Sheridan before starting to sweep down to Petersburg had sent Merritt with his cavalry to the west to attack some Confederate cavalry that had assembled there.  Merritt drove them north to the Appomattox River.  Sheridan then took the enemy at Sutherland Station on the reverse side from where Miles was, and the two together captured the place, with a large number of prisoners and some pieces of artillery, and put the remainder, portions of three Confederate corps, to flight.  Sheridan followed, and drove them until night, when further pursuit was stopped.  Miles bivouacked for the night on the ground which he with Sheridan had carried so handsomely by assault.  I cannot explain the situation here better than by giving my dispatch to City Point that evening: 

Boydton road, near Petersburg, April 2, 1865.—­4.40 P.M.

Colonel T. S. Bowers, City Point.

We are now up and have a continuous line of troops, and in a few hours will be intrenched from the Appomattox below Petersburg to the river above.  Heth’s and Wilcox’s divisions, such part of them as were not captured, were cut off from town, either designedly on their part or because they could not help it.  Sheridan with the cavalry and 5th corps is above them.  Miles’s division, 2d corps, was sent from the White Oak Road to Sutherland Station on the South Side Railroad, where he met them, and at last accounts was engaged with them.  Not knowing whether Sheridan would get up in time, General Humphreys was sent with another division from here.  The whole captures since the army started out gunning will amount to not less than twelve thousand men, and probably fifty pieces of artillery.  I do not know the number of men and guns accurately however. * * * I think the President might come out and pay us a visit tomorrow.

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

During the night of April 2d our line was intrenched from the river above to the river below.  I ordered a bombardment to be commenced the next morning at five A.M., to be followed by an assault at six o’clock; but the enemy evacuated Petersburg early in the morning.

CHAPTER LXV.

The capture of Petersburg—­meeting president Lincoln in Petersburg—­the capture of Richmond—­pursuing the enemy—­visit to Sheridan and Meade.

General Meade and I entered Petersburg on the morning of the 3d and took a position under cover of a house which protected us from the enemy’s musketry which was flying thick and fast there.  As we would occasionally look around the corner we could see the streets and the Appomattox bottom, presumably near the bridge, packed with the Confederate army.  I did not have artillery brought up, because I was sure Lee was trying to make his escape, and I wanted to push immediately in pursuit.  At all events I had not the heart to turn the artillery upon such a mass of defeated and fleeing men, and I hoped to capture them soon.