up arms again. They will at once be guaranteed all their rights as citizens of a common country. I want no one punished, treat them liberally all around. We want those people to return to their allegiance to the Union and submit to the laws . Well with all the formalities outlined, the Generals and Admiral knew what needed to be done. Sherman returned to Goldsboro by steamer; Grant and Porter left by train back to the north. Shermans course would be to continue north with Schofields men and meet Grant in Richmond. However, this would never happen, as Lee would surrender to Grant before Sherman could ever get there.THE PUSH FOR THE ENDGeneral Grant returned back to his troops who were in the process of besieging Petersburg and Richmond. These battles had been going on for months. On March 24th, before the meeting with President Lincoln, Grant drew up a new plan for a flanking movement against the Confederates right below Petersburg. It would be the first large-scale operation to take place this year and would begin five days later. Two days after Grant made preparations to move again, Lee had already assessed the situation and informed President Davis that Richmond and Petersburg were doomed. Lees only chance would be to move his troops out of Richmond and down a southwestern path toward a meeting with fellow General Johnstons (Johnston had been dispatched to Virginia after being ordered not to resist the advance of Shermans Army) forces. Lee chose a small town to the west named Amelia Court House as a meeting point. His escape was narrow; they (the soldiers) could see Richmond burn as they made their way across the James River and to the west. Grant had finally broke through and Richmond and Petersburg were finished on the second day of April.LINCOLN VISITS FALLEN RICHMONDOn April 4th, after visiting Petersburg briefly, President Lincoln decided to visit the fallen city of Richmond. He arrived by boat with his son, Tad, ...
