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work steadily will lose their plots of land； and have to go out in the
world to work； their places being filled by others； will keep them
steady。〃
〃It's an experiment； Vincent； and we shall see how it works。〃
〃It's an experiment I have often thought I should like to make；
mother； and now you see it is almost forced upon us。 To…morrow I
will ride over to the other plantations and make the same
arrangements。〃
During the month of August many battles took place round
Petersburg。 On the 12th the Federals attacked； but were repulsed
with heavy loss； and 2；500 prisoners were taken。 On the 21st the
Confederates attacked； and obtained a certain amount of success；
killing； wounding； and capturing 2；400 men。 Petersburg was
shelled day and night； and almost continuous fighting went on。
Nevertheless； up to the middle of October the positions of the
armies remained unaltered。 On the 27th of that mouth the Federals
made another general attack； but were repulsed with a loss of
1；500 men。 During the next three months there was little fighting；
the Confederates having now so strengthened their lines by
incessant toil that even General Grant； reckless of the lives of his
troops as he was； hesitated to renew the assault。
But in the South General Sherman was carrying all before him。
Generals Hood and Johnston； who commanded the Confederate
armies there； had fought several desperate battles； but the forces
opposed to them were too strong to be driven back。 They had
marched through Georgia to Atlanta and captured that important
town on the 1st of September； and obtained command of the
network of railways； and thus cut off a large portion of the
Confederacy from Richmond。 Then Sherman marched south；
wasting the country through which he marched； and capturing
Savannah on the 21st of September。
While he was so doing； General Hood had marched into
Tennessee； and after various petty successes was defeated； after
two days' hard fighting； near Nashville。 In the third week in
January； 1865； Sherman set out with 60；000 infantry and 10；000
cavalry from Savannah； laying waste the whole country…burning；
pillaging； and destroying。 The town of Columbia was occupied；
sacked； and burned； the white men and women and even the
negroes being horribly ill…treated。
The Confederates evacuated Charleston at the approach of the
enemy； setting it in flames rather than allow it to fall into
Sherman's hands。 The Federal army then continued its devastating
route through South Carolina； and at the end of March had
established itself at Goldsboro； in North Carolina； and was in
readiness to aid Grant in his final attack on Richmond。
Lee； seeing the imminence of the danger； made an attack upon the
enemy in front of Petersburg； but was repulsed。 He had now but
37；000 men with which to oppose an enemy of nearly four times
that strength in front of him； while Sheridan's cavalry； 10；000
strong； threatened his flank； and Sherman with his army was but a
few days' march distant。 There was fierce fighting on the 29th；
30th； and 31st of March； and on the 2d of April the whole Federal
army assaulted the positions at Petersburg； and after desperate
fighting succeeded in carrying them。 The Confederate troops；
outnumbered and exhausted as they were by the previous week's
marching and fighting； yet retained their discipline； and Lee drew
off with 20；000 men and marched to endeavor to effect a junction
with Johnston； who was still facing Sherman。 But his men had but
one day's provision with them。 The stores that he had ordered to
await them at the point to which he directed his march had not
arrived there when they reached it； and； harassed at every foot of
their march by Sheridan's cavalry and Ord's infantry； the force
fought its way on。 The horses and mules were so weak from want
of food that they were unable to drag the guns； and the men
dropped in numbers from fatigue and famine。 Sheridan and Ord
cut off two corps； but General Lee； with but 8；000 infantry and
2；000 cavalry； still pressed forward toward Lynchburg。 But
Sheridan threw himself in the way； and； finding that no more could
be done； General Lee and the infantry surrendered； and a few days
later Generals Lee and Grant met and signed terms of peace。
General Johnston's army surrendered to General Sherman； and the
long and desperate struggle was at an end。
It was a dreadful day in Richmond when the news came that the
lines of Petersburg were forced； and that General Lee no longer
stood between the city and the invaders。 The president and
ministers left at once； and were followed by all the better class of
inhabitants who could find means of conveyance。 The negroes；
Irish； and some of the lower classes at once set to work to pillage
and burn； and the whole city would have been destroyed had not a
Federal force arrived and at once suppressed the rioting。
Whatever bad been the conduct of the Federal troops during the
last year of the war； however great the suffering they had inflicted
upon the unarmed and innocent population of the country through
which they marched； the terms of peace that General Grant agreed
upon； and which were； although with some reluctance； ratified by
the government； were in the highest degree liberal and generous。
No one was to be injured or molested for the share he had taken in
the war。 A general amnesty was granted to all； and the States were
simply to return to the position in the Union that they occupied
previous to the commencement of the struggle。
More liberal terms were never granted by a conqueror to the
vanquished。
Vincent was with the cavalry who escaped prior to Lee's surrender；
but as soon as the terms of peace were ratified the force was
disbanded and he returned home。 He was received with the
deepest joy by his mother and sister。
〃Thank God； my dear boy； that all is over； and you have been
preserved to us。 We are beaten； but no one can say that we have
been disgraced。 Had every State done its duty as Virginia has we
should never have been overpowered。 It has been a terrible four
years； and there are few families indeed that have no losses to
mourn。〃
〃It was well you were not in Richmond； mother； the day of the
riots。〃
〃Yes； but we had our trouble here too； Vincent。 A number of the
slaves from some of the plantations came along this way； and
wanted our hands to join them to burn down their quarters and the
house； and to march to Richmond。 Tony and Dan； hearing of their
approach； armed themselves with your double…barreled guns； went
down and called out the hands and armed them with hoes and
other implements。 When the negroes came up there was a
desperate quarrel； but our hands stood firm； and Tony and Dan
declared that they would shoot the first four men that advanced；
and at last they drew off and made their way to Richmond。
〃Your plan has succeeded admirably。 One or two of the han