William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac

The explanation of the portentous sounds and sights was soon learned. To the rear-guard, under Ewell, had been left the last duty of blowing up the iron-clad vessels in the James and the bridges across that river; and it was the noise of the explosions that first announced to General Weitzel that Richmond was given up. But the Confederate officials, in addition to this work of destruction (which cannot be condemned on the score that it was not warranted by the rules of war), adopted a measure shocking to every sense of humanity. It appears that the warehouses of Richmond contained great store of government tobacco, and the cruel and senseless order was given to fire these—as though it were possible with impunity to play with the devouring element! The flames, spreading to the neighboring buildings, soon involved a wide and widening area; and, though the Union force, on its entry, labored to put out the fire it could not be subdued until the heart of the city, including all the business section, was laid in ashes. It was amid such scenes that Richmond fell, with the smoke of the torment of the Confederacy ascending to heaven, while far away all that remained of the Confederate army hastened beyond the sunset.

But little did Grant reck of Richmond; and already, since morning revealed the flight of the Confederates, he had been pressing to the uttermost the march of his columns. Pursued and pursuers fared forth by parallel lines—Lee by the north side of the Appomattox, Grant by the south bank. Let us see whither led all this mad haste.

The Danville Railroad, Lee's line of retreat, runs southwest from Richmond, and is intersected by the Southside or Lynchburg Railroad, which runs westward from Petersburg, at Burkesville, which is fifty-eight miles from Richmond by the former road, and fifty-two miles from Petersburg by the latter road. Burkesville, therefore, was to Lee a strategic point of the first importance, for if he should be anticipated in its possession, he would be forced off the direct Danville line, and