Pursuit of Lee and the Surrender

The McLean House scene of the surrender.

On April 3 rd , the Battery found itself on the march moving west in hot pursuit of General Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. The Confederates had evacuated both Petersburg and the enemy's capitol of Richmond. The escaping rebels in an effort to deny the spoils, set fire to the warehouses, and bridges across the James River. High winds cause the fires to spread to many of the houses in the center of the city. The Union Army extinguished the conflagration, not long after it's arrive within the captured city.

The Battery continued after Lee's Army along with the rest of the Army of the Potomac. Through Burkeville, crossing the Nintercomac Creek to Jetersville. On the morning of the 6 th , the Battery caught sight, a column of weary rebel troops, trying to escape by using a flanking maneuver. The artillery was order into action, and Battery B opened up with shot and shell, firing about forty rounds. As the infantry came forward to continue the pursuit the Battery ceased its firing, unknowingly this would be the last time the Battery would fire on the enemy. Although on April 7 th the enemy made a stand at Farmville and the battery was brought up, it never fired a shot. The enemy lost even more of its dwindling resources in the form of nineteen guns and 130 army supply wagons.

On the 8 th word began to circulate among the men that Lee and Grant had begun exchanging letters, the latter demanding the surrender of the Confederate Army. Moving out at 7 a.m. and continued along pressing Lee's bedraggled army, they continued until midnight, when finally the Battery halted and the men slept along side the guns, on would be the list night of their part in the war.

On the morning of April 9 th , the Battery was issued 3 days rations and struck out once in again in the ongoing chase. Lieutenant W. B. Westcott had inspected the battery making sure it was ready for its duty, regardless of whether it is Marching or fighting. The previous afternoon Custer had captured Appomattox Station along with the train of supplies for Lee's starving troops, a large number of artillery pieces, and many prisoners. This blocked Lee's rout of escape to Lynchburg.

The Battery continued its march on April 9, at a slow pace stopping along the roadside. While waiting the couriers carrying dispatches from Lee to Grant passes beneath the Guidon of Battery B, on the way to headquarters. Not long later firing was heard to the front and the infantry moved forward to attack the enemy, it was noon and again the Battery resumed its march. Movement was continued until 4 p.m. when not only the Battery, but also all military actions of both armies came to cease.

The glad news of Robert E. Lee's surrender at the Appomattox Courthouse made it thru the army. The long war to preserve the Union was at an end. The men could hardly restrain their exuberance; caps and hats went into the air, as cheers rose up. Most soldiers after years of hard fighting could hardly restraint here feelings and were over come with joy by thought of home. Moving to a camp near Clover Hill the Battery encamped and rested all of April 10 th .The Battery began marching towards the James river, unfortunately the mood was shatter when the news of President Lincoln's assassination reached the, the 19 th was spent in mourning and no duties where performed.

The spirits of the Battery were lifted again, when Lieutenants James E. Chase and Gideon Spencer both captured at Reams Station returned to duty. Both had been paroled in March and had now returned to the Battery. Spencer as the senior Lieutenant took command, with Westcott, Spencer and Lieut. N. R. Chase in command of its sections. On the 22 the Battery was inspected by its former commander now Colonel of the Brigade, John. G. Hazard for the last time in the field.

Continuing southward, the Battery finally reach the Confederate capitol Passing thru the city and camping 5 miles to the south. The men reflected upon the fact that the business district of the city laid in ruins. Passing the Libby prison, the doors stood wide-open Negroes near the prison greeted the Rhode Islanders with “ Deys all gone massa”.

The Battery arrived in Washington on May 19 th , 1865 and left there at the arsenal. The men were most please to have a visit from Brevet Captain William Perrin. Perrin had been capture at Reams Station with Spencer and Chase, but his wound had cost him his leg. The men were glad to see him looking so well.

On the 23, The Grand review of the Army by the President took place. The Battery left camp early in the morning and proceeded into the city of Washington. The parade wound down Pennsylvania Avenue pass the reviewing stand in front of the white house. There The President and his cabinet, Foreign ministers, Governors of loyal states, and many other distinguished guests. The Parade of troops was magnificent. Many viewers stated it was scene that could not be surpassed. The men returned to camp at about 5p.m.tired but pleased to have had the honor to have taken part in this final scene of the war.

The fighting for the Army of the Potomac was over, Slavery was dead, and the Union was preserved. Now the men where wondering, what was next, and how long before they could go home.