Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/201

Here (May 5 and 6) and at Spottsylvania Court House near by (May 8-21) followed a series of sanguinary engagements. (See Wilderness, Battles of the.) Grant then advanced by a series of flank movements to the Chickahominy, where on June 3 occurred the second battle of Cold Harbor, in which the federal assault on the confederate position was repulsed with great loss. (See Chickahominy, vol. iv., p. 416.) On the 12th, having determined to attack Richmond from the south, he began to move, crossing the Chickahominy below Lee's position, and effecting the passage of the James June 14-15. Lee thereupon retired within the intrenchments covering Richmond. On the 15th and 16th a part of the Union forces unsuccessfully assailed Petersburg, and on the 19th Grant began a regular siege. On July 30, a mine having been exploded, another attack was made, which was repulsed with loss. The siege of Petersburg and Richmond continued till April 3, 1865, when, after Lee's defeat at Five Forks (March 31, April 1), those places were occupied by the federals, having been evacuated by Lee during the preceding night. Grant vigorously pursued the retreating army, and at Appomattox Court House on the 9th compelled Lee to surrender the remnant of his forces, about 27,000 in all, an event which virtually terminated the war. (See Petersburg, Siege of.) Simultaneously with Grant's advance on Richmond, Gen. Sigel moved up the Shenandoah valley, and Gen. Crook from Charleston, W. Va., up the Kanawha valley. On May 15, 1864, Sigel was routed at Newmarket by Gen. Breckinridge, losing 700 men, 6 guns, and 1,000 small arms. Gen. Hunter, having superseded Sigel and having been somewhat strengthened, resumed the offensive. He was opposed by Gen. Jones, Breckinridge having been withdrawn to Richmond. The two armies met at Piedmont, near Staunton, June 5, when Jones was routed, losing 1,500 prisoners, 3 guns, and 3,000 small arms. Hunter advanced to Staunton, where he was joined by Crook, and advanced thence via Lexington on Lynchburg. Gen. Early being sent to the relief of this city from Richmond, Hunter retreated into West Virginia. Early then moved north, and on July 2-3 appeared on the Potomac. Crossing into Maryland, he threatened Washington and Baltimore, being stoutly but ineffectually opposed on the 9th by an inferior force under Gen. Wallace on the Monocacy river near Frederick, Wallace losing nearly 2,000 men in killed, wounded, and missing. Washington was saved by the timely arrival of troops ordered there by Gen. Grant. Early recrossed into Virginia, and on the 24th routed Gen. Crook near Winchester, inflicting a loss of 1,200. He then sent a body of cavalry on a raid into Pennsylvania, which burned Chambersburg, July 30. On Aug. 7 Gen. Sheridan was placed in command of the federal forces to operate in the Shenandoah valley. His force was soon raised to 30,000, Early opposing him with about 20,000. He defeated Early on Opequan creek near Winchester (Sept. 19), at Fisher's Hill 8 m. S. (Sept. 22), and on Cedar creek near by (Oct. 19), virtually clearing the valley of confederate troops. In the battle of Opequan creek he lost 3,000 men, and captured the same number of prisoners and 5 guns; in that of Fisher's Hill he took 1,100 prisoners and 16 guns. In the battle of Cedar creek Early surprised the Union camp at dawn in the absence of Gen. Sheridan, driving back the troops in confusion and capturing the camp and defences, 24 guns, and 1,200 prisoners. Sheridan, then at Winchester, being aroused by the firing, hurried to the front, and having reorganized his troops, retook the camp and guns in the afternoon, recovering many of the prisoners taken in the morning, and taking from the enemy 1,500 prisoners, 23 guns, and 1,500 small arms, besides equipments.—When Gen. Grant assumed the chief command, Gen. W. T. Sherman was placed in command of the division of the Mississippi, comprising the departments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, the Tennessee, and the Arkansas, and was to move against Atlanta, Ga., simultaneously with Grant's advance on Richmond. His forces for the campaign were encamped around Chattanooga, and consisted of a little less than 100,000 men, with about 250 guns, comprising the army of the Cumberland, Gen. Thomas; the army of the Tennessee, Gen. McPherson; and the army of the Ohio, Gen. Schofield. He was opposed by Gen. J. E. Johnston, with about 50,000 men, encamped at Dalton, Ga., organized in three corps under Hardee, Hood, and Polk. Sherman started on May 5, and gradually forced Johnston back, compelling him after much severe fighting to cross the Chattahoochee on July 10 and seek the intrenchments covering Atlanta. Here he was superseded by Hood, who made several attacks on Sherman, which were repulsed with great loss, and was compelled to abandon Atlanta on Sept. 1. (See Atlanta, and Sherman, William Tecumseh.) Having removed the inhabitants from the city and burned everything except the dwellings and churches, Gen. Sherman started near the middle of November for the coast, with about 60,000 men. Marching through the heart of Georgia without opposition, he reached the vicinity of Savannah. On Dec. 13 Fort McAllister on the Ogeechee river, in the rear of Savannah, was carried by assault by Gen. Hazen, and communication was then opened with the fleet. On the 21st Savannah was occupied, having been abandoned by its garrison during the preceding night. Sherman left Gen. Thomas in command in Tennessee. Hood, after abandoning Atlanta, had operated for a time upon Sherman's line of communication, and then moved into N. Alabama, whence, upon learning that Sherman had started for the coast, he advanced into Tennessee with about 55,000 men, and began to move on Nashville. On Nov. 30 he was opposed at Franklin by