The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-11-21

army that had won two Bull Buns, which bad
twice Gin pursuit of fatal policy trodden its
enemy soil, Ind had written Fredericksburg,
Charlottesville, and dozen other glorious
names upon its banners. On the 9Th large
body of Federal cavalry, having got ahead of
Lees army and occupied Rices Station, was
attacked by some Confederate horsemen under
General Rosser, who drove them off, capturing
$50 prisoners. On the 7th, heavy attack
was made upon Mahone's Division, aud the
proves of this active Confederate General, so
frequently exhibited during the last twelve
months of the war, was maintained to the end,
inasmuch as Federal brigade, getting eRtang-
led in a ravine, was surrounded by Mahsne's
ing of the 7th, General Gregg, with six or
seven thousand Federal cavalry, made despe-
rate attempt to capture all the wagon trains. He
was gallantly met by two thousand horsemen
under Fitzhugh Lee, and defeated. Gregg
himself was captured.
Throughout these gloomy days, as an offset
to the countless Confederates captured while
foraging, by the Federals, numerous Federal
prisoners were taken by the Confederates, and
become participants of hunger and suffering
of which they had no previous conception. l
may as we'll mention now that as the surrender
! became more inevitable, Generals Fitzhugh Lee
and Rosser, with about 1000 Confederate cav
airy, tactly determined not to be included in it,
and started off toward Lynchburg. On their
road they fell in with Federal supply train,
and burned $50 wagons. The scanty and partial
rations which, after the surrender were issued
on the night of the 9th to the starving Confed-
crates by their captors, were apologized for by
the Federals on the ground of destruction of
these $50 wagons by Fizhugh Lee.
The reader will have gathered that when Gen
Lee found his depots along the Danville road
destroyed by Sheridan, he had no alternative
but to make for Lyuchburg. He still hoped to
get rations and to turn suddenly upon Grant
whose army dispersed into many columns.
The fatigue of the pursuit, though unaggravated
by famine, was beginning to tell upon the pur
suers. But in pressing for Lynchburg, Lee
was on strip of land, not more than seven
eight miles broad, between the James and APP
pomattox Rivers. On the afternoon of the 7th,
Lees situation seemed unpromising that
Grant, for the first time, sent to propose sur
render. Lee at once replied that his circum
stances did not seem to him such as to justify
his entertaining such proposal. On the morn
ing of the Sth, Grant renewed his solicitations
Lee did not Decline but debated the matter,
calling council of war in the evening. No
determination was arrived at on the 9th, aud at
midnight the usual dreary retreat was resumed.
The springs of energy and will, unstrung by
long want of food, had run down in the men
like the machinery of broken clock. Hther
to the retreat had been covered by Longstreet
and Gordon alternately, but now the Federal
force which had got ahead of Lee, and was OBJ
structing his retreat had become so considera-
bic that Gordon was thrown cut with 1000 men
in front, while the ''old bull dog" Longstreet,
whose pluck neither hunger, nor fatigue, nor
depression could abate or subdue, still covered
| the rear.
AT daybreak on the 9th courier from Cor
don announced to Lee that large body of
Federal cavalry Gn other words, Sheridan's
| army was across the road at Appomattox Court
House. At the same moment heavy force Of
infantry under Grant was pushing Longstreet
| vigorously in the rear. Between Longstreet
and Gordon were the remaining wagons, and
| clinging to them thousands of unarmed and
famishng straggers, too weak to carry their
muskets. Lee sent orders to Gordon to cut his
| way through, coute gull caute. Presently came
| another order from Gordon announcing that the
enemy was driving him back. Lee had at this
moment less than 10000 men with muskets in
their hands. The fatal moment had indisputa-
| bly, come Hastily DOMINIC his best uniform,
and buckling on his sword, which it was Dever
his fashion to wear, General Lee turned sadly
! to the to seek the final interview with Gen.
eral Grant
There is no passage of history in this heart
breaking war which will, for years to come, be
more hondrably mentioned and gratefully re-
membered than the demeanor on the 9th of
| April, 1865, of General Grant toward General
Lee. do not so much allude to the facility
with which honorable terms were accorded to
the ConfeGerates, to the bearing of General
Grant aud Of the officers about him toward Gen.
eral Lee. The interview was brief Three
commissioners upon either side we're imme
diately appointed. The agreement to which
these six commissioners acceded is known.
| In the meantime, Immediately that General
Lee was seen riding to the rear, dressed mole
gaily than usual and begirt with his sword, the
rumor of Immediate surrender flew like wild6re
through the Confederates. 1t might be i'm
regular .rations on the LIST of April, and, har-
raised necessarily by night and day, had been
marching and fighting until the morning of the
9th, would have welcomed anything like ter
minaton of its sufferngs, let. it come IN what
form it might. Let those who idly imagine that
the finer feelings are the prerogative of what are
called the supper classes" learn from this aud
similar scenes to appreciate common men,
As the great Confederate captain rode back from
his interview with General Grant, the news of
the surrender acquired shape and consistency,
and could no longer be denied The effect on
the worn and battered troops-some of whom
had fought since April, 1861, aud (sparse sur
yivors of hetacombs of fallen comrades) had
| passed unscathed through such hurricanes of
shot as within four years no other men had ever
experienced-passes mortal description.
Whole lines Of battle rushed up to their be-