THE GRAND STRATEGY OF THE LAST YEAR OF THE IVAR. 2 59

distance of Hampton, Butler, Beauregard, and even Joe Johnston was1 t'garded as trivial. Our “objective” was Lee’s army at Richmond . When* reached Goldsboro’, made junction with Schofield, and moved forward toRaleigh , I was willing to encounter the entire Confederate army; but the Con-e< ferate armies—Lee’s in Richmond and Johnston’s in my front—held inte-Bor liue^ aTK j could choose the initiative. Few military critics who haveSeated of the civil war in America have ever comprehended the importance^ the movement of my army northward from Savannah to Gloldsboro’, or off J le transfer of Schofield from Nashville to cooperate with me in Northar olin a . This march was like the thrust of a sword toward the heart of10 human body; each mile of advance swept aside all opposition, con-ned the very food on which Lee’s army depended for life, and demon-s trated a power in the National Gloveriiment which was irresistible.Therefore, in March, 1865, but one more move was left to Lee on the chess-°ai’d of war: to abandon Richmond ; make junction with Johnston in Northai ’olina; fall 011 me and destroy me if possible—a fate I did not apprehend;^ eri turn on Grant, sure to be in close pursuit, and defeat him. But no!. 6e dung to his intrenchments for political reasons, and waited for the inev-a , le. At last, on the 1st day of April, General Sheridan, by his vehementJ rul >uost successful attack on the Confederate lines at the “ Five Forks ” nearitrwiddie Court House, compelled Lee to begin his last race for life. He■ } ei1 attempted to reach Danville, to make junction with Johnston, but Grant? kis rapid pursuit constantly interposed, and finally headed him off atPpomattox, and compelled the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia,^ for four years had baffled the skill and courage of the Army of the°tomac and the power of our National Government. This substantiallyetl( led the war, leaving only the : formal proceedings of ae-

in North Carolina and of

^pting the surrender of Johnstone subordinate armies at the

South-west.

Mi

0" HI U

: ;:f, -r:."" 'ic I ^

th e ■

c ALICO HOUSE,” GENERAL SHERMAN’S FIRST HEADQUARTERS IN ATLANTA —AFTERWARD THE OFFICE0Ir HIS ENGINEERS; ALSO FOR SEVERAL MONTHS A HOSPITAL. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.