Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-11-03

| had become SO considerable, that JorG0n
was, thrown out with 1000 men iii front,
while the esold bull dog" Longstreet whose
pluck, neither hunger, nor fatigue, nor de-
preston, could abate or subdue, still covered
the rear. At daybreak on the 9Th, a courier
from Gordon announced to Lee that a large
body of Federal cavalry lin other words,
Sheridan's army was across the road at APP
polnattox Court House, At the same mo-
ment heavy force of infantry under Grant
was pushing Longstreet vigorously in the
rear. Between Gordon and Longstreet were
the remaining wagons, and cli1lging to them
thousands of unarmed and furnished s;rag-
glers, Zoo week to carry their muskets. Lee
sent orders to Gordon to cut his way through
coaae on IL colae. Presently came another
courier from Gordon, announcing that the
enemy was driving him back Lee had at
this moment less than 5000 men with mus
hets in their hands. The fatal moment had
indisputably come Hastily DOMINIC his best
uniform, and bucklng on his. sword-which
it was never his fashion to wear-General
Lee turned sadly to the rear to seek the final
interview with General Grant.
There is no passage of history in this
heartbreaking war which will, for years to
come, be more honorably mentioned and
gratefully remembered than the demeanor on
the 9th of April. 1865, of General Grant
towards General Lee. | do not so much al
lude to the facility with which honorable
terms We're accorde to the Confederates as
to the bearing of General Grant and Of the
officers about him towards General Lee The
interview was brief Three Commissioners
upon either side were Immediately appointed.
The agreement to which these six Commits
sioners acceded was as follows:
AppouATTox c. H., Va. April 10, 1865.
's-4gyeeme,at entered into this dag IN regard
to the Surrender Of the damy Of Northern
Virginia to the United States authorities:
''1st The troops shall march by brigades
and detachments to the designated point,
stack their arms, deposit their flags, sabres,
pistols, &C., and thence march to their homes
under charge of their officers, superintended
by their respective divisions and corps COM
manders, officers retaining their side arms
and the authorized number Of private horses.
I'D, All public horses and public prop
erty of all kinds to be turned over to staff
differs, to be designated BY the United States
authorities.
Esd. Such transportation as may be agreed
upon as necessary for the transportation of
the private baggage of officers VIII be allow
ed to accompany the officers, to be turned
over at the end of the trip to the nearest
United States Quartermaster, receipts being
taken for the same.
't4th Couriers and mounted men of the
artillery and cavalry. whose horses are their
own private property, will be allowed to
retain them.
Goth The surrender of the Army of
| Northern Virginia shall be construed to in
clude all the forces operating with that army
on the 9Th instant, the date Of the COM
mencement of the negotiations for surrender,
except such bodies of cavalry as actually
made their escape previous to the surrender,
and except also such pieces Of artillery as
we're more than twenty miles from Apo
mattox Court House at the time of surrender
GA the 9th instant.
liz (Signed)
"JouN GIBBoN, Maj. Gen. =. LoNGsrREEr,
Vols. Lieut.. Gen.
CHARLES GRIFFIN, Brevet j. B. GORDON,
Major Gen u S. Vols Major Gen.
W. MERRITT, Breyet W. n. PENDLEToN
Major Gen. Brig. Gen, and
t Chief of Art'y.'
In the mean time, Immediately that Gen.
Lee was seen riding to the rear, dressed more
| Al nd
the rumor of imminent surrender few like
wildhre through the Confederates. Itmight
/ be imagined that an army, which had drawn
its last regular rations on the 1st of April,
and, harassed necessarily by night and day,
had been marching and fighting until the
morning of the 9th, would have welcomed
anything like termination Of. its suffering
! 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 cup
per classes" learn from this and similar scenes
to appreciate common men, AS the great
Confederate Captain rode back from his in
terview 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, and
(sparce SUI vivors Of hecatombs Of fallen COM
rades) had passed unscathed through such
hurricanee of shot as within four years nc
other men had ever experienced battles NOR
tai description Whole lines Of battle rush
ed up to their beloved old chief and, chok-
ing with emotion, broke ranks and struggled
with each other to wiring him once more by
the hand Men who had fought throughout
the war, and knew what the agony and hui
initiation OF that moment must be to him,
strove with refinement Of unselfshness and
tenderness which he alone could fully appre-
ciate, to tighten his burden and mitigate his
pain. With tears pouring down both cheeks
Gen. Lee at length commanded voice enough
to say Men, We have fought through the
war together / have done the best that
could for you Not an eye that looked or
that scene was dry. Nor was this the emo
ton Of sickly sentimentalist, but of rough
and rugged men, familiar with hardship
danger, and death III thousand shapes
mastered by sympathy and feeling for anoth
er which they had never experienced on theil
own account | know of no other passage
of military history so touching, unless, il
spite of the melo-dramatic coloring which
French historians have loved to shed Ovel