152 a short history of the united states
previous spring. It was now up to the House. On January 31 , 1865 , the
vote was called. The galleries were packed, and in the chamber sat the
Chief Justice of the United States, Salmon P. Chase; several associate
justices; a number of senators; several members of the cabinet; and a
group of foreign ministers. And the amendment passed, 119 to 56.
With the announcement of the result, the entire House burst into a
storm of screams, shouts, applause, and stamping of feet. Women
waved their handkerchiefs; men threw their arms around each other;
“and cheer after cheer, and burst after burst followed.” For ten minutes
the noise level did not abate. Finally adjournment was moved “in honor
of the sublime and immortal event.” On December 18 , 1865 , three-
fourths of the states ratified this Thirteenth Amendment.
By late 1864 the war was clearly coming to an end. Sherman cut a
60 -mile-wide, 300 -mile path to the sea, destroying homes, public
buildings, factories, cotton gins, railroads, and bridges, or confi scating
anything that might be regarded as contraband or assist the rebels in
their effort to stay the course. Looting was commonplace. Savannah
fell on December 22 , after which Sherman headed north through the
Carolinas, burning towns and cities in his wake. Columbia, the capital
of South Carolina, was a prize target, and its destruction on February
17 , 1865 , predictable, although retreating Confederate soldiers were later
blamed by Sherman for the tragedy. A determined Sherman plowed
straight ahead, and an increasingly demoralized Confederate force
could not bar his way.
Lincoln made clear how he now intended to proceed with recon-
struction. In his second inaugural address on March 4 , 1865 , he said,
“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the
right... let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the na-
tion’s wounds... to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and
lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”
At the same time, Grant pressed forward in Virginia, and Lee was
forced to retreat from Petersburg and Richmond in the hope of joining
forces with a Confederate force in North Carolina, commanded by the
very capable General Joseph Johnston. But Grant blocked his path and
on April 7 asked for Lee’s surrender. His army now numbering only
30 , 000 and practically surrounded, Lee had little choice. At Appomat-
tox Court House the two men met on April 9 and arranged the terms