Excerpt from a letter by A. R. Lord, U.S. Sanitary Commission

Question

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.

PLEASE, ALSO EXPLAIN WHY ITS THE CORRECT ANSWER, DO NOT GUESS, USE THE EXPERT.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Sherman’s march to the sea happened before the events described by Lord. The Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened after. This is supported by the excerpt, which mentions that the Army of the James had moved across the James and joined with the Army of the Potomac to “castigate the minions of Lee”. This implies that the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Appomattox Courthouse had already occurred, as Lee’s army was being “castigated”. The excerpt also mentions that the first troops to enter Richmond were from the 24th and 25th Corps, which implies that Grant’s victory at Vicksburg and Sherman’s march to the sea had already happened.