to make a mounted charge against their lines, which was most gallantly done, the men leaving many of their horses dead almost up to the enemy's works.

On the arrival of the head of the Sixth Corps the enemy commenced withdrawing. Major-General Wright was ordered to put Seymour's division into position at once, and advance and carry the road, which was done at a point about two miles or two miles and a half from Deatonsville. As soon as the road was in our possession Wright was directed to push General Seymour on, the enemy falling back, skirmishing briskly. Their resistance growing stubborn a halt was called to get up Wheaton's division, of the Sixth Corps, which went into position on the left of the road, Seymour being on the right. Wheaton was ordered to guide right, with his right connecting with Seymour's left and resting on the road. I still felt the great importance of pushing the enemy, and was unwilling to wait for Getty's division, of the Sixth Corps, to get up. I therefore ordered an advance, sending word to General Humphreys, who was on the road to our right, requesting him to push on, as I felt confident we could break up the enemy. It was apparent, from the absence of artillery fire and the manner in which they gave way when pressed, that the force of the enemy opposed to us was a heavy rear guard. The enemy was driven until our lines reached Sailor's Creek, and from the north bank I could see our cavalry on the high ground above the creek and south of it, and the long line of smoke from the burning wagons. A cavalryman, who in a charge cleared the enemy's works and came through their lines, reported to me what was in front. I regret that I have forgotten the name of this gallant young soldier. As soon as General Wright could get his artillery into position I ordered the attack to be made on the left, and sent Colonel Stagg's brigade of cavalry to strike and flank the extreme right of the enemy's line. The attack by the infantry was not executed exactly as I had directed, and a portion of our line in the open ground was broken by the terrible fire of the enemy, who were in position on commanding ground south of the creek. This attack by Wheaton's and Seymour's divisions was splendid, but no more than I had reason to expect from the gallant Sixth Corps. The cavalry in rear of the enemy attacked simultaneously, and the enemy, after a gallant resistance, were completely surrounded and nearly all threw down their arms and surrendered. General Ewell; commanding the enemy's forces, and a number of other general offi cers fell into our hands, and a very large number of prisoners. I have never ascertained exactly how many prisoners were taken in this battle. Most of them fell into the hands of the cavalry, but they are no more entitled to claim them than the Sixth Corps, to which command equal credit is due for the good results of this engagement.

Both the cavalry and the Sixth Corps encamped south of Sailor's Creek that night, having followed up the small remnant of the enemy's forces for several miles.

In reference to the participation of the Sixth Corps in this action, I desire to add that the lieutenant-general had notified me that this corps would report to me. Major McClellan and Lieutenant-Colonel Franklin, of General Wright's staff, had successively been sent forward to report the progress of the corps in coming up; and on the arrival of Major-General Wright he reported his corps to me, and from that time until after the battle received my orders and obeyed them; but after the engagement was over, and General Meade had communicated with General Wright, the latter declined to make his report to me until directed to do so by the lieutenant-general.

On the 7th instant the pursuit was continued early in the morning by the cavalry, General Crook in the advance. It was discovered that the enemy had not been cut off by the Army of the James, and, under the belief that he would attempt to escape on the Danville road through Prince Edward Court-House, General Merritt was ordered to move his two divisions to that point, passing around the left of the Army of the James. General Crook continued the direct pursuit, encountering the main body of the enemy at Farmville and again on the north side of the Appomattox, where the enemy's trains were attacked by General Gregg, and a sharp fight with the enemy's infantry ensued, in which General Gregg was unfortunately captured. On arriving at Prince Edward Court-House I found General Mackenzie, with his division of cavalry from the Army of the James, and ordered him to cross the bridge on the Buffalo River, and make a reconnaissance to Prospect Station, on the Lynchburg railroad, and ascertain if the enemy were moving past that point. Meantime I heard from General Crook that the enemy had crossed to the north side of the Appomattox, and General Merritt was then moved on and encamped at Buffalo Creek, and General Crook was ordered to recross the Appomattox and encamp at Prospect Station.

On the morning of the 8th Merritt and Mackenzie continued the march to Prospect Station, and Merritt's and Crook's commands then moved on to Appomattox Depot, a point on the Lynchburg railroad, five miles south of Appomattox Court-House. Shortly after the march commenced, Sergeant White, one of my scouts, notified me that there were four trains of cars at Appomattox Depot loaded with supplies for General Lee's army. Generals Merritt and Crook were at once notified, and the command pushed on briskly for twenty-eight miles. General Custer had the advance, and, on nearing the depot, skillfully threw a force in rear of the trains and captured them. Without halting a moment he pushed on, driving the enemy (who had reached the depot about the same time as our cavalry) in the direction of Appomattox CourtHouse, capturing many prisoners and twenty-five pieces of artillery, a hospital train, and a large park of wagons. General Devin coming up went in on the right of Custer. The fighting continued till after dark, and the enemy being driven to Appomattox Court-House I at once noti fied the lieutenant-general, and sent word to Generals Ord and Gibbon, of the Army of the James, and General Griffin, commanding the Fifth Corps, who were in rear, that if they pressed on, there was now no means of escape for the enemy, who had reached "the last ditch."

During the night, although we knew that the remnant of Lee's army was in our front, we held fast with the cavalry to what we had gained, and ran the captured trains back along the railroad to a point where they would be protected by our infantry that was coming up.

The Twenty-fourth and Fifth Corps and one division of the Twentyfifth Corps arrived about daylight on the 9th at Appomattox Depot. After consulting with General Ord, who was in command of these corps, I rode to the front, near Appomattox Court-House, and just as the enemy in heavy force was attacking the cavalry with the intention of breaking through our lines, I directed the cavalry, which was dismounted, to fall back gradually, resisting the enemy, so as to give time for the infantry to form its lines and march to the attack, and when this was done to move off to the right flank and mount. This was done, and the enemy discontinued his attack as soon as he caught sight of our infantry. I moved briskly around the left of the enemy's line of battle, which was falling back rapidly, heavily pressed by the advance of the

infantry, and was about to charge the trains and the confused mass of the enemy, when a white flag was presented to General Custer, who had the advance, and who sent the information to me at once that the enemy desired to surrender.

Riding over to the left at Appomattox Court-House I met MajorGeneral Gordon, of the rebel service, and Major-General Wilcox. General Gordon requested a suspension of hostilities pending negotiations for a surrender then being held between Lieutenant-General Grant and General Lee. I notified him that I desired to prevent the unnecessary effusion of blood, but as there was nothing definitely settled in the correspondence, and as an attack had been made on my lines with the view to escape, under the impression our force was only cavalry, I must have some assurance of an intended surrender. This Genera! Gordon gave, by saying that there was no doubt of the surrender of General Lee's army. I then separated from him, with an agreement to meet these officers again in half an hour, at Appomattox Court-House. At the specified time, in company with General Ord, who commanded the infantry, I again met this officer, also Lieutenant-General Longstreet, and received from them the same assurance, and hostilities ceased until the arrival of Lieutenant-General Grant.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.

.Bvt. Maj. Gen. JOHN A. RAWLINS, Chief of Staff.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY, Dinwiddie Court-House, March 31, 1865. Lieutenant-General GRANT, Comdg. Armies of the United States: The enemy's cavalry attacked me about 10 o'clock to-day, on the road coming in from the west and a little north of Dinwiddie Court-House. This attack was very handsomely repulsed by General Smith's brigade, of Crook's division, and the enemy was driven across Chamberlain's Creek. Shortly afterward the enemy's infantry attacked on the same creek in heavy force, and drove in General Davies' brigade, and, advancing rapidly, gained the forks of the road at J. Boisseau's. This forced Devin, who was in advance, and Davies to cross to the Boydton road. General Gregg's brigade and General Gibbs' brigade, who had been toward Dinwiddie, then attacked the enemy in the rear very handsomely. This stopped the march toward the left of our infantry, and finally caused them to turn toward Dinwiddie and attack us in heavy force. The enemy then again attacked at Chamberlain's Creek, and forced Smith's position. At this time Capehart's and Pennington's brigades, of Custer's division, came up, and a very handsome fight occurred. The enemy have gained some ground, but we still hold in front of Dinwiddie, and Davies and Devin are coming down the Boydton road to join us. The opposing force was Pickett's division, Wise's independent brigade of infantry, and Fitzhugh Lee's, Rosser's, and W. H. F. Lee's cavalry commands. The men have behaved splendidly. Our loss in killed and wounded will probably number 450 men. Very few were lost as prisoners. We have of the enemy a number of prisoners. This force is too strong for us. I will hold out to Dinwiddie CourtHouse until I am compelled to leave. Our fighting to-day was all dismounted.

P. H. SHERIDAN,
Major-General.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

DABNEY'S MILLS, March 31, 1865—10.05 p. m.

Major-General SHERIDAN:

The Fifth Corps has been ordered to your support. Two divisions will go by J. Boisseau's and one down the Boydton road. In addition to this I have sent Mackenzie's cavalry, which will reach you by the Vaughan road. All these forces, except the cavalry, should reach you by 12 to-night. You will assume command of the whole force sent to operate with you, and use it to the best of your ability to destroy the force which your command has fought so gallantly to-day. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

[Inclosure No. 3.1

Numerical list of casualties in the First, Second, and Third Divisions of Cavalry, commanded by Maj. Gen. P. H. Sheridan, from the 28th day of March to the 9th day of April, 1865.

Hon. E. M. STANTON,

CAVALRY HEADQUARTERS,
Petersburg, Va.. April 19, 1865.

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

SIR: I have the honor to bring to the notice of the War Department the gallant conduct of the following-named officers, and respectfully request that they be promoted or brevetted an additional grade: Bvt. Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt, for distinguished service as chief of cav alry on the cavalry expedition from Winchester, Va., to the James River from February 27 to March 27, 1865, and for meritorious and gallant services at the cavalry engagements at Dinwiddie Court-House March 31, 1865, the battle of Five Forks April 1, 1865, the pursuit of the enemy to Bevill's Bridge, including the cavalry engagement at Tabernacle Church, April 5, 1865, the battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865, and the cavalry engagemots at Appomattox Depot and Appomattox Court-House April 8 and 9, 1865, and for the energy and skill displayed throughout the entire campaign, to be major-general of volunteers.

* But see revised table, pp. 591, 592.

Bvt. Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, commanding Third Cavalry Divis ion, to be promoted to the rank of major-general of volunteers for distinguished services and gallant conduct at the battle of Waynesborough March 2, 1865, and untiring skill and energy displayed in the cavalry expedition from Winchester, Va., to the James River; for the personal gallantry and high ability exhibited in fighting and maneuvering his command at the battles of Dinwiddie Court-House March 31, Five Forks, Va., April 1, cavalry engagement at Tabernacle Church April 5, battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, Appomattox Depot and Appomattox Court-House April 8 and 9, 1865, and in the pursuit of the forces of the rebel army from Five Forks to Bevill's Bridge, on the Appomattox River, and from Jetersville to Appomattox Court-House.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. J. I. Gregg, colonel Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, to be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services at the cavalry engagements at Dinwiddie Court-House March 31, 1865, the cavalry pursuit from Five Forks to Burkeville and Jetersville, and for the cavalry engagement at that point April 5, 1865, and at the battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865, at the cavalry engagement on the north side of the Appomattox River near Farmville, Va., during which he was captured whilst gallantly fighting his brigade.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. C. H. Smith, colonel First Maine Cavalry, commanding Third Brigade, Second Cavalry Division, to be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general of volunteers for highly distinguished services at the battle of Dinwiddie Court-House March 31, 1865, the cavalry pursuit from Five Forks to Burkeville, to Jetersville, the cavalry engagement near Jetersville April 5, 1865, the battle of Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865, and at Appomattox Court-House April 9, 1865.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. James W. Forsyth, lieutenant-colonel and assistant inspector-general Cavalry Corps, my chief of staff, to be brigadiergeneral of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services during the cavalry campaign from Winchester, Va., to the James River, at the cavalry engagement March 31, 1865, at Dinwiddie Court-House, Va., for conspicuous bravery at the battle of Five Forks April 1, 1865, and at Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865, and during the engagements at Appomattox Depot and Court-House on the 8th and 9th instant, and for industry, energy, and ability displayed throughout the entire campaign. Col. H. Capehart, First West Virginia Cavalry, commanding brigade, Third Cavalry Division, to be promoted to the rank of brigadiergeneral of volunteers for the zeal and energy displayed by him in the cavalry expedition from Winchester, Va., to the James River, for gallantry at the cavalry engagement at Waynesborough, and for distinguished services at the cavalry engagements at Dinwiddie Court-House March 31, 1865, battles of Five Forks April 1, and Sailor's Creek April 6, 1865, the cavalry engagements at Appomattox Depot and Appomattox Court-House April 8 and 9, 1865, and during the pursuit of the rebel army from Five Forks to Appomattox Court-House.

Bvt. Brig. Gen. William Wells, colonel First Vermont Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade, Third Cavalry Division, to be brigadier-general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious services during the cavalry expedition from Winchester to the James River, and at the battles of Five Forks and Sailor's Creek April 5 and 6, 1865, and Appomattox Depot and Court-House April 8 and 9, 1865, and for the energy displayed in the pursuit of the rebel army from Five Forks to Appomattox Court-House.