Excerpt from a letter by A. R. Lord, U.S. Sanitary Commission
The cry of on to Richmond is now played by the occupation of the late residence of the arch traitor Jeff [Davis] by the Uncle Sam's brave boys in blue. You ought to have been with us when we entered the city [Richmond]. The citizens were out in goodly numbers, and were not at all offended by the sight of Old Glory [Stars & Stripes]. On the contrary they cheered the flag most heartily though it was born in the hands of the darker hued of Uncle Sam's brave defenders. The first troops that put into practical effect the long continued cry of on to Richmond was those portions of the 24 (white) and 25 (Col[ore]d) Corps (Army of the James) that were left on the right of the James when the other portion of the Army of the James moved across the James and joined with the Army of the Potomac in castigating the minions of Lee, which the boys done in fine style. The fighting at the left of Petersburg and vicinity was very severe, and of course our loss was quite large, though much smaller than that of the rebs. It is hardly worth while for me to write you the particulars as you will doubtless have learned them through the columns of the Boston Journal as lines reach you as Carleton is here, there and everywhere where there is ought to be obtained in the line of reliable news.
Use the excerpt to answer the question.
Which events happened before and after those described by Lord?
A.
Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Sherman’s march to the sea happened before. The Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.
B.
Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg and the Battle of the Wilderness happened before. Sherman’s march to the sea and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.
C.
The Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened before. Sherman’s march to the sea and the capture of Charleston and Savannah happened after.
D.
Sherman’s march to the sea and the capture of Charleston and Savannah happened before. Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg happened after.
B. Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg and the Battle of the Wilderness happened before. Sherman’s march to the sea and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.
To determine which events happened before and after the events described by Lord in the excerpt, we need to analyze the information provided.
In the excerpt, Lord mentions the occupation of the late residence of Jeff Davis in Richmond, which signifies the Union Army's capture of the Confederate capital. He also mentions the troops that put into practical effect the long continued cry of "on to Richmond" and the fighting at the left of Petersburg.
The events that happened before Lord's description would be the Union victories at Vicksburg and Sherman's march to the sea. These events occurred earlier in the war, before the occupation of Richmond.
The events that happened after Lord's description would be the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse. These battles took place after the occupation of Richmond and the fighting at Petersburg.
Now, let's compare the options:
A. Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Sherman’s march to the sea happened before. The Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.
B. Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg and the Battle of the Wilderness happened before. Sherman’s march to the sea and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.
C. The Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened before. Sherman’s march to the sea and the capture of Charleston and Savannah happened after.
D. Sherman’s march to the sea and the capture of Charleston and Savannah happened before. Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg happened after.
Based on the information provided in the excerpt, option B is the correct answer. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg and the Battle of the Wilderness happened before the events described by Lord, while Sherman's march to the sea and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after.