Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/86

 60 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS Sheridan s success, Grant determined to make a vigorous assault the next day, with all his troops, upon the lines around Petersburg. It began at daylight, April 2; the works were carried, and in a few hours Grant was closing in upon the inner defences of the city. Two of the forts, Gregg and Whitworth, were secured in the afternoon. The former was captured by assault, the latter was evacuated; 12,000 prisoners and over fifty guns were already in Grant s hands. Richmond and Petersburg were evacuated that night, and the Na tional forces entered and took possession on the morning of the 3d. Grant, anticipating this, had begun a movement westward during the night, to head off Lee from Danville, and a vigorous pur suit by the whole army was ordered. It became evident that Lee was moving toward Amelia Court- House, and a force was urged forward to Jeters- ville, on the Danville railroad, to get between him and Danville. Part of Sheridan s cavalry and the head of the 5th corps reached there on the after noon of the 4th and intrenched. The Army of the Potomac arrived by forced marches on the 5th, while the Army of the James, under Ord, pushed on toward Burkesville. An attack was ordered upon Lee on the morning of the 6th, but he had left Amelia Court-House during the night, and was pushing on toward Farmville by the Deatons- ville road. He was closely pursued, and on the