four hours were lost in
collecting subsistence for men and horses. When he started again on the
night of the fifth, the whole pursuing force was south and stretching
out to the west of him. Burkeville was in Grant's possession; the way to
Danville was barred; the supply of provisions to the south cut off. He
was compelled to change his route to the west, and started for
Lynchburg, which he was destined never to reach.

It had been the intention to attack Lee at Amelia Court House on the
morning of April 6, but learning of his turn to the west, Meade, who was
immediately in pursuit, quickly faced his army about and followed. A
running fight ensued for fourteen miles, the enemy, with remarkable
quickness and dexterity, halting and partly intrenching themselves from
time to time, and the national forces driving them out of every
position; the Union cavalry, meanwhile, harassing the moving left flank
of the Confederates, and working havoc on the trains. They also caused a
grievous loss to history by burning Lee's headquarters baggage, with all
its wealth of returns and reports. At Sailor's Creek, a rivulet running
north into the Appomattox, Ewell's corps was brought to bay, and
important fighting occurred; the day's loss to Lee, there and elsewhere,
amounting to eight thousand in all, with several of his generals among
the prisoners. This day's work was of incalculable value to the national
arms. Sheridan's unerring eye appreciated the full importance of it, his
hasty report ending with the words: "If the thing is pressed, I think
that Lee will surrender." Grant sent the despatch to President Lincoln,
who instantly replied:

"Let the thing be pressed."

In fact, after nightfall of the sixth, Lee's army could only flutter
like a wounded bird with one wing shattered. There was no longer any
possibility of escape; but Lee found it hard to relinquish the illusion
of years, and as soon as night came down he again began his weary march
westward. A slight success on the next day once more raised his hopes;
but his optimism was not shared by his subordinates, and a number of his
principal officers, selecting General Pendleton as their spokesman, made
known to him on the seventh their belief that further resistance was
useless, and advised surrender. Lee told them that they had yet too many
men to think of laying down their arms, but in answer to a courteous
summons from Grant sent that same day, inquired what terms he would be
w