Litchfield enquirer., 1865-04-20
DETAILS OF LEES SURRENDER.
coSDENcED FROM THE N. Y. TIMES.

& -1n order to give a clear. idea of the pos &loa where the event took place. and how tn prospective armies stood at the time, it is neces Ssary to go back and very briefly follow tn, 3coufse or the armies through a feW previous q Alter reaching Parkesyile, Gen. Meade, viii zthe greater portion of the Army of the Poto 8mac, took up the pursuit on the north side Q Sthe railroad, while Sheridan's cavalry and Ora' Twenty fourth Corps moved rapidly along th'
 south side ofthe road, Sheridan being constant 2 ly on Lees Hanks, frequently compelling hin s to halt and form line of battle, and as oftet engaging him, cutting of detachments, pick ! ing up stragglers, capturing cannon without humber, and demoralizing the enemy at every stand On Friday, at Farmvi!e, l6 miles wes l of Gainesville, considerable engagement oc 3curred, in which the enemy was obliged to re. treat.
 At High Bridge, over the Appomattox, Lee again crossed to the north side of the river, and two ot our regiments, which were sent there to hold the bridge, were captured by strong reb lei calalry force. The railroad bridge at this 1polnt, very high and long stncture, was burn led by the enemy. Lee now headed directly for Lynchburgh. in the hope of reaching point |where he could move around the front of our left wing, and escape toward Danville by a road which runs directly south from point about twenty miles east ssof Lynchburgh. But Grant was too vigorous--the pursuit was too hot. Lees rear and Hanks were so sorely press led that he ws.s compelled to skirmish nearly every step, and to destroy or abandon an i'm |mense amount of property, while Sheridan was rapidly shooting ahead of him. The position Therefore, on Sunday morning, was one from which Lee could not possibly extricate himself His army lay massed short distance west off Appomattox Courthouse his last avenue of escape toward Danville on the southwest wasI gone; he was completely, hemmed in. MeadeI was in his rear 0n the east and on hls right Hank north of Apponattox Courthouse; Sher-l ldan had headed him of completely, by getting between him and Lynchburg Gen. Ord was on the south of the court house, near the railroad x the troops were in the most enthusiastic spirits and the rebel army was doomed. Lees last effort to escape was made on Sunday morning | oy attempting to cut his way through Sheri-I dan's lines, but it totally failed.
 It will be recolected that Gen. Grants frst| letter to Lee was dated on the 7th, Friday, the day of the battle of Farmville, and the cores. |pondence was kept up during tn. following day land up to II o'clock on Sunday as already published. In response to Gen. Grants last letter, Gen. Lee appeared on the picket line of the Second Corps, Miles division with a let ter addressed to Gen. Meade, requesting ces- sation of hostlities while he considered Gen. Grants terms of surrender. Gen Meade rel piled that he had no authority to accede to theI request, but that he would wait two hours bel fore making at attack. In the meantime Gen sd 6eef to d7ffra "A flag oNqaaes -uAnldS Appomattox Court-bopse shortly after noon. and at about 2 o'clock P. N sthe tws Gamer als met at the house of Mr. Wilmer Nc Lean.! Gen. Lee was attended by Gen. Marshal, hisl Adjutaut- General, Gen. Grant, by Col Parker one of his chief Camp. The two| Generals met and greeted each other with dig nifed courtesy, and p oceeded at oucs to theI business before them. Gen. Lee immediately alluded to the conditions of the surrender characterized them as exceedingly lenient, aodI said he would gladly leave all the details toj Gen. Grants own discretion. Gen. Grant, stated the terms of the parol: that the arnsI should be stacked, the artillery parked, and theI supplies and munitions turned over to him. the officers retaining their side arms, horses and personal effects. Gen Lee pronptly as sented to the conditions, and the agreement of surrender was engrosssd and signed by Gen Lee at 3:30 o'clock.
 Gen. Lee asked Gen. Grant for aD interpre |tation of the phrase, personal effects, and said that many of his cayalrynlen owned their own horses. Gen. Grant said he construed it to mean that the horses must be turned over to- |the United States Government. Gen. Lee ad |mitted the correctness and justice of the inter |pretation, when Gen. Grant said he would in- struct his officers to allow those men who own led their horses to retain them, as they would need them for the purpose.of tilling their farms. |Gen. Lee expressed great sense of gratitca- ton for such generous consideration, and said it would have very good effect. He sub sequently expressed hope that each soldier | might be furnished with e certificate of his pa zrol, as evidence to prevent him from being forced into the army until regularly exchanged. Gen. Grano assented to the suggestion, and the
 printing presses were soon put to work to print 1the documents required.
 In regard to the strength of his army Gen. eral Lee said he had no idea of the number of men that he should be able to deliver up -
 There had been so many engagements, and
 such heavy losses from desertion and other
 causes within the past few days, and the rel
 treat so rapid, that no regular morning re-
 ports had been made since leaving Peters
 burgh but it is generally believed by the
 best informed officers that Lee surrendered
 eighteen to twenty thousand men. Of the
 army horses, wagons, etc., there is yet no of-
 Gcial account. General Lee informed General
 Grant that his men were short of provisions,
 whereupon General Grant ordered twenty-five
 thousand rations to be distributed to them
 Thus substantially ended the interview. Both
 generals were the very impersonaiion ot
 dignity and courtesy in their bearing. Lee ii
 in nehealth, and though apparently impressed
 with the vital effect and importance of the ac
 he was performing, he was cheerful and pleas
 ant in his demeanor.
 Both generals were attired in full unifoI m
 Lee wore a very fine sword Grant had nc
 side-arms, having left camp the day previous
 with the intention of being gone only few
 hours, but on the contrary being gone al
 night. When the two Generals first met they
 were attended only by the staff officers already
 mentioned; but, during the interview severa
 of our officers entered and were introduced tt
 General Lee, who received them cordially ant
 made no objection to their presence. TheJ
 were Major Generals Ord and Sheriden, Ere
 vet Major General Ingalls,, Brigadier-General'
 Williams, Rawlins and Barnard, Lieutenan
 Colonels Parker, Dent, Badeau, Bowers, A: A
 G. Porter, Babcook, and Capt. Lincoln. Ial
 P. Shaffner, Esq, was the only civilian pres
 ent.
 It should be said that General Grant hae
 anticipatei the surrender for several days