While Lincoln was at Grant’s headquarters at City Point, Lee, hoping to recover the use of the roads to the south-west, endeavoured to cause a diversion of the besiegers’ strength by a sortie on his east front.  It failed and gave the besiegers a further point of vantage.  On April 1 Sheridan was sent far round the south of Lee’s lines, and in a battle at a point called Five Forks established himself in possession of the railway running due west from Petersburg.  The defences were weakest on this side, and to prevent the entrance of the enemy there Lee was bound to withdraw troops from other quarters.  On the two following days Grant’s army delivered assaults at several points on the east side of the Petersburg defences, penetrating the outer lines and pushing on against the inner fortifications of the town.  On Sunday, April 2, Jefferson Davis received in church word from Lee to make instant preparation for departure, as Petersburg could not be held beyond that night and Richmond must fall immediately.  That night the Confederate Government left the capital, and Lee’s evacuation of the fortress began the next day.  Lincoln was sent for.  He came by sea, and to the astonishment and alarm of the naval officers made his way at once to Richmond with entirely insufficient escort.  There he strolled about, hand in hand with his little son Tad, greeted by exultant negroes, and stared at by angry or curious Confederates, while he visited the former prison of the Northern prisoners and other places of more pleasant attraction without receiving any annoyance from the inhabitants.  He had an interesting talk with Campbell, formerly a Supreme Court judge, and a few weeks back one of Davis’ commissioners at Hampton Roads.  Campbell obtained permission to convene a meeting of the members of the Virginia Legislature with a view to speedier surrender by Lee’s army.  But the permission was revoked, for he somewhat clumsily mistook its terms, and, moreover, the object in view had meantime been accomplished.

Jefferson Davis was then making his way with his ministers to Johnston’s army.  When they arrived he and they held council with Johnston and Beauregard.  He would issue a Proclamation which would raise him many soldiers and he would “whip them yet.”  No one answered him.  At last he asked the opinion of Johnston, who bluntly undeceived him as to facts, and told him that further resistance would be a crime, and got his permission to treat with Sherman, while the fallen Confederate President escaped further south.

Lee’s object was to make his way along the north side of the Appomattox River, which flows east through Petersburg to the James estuary, and at a certain point strike southwards towards Johnston’s army.  He fought for his escape with all his old daring and skill, while hardly less vigorous and skilful efforts were made not only to pursue, but to surround him.  Grant in his pursuit sent letters of courteous entreaty that he would surrender and spare further