroads. Sheridan arrived on March 25, and Sherman on the following day. Grant sent Sheridan either to move against Five Forks in Lee's rear, or to cut loose from the Army of the Potomac, get below Johnston, and cooperate with Sherman. On the 30th Sheridan found the Confederates in full force at Five Forks, and was forced back by Pickett. Grant resolved to reenforce Sheridan with infantry, so that he might cut loose and turn Lee's right flank. Pickett did not wait to be caught between two Union columns but fell back. The Battle of Five Forks, on April 1, marked the beginning of the end. Sheridan at daybreak passed the retreating Confederates. Leaving Warren to bring up his fifth corps, he repeated the tactics of his Valley campaign, cut off his antagonist from Lee's main force, by 4 P. M. had gained the Confederate lines, aided by Ayre's, Comfort's, and Griffin's division, and sent cavalry under Custer, Merritt, and others eastward to hold the enemy in check. At a critical moment he gathered the faltering battalions together and swept them over the enemy's breastworks. Pickett was routed, and 6,000 prisoners were taken, with guns and colors. At dawn of April 2 Grant assaulted Lee's slender line with overwhelming numbers. Wright penetrated the Confederate lines and the main works on his front, but lost 1,100 men in fifteen minutes. He was followed by Ord, and the two joined and closed against one side of Petersburg's outworks. Parke carried the lines at his front. Gibbon took two strong enclosed works on the south side. Generals Parke, Humphreys, and Foster, with their respective divisions, captured important Confederate works. Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill was killed. General Lee notified Davis that Petersburg and Richmond must be abandoned, but hopefully discussed plans for another campaign. At nightfall he drew his troops from before Petersburg and Richmond, and began the forced march by which he hoped to join Johnston and renew the conflict. On the 3d Petersburg was surrendered to Parke. Grant rode into the city and saw before him the troops in gray retreating. Divining Lee's intentions, he despatched a message to Sheridan to push on to the Danville road and intercept Lee. Meade was directed to march up the Appomattox in close pursuit. Learning that Richmond was evacuated, Grant said: "Rebel armies are now the only strategic points to strike at." By night he was far south of Richmond and west of Petersburg in search of Lee. The chase was renewed the next morning. Sheridan had brought up his cavalry to Jetersville, eight miles south of where Lee's army was resting. Grant sent him two corps, and with Meade joined him. On the night of the 5th the whole pursuing force was south and west of Lee, and the railroad to Danville was s Appomattox by Sheridan, who captured Lee's supplies. Ord and Griffin, by a march of thirty reached Sheridan just as Lee's cavalry was making break through. Ord closed all approaches on the id Meade on the north and east. Lee then asked n interview to negotiate a surrender. At 2 o'clock nday, Grant and Lee met in a private dwelling at the village. Lee, accompanied only by his secGrant, Sheridan, and Ord in a little parlor. d the terms clearly, in the form of a letter written r of the moment. He granted immunity from so long as they observed their paroles and obeyed He added that Confederate officers might retain rms. Lee further suggested that such of his men their horses might take them home. This was 'he surrender included 28,231 men. Since March men had surrendered, making in all 47,363. on Sunday, April 2, while at church, that Davis e telegram from Lee, stating that his lines had n and that Richmond must be evacuated. The became noisy with crowds The Cabinet conmmissary stores were opened to the public. Ordlies were thrown into the canal. Banks opened |