sheridan attacked lee's rear with a heavy force, and at five forks, april 1, the surprised garrison was defeated with five thousand captured. the next day the entire union army advanced, and the line of confederate intrenchments was broken. on the following day petersburg and richmond were evacuated, but mr. davis was not there. he had gone away. rather than meet general grant and entertain him when there was no pie in the house, he and the treasury had escaped from the haunts of man, wishing to commune with nature for a while. he was captured at irwinsville, georgia, under peculiar and rather amusing circumstances.