New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-08
The News OF Lees Surrender.
From THE LossdOs Tirses, .gJ,riFI4.

The great war on which the eyes of the world
have been fixed for the last four years has been brough
virtually TO u close by the surrender of Gen Lee will
the chief army Of the Southern States. This victor,
crowns the obstinate campaign which Gen Grant begai
year ago, and which has so well proved tie energy
the tenaciy and the uubOunGed resources OF the North
In spite Of of the boOdes defeats in the annals
war the last invasion of Virginia has been successful
partly through the qualities OF the commanding
Overwhelmingly man OF more YIgor ana chaTac
ter than his predecessors but chiefly from the gradua
failure in strength OF the overmached South. For
months the army of Gen. Lee must have fought against
hope. IL stood at bay before Richmond. losing weekly
certain portion Of its precious lives, while the enemy
being continually reinforced from the sbnndani
sources Of the Northern States and Of Europe The Con
federates drew their supplies from store which every
day lessened, while half TIE world was employed In
feeding their adversarios with the means Of war; Al
last the end has come Richmond which might have
been evacuated with something like staegical success
Elk months ago has been abandoned after terrible de-
feat and With haste which left no hope Of prolonged
resistance. Years probably eapse before We know
the real history Of these events and learn the
which induced the chiefs Of the Southern Confederacy
to delay long a movement which they had looked
upon possible even in the earlier period OF the war
III they considered that the fate Of the COniederaey
bound up with that Of Richmond, they have been IN
some degree justified by the event As matters have
turned out the fan OF the Vrginian capital has been
followed by military disasters from which il is mpos
sibe that the South can recover. The immense re-
Of the North the ygOr aud eaton OF IT'S armies
made the pursuit Of Gen Lees force most prompt and
effective. The Union Generals gave the shattered
bands Of the South literally not all hour OF rest.
In the end the Confederate commander had only
about q, 600 left. The armies which surrounded
him amounted 10 at least six times this number lG
these circumstances Gen. Grant thought that the time
Lad for Offering Of capitulatiOn. The cor
Jespondence OF the two commanders will be found else
where The tone is honorable TO both and the condi-
tOns Here such 1t disgrace for over.
matched army 10 accept.
such the end Of the great army which organized by
the extraordinary genius OF man. aided by several
other commanders of eminent ability. has done such
wonders IN this var. Not even the Grand Army Of
Napoleon himself could count series of more brilliant
vie:eres than the force which, raised chiefly from the
high spirited population OF Virginia. has defeated
JnaBy ngGsoBs Of the State ard crushed the hopes Of
Jnany Northern generals. Chief and soldiers have
Jailed fo tie first and last tine. They were victorious
until victory was no longer 10 he achieved by human
vaor. aud then they FED with honor. Theirs has been
30 gradual decay IN courage and discipline. no demon
aizaton the result OF successive defeats What they
were at the C5ickaLonIny and at Charlottesville they
were the day when the oyep0wering forces OF Grant
and Sheridan forced them back from their ceenses
PETERSBURG If "SiOHewal Jackson had been alive to
witness tie ruin of the army which he had often
helped 60 victory. he vOu.d have reason TO be
Ashamed Of Its conduct In its latest hour.
when the true history Of these things is told it will
probably be found that the campaign Of 1865 fought by
enfeebled and found bands against all the power OIL
tbe North has shown a Lei0lsn nrequaled IN former
NJ more successful campaigns But WINE giving the
Confederate army its due need OF praise III the hour OF
lts usfortuIe it IL impossible TO deny lle ie9eras